Tag: #sky

Virgin Media to lead internet speeds in Ireland at the end of Q1 2026.

SpeedGeo, the platform that measures network quality, has prepared a report on internet speeds in Ireland at the end of Q1 2026 (for the last 12 months). The results confirm the trend from last year: the clear leader in the fixed internet category is Virgin Media (287.5 Mbps).

The rankings are based on user tests of V-Speed, the operator of the SpeedGeo platform (e.g. in the web application for browsers, application for Android). The analysis is based on 77,000 tests carried out in the networks of fixed and mobile operators via WiFi routers (Fixed Wirelles). Test results are rigorously verified for abuse, and operators with a minimum of 3 per cent of the total test volume are included in the rankings.in web application for Android

The average broadband speed in Ireland during the period under review was 174.3 Mbps, a significant increase (+14%) compared to the 2025 year-end table (152.5 Mbps). Virgin Media was the clear leader of the ranking (287.5 Mbps) ahead of Eir and Sky. Virgin Media also delivered the fastest upload (62.3 Mbps) with a small lead over its rivals. The average broadband latency in Ireland is around 30 ms, with the three leaders, however, offering significantly lower latency at around 20 ms.

Table. Broadband quality of leading operators in Ireland in 2025/1Q 2026.

Internet Provider Download (Mbps) Upload (Mbps) Latency (ms)
Virgin Media 287.5 62.3 20
Eir 204.7 58.2 21
Sky 186.6 53.8 19
All ISPs 174.3 57.1 30.5

Test distribution and quarterly results of the three fastest providers.

For more information on the quality of the internet in Ireland, click here.

 

Sky TV customers can enjoy a taste of Hayu’s most popular reality shows from today

Reality fans are in for a treat, with a selection of Hayu’s most talked-about shows now available to watch for Sky TV subscribers. Customers can enjoy select seasons of favourites including Below Deck and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills straight from their homepage, on demand and included within their Sky subscription, giving a taste of what’s to come before the full launch of Hayu on Sky in July.
This update follows February’s announcement that Sky is bringing together Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Hayu into a single subscription, all in one place and integrated as part of the Sky TV experience. Giving existing Sky TV subscribers even more brilliant entertainment to watch, and available with Sky Ultimate TV from just €28 a month for new customers.
Binge-worthy telly from Hayu on Sky
Launching today, A Taste of Hayu features over 150 episodes from 10 of Hayu’s biggest franchises, all seamlessly integrated and ready to watch from the Sky TV homepage, so viewers can dive straight into the drama.
The curated selection includes hit shows like Below Deck Mediterranean, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Vanderpump Rules, serving up everything from high-stakes yachting and glamorous lifestyles to unforgettable feuds and fan-favourite moments.
Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers with Sky Ultimate TV, Sky Q and Sky+ customers will have access to this, with select seasons available to watch on demand.
The full launch of Hayu on Sky will come in July, unlocking the entire Hayu catalogue for customers. Reality fans will be able to watch hundreds of additional series and catch new episodes of hit franchises the same day as they air in the US, all included within their Sky TV experience.
Eligible customers will be able to enjoy all this alongside fantastic Sky Originals and Exclusives including The Dyer’s Caravan Park, Under Salt Marsh, upcoming shows like The Miniature Wife (9th April) and the returning Sweetpea S2. As well as Netflix, Disney+, which joined the platform on 17th March, and HBO Max, launching on 26th March.

Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu in one subscription, exclusively on Sky

Sky has today announced that in a world-first, it is bringing together Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription
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Sky becomes the home of must-watch entertainment, with the most popular streaming apps sitting side by side alongside Sky Originals including Amadeus and Under Salt Marsh, and Sky Exclusives like Heated Rivalry, all in one place and integrated as part of the Sky TV experience.
For the first time, new customers can get Sky, HBO Max, Disney+, Hayu and Netflix together as part of Sky Ultimate TV from €28 a month, delivering the best value in the market. Existing customers will get easy access as part of their Sky TV subscription, with over €30 worth of streaming apps included each month, with:
  • Disney+ Standard with Ads arriving in March
  • HBO Max Basic with Ads from when it launches in the UK & Ireland on the 26th March
  • Hayu from July, with a selection of top shows available from March
NOW TV – Also from launch, HBO Max Basic with Ads will be packaged together with NOW Entertainment, included at no extra cost for existing customers and fully integrated into the NOW platform.
Speaking on today’s announcement, Caroline Donnellan, Sky Ireland’s Director of Marketing and Brand said: “This marks a new era for Sky and NOW. In a world-first, we’re setting a new standard for TV value by bringing together Sky, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription. Nowhere else offers all of this incredible entertainment, in a fully integrated experience, with everything customers love watching side by side so viewers can jump from show to show with ease.” 
Matthew Price, Commercial Director at Sky Ireland said: “For our customers, it couldn’t be simpler. We are committed to offering them the best value and the best experience. Existing Sky TV customers, whether on Sky Q, Sky Stream or Sky Glass, will get easy access to this new line-up as standard. All NOW Entertainment customers will get access to HBO Max, included at no extra cost, all integrated within the NOW app. We’re proud to continue Sky’s legacy of innovation, making it easier than ever for people to enjoy the very best entertainment, all in one place,”
 
Unmissable TV series and blockbuster movies on Disney+
Sky and Disney have signed a new multi-year agreement in the UK and Ireland, giving more Sky customers access to Disney stories and entertainment. From March, eligible Sky TV customers will receive Disney+ Standard with Ads included in their subscription, worth up to €8.99 a month, with the option to take the Disney+ Standard or Premium plan while keeping that saving.
This includes Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers with Ultimate TV, eligible Sky Q customers, and Sky Essential TV customers with Sky Cinema. Existing Disney+ customers can also choose to move their current Standard or Premium plan to Sky, saving €8.99 a month, keeping their profile and watch history.
Customers can enjoy a constantly growing library of unmissable entertainment, from acclaimed TV series including Rivals and FX’s The Bear to blockbuster movies such as Disney’s Moana 2 and Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu, FX, 20th Century Studios, and more.
Sky Cinema customers will also get a new Disney+ Cinema channel, giving them access to even more great movies as part of their subscription.
HBO Max included with Sky
Sky has expanded its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to continue bringing HBO shows and Warner Bros. movies to Sky and NOW customers through HBO Max, available from 26th March. Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers with Ultimate TV, and Sky Q customers will get HBO Max Basic With Ads included as part of their Sky subscription. Serving up unmissable HBO drama, including fan-favourite shows like Succession and The Wire as well as new productions like the 2025 Emmy and Critics Choice Award Winning Max Original The Pitt, and a selection of Warner Bros. movies.
Sky+ customers will also be able to watch HBO Max Basic with Ads content. Sky Cinema customers will continue to enjoy new Warner Bros. movies such as One Battle After Another and Superman, alongside hit films from Sky, Paramount, and NBCUniversal.
Sky Atlantic will air the upcoming seasons of much-loved HBO shows that customers have previously enjoyed on Sky, such as Euphoria, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus, alongside HBO Max.
Top reality telly from Hayu on Sky
From July, Hayu, the home of reality TV, will also be included in the Sky subscription, bringing customers the best binge-worthy telly. They’ll be able to catch new episodes of iconic reality franchises, like The Real Housewives and Below Deck, the same day as they air in the US. Sky Stream and Glass customers with Sky Ultimate TV, Sky Q and Sky+ customers will get all this included on demand, easily discoverable from the homepage.
For those who can’t wait until July, from March fans can enjoy a taste of Hayu’s top shows including Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Sky TV.
An unrivalled range of content, powered by Sky OS
With Sky, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+ and Hayu all together, Sky is the ultimate destination for the best shows, movies and sport side by side in one simple subscription.
Sky OS, the smart platform that powers Sky Stream and Sky Glass, curates entertainment from Sky and other apps into one place, helping viewers get to what they want to watch, faster. Shows and movies will appear side by side in the personalised Top Picks rail on the homepage, so they can jump from Saturday Night Live UK to Stranger Things, or The Pitt to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or High Potential, in a flash.
For the first time, Continue Watching lets viewers jump back into Disney+ and Hayu shows, alongside Sky, Netflix, HBO Max, as well as content from any channel, quickly picking up where they left off or the next episode. Playlists allow viewers to save favourites from apps and channels in one place to enjoy whenever they want. Everything integrates with Sky voice control, so customers can easily search across apps, ‘Hello Sky, play The Bear,’ and control their TV.
Sky OS is always getting smarter, with regular updates and new features added for an even more effortless, personalised experience. Later this year, a comprehensive update will be rolled out to the user interface, Sky OS 2.0. As well as an improved Sky Go app, which will allow customers to enjoy the brilliant Sky OS experience on more devices, in the home or wherever they are.
NOW customers to enjoy HBO Max at no extra cost
Existing NOW Entertainment customers will also get HBO Max Basic with Ads at no extra cost in a new NOW Entertainment & HBO Max membership.
HBO Max brings HBO’s library of content, including hits such as Game of Thrones and new series like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, to the NOW platform from 26th March. This will be seamlessly integrated alongside Sky Originals and Exclusives like Amadeus and Gangs of London, meaning viewers won’t need to lift a finger. The new NOW Entertainment & HBO Max membership will be available from €7.99 a month for new customers.
For those who just want Sky shows, a new NOW Entertainment membership will be available from just €5.99 a month. This will still give access to the upcoming seasons of returning hit series from HBO on Sky Atlantic, like favourites The Last of Us and Euphoria.
Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, Hayu. Included with Sky from just €28 a month
New customers will get Sky Originals and Exclusives, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu as part of the Sky Ultimate TV pack from just €28 a month. Designed for those who want a never-ending supply of brilliant entertainment for the best value in the market, it brings together over 110 channels including Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky History, plus many more.
For those who want a taste of Sky, Sky Essential TV offers great value from just €18 a month. It gives you access to over 30 channels, all in one place including Sky Atlantic, featuring hits like The Day of the Jackal and Brassic, plus new seasons of much-loved HBO shows that have previously aired on Sky, such as House of the Dragon and The White Lotus. Alongside Netflix including fan favourites like Wednesday and Bridgerton, and a wealth of reality shows, documentaries and adventure on discovery+.

