Sky announces new Sky Q platform ahead of “Ultra HD launch later in 2016”

Sky UK has unveiled Sky Q, a ‘new home entertainment system’ that blends live and on-demand TV, to be launched early in 2016. After launch Sky Q (formerly known as Project Ethan) will be enhanced with a “stream of new features and innovations, including more of the best apps and web video”. In addition, Sky Q will be Ultra HD ready in advance of the launch of the UK’s “most comprehensive Ultra High Definition service later in 2016”.

Sky says the new service — effectively a suite of devices designed to spread out across the home — will offer subscribers a range of sports, movies, and entertainment content in stunning picture quality with up to four times the detail of HD.

Sky Q will be available in the UK and Ireland in early 2016, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. It will join Sky’s existing line-up of TV products including the Sky+ PVR and the online streaming service, NOW TV.

Sky Q, which will look to compete with the likes of Amazon and Netflix as a home entertainment hub, will create a new TV viewing experience, which Sky calls ‘Fluid Viewing’. With Sky Q, it will be “easier to watch TV, whether live channels, recordings or on demand, in any room, with the new wireless Sky Q mini box or with the Sky Q app on a tablet.”

Key benefits of ‘Fluid Viewing’ include the flexibility to pause what you’re viewing on your TV screen and pick up in another room on a TV or tablet. And for the first time Sky is bringing the number one requested feature from customers, so you can take your recordings with you wherever you are. You can watch different programmes simultaneously on up to five screens around the home while recording four other channels – a first in the UK and Ireland.

Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s Chief Executive, commented: “Sky Q is a brilliant new way for customers to experience TV on their terms. We wanted to re-imagine TV so that it’s flexible and seamless across different screens and to put a huge choice of entertainment at their fingertips. We think customers are going to love Sky Q and the great news is that it will get even better with much more to come in the future.”