Sky Glass and Stream Get "Real Time" Low-Latency Sports Support
Sky has introduced a new "Real Time" feature on its Sky Glass and Sky Stream platforms, powered by Sky OS, to reduce latency for live sports, including World Cup matches on BBC and ITV. This new functionality aims to bring viewers closer to the live action by minimizing lag and preventing spoilers, offering Sky's lowest latency streaming experience. Users can opt-in to the Real Time feature via an on-screen button or dedicated EPG channels for supported events, with a recommended internet speed of 40Mbps for optimal performance.
Key Takeaways
- The "Real Time" feature is powered by Sky OS and reduces the delay between live action and what appears on screen.
- Users can opt-in to "Real Time" during supported live sports via an on-screen button or dedicated EPG channels (e.g., BBC One HD RT, ITV1 HD RT).
- A minimum internet speed of 40Mbps is recommended for optimal performance of the "Real Time" feature.
Why It Matters
Reducing live sports latency directly addresses a core pain point for streamers, improving the real-time viewing experience and mitigating spoiler risk. This move positions Sky to better compete with traditional broadcast and satellite delivery for event-driven content. The performance of this new feature on critical BBC and ITV World Cup broadcasts will be a key signal to watch for broader adoption and competitive implications in live streaming infrastructure.
Additional Context
The introduction of "Real Time" on Sky Glass and Sky Stream expands on previous low-latency initiatives. According to Tech Advisor (May 2026), Sky had planned updates to EntertainmentOS for Sky Glass and Sky Stream to reduce latency by 22 seconds on Sky Sports Main Event, bringing it to an 8-second delay from real-time events. This initial rollout focused on Sky's owned sports content. The Ambient (May 2026) noted that this "Live Sync" feature was already available on Sky Sports Main Event, accessible via an on-screen button or specific EPG channels (921 for HD, 922 for UHD), or voice commands. The current announcement extends this low-latency capability to third-party broadcasters like BBC and ITV for major events, highlighting a broader application beyond Sky's proprietary channels. The Express (June 2026) emphasized that while Sky introduced lower latency for Premier League action in 2024, this expansion to BBC and ITV content is a significant "free upgrade" for viewers, addressing a common streaming frustration where live streams can be up to 40 seconds behind terrestrial and satellite feeds.
Read full article at skygroup.sky
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