HBO Max To Launch In The UK & Ireland On Thursday, March 26

For the first time ever, audiences in the UK and Ireland will be able to stream content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios and Max Originals, all in one place on HBO Max, one might ask now is there a need or will we cancel something else to avail of this as the monthly subsriptions add up and are getting costly.

Award winning Max Original, The Pitt, will premiere in the UK & Ireland on HBO Max from launch, including all of the first season available from day one

2026 features one of HBO’s best ever slates, upcoming content will include new seasons of Euphoria and House of the Dragon, as well as the debut of Lanterns from DC Studios

Movie fans will be able to watch the Academy Award nominated slate and best of the box office including Superman, One Battle After Another, Sinners, A Minecraft Movie and Dune: Part One

Sports fans will access their TNT Sports streaming subscription via HBO Max in the UK starting Thursday, March 26

Subscribers will have four monthly entertainment plans to choose from starting at £4.99 per month, with viewers able to enjoy the complete HBO Max entertainment line-up, including recently released movies, starting at £5.99 per month in the UK & Ireland

In the UK & Ireland, the service will be available directly via hbomax.com and via launch partners including Sky and Prime Video

 

LONDON, UK – HBO Max, the premier global streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery, is launching in the UK and Ireland on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Already available in over 110 territories worldwide, HBO Max offers the ultimate mix of best-in-class series, movies, extraordinary real-life stories and, via TNT Sports in the UK, live sport. For the first time, audiences in the UK and Ireland will be able to stream the exclusive collection of unmissable stories from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios and Max Originals, all in one place via HBO Max.

