With Sky still on a massive mission to switch more of us switching over to streaming it might come as a surprise to hear that the older Sky Q box is getting a much-needed upgrade. Yes, after a very, very long wait, homes that have this ageing satellite-powered system in their living rooms are finally being given access to Channel 5’s full streaming service – My5.
It may sound unbelievable, but until now, this app has been missing from Sky Q boxes despite being fully available on Sky’s other broadband-connected devices—Sky Stream and Sky Glass.
Sky Q users could access Channel 5 shows but only via the general on-demand section of the homepage rather than launching the official app. The update will now allow Q users to view more content across a swathe of genres.
The move, which will arrive this month, comes ahead of Channel 5’s rebrand, which will give the terrestrial service and app the more simplified ‘5’ branding.
Explaining more, Kiaran Saunders, VP Distribution at Paramount UK, said: “Our expanded distribution across Sky Q marks an important milestone in My5’s ongoing growth, enabling us to reach more homes than ever before.
“With the upcoming refresh to 5, we’re thrilled to deliver an even more engaging, streamlined and richer viewing experience for all of our audiences.”
This isn’t the only update coming from Sky, with the company confirming that it’s also revamping its NOW streaming service
Later this month, NOW will get a new look and improved features due to it moving from its current system over to NBCUniversal’s technology.
“Migrating to NBCU’s Global Streaming Platform means NOW members will benefit from the ongoing delivery of customer features that enhance the viewing experience and leverage the latest technologies and innovations across the platform,” Carli Kerr, Managing Director of NOW & Sky Content explained.
Sky has confirmed that the NOW branding and name will remain unchanged but the switch should help deliver a “world class streaming experience” for users.
Want to know more – full details about the new NOW service can be found here
