IPTV technology
Is Sky Glass IPTV? How Sky's Broadband TV Works
Is Sky Glass IPTV? How Sky Glass and Sky Stream deliver TV over broadband with no dish, and how they compare with an IPTV subscription on your own devices.
By the Best IPTV UK team · Updated · 6 min read
Yes — Sky Glass is a form of IPTV. Sky Glass is a smart TV made by Sky that receives Sky's channels over your broadband connection instead of a satellite dish. That's exactly what IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) means: TV delivered over an internet connection. Sky Stream, Sky's streaming box, does the same thing for any TV.
The difference from what most people call "an IPTV service" is the ecosystem: Sky Glass is a single-provider product with its own TV, software and contract.
How Sky Glass works
- Delivery: channels and on-demand content are streamed over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. There's no dish and no separate Sky box.
- Interface: Sky's own operating system combines live channels, on-demand content and apps, with a Playlists feature for saving programmes in place of a traditional recorder.
- Hardware: the TV has built-in speakers and the streaming hardware inside the screen.
- Sky Stream: a small streaming box offering a similar experience on an existing TV.
Why broadband matters for Sky Glass
Because every channel arrives over the internet, your broadband becomes your TV signal. Sky publishes minimum speed guidance, with more needed for Ultra HD and multiple screens. The same principles apply to any IPTV setup: stability matters more than headline speed, and a wired connection is the most reliable. See what internet speed IPTV needs.
Sky Glass vs an IPTV subscription
| Sky Glass / Sky Stream | IPTV subscription (e.g. Best IPTV UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Broadband | Broadband |
| Hardware | Sky's TV or streaming box | Your existing smart TV, stick, phone or computer |
| App | Sky's own interface | An IPTV player app of your choice |
| Billing | Monthly, under Sky's terms | One-time payment for Best IPTV UK plans |
| Devices | Sky hardware, plus Sky's apps on supported devices | Install the same login on several devices |
Who suits which
- Sky Glass suits people who want a single all-in-one product from Sky, its specific channel packages and a new TV.
- An IPTV subscription suits people who want to use the TVs and sticks they already own, choose their own player app and avoid a long contract.
Using another IPTV app on a Sky Glass TV
Sky Glass uses a curated app store, so you can't install arbitrary IPTV players on the TV itself. If you want to use a separate IPTV service on a Sky Glass screen, plug a Fire TV Stick or Android TV device into an HDMI port — see Firestick vs Android TV box.
Learn more about IPTV
New to the term? Start with what IPTV is and how IPTV works. To compare costs, see Best IPTV UK plans — or try a free trial on the TV you already have.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sky Glass IPTV?
In the broad sense, yes. Sky Glass delivers Sky's TV channels over a broadband connection instead of a satellite dish, which is internet protocol television. Sky describes it as TV streamed over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Does Sky Glass need a satellite dish?
No. Sky Glass and Sky Stream receive Sky's channels over a broadband connection rather than through a satellite dish.
What broadband speed does Sky Glass need?
Sky publishes minimum broadband speed guidance for Sky Glass and Sky Stream, with higher speeds needed for Ultra HD and for watching on several screens at once. Check Sky's current guidance before ordering.
Can I use other IPTV apps on Sky Glass?
Sky Glass runs Sky's own operating system with a curated app store, so you cannot install arbitrary IPTV player apps. To use a separate IPTV service on a Sky Glass TV, you can plug a streaming stick into an HDMI port.
Have a question this guide didn't answer? Check the FAQ or contact support.