Sky is rolling out a new feature called Real Time for Sky Glass and Sky Stream, set to launch tomorrow, just in time for the World Cup. The Real Time upgrade aims to address the streaming delay experienced by many Sky users, particularly during live sports events. Services like BBC iPlayer and ITVX have been known to lag behind traditional broadcasts by up to 40 seconds, causing moments of frustration when fans hear neighbors react to events before seeing them on their own screens. With Real Time, Sky hopes to minimize this delay and provide a more immediate viewing experience.
Introduced initially for Premier League matches in 2024, the lower-latency streaming technology is now being expanded to include BBC and ITV coverage, extending its availability to major events like the World Cup.
According to Sky, Real Time harnesses the power of Sky OS to bring live sports closer to real-time, reducing the latency between the live action and what viewers see on screen. This feature will be accessible for select live sports broadcasts, including the World Cup matches on BBC and ITV, allowing fans to follow the action with minimal lag and fewer spoilers.
To enable Real Time on their screens, viewers can activate the feature by selecting the Real Time option during supported live sports broadcasts. This feature is accessible on both Sky Glass and Sky Stream devices through an opt-in button or dedicated channels like BBC One HD RT (EPG channels 926–944) and ITV1 HD RT (EPG channel 945).
The update to Real Time underscores Sky’s commitment to its streaming future, as it transitions away from the satellite-based Sky Q platform towards broadband-operated services like Sky Glass and Sky Stream. These services offer advantages such as easy self-installation, regular software updates, and seamless integration with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney+.
As Sky continues to emphasize internet-delivered television and enhanced streaming experiences, Sky Glass and Sky Stream remain pivotal to the company’s strategic vision for the future.