Sky’s promised expansion of music channels on Sky Glass and Sky Stream is finally happening today, after an unexpected delay last month left many viewers disappointed.
The broadcaster has confirmed that five new NOW music channels – including the seasonal NOW XMAS and retro stations NOW 70s and NOW 80s – will begin appearing on Glass and Stream this evening, expanding the rather limited music options currently available on these platforms.
Sky’s Different Platforms & Channels
For those not familiar with Sky’s different platforms, while Sky Q relies on traditional satellite dishes, Sky Glass and Sky Stream are the broadcaster’s broadband-based offerings.
Sky Glass comes integrated into a dedicated TV set, whilst Sky Stream is a small box that works with any television. Both devices work with any broadband provider – so you don’t have to be a Sky Broadband subscriber.
Since their launch, these streaming platforms haven’t offered quite the same channel lineup as their satellite-based sibling, Sky Q.
So while Sky Q users have been enjoying the NOW music channels for quite some time, Sky Glass and Stream customers have been waiting patiently for their arrival, particularly since Channel 4’s closure of its entire Box network of music channels earlier this year.
Therefore, until today, Sky Glass and Stream users have had access to just a handful of music channels:
- MTV (137)
- MTV Music (350)
- MTV Hits (351)
- MTV 90s (352)
- MTV 80s (353)
- B4U Music (712)
Sky Q users have a longer list of music channels, including the NOW music channels, as well as retro music channels from That’s TV.
The New Additions
The NOW music channels (not to be confused with Sky’s own NOW streaming service), operated by Universal Music UK, have built a strong following through their presence on Sky Q and Freeview.
After Sky initially announced the new music channels would be launching on November 20, many viewers were left confused when the day came and went without any new channels appearing.
The situation became even more puzzling when Sky’s original announcement was quietly edited to remove mention of the channels – until eventually, a Sky representative explained that technical issues had forced a postponement of the launch.
Now, several weeks later, those technical hurdles appear to have been overcome, and we can confirm the channels will finally be available starting today.
These are the channels coming to Sky Glass and Stream today:
Clubland TV (Channel 354): A paradise for dance music fans, featuring classic club anthems, dance hits, and electronic music from across the decades.
NOW 70s (Channel 355): Taking viewers back to the era of disco and glam rock, with hits from ABBA, Queen, and other 70s icons.
NOW 80s (Channel 356): Dedicated to the decade that gave us synthpop, new wave, and hair metal, playing everything from Duran Duran to Madonna.
NOW XMAS (Channel 357): A seasonal treat featuring festive favourites – arriving just in time for December.
NOW ROCK (Channel 358): Catering to rock music fans with a mix of classic rock, metal, and alternative tracks from across the decades.
The channels will be automatically added to eligible Sky Glass and Stream devices this evening, as part of the Sky Ultimate package – with no additional subscription required.
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