HBO Max will also become the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK, giving subscribers access to top quality live sports content including the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, Gallagher PREM Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby, UFC, MotoGP, Grand Slam tennis, Grand Tour cycling and much more.

Unmissable Shows and Movies
At launch, the complete first season of 2025 Emmy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award Winning Max Original The Pitt will be available to stream for the first time in the UK and Ireland, with episodes of the latest second season rolling out weekly.

HBO Max will be the home of brand-new HBO Original series, including Lanterns, based on the iconic DC title “Green Lantern” which premieres summer 2026, and the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series.

Within the first few months alone, subscribers will have access to a range of new HBO Original Series including DTF St. Louis, Rooster and the third and final season of The Comeback.

Beginning March 26, HBO Max will be the only place subscribers in the UK and Ireland can catch up on all seasons of the blockbuster HBO Original Euphoria, before the arrival of its highly anticipated third season in April.

In addition, an extensive range of the HBO and Warner Bros. Television libraries – from Succession to Friends, The Sopranos to Game of Thrones and more, will be available in full, exclusively on HBO Max.

Movie fans will also be able to enjoy the best of the box office including the record-setting Oscar-nominated One Battle After Another and Sinners, as well as Superman, A Minecraft Movie, Dune: Part One and rediscover the magic of the entire Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises.

New streaming home for TNT Sports
HBO Max will include the full range of TNT Sports content and live coverage. Subscribers can stream exclusive matches from the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, as well as every Gallagher PREM Rugby match, Premiership Women’s Rugby, more than 1,000 live cycling broadcasts each year including every stage from the Tour de France, every match from the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, every MotoGP race, plus the World Snooker Tour, the winter sports season, Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and much more. With an unchanged price of £30.99 per month for TNT Sports, the service will offer subscribers a standalone TNT Sports plan or ability to purchase alongside select HBO Max plans1, providing fans with the ultimate sports streaming experience that includes innovative in-app features across key sports and events – putting fans in control of how they watch.

In March, sports fans will be able to enjoy a full weekend of live Gallagher PREM Rugby, plus more live football with Emirates FA Cup and UEFA Champions League quarter finals streaming live in early April.

Following HBO Max’s launch, TNT Sports will also continue to be distributed via existing partners in the UK & Ireland. discovery+ will continue as the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK until TNT Sports moves to HBO Max on 26 March. From this time, fans who subscribe to TNT Sports via partners2 in the UK will be able to access it on HBO Max.

JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “After decades of delighting audiences in the UK & Ireland with our remarkable stories and brands, it’s a huge thrill to finally bring it all together on HBO Max, and also offer it directly to all consumers. Starting at just £4.99 per month or £5.99 for our complete entertainment offer – HBO Max brings the most differentiated and best streaming offer to market.”

Andrew Georgiou President & Managing Director for Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe said: “Launching HBO Max in the UK & Ireland marks a significant moment for viewers here. HBO Max will offer them their most loved series and movies from HBO, Warner Bros. and DC Studios, alongside premium sports from TNT Sports in the UK, within an outstanding single destination for this great content and strong value proposition. Nowhere else will you be able to get The Pitt, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Lanterns, Superman, One Battle After Another, as well as the eagerly awaited Harry Potter series, all together.”

Accessible and flexible range of plans for every viewer
Beginning March 26, viewers in the UK and Ireland will have a range of entry points to HBO Max spanning four monthly entertainment plans, providing accessible and flexible options to suit all preferences. In the UK, TNT Sports is also available as standalone plan or can be purchased alongside select HBO Max entertainment plans1.

