Sky Q users have received welcome news as Sky and satellite operator SES announce a new multi-year deal that will keep satellite services running across the UK and Ireland well into the next decade.
The agreement eases concerns that the satellite TV service could be on borrowed time, with Sky increasingly steering customers towards its newer Glass and Stream devices, which beam content directly into living rooms over the internet.
Satellite services secured
Sky's previous agreement with SES was due to expire in 2029. The new multi-year deal extends that commitment, delivering a boost for Sky Q households that aren't ready to ditch their satellite dishes and switch to streaming.
Millions of UK households still rely on the Q platform to watch shows, movies and live sport, although Sky Q has become much harder to find on the company's website, fuelling speculation that it could soon be facing the axe.
Sky's commitment to choice
“As we give customers more choice in how they access Sky, satellite continues to play an important role in how we deliver our services to customers across the UK and Ireland,” said Nick Herm, Group Chief Operating Officer at Sky.
“This agreement with SES provides the reliability, reach and service quality we need to continue delivering the viewing experience our satellite customers expect.”
Sky Q history
Sky Q launched in the UK in 2016, replacing the popular Sky+ box and introducing a slicker interface, 4K Ultra HD viewing, voice controls and the ability to record multiple programmes while watching another.
Customers could also pause a show in one room and continue watching it elsewhere using Sky Q Mini boxes. For years, it was Sky's flagship TV platform, before internet-powered Sky Glass and Sky Stream arrived.
