Katarzyna Petru
It seems that Sky is increasingly preparing to bid farewell to satellite television. Although this process is taking place quietly and without official announcements, the company's recent decisions clearly indicate the direction of change.
Sky begins to withdraw Sky Q for new customers
Satellite television has just taken another step towards extinction. Sky has stopped selling the Sky Q service to new customers online. This means that it is no longer possible to order the traditional satellite offer through the website or app. Existing customers can still manage their accounts via My Sky or the Sky website, but new customers are automatically directed elsewhere.
Sky Q is a traditional satellite television offer requiring the installation of a dish on the building and a regular subscription fee. The service is not disappearing completely yet. As What HiFi notes, new customers can still order it in Sky retail stores or… by calling the customer service hotline. However, this is becoming less promoted and more of a niche option.
ChooseTV Stream instead of an antenna and installer
Anyone trying to subscribe to Sky online today goes directly to ChooseTV Stream, which is an offer entirely based on streaming via the internet. The basic package costs £15 per month with a 24-month contract and includes selected Sky channels as well as access to Netflix. Optional add-ons such as Sky Kids, Sky Movies, Disney+, Sky Sports, or TNT Sports can be purchased.
The whole thing works on a small device called a puck, which connects directly to the television. Installation is quick and incredibly simple. There’s no antenna, no drilling, no technician visit with a ladder. All you need is the internet, a remote, and you’re all set.
Satellite loses out to convenience
Considering the simplicity of Sky Stream, it’s not surprising that Sky is gradually phasing out Sky Q. The company is not putting much pressure on current satellite customers for now, but it's easy to foresee the moment when it will stop installing antennas altogether. At that point, the natural step will be to migrate users to the streaming offer. From Sky's perspective, this makes sense. Streaming is cheaper to maintain, simpler to operate, and does not require servicing infrastructure on rooftops. Antennas break down, require adjustments, and generate costs. The internet does not.
ChooseTV Glass as an alternative, but without the "wow" factor
An alternative to Sky Stream is ChooseTV Glass, which is a television with the built-in ChooseTV service. This year, the second generation of ChooseTV Glass was presented, but the reactions were rather lukewarm. It is still quite an average LCD television with HDR, lacking Mini LED and without OLED. It's hard to call this premium. A plus is the option to purchase it in instalments, which may be attractive to some customers. An even cheaper option is ChooseTV Glass Air, a simplified version costing from £6 per month, devoid of some features and extras.
The end of the aerial era is only a matter of time
Sky has not officially announced the end of satellite television, but all signs in the sky and on the roof indicate it. Sky Q is slowly disappearing from the offering, and the future of the company clearly belongs to streaming. Satellite dishes will be with us for a while longer, but it seems that their days are numbered.
