Sky Stream: A Paying Customer's Review - Is it any good?

In this video we take a look at Sky's new product - Sky Stream, which promises Sky TV functionality, but entirely over the internet without needing a dish. In this video we take a look at the hardware, set it up, then talk about how well it works including some great features, but also some downsides and workarounds I've found.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:20 - Unboxing & Hardware Tour
05:32 - Sky Stream vs Sky Q - Getting Stream Cheaper than Q!
10:55 - Initial Setup
16:12 - It works!
17:59 - Settings I needed to change
20:36 - Live TV
24:36 - Playlists - How "recording" works
27:55 - It teases things I can't access!
31:38 - Adding on-demand content to your playlist
34:41 - Workaround to add content from apps to your playlist
38:33 - Included/missing apps
41:32 - Performance
43:02 - It glows!
43:19 - Conclusion

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[ChimpRiot]

Who remembers Sky Digital, the interactive button and Beehive Bedlam?

[AntGeezer]

That was an exceptionally good run through of the Sky stream box. I’ve signed up for one with their broadband on the back of this review. Thanks for taking the time 👍

[MadSpacePig]

The reality of the age of streaming is this exact fragmentation, I think it's going to be extremely rare that you find a system as well integrated as what you're asking for. The streaming service providers have all the leverage and don't want to put all this development time into other people's products. They would also never trust another company like Sky to tinker with their applications.

[marktemple]

Fabulous pointing to the box. Riveting video. The pointing was superb. Made the video a bit of a roller coaster emotionally. Even the whole hand was impressive. But the opening was Oscar performance, 3 minutes of Video bliss.

[daveryandub]

Excellent review.great work.there’s a lot of bad quality reviews of sky stream on YouTube.this is the best one I’ve found.thanks

[MadSpacePig]

For anyone who doesn't know about it, the simplest way to get Sky channels that doesn't even involve buying a single piece of hardware from Sky, is NOW TV or just NOW as they rebranded to recently. It's just Sky's take on a streaming service like any other and has access to all their channels live. The app is available on Samsung, Sony & LG Smart TVs, Amazon Fire Sticks & Rokus, along with the givens like mobile and desktop.

If the overlap with other streaming apps on the Stream is annoying you then this is the way to avoid that, because the only programmes that are going to show in the NOW TV app are they programmes actually available on Sky.

[callumBee]

This is very much what Apple were trying to do with Apple TV and has the same issues! Greedy companies unwilling to play together for a better experience for the end users.

[Lessie._.stuckinlife]

How to use the remote!? To setup my remots not working

[Youtube_deleted_my_favourites]

so every program is catch up, no recording to be made, I'm ok with that but how do you skip through the adverts?

[TheSteve]

So, after 2yrs, have your complaints been addressed. Such has playlist integration with apps ??

[Fusionw]

Thanks for this video. Does it show what episodes you've already watched on the series link/play list? what happens when a new show comes out? will it be at the top?

[TomKellUK]

I suspect the aerial / DVB-T tuner will be key in Italy where there are a number of local channels on terrestrial - in fact the Sky Q box over there has a DVB-T tuner too which has always been interesting.

[richarddcrossley]

The main mistake people made with sky glass is to go for the biggest TV when it's not a top spec TV. It's still pretty decent as it supports Dolby Atmos and Vision and is a decent VA panel when you manually sort the brightness. In short the 43 inch is awesome TV for the kitchen or bedroom as no need for a separate soundbar. You can also power a 4K Amazon stick via the back USB C port. I've got the pucks linked to better TVs and the sky glass is mint on the kitchen wall for an all in one option. My main annoyance with sky pucks is the removal of the optical out (same with most modern technology including consoles).

[derekhart]

Notice Stv player can you get itv x as I hate stv also bbc Scotland do have add post code when stalling or can you use a English post code so get BBC South channels. As current Sky Q can add channels to your TV get via Google for frequency?

[leemason]

Great video: I have been with sky for 9 years and had Sky Q since it was launched. We recently renovated the living room and wanted the TV on the other side of the room but was restricted by the satellite cables. Bought cable extensions and ran them round the room but it looked awful so rang Sky last week and ditched Sky Q for Sky Stream. Had it almost a week and me and my wife love it. We rarely used the record function as pretty much everything is available on demand now. I had 2 Sky Q boxes which ended up corrupted and lost all of my recordings. Everyone will have their preferences. If the internet goes down then do the old fashioned thing called talking to each other. In the 9 years with Sky my internet went down once. Even the agent on the phone said that satellite dishes are so 1990s and said streaming is the way forward. Each to their own and I respect everyone’s choices but this solved the issue of not having cables trawling around my room and just looks neat and tidy.

[daniscott]

I have a smark 4k ultra HD OLED tv when I ordered mine I asked for the added extra to get a better picture but he said I don't need it the picture will be good enough he didn't ask if I had a HD tv or anything like that, so is the picture quality good

[blueberry_dino]

Thanks for this review. My Sky Q contract is coming to an end, and I was debating switching over. This was very informative.

[RobertAllen-oqdp]

I wonder what cost would be in the states ?

[Forde-Photos]

Can't see this working for Ireland for playlist as we are not allowed access to BBC iPlayer App and The Irish RTE player plays at least four adverts before each program.

[xanpagebrown]

22:37, we have Sky Q and it does do the 'play from beginning' popup so it's not unique to Sky Stream