Gabriel Vanca | June 29th, 2022
Sky Glass TV: Features, subscription and pricing
Sky TV is UK’s finest TV service provider, and Sky Glass is a great leap forward for the satellite TV giant. It’s not just Sky’s first broadband-based TV package, but it also comes with Sky’s own actual TV, featuring 4K HDR images with Dolby Vision and running Sky’s own operating system.
Sky Glass is a novel concept offering something genuinely unique: A premium TV service integrated into a bespoke flatscreen. But it isn’t quite as versatile or as powerful as a separate TV and satellite-based Sky Q system. This guide goes through the package’s features and the tech behind it and will help you decide if Sky Glass is the right deal and experience for you.
| Prices from | £14 per month |
|---|---|
| Channels | 300+ channels |
| Packages | TV only, TV & broadband |
| Extras | Netflix, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Sky Cinema, Sky Kids |
| Add-ons | Sky Ultra HDR and Dolby Atmos, Whole Home, Ad Skipping Add On |
| Set-top box | Integrated into the TV |
| Contract length | 24 or 48 months |
What is Sky Glass?
Sky Glass is Sky TV’s new platform for delivering its TV service entirely over broadband, therefore setting customers free of the satellite dish. But it’s also the name of the smart TV that is bundled in and which is, currently, the only route to get the Sky Glass service.
The Sky Glass service features 150 channels in its Sky Entertainment base package, paired with the budget Netflix Basic service. This is significantly fewer than the 300+ channels Sky customers can get through the alternative Sky Q satellite platform, but you still get all the mainstream channels without needing a sizeable, unsightly TV box in your living room, or a dish on top of your home.
A broadband connection from any provider will suffice as long as it supports a minimum of 10Mbps download speeds for HD content and 25Mbps for 4K HDR content.
Next, we’ll have a brief overview of the features of the new Sky Glass platform.
Playlist and Cloud DVR
Sky’s new 'Playlist' feature creates a queue of shows to be watched later. Once you add shows to the Playlist, it will centralise shows from both live TV and on-demand apps (Netflix, Apple TV+ and so on). It will record upcoming episodes in Sky’s new 'Cloud DVR' online storage space if they are being broadcasted or simply stream them to your TV from one of the third-party streaming platforms.
Sky Glass OS
The Glass service and TV rely on Sky’s own operating system designed specifically for the Sky Glass TV. The Glass OS integrates beautifully with Sky’s ecosystem and allows for a good range of third-party apps: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Discovery+, BBC iPlayer, All4, ITV Hub, Fiit, Global Player, Peacock, Sky News, Spotify, YouTube and Apple TV+.
Unlike a standard smart TV though, there is no app store, no route to install other apps and no web browser (so no web apps). That means Nvidia GeForce Now, Steam Link, Twitch, AirScreen, TED and Plex will be noticeably absent from the Glass TV. Starz, Britbox, Curiosity Stream, MGM and Showtime content is still available through the Amazon Prime Videos app.
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Stream + Entertainment + Netflix- 150+ channels
£19.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£0 one-off cost18 month contract -
Stream + Entertainment + Netflix + Cinema
- 150+ channels
£27.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£0 one-off cost18 month contract -
Stream + Entertainment + Sports + Netflix + Superfast
- 61Mb average speed +
- 150+ channels +
- PAYG calls
£57.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£0 one-off cost18 month contract
Viewing Packs
Sky’s viewing packs are a set of add-ons aimed at significantly enhancing the way you experience Sky TV content on your new Glass:
- Sky Ultra HDR and Dolby Atmos – The Sky Glass TV comes equipped with stunning Ultra-HD (4K) image definition, vibrant High Dynamic Range colours (HDR), and dazzling Dolby Atmos surround sound technology built-in. But in order to unleash that incredible sound and visual experience across Sky channels (Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Syfy, Sky History, Sky Nature, Sky Sports), you will need to pick up the 'Sky Ultra HDR and Dolby Atmos' add-on
- Whole Home – The Whole Home viewing pack is the Sky Glass allows you to watch Sky TV on TVs other than the Glass through the use of the Sky Stream Pucks set-top boxes. Each Stream Puck will connect directly to your broadband router through a cable or over wifi. The Pucks have full support for 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos surround sound. The first Sky Stream Puck comes included with Whole Home
- Ad Skipping Add On – If you want to fast-forward through the adverts in your old recordings of the Great British Bake Off and Succession from your Cloud DVR, you will have to pick up this add-on
Channels
Entertainment channels
There is no doubt Sky TV includes some of the best entertainment channels out there. Sky Atlantic is the crown jewel, showing brilliant Sky Originals such as Chernobyl, Riviera and The Fear Index, and great Sky Exclusives like Westworld, Succession, The Gilded Cage and Mare of Easttown.
Sky Max (formerly Sky One) comes with its own terrific set of TV series, including The Rising, A Discovery of Witches, COBRA and Wolfe. Syfy (soon to be rebranded as Sky Sci-Fi) brings an epic combination of science fiction and fantasy shows like Penny Dreadful City Of Angels, Dark Matter, Siren, The Outpost and Stargate.
Other great channels include Sky Witness, the home of legal dramas and crime investigation shows (The Equalizer, Law & Order, Elementary, CSI) and Sky Comedy (Code 404, Modern Family, Wellington Paranormal).
Documentary channels
Sky TV is content-rich with some of the best documentaries ever produced. Sky Documentaries offers some excellent US broadcasts from HBO and Showtime alongside some new programming: The Kingmaker, Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes, Hillary, The Crime of the Century and Janet Jackson.
