Four years after its first foray into TVs, Sky has unveiled its latest device, which aims to be more affordable than its predecessors.
- Sky Glass Air available to buy from £6 a month, plus additional TV subscription costs
- Pay upfront for £309.
Sky has unveiled Sky Glass Air, a new TV with 4K picture quality, hands-free voice control, and Sky built in, all streamed over Wi-Fi, with no dish or box required. Glass Air will be available to buy from £6/month for new and existing customers when it goes on sale on 10th June.
Designed as a mid-market addition to Sky’s portfolio of TVs (Sky Glass, Sky Glass Gen 2), Sky says the Air model is ideal either as a centrepiece to a living room, as a second screen in the bedroom or a ‘stylish setup’ for renters.
What features does Sky Glass Air offer?
- 4K HDR Quantum Dot screen
- Global dimming and contrast enhancement automatically adjust the display for sharp, true-to-life visuals
- Dolby Audio speaker system for rich sound.
- The TV settings intelligently adapts to what’s on screen.
- Available in Sea Green, Carbon Grey and Cotton White.
- Available in three sizes: 43″, 55″ and 65″.
What’s the cost?
You can pay for Sky Glass Air on a monthly basis over the course of four years or you can pay upfront.
- Sky Glass Air will be available from £6 per month for the 43” model TV on a 48-month (4 year) interest free loan. However, you’ll also need a Sky TV subscription to use the device. Prices may change during 24-month Sky TV subscription. Upfront payment from £20. Subject to status. Further terms apply.
- Pricing for 24-month (2 year) interest free loan – £12 per month for the 43” size model, £20 per month for the 55”,model and £26 per month for the 65” model.
Pay upfront
If you don’t want a loan agreement to pay in instalments, the following prices apply
- 43” – £309,
- 55” – £509,
- 65” – £649
Sky TV subscription
You’ll also need a Sky TV subscription, otherwise use of the TV is limited.
A Sky Essential TV subscription starts from £15 per month for new customers which includes all the main free-to-air channels, and a small selection of pay TV channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky News, Sky Arts plus Netflix and discovery+.
As a result, the cheapest option for Sky Glass Air + Sky TV starts from £21 per month (£6 per month for the TV plus £15 a month for the TV subscription).
- You’ll have a 48 month Sky Glass Air agreement and a 24 month agreement for Sky Essential TV. The price of Sky Essential TV may change during this period. New Sky TV customers only. Please see Sky’s website for full terms and conditions.
For a wider range of Sky channels, including Sky Max, Sky Crime U&Gold and Sky Documentaries, Sky Ultimate TV starts from £22 a month.
You can add Sky Cinema, Sky Sports and TNT Sports on top.
Analysis: Why is Sky launching new TV models?
As broadcasting moves to IP-streaming, the battle is on to capture audiences and build market share. To make it easier for consumers, the big platform operators are seeking to build their platform into new TVs and streaming sticks.
For example, as a consumer, you can now choose between buying a TV with Sky’s streaming TV service built in, or you can buy a TV with the Freely streaming service included. Freely is planned to become the ultimate replacement for Freeview and Freesat, while Sky’s streaming service will eventually replace Sky’s current satellite TV service.
Freely TVs have captured a chunk of the market for cheaper smart TVs. Meanwhile Sky Glass was originally launched as a premium product.
Sky Glass Air now targets the mid-market with a lower price tag.
If you’re not in the market for a new TV, a Sky Stream puck allows you to benefit from Sky’s streaming platform by connecting it to your existing TV. Sky Stream also offers access to both Sky Essential TV and Sky Ultimate TV.
Corporate comment
Carli Kerr, MD of Sky TV & NOW, commented:
“With Sky Glass Air, we’re bringing the Sky experience to more people through a beautifully designed TV with stunning picture quality from just £6 a month. It’s all about giving people better for less: more choice, great tech, and the content they love, without compromising on quality. From the ultimate performance of Glass Gen 2 to the incredible value of Air, there’s now a Sky Glass to suit everyone, whether you’re new to Sky or already with us.”
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Sky