UPDATED | The disparity between Sky’s satellite TV and streaming TV platforms continues to shrink, with Sky Glass and Stream gaining access to a wider range of music channels.
- NOW Music adds its channels to Sky Glass and Sky Stream in the UK on 4th December.
- New additions include seasonal channel NOW XMAS.
- Streaming viewers previously only had access to MTV’s music channels.
Sky Glass and Sky Stream viewers in the UK gained access to five new channels on Wednesday 4th December with the arrival of NOW Music and Clubland TV.
Viewers will be able to find the new channels on the same numbers as Sky Q:
- Clubland TV – channel 354
- NOW 70s – channel 355
- NOW 80s – channel 356
- NOW XMAS – channel 357 (normally NOW 90s and 00s)
- NOW ROCK – channel 358
The five channels are operated by Penny Street TV Limited, a subsidiary of Universal Music. It’s one of three music channel providers still operating in the UK.
The channels join MTV’s music pay TV channels, which are available on channels 350-353. That’s TV, which currently operates three full-time music channels alongside its retro entertainment offer, remains absent from Sky Glass/Sky Stream.
Sky bridges the gap between satellite and streaming
Launched three years ago this autumn, Sky Glass had to deal with a notably cut-back channel offering in the beginning, which remained the case when Sky Stream first launched as well.
As more viewers take up the dish-free TV option, more broadcasters have been climbing on board to reach a carriage deal with Sky. Unlike satellite, where broadcasters can make their own arrangements for satellite capacity and can opt to make their channels free-to-air (i.e. they’ll work without a Sky viewing card), Sky’s streaming service binds broadcasters to make a more formal arrangement.
This year has already seen the arrival of MUTV and LFC TV to Sky’s streaming service. Nevertheless, a number of mostly niche channels remain absent, including Rewind TV and Talking Pictures. Sky Glass and Sky Stream is still missing most shopping and adult channels.
Rival streaming service Freely has sought to get round these issues by offering viewers a hybrid option. This gives access to non-streaming channels by plugging in a TV aerial.
- This article was originally published on 18th November 2024 ahead of the music channel’s intended launch on 20th November. However, the launch was postponed at the last minute. Sky later confirmed the channels finally went live on Glass and Stream on 4th December.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Penny Street TV/Universal | Updated 06/12/2024 09:28