Sky adds slate of HDR movies and intros UI updates

Sky has announced further updates to its Sky Q platform, and revealed a roster of over 40 movies in 4K HDR will be available to viewers this Christmas.

Sky began offering HDR movies to its UHD subscribers earlier this Autumn with 2020 fantasy flick The Secret Garden. Titles in HDR joining it from December 9 include Dolittle, Joker, Terminator: Dark Fate, Le Mans ’66, Jumanji: The Next Level, Doctor Sleep, The Invisible Man, Bloodshot, Shazam! and Rocketman, plus the eight Harry Potter films and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.

Sky Original series Gangs of London, Chernobyl and Tin Star will also be available in HDR.

Via an update that Sky says will have rolled out to all customers by mid-December, HDR movies and shows will be flagged with a new HDR icon. Currently, HDR content plays automatically to a compatible display, with not notification that the format is available.

The software rollout will also introduce improvements to Sky Q's voice search functionality and user interface.

For the former, the satcaster is expanding commands. Says Sky: 'You can find personalised recommendations with “What should I watch”, which will show you TV and movies suited to you, say “Show me great TV” to see the best of Sky and Netflix, or “Made for Laughter lovers” for comedy fans.'

Additional tweaks include a personalised 'What's on Now and Next' rail on the hompepage displaying favourited channels (pictured below), and pin-protection on VOD apps, to stop little Johnny firing up Netflix when you're not looking.

Another intriguing update promises to keep some of Sky Q's functionality available when a satellite signal can't be found (most likely due to poor weather), including access to recordings, video on demand and apps.

Sky_now_next_UI.jpg

COMPANY INFO

X