Sky Deutschland to launch Sky Q in May

Sky Deutschland is to launch the advanced Sky Q service in May, offering the full range of features that have been available to viewers in the UK and Italy, including personalised TV, UHD TV, startover and auto-play.

From next month, Sky Q will be available to the pay TV operator’s subscribers in Germany and Austria, with Sky+ Pro subscribers getting an automatic upgrade at now extra cost. Sky Q will also be offered automatically to all new Sky customers.

At the same time Sky Deutschland is launching a new version of its Sky Ticket OTT offering, which makes Sky programming available across a range of devices with no fixed-term contract.

Sky Q provides access to Sky content via a new user interface on up to five devices – comprising three TVs and two mobile devices – simultaneously.

New features for German and Austrian Sky customers will include startover TV, auto-play for binge-viewing of box-sets and the ability to pick up a show from where they left on viewing on a different device.

The Sky Q app will be available free of charge form Many on fourth-generation Apple TV boxes and Samsung smart TVs from 2015 and later.

Content available on the service will include the on-demand libraries of public broadcasters ARD and ZDF as well as other smart TV apps. Netflix will be integrated at a later date at the same time as Sky makes the streaming service available in the UK and Italy.

Sky Deutschland is also launching the Sky Soundbox, the Sky Q Mini multi-room IP box and voice control in May to coincide with the launch of Sky Q.

Sky Deutschland has also revamped its Sky and Sky Kids apps. Programmes initially launched on Sky Q will be viewable on Sky Go from where viewers left of. Sky customers will also be able to download content on Sky Go-enabled devices for offline viewing.

The updated Sky Kids app includes enhanced parental control features, personally configurable ‘buddies’ and a new ‘jump ‘n’ run’ game.

Sky is also revamping its packages with what it claims will be a simpler offer and pricing structure. Sky Entertainment customers can supplement their offering with three additional premium packages as required: Sky Football Bundesliga, Sky Sport and Sky Cinema.

Sky is also launching a new Sky Ticket offering in May, based on a new app design. Sky Ticket customers will be able to take advantage of new features such as follow-on viewing, recommendations and favourites as well as a personalised home screen, according to the pay TV operator.

Carsten Schmidt, CEO of Sky Deutschland, said that he was delighted to be able to bring Sky Q, which had “revolutionised the viewing experience in the UK and Italy”, to Germany.