In another expansion for Sky’s customers and British reality TV enthusiasts, Hayu, the popular all-reality, on-demand streaming service from NBCUniversal, has now launched on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
Hayu, primarily known for its extensive library of over 300 shows and over 10,000 episodes, includes fan favourites like The Real Housewives, Million Dollar Listing, Below Deck, and Vanderpump Rules.
As of November 9, 2023, this integration brings this wide selection of mostly-American reality TV shows closer to the fans, as an app on Sky’s streaming-based devices (see below on how to access it).
It’s bad news for Sky Q subscribers, however, as Hayu is only expected to be available on Sky Q next year.
What’s Hayu?
Launched in 2016, Hayu has carved a unique niche in the streaming world by focusing exclusively on American reality TV shows and true crime.
Therefore Hayu has become synonymous with ‘guilty pleasure’ TV, offering shows that are as addictive as they are talked about (at least among certain circles).
From Keeping Up With The Kardashians to various versions of The Real Housewives and Million Dollar Listing, along with true crime docu-dramas, Hayu brings the latest from the US to the UK, often within a day of their American release.
This quick turnaround is particularly significant in the age of social media, where spoilers are rampant and can ruin the viewing experience for die-hard fans.
Hayu is Owned by NBCUniversal/Comcast – the same conglomerate behind Sky – which makes it kind of surprising that the service was NOT available on Sky’s devices until today. But better late than never…
Hayu’s app is also available on a multitude of other streaming devices, such as Roku and the Fire TV, and is available either as a standalone service, or as an Amazon Prime Video Channel.
Hayu normally costs £4.99/month in the UK.
Hayu’s Now On Sky Glass / Stream
Sky Glass (see my review), which was released in 2021, is a 4K TV set that features a QLED HDR display and a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar with six speakers.
Sky Stream (see our review) is a standalone streaming set-top box that works with any broadband provider.
Unlike Sky’s other services in the UK, Sky Glass and Sky Stream don’t use a satellite dish – instead, they rely on broadband, and stream all the content to the TV, much like other streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV and Roku – or streaming services like Sky’s own NOW (see our Sky Stream VS Now comparison).
The new Hayu partnership, which now exists as an app on Sky’s devices, means that Sky customers can easily access Hayu’s content through voice commands like “Hello Sky, Get Hayu” or by navigating the apps rail on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
As with other streaming apps on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, Hayu’s shows will be synchronised with your Playlist and Continue Watching rails, and with the voice search.
So, for instance, viewers can simply say, “Hello Sky, play The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”, and jump straight into the drama without fumbling through different apps.
How To Subscribe To Hayu Via Sky
It’s important to note Hayu is not free with any of Sky’s plans – it’s an optional paid add-on (same as Disney+, Amazon’s Prime Video and other streaming services).
New users can subscribe through Sky Marketplace, allowing for a consolidated billing and subscription management experience, and there’s also a 7-day free trial.
Existing subscribers can simply log into the new app, with their current Hayu credentials, on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
As mentioned, Hayu is also available via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels – however, keep in mind that if you subscribe that way, you won’t be able to use the Hayu app – as the two subscriptions are separate.
If that’s the case – you’ll have to watch Hayu on the Prime Video app (which is also available on Sky Glass and Sky Stream).