Sky Sports+, the upcoming streaming-based expansion of Sky Sports, won’t be limited to just Sky subscribers.
We can now confirm that the newly announced service, set to launch in August 2024, will also be available to Virgin Media and EE TV customers who have access to Sky Sports through their respective platforms.
Sky Sports+ is designed to offer subscribers a more comprehensive range of live sports events and improved features.
The service will be integrated into Sky’s existing platforms (such as Sky Stream) and accessible through NOW and a revamped Sky Sports mobile app – but it will also be available on Virgin Media TV’s boxes, and on BT / EE TV – provided you have the right subscription (see full details below).
What Is Sky Sports+?
Sky Sports+ is an upcoming upgrade to Sky’s existing sports coverage, set to launch in August 2024.
It is not a separate streaming service but rather a streaming-based expansion of Sky Sports, designed to enhance the viewing experience for subscribers and add more live content at no extra cost.
On Sky, the service will be integrated into the company’s existing platforms, including Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q, and will also be available on Sky’s streaming platform NOW and as part of a new and improved Sky Sports mobile app.
However, since Sports+ is based on streaming – it will not be available on Sky’s older boxes, and will require a broadband connection.
In addition to the streaming platform, a new Sports+ linear channel will also launch, with highlights from the Sports+ streaming section.
One of the key features of Sky Sports+ is its capability to stream up to 100 live events simultaneously, offering a significant increase in live sports coverage.
Customers will be able to access 50% more live sports compared to the previous year, with coverage spanning across various sports, including the men’s Super League, ATP and WTA tennis tours, US Open, PGA Tour, and more.
The launch of Sky Sports+ coincides with a new partnership between Sky and the English Football League (EFL), which will result in the broadcasting of over 1,000 EFL games per season.
Every Championship, League One, and League Two game will be streamed live during the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season, marking a significant moment for football fans across the country.
Live pause and rewind functionality will be available on all concurrent streams, including on NOW for the first time.
The ‘Recap’ feature, currently available for Premier League and Championship games, will be extended to EFL games shown on the Sky Sports+ linear channel.
Virgin Media Customers To Get Live Sports+ Content
Virgin Media and Sky confirmed to us that Virgin Media TV customers who subscribe to Sky Sports will have access to Sky Sports+ when it launches in August.
However, Virgin Media’s platforms will only offer live content, which means some of the on-demand Sports+ content may not be accessible.
Sky Sports+ will apparently be available on the Virgin Media 360 box and Virgin Media Stream.
It’s still unclear whether the service will be available on Virgin Media’s older boxes, and the company says more details will be released closer to the launch date.
EE TV Customers to Access Sky Sports+ via NOW
For EE TV (previously known as BT TV) customers, Sports+ availability is more straightforward.
EE TV customers who subscribe to Sky Sports do so via a NOW Sports subscription (on EE TV’s Big Sport and Full Works plans), and the NOW service is supported on both the EE TV 4K Pro Box, and the new custom Apple TV box.
As previously reported, NOW Sports Membership holders will automatically gain access to Sky Sports+ content, including all live streams and on-demand catch-up content, when the service launches.
This means that EE TV customers with a NOW Sports Membership will be able to enjoy all the benefits of Sky Sports+, such as the capability to stream up to 100 live events simultaneously, enhanced features like live pause and rewind functionality, and the expanded coverage of various sports events.
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I have upgraded to Virgin 360. How do I watch Sky Sports +?
Will EE have the Sky Sports+ channel,or will it just be available through the Now service?
I have a NOW account with Talktalk, will I be able stream Sky Sports +
Yes (assuming you have NOW Sports, of course)