Guide to Sky Q Multiscreen: Everything you need to know about Sky Multiroom
Here’s all you need to know about Sky Q Multiscreen, formerly Sky Multiroom
With the introduction of Sky Q Multiscreen (a new service that has replaced Sky Multiroom), Sky has finally made it possible to watch different TV channels in different rooms in the house – all at the same time.
While with Sky+ you had to deal with the headache of physically connecting each Sky box to the satellite to watch Sky in different rooms, Sky Q’s Multiscreen option uses wireless receivers, making things much simpler. So, you can finally say goodbye to kids fighting over the remote and disagreements about whether to watch the football or Love Island, as Sky Q Multiscreen allows you to access all your favourite Sky channels and package features on up to four different TV sets.
But how exactly does Sky Multiscreen work, how does it differ from Sky Multiroom and how do you get it? Read on to find out everything you need to know about Sky Multiscreen.
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Sky Q Multiscreen: What is Sky Multiroom?
If you have Sky Q, you can already watch TV on one additional screen – but this is not “true” multiscreen, as the second screen is just a mobile device or tablet. If you want to watch on different TVs, you will need to get Sky Multiscreen – an amalgamation of the old Sky Multiroom and Sky Q Experience services.
Depending on the Sky packages you have, Sky Multiscreen gives you the power to watch Sky’s TV channels in different rooms, and even outside of the house using mobile and tablet devices. It also allows you to pause the channel in one room and continue watching in another.
Sky Go Extra comes as part of the Sky Multiscreen deal, meaning that you can download shows to watch on your tablet or mobile on up to four devices.
Sky Multiscreen: How much does Sky Multiscreen cost?
Obviously, there’s a price to the joys of watching Sky telly in a bunch of different rooms.
Sky’s basic TV and entertainment package is called Sky Signature, and for Sky Q, it’s combined with what Sky calls the Ultimate TV add-on – also known as a basic Netflix subscription – for the normal price of £30/mth.
To this, you can add the Sky Multiscreen option for an extra £15/mth – or, if you’re an existing customer, you can add it for £10/mth. This gets you one Mini Sky Q box (more on that in a moment), which costs a flat £20 to set up. You then can add up to three more Sky Q Mini boxes (which is free for the first additional box and £20 thereafter).
Sky Multiscreen: How does Sky Multiscreen work?
Previously, Sky+ required some work to connect additional Sky boxes to the satellite dish (back when Multiscreen was called Multiroom), but Sky Q gets rid of that ordeal. The Sky Multiscreen option uses wireless Mini boxes (which don’t require any drilling) to communicate with the main Sky Q box, allowing you to watch any TV channel you like on up to four different TV sets. The Mini boxes also act as Wi-Fi hotspots to give you a better Sky Broadband signal around the house.
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The four different Sky Q boxes give you different Multiscreen perks.
With the 1TB Sky Q box, you can connect up to four Mini boxes and watch Sky on two TVs at the same time (using the main Sky Q box and one Mini box). Additionally, you will be able to stream Sky TV, including anything you’ve recorded, on one device at home. You can record three shows at once. There is also a 2TB Sky Q box but that is only available via special request and comes with the same perks as the 1TB option.
With the 1TB and 2TB UHD Sky Q boxes, you can connect the same number of Mini boxes, watch Sky on up to three TVs at the same time (the main box plus two Mini boxes) and stream on up to two other devices at home. You can also record six shows at once. The only difference here is the storage capacity.