The first customers to use the new Sky Glass TV service have noticed some differences in the channel line-up. Some channels available to Sky’s satellite customers are missing.
After an official announcement at the beginning of the month, the first Sky Glass TVs were installed in subscriber’s homes in the past week. The TVs boast 4K UHD and HDR support, Dolby Atmos sound, plus integrated apps and on-demand players, together with linear TV channels.
Sky Glass TVs ‘receive’ all linear and on-demand services via the customer’s broadband internet connection. Access to services is dependant on the level of subscription paid for. Unlike Sky’s satellite service, many free-to-air broadcasters are absent. These channels aren’t part of a Sky subscription, but do pay for a listing on Sky’s satellite channel guide.
To enable the launch of Sky Glass, Sky has concluded a number of deals with larger third-party free-to-air and pay TV broadcasters, including the BBC. The BBC-Sky deal means Sky Glass is the first platform to offer subscribers a fully regionalised BBC One HD, plus BBC Alba and Parliament in HD for the first time.
But channels including GREAT! movies, Forces TV, Talking Pictures TV, NOW 80s, FreeSports, CNN International and Colors Rishtey are missing from the launch line-up.
Sky has not confirmed if it is due to add further services, but future carriage deals with third-party broadcasters will be scrutinised to see if they include any provision for internet distribution for Sky Glass users.
Sky Glass: what’s on and what’s not…
Available
✅ All BBC channels, including for the first time ever, a fully regionalised BBC One HD in England, plus BBC Alba and BBC Parliament in HD.
✅ 5STAR, 5USA and Paramount in High Definition, unlike via satellite, plus the main Channel 5 service in HD.
✅ Every channel owned by Sky, including non-Sky branded channels like Challenge.
✅ All of ITV’s and Channel 4’s services.
✅ All UKTV channels (Alibi, Dave, Gold, Yesterday etc)
✅ Every Warner Bros. Discovery-owned channel, including Quest, Eurosport, Cartoon Network and TCM.
✅ Every ViacomCBS-owned channel, including MTV, Nickelodeon and Smithsonian Channel.
✅ BT Sport 1-3, BT Sport ESPN.
Absent
❌ Entertainment and movie channels including GREAT! tv and GREAT! movies, Court TV, Forces TV, Talking Pictures and Travelxp.
❌ Music channels such as NOW 70s, 80s, 90s and Clubland TV
❌ Sports channels including FreeSports, La Liga TV, Premier Sports, BoxNation and Sporty Stuff.
❌ News channels including Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg, CNN International, Euronews, GB News, France 24, NHK World, TVC News and WION
❌ Shopping channels including QVC, Ideal World, Create & Craft and Gems TV
❌ International and foreign language channels including Aaj Tak, Brit Asia TV, Colors Rishtey, GEO TV, MATV, PTV Global, Sangat TV, Zee TV and Zee Cinema
❌ Children’s channels including POP, Tiny POP and POP Max
❌ Religious and adult channels including Television X and TBN.
Sky Glass channel list:
A full list of Sky Glass channel numbers…