Sky Go – the streaming app that lets Sky customers watch live and on-demand content on non-Sky devices, is now live on Apple TV streaming boxes.
This marks a big shift for Sky, as although Sky Go was already available for mobile phones and tablets, there were very few ways to watch Sky Go on a big-screen TV (other than via gaming consoles, or “casting” directly from a phone or laptop).
But with Sky Go now available for Apple TV streaming devices, Sky customers (with the appropriate subscription – see below), will now be able to watch most of Sky’s channels on any TV that’s connected to an Apple TV.
There are two “catches”, however – the type of Sky subscription you need for this, and the picture quality level.
Apple TV (check price) is a high-end set-top streaming device (and quite expensive, compared to similar devices) from Apple, which supports most of the major streaming services and broadcaster catch-up apps in the UK.
Until recently, Sky wanted you to use your Sky Q box for watching Sky on the big screen, or sell you the big screen itself – with Sky Glass, the streaming-based TV.
But last year, Sky announced that Sky Go was coming to Apple TV, though originally it was set to launch in the first half of 2022. In recent months, some Sky customers were testing the app in its beta stages – and this week, it was finally released officially.
This means that at this point, Sky has three streaming TV platforms: NOW (formerly NOW TV), which is Sky’s separate streaming service, Sky Glass, which gives you Sky (and Freeview) via broadband, and the new Sky Go app for Apple TV.
Later this year, Sky is also planning to release the Sky Stream puck as a standalone Sky streaming device, which would mark an even bigger shift towards streaming (for now, only Sky Glass customers can get the Stream puck, as a device for a second room).
The Sky Go app is now available on the Apple TV app store (as well as on the regular Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads).
It’s compatible with Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K devices.
The app itself is free, but you can only use it with the appropriate Sky subscription.
Unlike the regular Sky Go app, which is meant for mobiles, the Apple TV version of Sky Go requires a Sky Q Multiscreen (£15/month) or a Sky Glass Whole Home (£10/month) add-on.
Another major downside, especially on a device like the Apple TV 4K, is the picture quality on Sky Go: it’s currently capped at 720p, so not even Full HD.
Sky told us they’ll “be looking to improve this quality over time”.
Not every Sky channel is available on Sky Go (either on mobile devices or on Apple TV), and the ones that you get also depend on the subscription tier you have.
As of this writing, the channels you can watch on Sky Go in the UK (depending on your subscription) are:
Join Cord Busters' weekly newsletter.
Please look for our confirmation email shortly.
My name is Or Goren and I’ve been a personal finance writer for many years, as well as a long-time TV cord cutter and a tech enthusiast. Learn More.
*Some posts on Cord Busters contain Affiliate Links. Using those links to buy products or services may earn us a referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Work With Us • Privacy Policy • Earnings Disclaimer
Get Cord Buster's Free UK TV Streaming Cheatsheet
Get TV And Tech News
Get Bonus Streaming TV Guide