New Sky feature to cut down on World Cup spoilers by reducing streaming delay
Key Points
- Sky's Real Time is a new feature for Sky Glass and Sky Stream that reduces the delay between live action and what appears on screen during select live sports.
- This includes World Cup matches on BBC and ITV.
- By showing play within seconds of the live action, it helps viewers avoid goal spoilers from phone notifications.
- It can be turned on via an on-screen opt-in button or dedicated channels.
Sky has launched a new feature called Real Time for its Sky Glass and Sky Stream devices, which the company says reduces the delay between live action and what viewers see on screen during select live sports.
This will include World Cup matches on the BBC and ITV, the company said in a statement on Tuesday (9 June).
According to Sky, the feature is powered by Sky OS, the company’s smart TV platform for Sky Glass and Sky Stream, and is designed to bring live sport closer to the moment by cutting latency. Sky said Real Time helps fans follow matches with less lag and “fewer spoilers.”
The spoiler issue is a common frustration for live sport viewers, who can learn the outcome of a goal or key moment from a phone notification seconds before the delayed broadcast catches up on screen.
Sky said Real Time helps avoid spoilers from notifications by showing what is happening on the pitch within seconds of the live action.
Viewers can switch the feature on by selecting the Real Time option on screen during supported live sports to adjust the stream. Sky said it is available on Sky Glass and Sky Stream either via the opt-in button or through dedicated channels.
For the World Cup, these are BBC One HD RT, which runs on Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) numbers 926 to 944 depending on region, ITV1 HD RT on EPG channel 945, and ITV4 HD RT on EPG channel 946.
Sky said Real Time performance depends on a viewer’s internet connection. The company recommends a connection speed of 40Mbps for streaming in Real Time, compared with 25Mbps for streaming in High Definition and 30Mbps for Ultra High Definition.
Sky also noted that its Rewind Live TV function, which lets viewers pause and rewind matches they are watching live, is not available while Real Time is in use.
