Sky is to stop selling its Sky+ HD set top box from next month and will instead supply all new customers with its new, next-generation Sky Q box.
Launched earlier this year, Sky Q can wirelessly transmit programmes and recordings from the main STB to mini receivers and tablets located around the home, making it easier to watch shows at the viewer’s convenience.
The new boxes can also be used to watch 4K (Ultra High Definition) content, including selected events from Sky Sports.
Unlike its predecessor, SkyQ is provided on a loan basis and must be returned when the customer ends their Sky TV subscription.
Sky’s shift to this new ‘rental model’ is expected to reduce the number of customers calling to cancel in the hope of receiving a large discount to stop them reverting to watching only free-to air channels via their Sky-installed equipment.
From October 4th new customers will no longer be able to order a Sky+ HD box and will instead be supplied a Sky Q 1TB box which will become the new default.