Sky Users Get A Surprise: UKTV’s U App Finally Arrives

Sky Stream and Glass users, there’s a happy surprise waiting for you this week: the U app (formerly known as UKTV Play) has finally made its debut on your devices.

Subscribers can now find the new app in their apps row, arriving without any fanfare, but marking a long-awaited integration that was initially slated for July.

While Sky hasn’t made an official announcement yet, the app’s appearance signals an expansion of content options for Sky Glass and Sky Stream users, giving access to a broader range of content from UKTV’s channels.

From UKTV to U

For those who might be a bit confused, U is the rebranded version of what was formerly known as UKTV Play.

This change was part of a larger rebranding effort by UKTV, the BBC-owned broadcaster behind popular free-to-air channels like Dave and Yesterday.

On July 16, 2024, UKTV unveiled its new identity, transforming its streaming service and channel lineup under the ‘U’ banner.

This change aimed to create a more cohesive brand identity across its various offerings. As part of this rebrand:

• UKTV Play (the streaming app) became simply ‘U’
• Dave became U&Dave
• Drama became U&Drama
• Yesterday became U&Yesterday
• W became U&W

It’s worth noting that while the channels and streaming service got new names, the parent company is still called UKTV. A bit confusing? Perhaps, but that’s the world of TV branding for you (with Channel 5 also soon transforming into just…”5″).

UKTV also operates premium channels – Gold (a destination for classic British comedy), Alibi (dedicated to crime drama), and Eden (focused on nature and science documentaries), but those haven’t changed their names, and they’re not available on the U streaming app.

U Coming To Sky Glass and Sky Stream

Now, you might be thinking, “Hang on, weren’t UKTV’s channels already available on Sky Glass and Sky Stream?” And you’d be right.

The linear channels have indeed been accessible, and their content has been available on-demand via Sky’s catch-up service.

The new U app, however, offers a more comprehensive and streamlined experience for accessing UKTV’s vast content library:

Expanded Content Library: The U app provides access to a much larger archive of content from UKTV’s channels, going beyond what’s available through Sky’s standard catch-up service.

User-Friendly Interface: The app offers a dedicated space for browsing and discovering U’s content, making it easier to find both current shows and classic gems.

Exclusive Content: Some shows and box sets are available exclusively on the U app, giving you access to content you can’t find elsewhere on Sky.

The Trade-Off: Registration and Adverts

While the addition of the U app is generally good news, there are a couple of points users should keep in mind.

First, to use the U app, you’ll need to register and sign in with a U account. This is separate from your Sky account, so it’s an extra step in the process (but one that we know from practically every standalone streaming app).

Secondly, when watching content through the U app, you’ll encounter adverts during shows. This applies even if you have Sky’s advert fast-forward add-on, as that feature only works for Sky’s own catch-up content (as well as on ITVX and the Channel 4 app).

How To Watch The U App On Sky

The arrival of the U app on Sky Glass and Sky Stream has been a long time coming. Originally scheduled to launch alongside the rebrand in July, the app’s release was delayed at the last moment.

To use the app, head over to the Apps rail on Sky Glass and Sky Stream. If you don’t see it there, it’s possible your device’s OS hasn’t updated with the most recent changes yet.

Remember, however, that this is only relevant to Sky Glass and Sky Stream – Sky’s streaming-based devices – and not Sky Q or older devices.

For U, this integration expands its reach to Sky’s considerable user base, and the app is now available on most streaming devices and set-top boxes in the UK, as well as on Freeview Play.

Curiously, U is not available on Freely devices yet – the broadband-based heir to Freeview and Freesat. When Freely launched, we were told U (UKTV back then) would be added soon – but we’re still waiting.

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