Sky Stream in the test: Clearer than the Fire TV Stick

SKY STREAM

October 7, 2024 at 4:47 p.m

With Sky Stream, the pay-TV broadcaster wants to clearly combine linear TV and the content of various streaming services under one interface. Our test clarifies whether this is successful.

1. Price and availability

2. Design and workmanship

3. Setup and operation

4. Entertainment OS 1.3

5. Conclusion
   

Until a few years ago, the pay-TV provider Sky’s programs could only be received via cable or satellite. Sky now also uses the Internet as a distribution channel for its content. If you just want to stream live sports or individual series or films, you can do this via the in-house streaming service called Wow. Similar to Netflix, this offers you the option to cancel monthly and can be used on various devices. The Sky Stream offer, however, is different. You can only use Sky Stream with the IPTV box of the same name.

To put it simply, this is a “classic Sky Q receiver” that receives its signal via the Internet and not via cable or satellite. In addition to Sky’s linear program offering, you can also receive the classic free TV programs from public and popular private channels via the box. Apps for the most popular streaming services are also available on the box. So that you don’t have to unplug Sky Stream and connect the Fire TV Stick to your television to watch a round of Netflix. More on that later.

Price and availability

The box cannot be purchased separately, but is provided to you free of charge for the duration of your Sky Streams subscription. Such a subscription costs at least 15 dollars per month and runs for one year. There is no trial month or similar trial offers with Sky Stream.

For real Sky fans, the offer will remind you of the Sky Q IPTV box, which the broadcaster launched in 2022. In fact, Sky Stream has many visual parallels.

Design and workmanship

Sky Stream is a square box and not a streaming stick or dongle like other providers offer – such as Waipu.tv, Freenet or HD+. Despite the box format, the device is very compact. With dimensions of 10.6 x 2.0 x 10.6 centimeters, it is barely larger than a coaster and just as thick as a Blu-ray case. It can be placed inconspicuously next to the television and fits into any living room with its timeless black design.

Nice: Unlike streaming sticks, the box has an Ethernet port. Sky Stream can also be connected to the network via cable if the WiFi reception in the area of ​​the television is too weak. The box only offers an HDMI port for connecting to the television and a power connection as further connections. So you can’t connect a hard drive with your private film collection and play it via Sky Stream. This was already the case with the Sky Q IPTV Box.

This is what the Sky Stream box looks like

A first look at the Internet receiver

While little has changed visually or in terms of connections, technically things look different. With Sky Stream, Sky has learned from some of the mistakes the manufacturer made with the Sky IPTV box. The box now offers support for 4K content ex works – this was only added to the box later via an update.

The most important image and sound standards are also supported with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos as well as HLG and HDR10. Only HDR10+ is not on board, to the chagrin of Samsung fans.

Setup and operation

Our test device was preconfigured except for the internet connection. According to the instructions, the setup is very similar to that of the Sky Q IPTV box and should therefore be completed in less than 5 minutes. Another big drawback: You can only enter your WiFi password with difficulty using the remote control and have to laboriously select each character from a drop-down menu. This is easier to solve.

The included remote control is also similar to that of the Sky Q IPTV Box and also cuts a fine figure with Sky Stream. It fits well in the hand and offers clear pressure points and a backlight. Thanks to the direct selection buttons, you can also jump directly to the desired program, just like with television via cable or satellite. We only miss buttons for quickly starting popular apps – such as YouTube or Netflix.

Actually, you only have to press one button on the remote control and that is the microphone button. If you hold this down, you can operate Sky Stream via voice command and it works surprisingly well. You can either jump to RTL using your voice command or start a YouTube video. The whole thing works regardless of whether you are currently using an app or watching normal television.

Entertainment OS 1.3

In general, Sky also tries to make the use of apps “superfluous” with Sky Stream. You should actually be able to access all relevant content directly via the receiver’s interface or find it using the search. Sky relies on a self-developed operating system called Entertainment OS 1.3 and not on Google TV like Vodafone does with GigaTV. Entertainment OS 1.3 builds on the Sky Q receiver’s user interface, but does a few things differently.

First of all, you will be shown a wide range of recommendations as the top selection, which are actually very accurate and get better the longer you use the box. You then have the option of calling up your own playlist or only displaying certain content – such as films and series. Below you will find the TV guide for linear television, followed by a number of other recommended contents as well as the app overview.

The whole layout looks tidy and not as cluttered as the Fire TV Stick. In addition to your Sky access and the access data for the respective streaming service, you do not need a Google account to download and use apps.

However, there are a few shortcomings: The interface cannot (yet) be adapted to your own wishes. For example, you will also receive recommendations for streaming services that you have not subscribed to. Apps you don’t need can also not be removed, and you can’t adjust the order of the recommendations either. You also can’t add all content to your own playlist from apps.

Also incomprehensible are billing and your data cannot be accessed or adjusted via the box. There are corresponding menu items, but there is only a QR code that takes you to the respective Sky website.

It remains to be seen whether Sky will soon remedy this with a software update. A few months later, a major update was distributed to the Sky Q IPTV box that resolved many points of criticism.