Sky will relaunch Sky Go later this year.
Teased during a launch in London yesterday, it is expected that the new app will better incorporate Sky Glass and Stream features.
UPDATE: We previously suggested that Sky Q customers would not be able to use the new Sky Go app when it launches later this year, but have seen been informed that's not the case.
Sky Q customers will continue to get Sky Go access, although we're not yet sure in what capacity. The article below has been updated with the new information in mind.
On Wednesday in London, Sky announced that it was expanding its TV offering by adding the Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu streaming services to its Ultimate tier – all for just £24 per month. It also teased some upcoming changes too – namely to its Sky Go app for watching programming on mobile.
Although we don't yet know exactly what that will entail (we'll find out in the coming months), T3 has had it confirmed that the new version of the app will be available to all Sky TV customers – including those with Sky Glass, Sky Stream or Sky Q devices.
For the last decade, Sky Go has not only been a platform to watch Sky programming on a phone or tablet (or PlayStation console), it has given you access to your Sky Q recordings too – allowing you to download them to watch offline.
In addition, it has given you the ability to interact with your Sky Q box and, in particular, set up future recordings. I've often found myself camping in a field and suddenly remembering there was something I wanted to watch. I would then use the Sky Go app to set my box at home to record it.
It's not clear at present whether those functions will continue, or whether the new Sky Go app will switch to offering live channel streams and the on demand versions of Sky's programming only. That being said, both Sky Glass and Stream allow you access shows and movies you've put in your Playlist, so maybe that'll be available on the app too.
In addition, the UK TV landscape has changed considerably since Sky Go first launched, and most broadcast programming is almost instantly available to view on demand anyway. Do you really need to download recordings (with ads) from your Sky Q box if the show is available in an arguably better format anyway?
On top of that, Sky Q is gradually being phased out. The future for Sky is internet delivery rather than satellite, as evidenced by the online Sky Store no longer selling Sky Q packages.
Is it time to ditch the Sky Q box?
To be fair, Sky is also making it easier and more attractive to switch to Stream and Glass. The new Ultimate TV plan is amazing value for £24 per month, considering you get Sky Entertainment, including all the Freeview channels and Netflix, with HBO Max, Disney+ and Hayu soon to be added too.
And you even get a Stream box at no extra cost.
It's also understandable that Sky Q is reaching the end of its run in tech terms. It was groundbreaking when it launched a decade ago, but modern apps now run slowly on its creaking hardware, and it's becoming harder to embrace new features on a chipset that even seemed outmoded two or three years ago.
Technology moves on and 10 years is a very long time.
Personally, I still love my Sky Q box – not least for lower latency during 4K football broadcasts – but I also find Sky OS on Glass and Stream a better experience.
At least Sky will continue to serve Sky Q customers with extra incentives while the switch over takes place.
