Millions of households using Sky services may look forward to activating a new feature starting tomorrow. Timed perfectly for the upcoming World Cup kickoff on Thursday, the Real Time enhancement promises to minimize the streaming delay that many viewers currently experience. Sports enthusiasts have long been bothered by the latency of services like the BBC iPlayer and ITVX, which can lag up to 40 seconds behind traditional TV broadcasts. This delay sometimes results in awkward situations, such as hearing neighbors cheer a goal before seeing it on one’s own screen. With Real Time activated, Sky aims to significantly reduce this delay, providing a more immediate viewing experience.
Sky initially introduced lower-latency streaming for Premier League matches back in 2024. The technology is now being expanded to include BBC and ITV coverage, making it available for major events like the World Cup.
“Sky is rolling out Real Time, a new feature for Sky Glass and Sky Stream, powered by Sky OS,” stated Sky in an official announcement.
“It brings live sports closer to real-time by reducing the latency between the live action and what viewers see on their screens.
“Accessible during select live sports broadcasts, including the World Cup on BBC and ITV, Real Time enables fans to follow matches with reduced lag and fewer spoilers.”
Interested in trying it out? Here’s how to activate Real Time on your screens.
According to Sky, viewers can enable the feature during supported live sports broadcasts by selecting the Real Time option on screen. It is available on both Sky Glass and Sky Stream devices through an opt-in button or dedicated channels:
– BBC One HD RT – EPG channels 926–944 (varies by region)
– ITV1 HD RT – EPG channel 945
– ITV4 HD RT – EPG channel 946
The future of Sky’s streaming services makes this update crucial.
Sky Glass and Sky Stream mark the company’s transition away from the satellite-based Sky Q platform. In contrast to Sky Q, both services operate over broadband, offering advantages like easy self-installation, frequent software updates, and seamless integration with streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney+.
For those contemplating the switch, Sky Glass and Sky Stream remain pivotal to Sky’s strategy as it concentrates on internet-based television and enhanced streaming experiences.