The following will be available from launch beginning March 26:

  • Basic with Ads (£4.99/month): Stream on 2 devices in Full HD
    • All the best HBO Max shows and movies, excluding movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • Standard with Ads (£5.99/month): Stream on 2 devices in Full HD, with 30 downloads3
    • All the best HBO Max shows and movies, including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • Standard (£9.99/month): Stream on 2 devices in Full HD, with 30 downloads3
    • All the best HBO Max shows and movies on an ad free basis,4 including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • Premium (£14.99/month): Stream on 4 devices in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos (where available) and 100 downloads3
    • The ultimate HBO Max experience with all the best HBO Max shows and movies on an ad free basis,4 including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • TNT Sports Plan (£30.99/month): Including TNT Sports 1-4, TNT Sports Ultimate, live event feeds and TNT Sports Original Documentaries (limited to two of your available streams)
    • Can be purchased within the UK as a standalone plan or in addition to select entertainment plans1. 

Available direct and via launch partners
At launch HBO Max will be available direct from hbomax.com, for more details go to hbomax.com.

In addition, HBO Max launch partners in the UK & Ireland will include Sky and, announced today, Prime Video giving customers even more ways to access award-winning entertainment, movies and live sport .

Watch Your Way
HBO Max will be available on all major devices including TVs, set-top boxes, streaming devices, mobiles, tablets, game consoles and platforms including Android, EE / BT TV, Fire TV, iOS, LG, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung, Virgin TV and Xbox.

Subscribers will be able to create up to five personalised profiles, receive tailored recommendations and enjoy features like Continue Watching and, depending on your plan, offline downloads. Families will also be able to set up kid-friendly profiles with age-appropriate content and parental controls.

HBO Max will be available for pre-registration on the App Store and Google Play beginning March 12.

Global Expansion of HBO Max
The UK & Ireland launch marks a major milestone for the service as it completes its European rollout. HBO Max launched first in the US in 2020 and has since expanded across Latin America, Europe and Asia. For Q3 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery reported 128 million streaming subscribers.

Virgin Media and Eir: The best fixed-line Internet performances in Ireland 2025

Virgin Media and Eir share the leadership of fixed-line Internet in Ireland for 2025, according to the annual nPerf barometer. This edition reveals sustained competition across all performance indicators with year-over-year improvements for four out of five operators.

Virgin Media ranks first ex-aequo with a score of 125 926 nPoints. With speeds of 308.2 Mbps in download bitrate and 69.2 Mbps in upload bitrate, the operator leads in both metrics. Top performer in video streaming (84.0%), it delivers smooth viewing experiences ideal for HD content and rapid file transfers.

Eir shares the first position ex-aequo with 123 938 nPoints. Speeds reach 208.3 Mbps in download bitrate and 56.1 Mbps in upload bitrate (2nd place). Leading in browsing (86.9%) and video streaming (84.4%) ex-aequo, the operator ensures quality user experience with well-controlled latency of 26.0 ms.

Sky completes the podium with 118 407 nPoints. The operator delivers the best latency in the sector (22.0 ms), perfect for gaming and real-time applications. Sharing first place ex-aequo in browsing (86.1%) and video streaming (83.5%), it guarantees fluid navigation.

Vodafone ranks fourth with 117 947 nPoints. With speeds of 231.1 Mbps in download bitrate (2nd place) and 54.8 Mbps in upload bitrate (3rd place), the operator supports demanding uses. Leading in browsing ex-aequo (86.8%), it demonstrates strong performance across key metrics.

Three positions fifth with 82 946 nPoints. The operator achieves 69.3 Mbps in download bitrate and 24.7 Mbps in upload bitrate.

Measurements based on 15 332 tests conducted via the nPerf website and the nPerf app on Android and iOS.

Sky launches Glass Gen 2 with updated features

Sky has unveiled the new Sky Glass TV, now featuring an even brighter 4K HDR screen and an enhanced seven-speaker Dolby Atmos® sound system built in this comes several years after the first Gen

Sky Glass Gen 2 is available now to buy, starting from just €16 per month at Sky.com/ie and in Sky stores. Also on sale in Currys stores soon.

Sky Glass is the only TV that comes with Sky TV built in, with no dish or box needed to stream over Wi-Fi. It’s built for an immersive entertainment experience by combining cutting-edge design, cinematic sound, 4k HDR picture and intelligent Sky OS software all in one device, with just one wire.

