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From today, EE customers can add the latest set-top box from Sky TV to their plans. It's all thanks to a one-of-a-kind new partnership between the BT-owned telecom brand and Sky TV, which launched on October 15.
If you have a phone or broadband contract with EE, you can now add Sky Stream to the deal. It comes just a few weeks after EE became the first nationwide broadband firm to launch a next-generation Wi-Fi 7 router.
Ordering from the EE store, you can add the entry-level Sky TV bundle with over 100 live channels, including 50 that are unavailable on Freeview and a complete Netflix subscription for £28 a month. This price is locked-in for a 24-month contract. But that same bundle costs just £26 a month when bought direct from the Sky Store.
And with our exclusive link, GBN viewers can unlock the same deal for just £20 a month. Yes, really.
EE also charges a 99p admin fee to process the request from its online store.
Unlike traditional set-top boxes, like Sky+ HD and Sky Q, which relied on a satellite dish to beam exclusive channels, Sky Stream only needs a Wi-Fi connection. As such, there's no need to arrange an engineer visit, since the set-up is simple enough that you can follow the step-by-step instructions on-screen.
For the first time, EE customers can buy a Sky Stream box and sign-up for the Sky Entertainment bundle, which comes with 50+ channels not available on Freeview and a complete Netflix subscription, from the EE store. Available online and in the high street, the deal comes with a 99p admin fee
With a wireless internet connection — and EE offers some of the fastest full-fibre broadband in the UK — you'll be able to stream over 50 live channels unavailable on Freeview or its successor Freely, including Sky Max, Sky Witness, Sky Atlantic, Sky Comedy, Sky History, Sky Nature, Gold, Sky Crime, Comedy Central, MTV, Sky Sci-Fi, and Alibi. All of the features you'd associate with Sky TV boxes — like the ability to pause and rewind live television — are present and correct.
Terrestrial channels from BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and others are also available to stream via Wi-Fi or an ethernet connection to Sky Stream, with everything shown in 1080p High Definition (HD) by default.
A swathe of streaming services — like Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Netflix — are preinstalled on Sky Stream. You can search across all of these catalogues using voice commands and the clever EntertainmentOS software will make intelligent suggestions based on your viewing history across all of these services. A subscription to Netflix is included as standard with all Sky bundles.
As well as built-in apps for streamers, Sky has included a variety of games and at-home fitness services. EntertainmentOS regularly receives updates — with almost 300 delivered in one year alone, bringing new features and redesigns.
Sky Stream is 4K HDR-enabled with support for Dolby Atmos. There's no internal storage, so nothing is physically recorded to the device — unlike older Sky Q and Sky+ HD boxes, but you can add upcoming shows and films to a playlist. This queue will be updated as new shows air, and also brings together past episodes from a swathe of on-demand libraries. You'll need to spend an extra £5 to fast-forward ad breaks when watching on-demand.
Last year, BT TV boxes were rebranded to EE TV with a software update to existing customers as part of a major overhaul of the brand. EE also introduced the ability to purchase game consoles, home security cameras, and other consumer electronics from its stores.
With the latest announcement, the flagship set-top box from Sky TV now sits on the shelves alongside all of these gadgets. In terms of pricing, the best Sky Stream deals are still available direct from Sky TV, that's because EE is offering the television subscriptions at RRP — with no price cuts.
EE charges a 99p admin fee to get started with the set-top box, something that you won't be charged when buying direct from Sky TV. However, for those who don't like the idea of having multiple Direct Debits for their broadband, pay monthly phone deal, and television... this is an easy solution.
For the first time, Sky Stream will be available to pair with full-fibre broadband from a rival supplier at checkout
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The latest shake-up builds upon EE's existing TV portfolio, which includes the EE TV Set Top Box Pro and the EE TV app on Apple TV 4K. EE worked with the teams at Apple to design a custom remote control to complement the live television streaming its app delivers to this small set-top box.
While Sky Stream is already available from other retailers like Currys, this marks the first time EE customers can bundle it with a broadband package from a rival brand at checkout. The collaboration is part of EE's strategy to partner with leading brands and offer customers a wide range of choices.
For Sky, this is clearly an opportunity to bring its premium channels to a broader audience through one of the UK's largest mobile networks.
Speaking about the new partnership, EE CEO Marc Allera said: "As part of our strategy for new EE, were continually looking to partner with some of the worlds leading brands to provide our customers with the very best in entertainment. Extending our partnership with Sky allows us to give customers even greater choice, so they can take a TV service that best suits their lifestyle, matched with EEs great new home broadband offering."
With this landmark new partnership in place, new customers looking to upgrade to Sky Stream will have three choices: order directly from Sky with the option to pair with Sky broadband; order from EE to pair with its own full-fibre broadband or pay monthly phone deals; buy the set-top box from Currys and set-up a contract for paid-for television channels at a later date.
Chief Consumer Officer at Sky TV Sophia Ahmad said: "Sky Stream offers a transformative viewing experience, making it even easier for customers to access Skys market-leading entertainment offer, with no dish required.
"We're excited to be partnering with EE to take the benefits of Sky Stream into the front rooms of even more customers, bringing them one of the highest standards in viewing experience combined with the best live sport and award-winning Sky Originals all in one place."
Marc Allera — who heads up EE and BT's consumer division — heralded the new deal as a continuation of the reimagining of the EE brand, which was introduced one year ago
EE PRESS OFFICEIf you're looking to compare the best Sky Glass deals with the best Sky Stream deals, we've put together comprehensive guides on pricing for both of these Wi-Fi-only devices, which have become so popular that Sky has started to dismantle its satellite engineering departments.
Analyst Paolo Pescatore, of PP Foresight, commented the new deal, stating: "This latest tie-up is part of a wider strategic collaboration between both companies. It is a logical move that makes sense for both parties given their respective positions and aspirations.
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"Fits in nicely with the BT Group strategy for EE consumers. One of the areas of focus is to extend its presence in the home, by working with partners to provide its customers with a broad range of compelling products and services. For Sky, this further cements its position as a leading provider of pay-tv services in the UK. Significantly, this is the first time we will see a Sky product being marketed and sold by EE — beyond NOW, at least.
"Others will be looking at this deal with interest and potentially seeking to replicate it."
