Sky Q to get free 4K channels, ready for the start of the Premier League

The Ultra HD service will be available on Sky Q Silver – a box that launched earlier this year

Andrew Griffin
Thursday 14 July 2016 04:34 EDT
Comments
The Ultra HD service will be ready for all Premier League games – allowing fans to watch Leicester defend the title in its full crispness
The Ultra HD service will be ready for all Premier League games – allowing fans to watch Leicester defend the title in its full crispness (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sky is to offer Ultra HD channels to viewers – offering the Premier League and other top TV in a picture quality more than four times the normal crispness.

Subscribers to the broadcasters’ Sky Q Silver will be given 4K TV from 13 August.

That will mean that the service is ready for the beginning of the Premier League, including its first game between Hull and Leicester. The broadcaster will also offer 70 films, such as Spectre, in the first year of the format.

Ultra HD is a step-up from traditional “full HD” TV services. It offers far crisper and bigger images than previous standards, but requires TV manufacturers and broadcasters to start sending out video using it – which has already happened for some online services like Amazon and Netflix.

Sky's director of TV and content products Luke Bradley-Jones said: "With Sky Q, we created the world's best TV experience. Now with the introduction of an unrivalled line-up of Ultra HD TV, the service is going to get even better, truly enhancing customers' viewing experience.

"So whether you're a football fan, movie buff, natural history enthusiast or drama junkie, customers looking for the next-generation of TV viewing will love it."

Virgin Media is thought to be bringing Ultra HD channels to its TV boxes later this year. BT Sport already has a 4K channel.

Most TVs now on sale include the format – and some broadcasters are even getting ready for 8K video.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in