There are three sizes to choose from, 43”, 55” and 65”, as well as three updated colours, Volcanic Grey, Arctic Silver and Atlantic Blue.

A 4K advanced HDR TV

The brighter 4K Quantum Dot display delivers crystal clear picture, while new advanced HDR and precision contrast enhancement makes darks darker and brights brighter. It has a wider viewing angle and an even more immersive picture with a brighter, more accurate display.

With a tailored viewing experience based on what’s on screen, viewers can enjoy content as the creator intended. Sky Glass knows what’s on and will automatically optimise the picture and sound accordingly. On the new Sky Glass TV, all the picture modes have been refreshed, to be even better at bringing out the best in every moment, whether it’s Entertainment, Movies, Music, Auto, Vivid, Extra Vivid and Sport.

Re-engineered sound. Built in

Sky Glass Gen 2 has been re-engineered to project even richer 360° cinematic sound. The enhanced Dolby Atmos® sound system now has seven speakers, including a soundbar and dual subwoofer built-in, and has been designed to deliver a richer bass with improved vocal clarity.

From helicopters flying overhead to a stadium filled with applause, viewers can experience it all from the comfort of their sofa.

With no need to buy a separate soundbar, customers can make great savings vs. buying a comparable UHD TV and soundbar.

Commenting on the launch, Fraser Stirling, Global Chief Product Officer for Comcast and Sky said: “We built Sky Glass as a brilliantly simple way for people to watch TV, making it easier to find the things they love from Sky and streaming apps. The new Sky Glass Gen 2 gives people our best TV experience yet, with a brighter picture and even more cinematic sound, and with flexible ways to buy it, it’s more affordable than ever to get Sky TV.”     

Design that feels right at home              

Three new colours – Volcanic Grey, Arctic Silver, and Atlantic Blue – have been chosen to complement modern interiors. The remotes are colour matched to the TV and now the speaker fascia is too.

Whether choosing the 43”, 55” or 65”, everything needed to set up Sky Glass is in one box. Simply take it out, place it on the stand, connect to Wi-Fi and enjoy TV from Sky, Netflix and streaming apps in minutes.  The new stand is designed to be easier than ever, with two prongs that the TV slides onto, no screws or tools needed.  Alternatively, people can choose to add the new bespoke wall mount, that tilts, swivels and sits completely flush against the wall.​It is also compatible with universal TV mounts for anyone who already has their own.

Powered by Sky OS, the new name for Entertainment OS

Sky Glass Gen 2 runs on the Sky OS platform, the intelligent software that powers Sky’s much-loved TV viewing. And it keeps getting smarter, with more than 500 new features and updates since it launched.

It does the hard work by bringing entertainment from Sky and other apps into one place, getting viewers to what they want to watch, faster. It’s smart and learns what viewers like to watch, curating collections of the best entertainment based on viewing habits. With personal Playlists, viewers can save all their favourites from Sky and other apps in one place, ready to watch later. Playlist will save previous and future episodes, even if the series moves across different channels and steaming apps.

Powered by Comcast’s global voice platform, Sky Glass has a far field microphone, so it listens and responds when viewers say “Hello Sky…”. Use it to find shows from Sky and other apps, search for actors or genres, as well as to turn Sky Glass on and off, change volume, fast forward, pause and add to Playlist.

Get the Sky experience from only €34

People can pay for the new Sky Glass like a mobile phone, either all in one go, or spread the cost with interest-free monthly payments from as little at €16 per month for the 43”, €22 per month for the 55”, or €28 month for the 65”.

They can also choose the length of TV subscription they want, with a 12-month TV subscription offering the best price, or a 31-day rolling contract for more flexibility.

It’s never been more affordable to become a Sky customer, thanks to Sky’s new Essential TV pack, giving new customers a taste of Sky for just €18 a month. It brings together over 100 channels including Sky Atlantic, featuring hits The Day of the Jackal and House of the Dragon, along with favourites from Netflix like Squid Game and Stranger Things, plus a wealth of reality shows, documentaries and adventure on Discovery+.

