UK
And the 4K service is indeed very similar- when there is an event / programme in 4K an EPG like banner appears offering you the chance to press select in order to watch it in 4K. It runs just like a red button service in that you can’t pause or rewind it whilst you’re ‘in’ the 4K stream. There is a section in the EPG that lists live sports being shown in 4K so you can see what is coming up and select it to record. I think some of the entertainment programmes are simulcast in 4K but Sky expects most people to watch them on demand. There aren’t any movies broadcast in 4K, those that are available can be downloaded.
For sports at least Sky are reliant on Premier League football and F1 for 4K content. (F1 started in 4K last year.) I think the only other live 4K sport they’ve had was one of the England home cricket test series last summer. With no Premier League this weekend and the F1 season not starting until next weekend the Ultra HD section under Sports on the Sky Q menu is left with a message saying there isn’t any and to ‘please check back soon’. That’ll change from tonight when the first F1 practice session (in the early hours of next Friday morning) is listed.
As for downloading - on a decent FTTC connection even 4K content on Sky is available to watch very quickly after you start it downloading, can’t be more than 30 seconds most of the time, often less.
Yep - it's a bit like how ITV HD first started as a red button service on ITV SD - but across multiple channels.
And the 4K service is indeed very similar- when there is an event / programme in 4K an EPG like banner appears offering you the chance to press select in order to watch it in 4K. It runs just like a red button service in that you can’t pause or rewind it whilst you’re ‘in’ the 4K stream. There is a section in the EPG that lists live sports being shown in 4K so you can see what is coming up and select it to record. I think some of the entertainment programmes are simulcast in 4K but Sky expects most people to watch them on demand. There aren’t any movies broadcast in 4K, those that are available can be downloaded.
For sports at least Sky are reliant on Premier League football and F1 for 4K content. (F1 started in 4K last year.) I think the only other live 4K sport they’ve had was one of the England home cricket test series last summer. With no Premier League this weekend and the F1 season not starting until next weekend the Ultra HD section under Sports on the Sky Q menu is left with a message saying there isn’t any and to ‘please check back soon’. That’ll change from tonight when the first F1 practice session (in the early hours of next Friday morning) is listed.
As for downloading - on a decent FTTC connection even 4K content on Sky is available to watch very quickly after you start it downloading, can’t be more than 30 seconds most of the time, often less.