For the David Attenborough fans, the new Sky Nature brings captivating content about the natural world in fantastic 4K HDR, while Sky History dives into the richness of our shared history, from stories of great explorations to wartime epic tales. Feel welcome to check out insightful documentaries like Ancient Superstructures, Washington and Treasures Decoded, as well as dramas such as Vikings, Black Sails, Knightfall and Six.
Sports channels
Most of the better-known Sky Sports channels are only available through an additional package. Still, Eurosport 1 and 2 (The Grand Slam, European Athletics Championships, the Olympics) and Sky Sports Racing are contained in the base package.
Even more content
For those looking for more, Sky offers a broad range of additional content for various monthly charges:
- Sky Sports – Sky Sports comes with the extensive range of Sky Sports channels, together with everything from Premier League football to cricket, golf, F1, rugby and much more
- BT Sport – BT Sports (Sport, Sport 1, Sport 2 and Sport 3) is a separate package with even more football, notably UEFA Champions League and UFC
- Sky Cinema – Watch Matrix Resurrections, Last Night in Soho, Dual, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Dear Evan Hansen with Sky’s brilliant entertainment channels
The Sky Glass TV
Other than being Sky’s first dedicated TV service over broadband, Sky Glass is a novelty because of the innovative idea of bundling an actual TV with the service. The Sky Glass TV is available in three sizes: 43in, 55in and 65in, and five different colours: Ocean Blue, Ceramic White, Racing Green, Dusky Pink and Anthracite Black.
In terms of connectivity, you can hook up the Glass to your router via cable or wifi. The Glass even comes with a terrestrial Freeview aerial input which you can use as a backup option if your broadband ever goes down.
Key specifications
| Screen sizes available | 43in (small), 55in (medium), 65in (large) |
|---|---|
| Panel type | Quantum Dot LCD with local dimming |
| Colours | 10-bit colours (over 1 billion colours) |
| Peak brightness (HDR) | 630 nits |
| Colour gamut | 70% coverage of DCI-P3 |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3,840 X 2,160) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| HDR support | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Audio system | Integrated Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 speakers |
| Speakers output | 215W |
| Headphone support | No |
| HDMI ports | 3 x HDMI 2.1 (including 1 x eARC) |
| Gaming features | None |
| Tuner | IPTV (main), Terrestrial (backup) |
| Wireless connectivity | WiFi 6, 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, (WPS supported) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 (for TV remote only) |
| Ethernet | 1 x Gigabit Ethernet port |
| USB | 1 x USB C for power delivery only, (delivers up to 15W) |
| Smart assistant(s) | Hello Sky |
| Smart platform | Sky Glass OS |
Image
The Glass TV features an exciting 4K (UHD) HDR QLCD panel that supports all the latest HDR (High Dynamic Range) standards: The ubiquitous HDR10, the premium Dolby Vision and the BBC’s HLG. HDR technology is meant to provide brighter and more vivid colours, deeper blacks and brighter whites.
Gaming
The TV comes with HDMI 2.1, but fails to implement all the great gaming features of that standard. Technologies like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), High Frame Rate (HFR) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) are missing on this TV.
Audio
The Glass’ integrated Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 soundbar has three outwards-firing speakers, one powerful 120mm central subwoofer and two upward-firing speakers that help create the Atmos’ surround sound effect.
Sky Glass TV with Sky Broadband
While you don’t have to use Sky Broadband with your Sky Glass as any broadband provider will do, getting a Sky Broadband package at the same time as you get your Sky Glass will come with a significant monthly discount, and you’ll be getting both services on the same bill.
Sky Broadband is known to deliver a premium experience to its customers through its collection of excellent broadband packages and superior customer support. If you are thinking of getting a Sky Broadband package or just interested in finding more about them, feel free to check our guide.
Alternatives
Some of the best alternatives to Sky Glass come from Sky itself. The Sky Q is Sky’s satellite dish-based technology. Its main advantages over Sky Glass are more channels, the possibility to record locally and the option to use it with a TV of your choosing.
The other great alternative from Sky is the NOW TV service, which offers both IPTV live streaming and video-on-demand on a monthly rolling contract. It includes Sky Atlantic, Sky Max and Sky Cinema, but most of the content is only available in HD (720p) with stereo audio, except for some Full HD (1080p) content.
Sky channels are also available with BT TV, but only via NOW TV, so still that means no 4K, HDR or Dolby Atmos.
Sky’s main competitor, Virgin Media TV, offers select Sky broadcasts, but you’ll need to pick up Virgin’s 'Drama' extra package (Sky Max, Syfy and Sky Witness) or its 'Bigger Bundle' (“Drama” + Sky Crime, Sky Comedy and Sky Nature). For the Sky Sports channels, you’ll need to pick the 'Sports' bundle, but don’t expect a 4K or HDR experience. The much sought-after Sky Atlantic is not available with Virgin Media TV at all.
Conclusion
Sky Glass is a fantastic offer through which you get a premium, nuanced and versatile streaming service that offers a massive variety of content between the curated Sky channels and the top-class streaming apps included.
As for the Glass TV itself, it remains a mid-range priced TV with competitive features. While no one will pick the Glass for its TV credentials alone, numerous customers will be persuaded by it being effectively offered as a low-cost monthly add-on to their Sky TV subscription.
Measured up against the Sky Q, Sky Glass is a convenient alternative that offers an all-in-one entertainment solution. And for those who can’t have or don’t want to have a satellite dish installed, Sky Glass is a far better option than NOW TV, delivering all the best Sky content in the way it was meant to be watched and listened to, with 4K HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.