Or choose Sky Ultimate TV, for only €25 a month – perfect for those who want a never-ending supply of the best entertainment. Sky Ultimate TV includes everything in Sky Essential TV, plus even more channels such as Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky History, Sky Showcase, plus many more.

Say hello to Sky Glass Air

Later this year, Sky will launch Sky Glass Air, the smarter TV for less. Expanding the Sky Glass range to offer customers more choice about how they get the Sky TV experience.

Sky Glass Air will have a 4K Quantum Dot HDR screen, plus global dimming and contrast enhancement that automatically brightens the screen for a clearer, more vivid picture. As well as 2.0 stereo speakers with Dolby Audio.

Just like Sky Glass Gen 2, it runs on Sky OS, with all its advanced features, including far-field voice and superior content aggregation.  It will come in three stylish colours, Carbon Grey, Cotton White and Sea Green, and three sizes, 43”, 55” and 65”. Pricing to follow later this year.

It will join the Sky range alongside Sky Glass Gen 2 and Sky Stream, giving customers the option to have a combination of all three in their home if they wish, all working seamlessly together.

For more, visit https://www.sky.com/ie/glass

Virgin Media, Eir: The best fixed-line Internet performances in 2024

Barometer of fixed internet connections in Ireland, The analysis period is from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

The nPerf barometer is based on 15,886 tests performed by users in real conditions via the nPerf website or using the nPerf application available on Android and iOS.

Sky achieved a notable performance with a nPerf score of 112,942, offering a balanced Internet experience with a Download bitrate of 104 Mbps and an Upload bitrate of 33 Mbps. Despite a Latency of 21 ms, Sky excelled in Browsing at 83%.

Three, with a score of 90,522, focused on providing solid Internet basics, displaying a Download bitrate of 65 Mbps and an Upload bitrate of 30 Mbps, while maintaining a Latency of 32 ms.

Virgin Media led the market with a top nPerf score of 124,559, showcasing a superior Download bitrate of 216 Mbps and an Upload bitrate of 44 Mbps, coupled with a Streaming performance of 89%.

Vodafone showed a strong presence with a score of 114,795, highlighted by an exceptional Upload bitrate of 46 Mbps and outstanding Browsing performance at 85%.

Eir delivered robust results with a nPerf score of 121,760, accompanied by a Download bitrate of 187 Mbps and an Upload bitrate of 45 Mbps, excelling in Streaming at 89%.

“This year, we have seen remarkable improvements in overall performance, particularly in upload speeds and browsing experiences, indicating a positive trend towards enhancing user experience,” said Sébastien de Rosbo, Managing Director nPerf.

Focus WiFi:

Virgin Media is the operator that offers the best WiFi experience in Ireland.

WiFi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect to the Internet without physical cables. It provides flexibility and mobility, enabling users to access the Internet from various locations within the coverage area. The main advantages of WiFi are its convenience and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

Sky announces an expanded partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery in the UK and Ireland

Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced an expanded long-term partnership in the UK and Ireland, broadening their collaboration to bring the very best of Warner Bros. Discovery television and movies to Sky and NOW customers in the UK and Ireland.
Building on the award-winning WBD content available today on Sky Cinema and the existing franchises on Sky Atlantic, the new agreement will now include the ad-supported version of Max, WBD’s premium streaming service bundled for Sky customers at no extra cost, when it launches in the UK and Ireland in early 2026. Sky customers will continue to find shows such as House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, and any new series aired before the end of 2025, on Sky Atlantic and through Sky’s On Demand service.
Together with Max, this agreement ensures Sky customers will enjoy an even broader range of WBD content, including HBO and Max Originals, and other series that will be exclusive to Max, including forthcoming series of Harry Potter. This content will be available alongside Sky’s unrivalled lineup of Sky Originals, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Netflix, Universal, Sony, Paramount and much more.
In addition, NOW UK and Ireland Entertainment members will also receive bundled access to the ad-supported version of Max, seamlessly integrated into the NOW experience alongside other premium content.
This agreement follows news that 2024 was the best performing year for Sky Originals drama, including the recording-breaking The Day of the Jackal, Sweetpea and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Sky has recently secured long-term renewals of most major sports rights to near the end of the decade, and Sky customers can also now enjoy an unrivalled range and volume of sport, thanks to recent rights renewals. This offers Sky Sports customers an expanded lineup of sport including, the Premier League, EFL, women’s football, Formula 1, cricket, golf, rugby league, tennis, and more. With Sky Sports+ introduced earlier this year, customers receive 50% more sport at no extra cost.
Dana Strong, Sky Group CEO, commented: “This deal builds on our remarkable achievements this year. We have secured most major sports rights through to the end of the decade, extended our content partnerships, and progressed our transition from satellite to IP, with 9 out 10 new customers choosing Sky Glass or Sky Stream. This partnership solidifies Sky as the ultimate TV destination and the preferred partner of choice for streamers, rights holders and content creators alike.”
Strong added: “This new partnership provides an expanded range of content for our customers to enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular storytelling through Max. The combination of content from our partners, alongside our slate of Sky Originals, and Sky’s leading aggregation of the UK and Ireland’s best content apps gives us an unrivalled entertainment proposition and an exceptional line-up of the world’s best shows.”
Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe said: “Today’s announcement is hugely exciting for everyone who loves award-winning scripted entertainment and movies. Arriving in early 2026, the market-wide launch of Max in the U.K & Ireland is a significant step in its global roll-out, and will be the place where audiences find incredible new shows, including the future Harry Potter series from HBO.
“Our new agreement will continue Warner Bros. Discovery’s long-standing collaboration with Sky and deepen our relationship across distribution and now the bundling of Max. This will enable Max immediately at launch to be available to millions of passionate video subscribers, and separately be available to the more than 20 million other broadband households in the territories through Max direct to consumer and other partnerships.”
The deal also sees Turner Kids content on channels including Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Boomerang remaining part of Sky and NOW’s comprehensive offering for years to come. Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery already enjoy a long-term carriage agreement for a wide range of WBD’s other television channels.

open eir and Sky Partner to Deliver High-Capacity Backhaul Network Connectivity

open eir and Sky are pleased to announce a strategic five-year partnership aimed at enhancing connectivity between their core network infrastructures. Under the agreement, Sky will leverage open eir’s extensive fibre network, to continue its growth across Ireland.

open eir is actively expanding Ireland’s largest fibre-to-the-home network, already accessible to over 1.3 million homes and businesses today, with plans to extend coverage to 1.9 million locations, serving 84% of premises in Ireland. open eir’s fastest growing and largest gigabit fibre network allows Sky to expand their market size, delivering choice to the Irish consumer.

Oliver Loomes, CEO of eir, stated, “open eir and Sky Ireland’s collaboration marks a significant milestone in the Irish telecommunications industry. This direct relationship with Sky is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional network services. We are excited to work with Sky to enable them to bring innovative solutions to the Irish market. This initiative represents a strong working relationship between the two companies and sets the stage for a brighter future in the world of connectivity.”

JD Buckley, CEO of Sky Ireland, commented, “We selected open eir as a full fibre broadband network partner because of their scalable solution and their proven network capability. Sky will harness open eir’s network to broaden its market reach, providing a wider range of services to Irish consumers. This partnership allows Sky to strengthen our broadband capability as an ever increasing number of our customers migrate to IP based products.”

Maeve O’Malley, Managing Director of open eir Wholesale, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to partner with Sky in this pivotal venture. This collaboration underscores our unwavering commitment to extending high- capacity, future-proof network infrastructure to homes and businesses throughout the country. By leveraging open eir’s expansive fibre network, we are ensuring that even customers in the most remote areas of Ireland can enjoy the benefits of world-class connectivity and next-generation services. This partnership marks a significant step forward in delivering superior network solutions to Irish consumers.”