Sky has confirmed the launch of a new Ultra HD service through its Sky Q Silver receiver.
It will be available to customers from August 13 with a line-up that includes Premier League football, movies, natural history documentaries and drama. From 2017 Formula 1 will be available in the format.
124 live Premier League matches will be carried in Ultra HD – 12 months after rival BT launched its own Ultra HD service. Movies to be seen in Ultra HD include the most recent James Bond outing Spectre Oscar winner The Revenant, and box office hit The Martian.
Documentary includes David Attenborough’s Conquest of the Skies and five new dramas such as The Young Pope starring Jude Law and Series 4 of The Blacklist.
Luke Bradley-Jones, director of TV & Content Products, commented: “With Sky Q, we created the world’s best TV experience. Now with the introduction of an unrivalled line-up of Ultra HD TV, the service is going to get even better, truly enhancing customers’ viewing experience. So whether you’re a football fan, movie buff, natural history enthusiast or drama junkie, customers looking for the next-generation of TV viewing will love it.”
30 Sky Store rental movies can be purchased from Angry Birds to the entire Ghostbusters and Men In Black box sets.
Paolo Pescatore, Director, Multiplay and Media at CCS Insight said the offer came at a time when rivals were promoting their respective multi-play bundles ahead of the new Premier League football season. “We believe that this will drive uptake to Sky’s latest and greatest pay TV service, Sky Q. Though the concept of fluid viewing has failed to resonate with consumers, premium content in 4K such as Premier League will drive awareness, appetite and enhance their viewing experience. As we’ve said repeatedly, Sky’s close relationship with content and rights owners still puts it in a far stronger position than its competitors.”
Set-up costs start at £99 with an additional £12 typically being added to subscription rates currently being paid by Sky+ customers; for those new to Sky the monthly cost starts at £42.
The complete family of products, Sky Q, Sky Q Silver, Sky Q Mini, the Sky Q touch remote, the Sky Q Hub and the Sky Q app, all connect together – Sky is using the term Fluid Viewing. The 12 tuner Sky Q Silver box gives customers the ability to record four shows while watching a fifth live.
Sky Broadband customers receive the new Sky Q Hub that turns Sky Q boxes into Wi-Fi hotspots improving coverage across the home.
