Sky’s streaming TV, Sky Glass, is getting a free update this week that will add nine new channels to its roster (including GB News and TalkTV), as well as several new highly requested features.
Among the new features is the addition of voice search on YouTube, better integration with the BBC apps, and the ability to control your Playlist better.
Furthermore, Sky Sports Box Office will finally be a part of Sky Glass, just in time for the Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua boxing rematch.
The new update is being rolled out automatically to all users, so you don’t have to do anything other than wait for it.
Sky Glass is a 4K TV set that features a QLED HDR display and a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar with six speakers.
Unlike Sky’s other UK services, Sky Glass doesn’t use a satellite dish – instead, it relies on broadband, and streams 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 Glass VS Now comparison).
In my in-depth review of Sky Glass, I was impressed with its global search and its overall promise for the future. Picture and sound quality are mid-range but decent, and to this day there’s still a lot Sky needs to do, with the new update addressing a few early concerns.
At the moment, and until August 4, customers who buy Sky Glass directly from Sky can get three free months of Sky Ultimate (which includes Netflix Basic), along with one free Sky Stream puck.
New Features On Sky Glass
The newly released update adds the following features to Sky Glass:
YouTube Voice Search
Sky Glass’ voice search can be used to run apps and search for channels or programmes/films, and is capable of finding content on 3rd party streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Until now, however, YouTube was not supported.
With this new update, you can now easily search the whole of YouTube with your voice, straight from the Sky Glass main interface.
Simply say what you want to find, like “Hello Sky, Shawn Mendes on YouTube” for clips of the American singer, or “Hello Sky, Mr Beast on YouTube”, and be taken to straight to the search results page on the YouTube app.
According to Sky, voice search will be coming to more apps soon.
Sky Sports Box Office
Although the Sky Store (with its VOD purchases) is already available on Sky Glass, Sky Sports Box Office was missing until now.
With the new update, the home of pay-per-view sporting entertainment is now on Sky Glass, meaning you can watch some of the biggest fights in the comfort of your own home.
And, Sky Sports Box Office will be the only place in the UK and Ireland to watch the much-anticipated Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua boxing rematch on August 20, 2022.
Single BBC Login
You no longer need to struggle to remember or keep track of multiple passwords for BBC apps on Sky Glass.
You now only need to log in once, meaning if you sign into BBC Sounds or BBC iPlayer you’ll be automatically signed into the other.
Easier Playlist Removal
Sky Glass’ Playlist is where all the content you’re interested in resides. Whenever you see a programme/series/film you’re interested in, on the TV Guide or on any of the integrated menus, you can press “+” on your remote – and that programme will be added to your Playlist.
But while adding content was quick and easy with the Plus button, removing content from your Playlist was a more tedious affair, having to navigate the menus.
With the new update, curating your perfect Playlist has just got easier, as you can now use that same “+” button to quickly remove anything you don’t want with just one click.
New Channels On Sky Glass
The new update also brings with it nine new TV channels to Sky Glass. These channels will be automatically added for Sky Ultimate customers, without any extra payment needed.
Although Sky Glass is still missing several Freeview channels that are available on Sky Q, the update is bringing the two right-winged news channels, GB News and the Piers Morgan-fronted TalkTV.
The new channels are:
- Colors HD
- Colors Rishtey
- Colors Gujrati
- Bloomberg
- NBC News Now
- GB News
- TalkTV
- Zee TV
- Zee Cinema
According to Sky, more channels will be added in the future.
- August Update: CNN was also added to Sky Glass.
For more future updates on Sky Glass and other streaming devices, Subscribe to our free newsletter.
When will court tv be available on sky glass
When will you be adding further channels similar to sky q range such as extra music channels clubland Tv, Now tv etc as You cannot get these in free view outside of Manchester.
When will QVC UK be on Sky Glass? Saving me a fortune by not having it but I think I am missing out on some good deals.
I was disappointed when I read that you have to pay extra for dolby surround sound and for 4k quality
I have sky glass , brand new super tv unfortunately I’m very hard of hearing the tv offers no facility for headphones wireless or otherwise, the tv I just got rid of (4 years old ) had Bluetooth and a headphone Jack brand new tv , I just can’t hear !!!!!
I am gutted that you have to have sky cinema to get paramount plus. I think it should be a subscription on its own.
You only need to have Sky Cinema if you want to get Paramount+ for “free”. Otherwise, it’s certainly available as a standalone subscription – see our full guide here
When are you going to be able to record?
You don’t record just add any shows to your playlist
Just add any shows to your play list there is no recording facility on sky glass
When will we see season 3 of Evil?
I would like to no when talking pictures will be added to Sky glass +
Very disappointed that have to talking pictures Also TCM, when it’s being shown.
I think it’s a great idea more channels
Hey Or, I know it’s unrelated to the article however I just wanted to let you know Paramount Plus in the UK have finally uploaded some of the classic episodes of Beavis and Butt-Head which have been remastered which are brilliant. They’ve also added the new Scream movie so slowly but surely they are really improving and it’s great!!
So they are getting there, still baffles me how they launched the way they did however as long as they continue to build then it’s all good. There’s only a few episode’s of the remastered Beavis and Butt-Head classic episodes however as far as I’m aware it’s the same thing they’ve done in the US, just dropped a few episodes at a time but the fact they have added them is fantastic!!
Hopefully they will start to add some of the 90’s Nick shows that they are so desperately missing and complete some of the movie franchise’s where pretty much the majority of them are incomplete (I often fancy watching a franchise but there’s never any point when some are missing) but it’s definitely a step in the right direction for them 😊
I just wanted to kindly let you know in case you wanted to do a follow up on them at some point 😊
still no lets make a deal and price is right