Is Sky about to launch its Ultra-HD ‘SkyQ’ box?

Reports say Sky’s new Ultra-HD set-top box was initially scheduled for release next year, but with their rivals BT already making ground on Sky with football coverage, they appear to have made a decision to speed it up.

“SkyQ” could be just weeks away from your living room, according to The Telegraph, and will reportedly allow viewers to watch or record at least four programmes at once. It will wirelessly beam content to smartphones and tablets around the home, and is ready to receive ultra-high definition broadcasts once Sky follows BT to offer sharper pictures for the latest televisions.

However, Sky’s Ultra HD set-top box called SkyQ will also be coming and it looks as though it will have the edge over BT’s 4K TV box because if its unique feature of recording up to 4 programmes at once.

According to an industry source that spoke to the Telegraph, SkyQ offers a user experience that is “really very slick”.

The Project Ethan box has been developed to handle 4K transmissions.

It will be the first major departure from the basic grid guide that Sky has iteratively developed since the launch of its digital satellite service back in 1998. Earnings per share are predicted to dip 4pc, however, as a result of new shares issued by Sky to pay for the acquisitions of Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland. It seems likely that the same set-top box technology will be deployed across the European operations.

In time the receiver is expected to be rolled out in the UK, Germany and Italy.

Facing increasing competition from other service providers, as well as new entrants like Netflix, Sky has brought forward the introduction of the new box.