Just one day after Warner Bros. announced the imminent arrival of HBO Max in the U.K., raising fears of yet more juggling of multiple streaming service subscriptions, Sky has stepped in with an apparent solution.
The pay TV company has just announced a new Ultimate TV bundle that provides access to many of the best streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu into a single subscription that will cost you just £24 a month if you live in the UK and €28 for anyone in Ireland. According to Sky, the new offering reflects the company’s desire to be seen as a kind of “super aggregator” of popular content sources, while also providing access to its own Sky Originals and Sky Exclusives programmes.
Sky clearly timed the arrival of the Ultimate TV subscription bundle to coincide with next month’s debut of the HBO Max service in the U.K. and Ireland. It’ll be the first time U.K. and Irish residents can access the full catalogue of HBO’s highly-rated content directly. Previously, the only way to see HBO titles was to sign up for a Sky subscription that includes Sky Atlantic, which broadcasts many HBO’s biggest hits, including Game of Thrones and Succession. This exclusivity has long been a cornerstone of Sky’s appeal, alongside its live Premier League football games.
The launch of the HBO Max app in the U.K. therefore takes away some of Sky’s prestige. Warner Bros. stated that some of its upcoming titles, including the eagerly anticipated Harry Potter series that will be streamed next year, will remain exclusive to HBO Max, meaning Sky won’t be able to get its hands on it. However, existing HBO shows will remain on Sky Atlantic, and it will get access to some of HBO’s new content under the new arrangement, including upcoming seasons of hit shows like House of the Dragon and Euphoria.
Sky said customers will be able to sign up for the Ultimate TV package on March 26, which is the same day as HBO Max launches. But content from the reality-focused streaming service Hayu won’t be available until July, it said. In case you’re wondering, Hayu is owned by NBCUniversal and is dedicated to reality TV shows, with some of its top titles being The Real Housewives, Below Deck and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. So if that’s your cup of tea, it might be better to wait a while before signing up.
The full package will be available to all Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q customers, and anyone else who agrees to sign up for a 24-month term. Alternatively, Sky’s flexible streaming platform NOW is also set to incorporate HBO Max, for as little as £7 (€8 in Ireland) per month.
Sky Ultimate is certainly going to be a more convenient option for households that require access to multiple streaming services, but people should bear in mind that they won’t be getting Netflix’s, Disney+’s or HBO Max’s top-tier offerings. As with Sky’s current bundles that provide access to Netflix, what you’ll be getting is the basic, ad-supported tier, which means you’ll be subject to occasional ads and also have to make do without 4K resolution, HDR or Dolby Atmos sound. However, if you want those extras, Sky said you’ll be able to get them at a discount by paying the premium price for Sky Ultimate. So it should still be cheaper than paying for the respective premium subscriptions of each service, though Sky hasn’t yet revealed exactly how much this will cost.
For those who currently subscribe to Netflix or Disney+, they’ll have the option to drop that subscription and switch to Sky Ultimate and retain their existing profile and viewing history, Sky said.
Meanwhile, Sky said it’s also going to update the Sky OS platform that powers the Sky Glass TV and Sky Stream puck devices. Sky OS 2.0 promises to be a pretty major facelift, with a refresh user interface and greater personalisation, the company said. For instance, the “Top Picks” section for each user will now integrate personal recommendations across all of the supported streaming services, and the Continue Watching function will add support for Disney+ and Hayu.
Finally, Sky said it’s going to update the Sky Go mobile application too. The refreshed app, which allows you to watch Sky content on the go, will be refreshed to look more like Sky OS and integrate shows from HBO Max and Hayu.
