UPDATED: Sky introduces 1TB high-definition set-top box
Updated 04.02.10
We've just had it confirmed that the new Sky 1TB HD box will be equipped with the same HDMI connection as the current HD boxes (not HDMI 1.4), and will still need a coaxial or optical digital connection to feed surround sound to a multichannel amp or receiver.
Gerry O'Sullivan, Sky's director of strategic product development, told whathifi.com: "We'd like to add HDMI 1.4 and it's something that we're looking at, but we'd have to work with every TV manufacturer to ensure consistent standards of performance. If it does happen, it won't be as a retro-fit on existing boxes."
All Sky's existing HD boxes, and the new 1TB model, are 3D compatible.
Published 28.01.10
Yesterday the news was all about Apple, today it's all about Sky. Following the announcement that it will launch its 3D TV service in April, Sky has also revealed its new 1TB high-definition set-top box.
It can record up to 240 hours of HD programmes, is 3D compatible and is available from today (January 28th) for £249. Installation costs £30 for new customers and £60 for exisiting customers.
The new box offers all the benefits of a standard Sky+ HD box, including access to Sky's 37 HD channels, the new HD Sky Guide, Sky+ and Sky Anytime, but with four times the storage capacity. This means it can store around 100 HD films or 740 hours of standard-definition content.
At the same time, Sky Anytime is increasing its memory size to allow for up to 160 hours of HD content to be viewed on demand.
"The Sky+ HD 1TB box will appeal to people who want to watch and store even more HD TV," says Hilary Perchard, Sky's director of product management and marketing.
The existing Sky+ HD box will now become its standard set-top box. New customers who sign up for Sky's HD service will get the box for free. Customers not upgrading to the HD service will have to pay £49 for the standard Sky+ HD box.
In a separate announcement, Sky has revealed a 30 per cent rise in half-yearly profits, driven by the growing popularity of its high-definition TV service.
It made a pre-tax profit of £358m in the six months to December 2009, up from £276m a year before.
Sky says it added 482,000 new customers to its Sky+ HD service in the last quarter of 2009. It now has a total customer base of 9.7 million people.
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Comments
i thought sky hd boxes were hdmi 1.1 not 1.3 (no 5.1 through hdmi or full hd 1080p)? so is the new 1tb box hdmi 1.3 as stated or 1.1 the same original boxes?? if it hdmi 1.1 why is this old technology still being used when we are about to enter the era of hdmi 1.4??
No tonyroolze, it won't, as it says in the first paragraph of the updated story. You'll still need a coaxial or optical connection for surround sound.
Andy Clough
Have Sky confirmed it will output 5.1DD over hdmi?
just cancelled my sky hd , after my deal 53 per month ended they offered me half price for six months and i jumped at it .............untill i saw my statement it went up to 63 , phoned them got nowhere so my hd box is
dead , freesat here i come
Hooray! Yet another opportunity to line the pockets of Sky... They really do have us over a barrel. I'm fed up with having to pay more than new customers for everything. They obviously had this planned all along because even I could tell you that 160Gb is nowhere near enough and now they whack a 1Tb out (excellent) for huge amounts of cash (rubbish). If the standard box is now HD, isn't it about time they dropped the £10 sub?
tonyroolze
I emailed Sky on Friday asking exactly that question, and am waiting to hear back. Will let you know as soon as I do.
Will it output 5.1DD sound over the hdmi cable?
I think i'll avoid this for now. Though thanks for the rip off temptation sky. I bet 12 months from now the forums will be full of the 'my 1tb 3d/hd box is constantly crashing and i'm only just outside of warranty - oh i wish i took them up on the offer of extended warranty through that coincidental leaflet through the post'. Oh and i cant wait for the 3d sub, though i suppose this is free to new customers and �10/month for all existing long term customers.
NikolayMetchey
The link in the first paragraph of our story to "1TB high-definition set-top box" takes you directly to the relevant page on the Sky website.
Always the same with sky ... charge the maximum they can get away with. I've changed my drive to 1TB already then used http://www.skycopyplus.co.uk/ to transfer all my recordings over to the new drive. ;oD
I have an existed Sky HD box, a 1Tb drive has been working quite well in it for the past year or so! I just want to know why I am unable to make use of additional storage on my NAS drive, or connect an external Sata drive, the box has sockets on for this feature. No doubt Sky will charge extra to make use of this, no wonder they make so much money!
now thats messed up. i think i can only record a handful of HD content at a time and have to keep deleting older stuff, i would have prefered to have kept dark knight and deathproof on the HDD....but i couldnt.
�250 is faaar too much.
Yes, Sky seem to offer great deals to attract new customers but they treat existing ones shoddily. The only reason I would think about getting this box is that my existing one is very noisy and gets on our nerves. The only trouble is I would lose al the content that I have recorded and not watched.
I am liveing sky to be come not a loyal customer
we have got sky hd I do a lot of recording would like the new box but not at that pice i donot get a beter pi c with hd
It really annoys me (and that's mild) that it's not £250 for the box; it's actually £309 if you are a loyal customer. It's yet another con - vote with you're wallets!!
According to Sky press office, yes - but it wouldn't be the first time a supplier's website wasn't in sync with its press releases!
I went to the sky website to see if i can get it. It wasn't there. Are you sure it is available from today?