The Sky-owned broadband ISP and UK video streaming provider, NOW TV, has finally put right one of its biggest weaknesses by introducing support for 4K (UltraHD – 3840 x 2160 pixels) and HDR (High Dynamic Range) video quality via the launch of their new Ultra Boost. But this is a Sky company, so it’s not cheap, and device support may be an issue for some.
Gripes about the video quality of NOW TV’s streaming service are nothing new, particularly since their standard Entertainment Plan only comes with a piddling resolution of 720p to view a single stream, and that’s after already stumping up £9.99 per month. But they then require you to pay an extra £6 per month for the regular ‘Boost’ add-on just to get the now common 1080p HD (High Definition) standard.
NOTE: The regular ‘Boost’ requires a broadband download speed of 12Mbps to support 1080p (vs 5Mbps on Netflix) and the new ‘Ultra Boost’ needs you to have 30Mbps (vs 15Mbps on Netflix).
By comparison, the new ‘Ultra Boost‘ will set you back an extra £9 per month and, when compared with the regular ‘Boost’, it adds support for Up to 4K Ultra HD HDR, Dolby Atmos sound, and you can also watch three streams at the same time. Both Boost and Ultra Boost will also allow all the Sky Sports channels to stream at 50fps (frames per second). But take note that not all of NOW TV’s channels are available in 4K.
Core NOW TV Plans Compared
| Standard | Boost | Ultra Boost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming quality | 720p | Full HD 1080p | Up to 4K Ultra HD HDR |
| Sound quality | Stereo | Dolby Digital 5.1 | Dolby Atmos |
| Ad-free streaming | No | Yes* | Yes* |
| Number of streams | 1 person can stream at a time | 2 people can stream at a time | 3 people can stream at a time |
* Cinema, Entertainment and Sports Members can watch on-demand shows, movies and sport without ads. (You’ll still get ads on live channels, and see promotional trailers for shows, movies and events you can access.)
However, customers that opt to pay for the 4K boost instead of the regular boost will need an HD or 4K UHD TV that supports HLG, HDR10 or HDR10+, with an HDMI port that supports HDCP 2.2 (not all HDMI 2.0 ports support this).
Some devices will support this, but a lot of others won’t (more details), including some relatively modern devices and TVs. For example, most games consoles aren’t compatible, except Sony’s PS5. Similarly, PCs, MACs and mobile devices aren’t supported either. Credits to two of our readers (Reece and Mike) for the news tip.
UPDATE 9:05am
Some of NOW TV’s customers (credits to Big Dave) with the regular ‘Boost’ have indicated that they’ve been given access to the Ultra Boost as a “gift” for no extra cost as part of a limited trial period (unspecified).