Sky Q platform ‘long overdue’

Sky’s new advanced set-top box and entertainment platform, Sky Q, is “long overdue” but “will not disappoint”, according to CCS Insight analyst Paolo Pescatore.

Commenting ahead of the release of Sky Q, which Sky first unveiled in November, CCS’s director of multiplay and media said that Sky’s new device “could be the most impressive set-top box we’ve seen to date, stuffed with hardware, software features underpinned by a cloud-based architecture.”

However, Pescatore added that shortcomings and obstacles still remain, including the inability for Sky customers to take recordings from their existing box to the new one, and no voice-controls or Ultra HD 4K content from day – although both will be supported.

“Overall, Sky must be applauded for bringing a best in class box and service to market. By opening up the Sky platform to third parties, Sky will position Sky Q as a broad entertainment service for the entire household,” said Pescatore.

Separately, Strategy Analytics analyst David Mercer said: “SkyQ is Sky’s main weapon in seeing off the threat from BT and Netflix to its market leadership over the next decade. Sky Q’s improved functionality shows that multi-screen viewing and fast access to video-on-demand content are seen as the key battles to win.”