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Switch on your Sky Glass TV or Sky Stream box today, and you'll discover a swathe of brand-new channels. Yes, these music channels have started to roll-out across the most recent hardware from Sky TV via a free over-the-air update today (November 20).
However, anyone who has used an older satellite dish-powered Sky Q might already be familiar with these channels, since they've been available on that generation of set-top box for some time.
Sky Stream has never been this affordable. For its latest Black Friday, the most recent addition to the Sky TV lineup has been slashed to just £19 a month. That equates to a total saving of £216 over the course of a two-year contract compared to the standard £28 subscription fee. This diddy plug-and-play box arrives with 100 channels not available on Freeview, hours of boxsets from HBO, Peacock, and Sky Originals, and a complete Netflix subscription. Unlike Sky Q, High Definition is included as standard.
The free upgrade expansion brings popular music services, including NOW 80s and Clubland TV to Sky's streaming platforms for the first time.
Both Sky Glass and Sky Stream unlock live television and on-demand content via a Wi-Fi connection, with no need for an aerial or satellite dish. These devices have become the go-to way to watch Sky TV, with statistics from the broadcaster showing that 90% of new customers choose a streaming platform. Viewers won't need to make any changes to their equipment to receive the new channels, as the EntertainmentOS update will be applied automatically.
There are multiple channels themed around specific decades, like NOW 80s, in the Music section of the TV Guide on Sky Glass and Sky Stream
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The addition includes a seasonal NOW XMAS channel, perfectly timed for the festive period, offering back-to-back Christmas songs. Here's the complete list of new channels being added to Sky Glass and Sky Stream, with their designated channel numbers:
These new additions should expand the entertainment options available to streaming customers and brings Glass and Stream closer to Sky Q in terms of the quantity of channels available to watch. The over-the-air update was first spotted by the team at RXTV.
With the arrival of these new channels, subscribers with different musical tastes and favourite eras should be cateered to. NOW 70s and NOW 80s promise to offer non-stop nostalgic hits from their respective decades, while NOW ROCK focuses on rock music across various periods. As the name suggests, NOW XMAS is a temporary addition that will feature a playlist packed with classic festive songs, Christmas No.1s, and (presumably) more renditions of Last Christmas by WHAM! than anyone needs during the run-up to December 25.
Of course, EntertainmentOS — the custom-designed operating system created by Sky to power its Glass TVs and Sky Stream box — has a YouTube app built-in, which is packed with hundreds of thousands of music videos and lyrics videos from artists. You can also use your existing Spotify account details to log into the app on Sky Q or Sky Glass to summon your favourite playlists, music videos, or albums.
While these channels are already familiar to Sky Q users, this marks their first appearance on Sky's streaming-only devices. The update is being rolled out from today, though some users may need to wait briefly as the over-the-air update reaches all Sky Glass TVs and Sky Stream devices across the UK.
The update comes a few days after Sky kickstarted its Black Friday sale, dropping its Sky Stream box to the "lowest ever price", starting from just £19 a month.
This Black Friday discount includes access to 50+ channel that you can't watch on Freeview and complete access to the Netflix catalogue. It also bundles boxsets like House of the Dragon, Succession, Euphoria, Dune: Prohecy, The White Lotus, and The Wire, Chernobyl, and Game Of Thrones.
Sky Stream has never been this affordable. For its latest Black Friday, the most recent addition to the Sky TV lineup has been slashed to just £19 a month. That equates to a total saving of £216 over the course of a two-year contract compared to the standard £28 subscription fee. This diddy plug-and-play box arrives with 100 channels not available on Freeview, hours of boxsets from HBO, Peacock, and Sky Originals, and a complete Netflix subscription. Unlike Sky Q, High Definition is included as standard.
Sky Stream, which can be installed yourself in a matter of minutes — so there's no need to book an engineer appointment, ships with a backlit remote control for easier operation in low-light conditions.
You'll find receive personalised viewing recommendations and can access all popular streaming apps through the platform, including Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+, as well as catch-up services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and Channel 4.
Eddie Redmayne, pictured, stars in the modern retelling of The Day of the Jackal — biggest original Sky TV show in over two years
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You'll also be able to watch The Day of the Jackal — the latest exclusive show to debut on the box and has become the platform's biggest launch in over two years, achieving a record audience of three million viewers in its first week. The 10-part thriller, starring Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, and Úrsula Corberó, has been sold to almost 200 territories globally.
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Meghan Lyvers, Executive Director of Original Scripted, Sky UK and Ireland, said: "We are thrilled by the phenomenal global reception of The Day of the Jackal. This series has captivated audiences with its propulsive storytelling, epic scope, and unforgettable performances."
Episodes 1-6 are currently available on Sky and streaming service NOW, with new episodes launching weekly each Thursday. The series will debut on Peacock in the US on 14th November.
