Finally On Sky Q: Channel 4’s Full Streaming App

After a noticeable absence, Channel 4’s streaming service, previously known as All4, has finally launched on Sky Q.

This much-anticipated release comes after the app was already available on Sky’s other platforms – Sky Glass and Sky Stream – raising questions about the delay in its arrival on Sky Q.

Until now, Sky Q users only had access to a limited selection of Channel 4’s shows on-demand, as part of Sky Q’s native on-demand section. From today, they’ll get the full app, with all of its content.

Viewers now have access to a vast range of streaming content, including thousands of hours of beloved shows such as Gogglebox, The Inbetweeners, Married at First Sight, and The Great British Bake Off. 

The Channel 4 app offers various user-friendly features such as tailored content recommendations, seamless viewing across different devices, and a ‘My List’ option for saving favourite shows (which also syncs across the different platforms).

Additionally, in the coming year, Channel 4 plans to introduce Live Restart on Sky Q. This feature will allow viewers who’ve missed the start of a show to begin watching from the beginning.

From All4 To Channel 4

Earlier this year, the channel’s long-running streaming app changed its name from “All 4” to a somewhat confusing “Channel 4” – the same as the linear channel.

This change aimed to unify Channel 4’s digital and linear identities, reflecting the evolving viewer habits where distinctions between digital and traditional TV are becoming increasingly blurred.

However, this has led to some confusion among viewers, struggling to differentiate between the linear TV channel and the streaming app.

Furthermore, Channel 4’s streaming service has faced its share of criticism, particularly regarding its user interface and technical performance, in a recent Ofcom review.

Younger audiences have found the platform difficult to navigate and prone to glitches, leading to a diminished viewing experience.

These issues have been significant enough to attract the attention of Ofcom, which is currently considering changes to Channel 4’s licensing conditions to address some of these concerns, as well as make significant changes related to the channel’s content and output.

Channel 4 App: Now Available Everywhere (Almost)

Earlier this year, the Channel 4 app also returned to Freesat, marking the end of a five-year absence.

This reintroduction brought an additional 16,000 hours of on-demand content to Freesat’s 4K TV Boxes, although older Freesat Humax boxes did not receive this update.

The app’s return to Freesat, and now its launch on Sky Q, represents Channel 4’s ongoing efforts to widen its digital footprint across various platforms.

The app is now available on Freeview Play boxes and TVs, Sky Q, Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Virgin Media, Samsung smart TVs, Sony smart TVs with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, BT TV (now known as EE TV), TalkTalk TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Apple TV as well as on mobile devices and the web.

Karla Berry, Distribution & Partnerships Leader at Channel 4, commented on the launch, saying, “With today’s launch we’re bringing the very best, personalised Channel 4 streaming experience to millions of Sky Q customers across the country”.

Echoing this sentiment, Jon Simkin, Managing Director of Channels & Partnerships at Sky, stated, “We aim to give our customers the best entertainment experience, so we’re thrilled to be expanding Channel 4’s offering on Sky Q just in time for the Christmas period.”