Sky accelerates the disappearance of the satellite dish Business

Sky is accelerating its switch to streaming with a device that will speed up the end of the satellite dish.

Later this year, the pay-TV broadcaster will launch Sky Stream, a streaming box offering access to all Sky channels and apps via an internet connection.

The move comes after the launch of Sky Glass, the streaming TV launched late last year that aims to shield its customer base from the wave of American entertainment apps coming to the UK.

The so-called streaming puck will allow Sky to fight for subscribers by targeting potential customers who don’t want to upgrade to glass TVs.

It will also accelerate the move away from satellite dishes, which has helped the company maintain its dominance in the pay-TV market for nearly three decades.

A Sky spokesperson said: “The Puck is a quick and easy way to get most of the Sky Glass experience. All customers have to do is plug it in and play. You can stream every channel, show and app via WiFi, dish-free.”

The move puts the Comcast-owned company in a direct battle with streaming aggregators like the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast or Roku, which offer on-demand devices that customers can plug into their existing TVs.

Sky has long positioned the broadcaster as an aggregator of streaming players by offering subscription packages including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime on the Sky Q box.

The defensive move included launching the NOW streaming platform a decade ago to help mitigate the impact of so-called “cord cutting” – customers canceling their subscriptions.

Sky Glass went on sale in October, offering monthly payment plans starting at £13 per month for a 43-inch TV. The Sky Ultimate TV package including Netflix costs £26 per month, bringing the total to £39 per month.

The puck was originally offered to Sky Glass customers who wanted to watch its streaming service on a TV in another room for an extra £10 a month.

The launch comes amid growing speculation over whether Sky will submit a bid for Channel 4 following the government’s decision to push for privatisation.

Sky is rumored to be among those monitoring the sale process, alongside ITV and US companies such as Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery.