Sky customers have been advised to make sure they read the small print of their contract or they could end up out of pocket if they end their deal with the TV company. The Mirror reports that the satellite TV firm has updated its small print so that anyone joining via a Sky Stream plan no longer owns the black box that sits under the TV, which means if it gets lost they might have to pay for it.
Until recently, anyone joining via a Sky Stream plan automatically owned the mini TV-viewing device. However, the Mirror says that the eagle-eyed team at Cordbusters have spotted a change in the terms and conditions which means Stream users now rent the box as part of the monthly subscription fee. The change took place on February 23, so anyone ordering the streaming box after that date will be affected.
This update means at the end of the contract Sky can ask for the Stream "puck" to be returned. Those who can't find it or don't pop it in the post could end up facing a nasty bill. "You’ll be charged a non-return charge for any equipment that’s not returned to us, including if you’ve lost your equipment or if it’s been stolen," Sky explains on its website.
It's unclear exactly how much it will cost if things go missing but it's probably wise for anyone with Stream to keep track of the palm-sized gadget once they have finished with it.
This isn't actually a new term and condition, with most Sky Q users also renting the box rather than owning it. "Sky Q boxes are loaned equipment supplied to you at no cost and remain the property of Sky (or another Sky group company) at all times," the Sky website says.
Sky Stream launched late last year and offers premium telly without the need for a satellite dish to be erected outdoors. The little gadget can be self-installed with Sky popping things in the post and then it being a simple question of plugging it in, connecting it to the Wi-Fi and attaching the HDMI cable.
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Along with offering instant access to Sky's premium channels such as Sports and Cinema, it has an easy way to tune into services such as Netflix, Prime Video and Apple TV+ with all of these apps found on the home screen.
Although Stream doesn't have a physical hard drive for recordings, content can be stored in the new Playlists section which uses the cloud and online players to keep the things most viewed. Other extras include a backlit remote control, full live TV listings and a compact size that makes it easy to put under the telly.
Sky Stream starts from £26 per month on a 24-month deal or there's the option to pay a bit more but not face a long-term contract. The £29 plan lets you leave at any time thanks to a 31-day rolling contract.
Cordbusters is campaigning consumer website that opposes cable/satellite television services, contracts and bills, instead focusing on contract-free streaming providers.
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