- 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
Tag: Stream
Sky OS gets smarter: new Sky Glass and Sky Stream features now live
- Reminders are rolling out to all Sky Glass and Stream customers now, so no more scrambling for the remote at kick off or that big season finale. Programme reminders can be set for anything in the TV guide. Viewers simply need to go to the showpage of what they’d like to watch and select “Set a reminder.”
- A notification will appear at the top of the screen when the show begins – perfect for live sport and must-watch Winter telly. Football fans, consider this the new pre-match whistle.
- Sky Glass and Stream customers can now control their TV from their phone with the new digital Sky remote app, available on iOS and Android.
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Find favourite shows in seconds, change channels, and manage playback (play, pause, skip) with just a tap. Remote app users can also enjoy built-in accessibility features like screen reader support.
- Settings are now easier to reach – just press the three dots on the Sky remote and scroll right. No need to scroll down.
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They’ve moved to the quick access menu for faster navigation to picture and sound settings, parental controls, accessibility and more.
- Upgraded voice guidance experience: Customers can now adjust the voice guidance speed to their preference when navigating the UI, as well as some of their favourite apps including RTÉ Player, Sky Sports+, Sky Store, Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, with more to come.
- High contrast in Sky apps: Change the contrast between the background and text in Sky apps, by turning on High contrast via the Sky Glass or Sky Stream settings.
- Magnification: Turn on magnification mode via Accessibility settings to zoom in up to 400% and use the number keys on the remote to pan across the UI.
- Audio Description on demand: Audio Description is rolling out for Sky on-demand shows, bringing the same accessible experience already available on Sky broadcast channels to Sky Cinema and Sky Entertainment on-demand content.
CHERRY releases new ProScroll technology and the STREAM DESKTOP ULTIMATE
The new CHERRY STREAM DESKTOP ULTIMATE is the ideal solution for anyone who values efficiency, comfort and precision. The set includes a wireless mouse and keyboard designed to perform across a range of tasks, from software development and graphic design to managing complex spreadsheets and extended coding sessions.
“The CHERRY STREAM ULTIMATE series is built to make precision feel easy. With the CHERRY ProScroll wheel powered by electromagnetic technology, you can pick from preset modes or fine-tune the feel to suit your work. From tactile steps for detailed tasks to freewheeling for fast navigation. Combined with great ergonomics and flexible wireless connectivity, the STREAM DESKTOP ULTIMATE is built to keep you comfortable and in control wherever you work”, says Joakim Jansson, Head of Product & Portfolio at CHERRY.
CHERRY STREAM MOUSE ULTIMATE features ProScroll technology, offering a fresh level of scrolling customisation with four preset profiles, basic, smooth, control and precision, each designed to deliver distinct resistance, tactile feedback and speed.
Users can customise the scroll wheel using CHERRY UTILITY software, which offers control over seven parameters such as drag force, free-running, grid resistance and an optional blocking function. With up to 288 million possible combinations, the mouse can be tailored to individual preferences. Profiles can be saved locally and reloaded whenever needed.
The ergonomic design of the CHERRY STREAM MOUSE ULTIMATE, complete with a textured thumb rest, is built for comfort during long working days. With seven buttons, including two side buttons and a DPI/profile switch ranging from 1000 to 4000 DPI, the mouse offers flexible customisation alongside the ProScroll wheel. Low-noise buttons help maintain a quiet and focused working environment.
By combining dual Bluetooth® 5.2, 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity and a USB-C cable the mouse is highly versatile, with support for up to four devices. Its sleek design, featuring black marble accents and bronze highlights, ensures the CHERRY STREAM DESKTOP ULTIMATE complements modern workspaces.
The new wireless CHERRY STREAM KEYBOARD ULTIMATE stands out for its thoughtful design and practical features. Its CHERRY SX scissor mechanism delivers precise, quiet and comfortable typing, while white backlighting with five brightness levels ensures clear visibility in any lighting. Additional status LEDs provide instant updates on key functions such as active connections and caps lock status.
Three adjustable tilt angles (0°, 4°, 8°), a sturdy metal plate and rubberised feet offer ergonomic comfort and reliable support. Eight hotkeys for media and office functions speed up your workflow, while the integrated Co-Pilot button provides direct access to AI support. The battery lasts up to five months on a single charge, ensuring uninterrupted work.
The CHERRY STREAM DESKTOP ULTIMATE, which includes a wireless keyboard and mouse, will be available in stores soon with an RRP of £174.99. The CHERRY STREAM MOUSE ULTIMATE is already available at £89.99, while the CHERRY KEYBOARD ULTIMATE (UK layout) is set to launch shortly at £104.99.
Further information on CHERRY products can be found at: https://www.cherry.de/en-gb
Aviva Insurance Ireland and ClubberTV join forces in multi-year partnership
Aviva Insurance Ireland, one of Ireland’s leading insurance providers, has today been announced as a major partner of ClubberTV, the fast-growing sports streaming platform transforming how grassroots GAA and community sport are brought to fans across Ireland and beyond.
The new partnership marks a significant moment for both organisations, bringing together Aviva’s long-standing commitment to Irish sport with ClubberTV’s innovative approach to live and on-demand sports coverage.
Under the new agreement, Aviva will become an official partner of all ClubberTV coverage for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with prominent branding integrated across Clubber’s live match broadcasts, digital platforms, and community outreach initiatives, reinforcing both organisations’ dedication to growing grassroots sport.
Speaking at the announcement, Declan O’Rourke, CEO at Aviva Insurance Ireland commented, “At Aviva Insurance Ireland, we understand the power of sport to connect communities, and grassroots GAA is at the heart of communities throughout the country. We are proud to support the growth and development of ClubberTV in making our national game more accessible to national and global audiences. We’re delighted to support a platform that gives communities more in terms of access, entertainment and inspiration”.
Founded in 2020, Clubber has become Ireland’s leading live streaming platform for local and grassroots sport. Using cloud-based technology, it removes the need for traditional broadcast infrastructure, enabling high-quality, live coverage from any location. This year alone, it will stream over 1,500 games, cementing its position as the go-to platform for grassroots and semi-professional sports. Clubber holds exclusive, multi-year GAA broadcast rights across Ireland and is actively expanding its footprint into additional counties, sports, and international markets.
Jimmy Doyle, CEO of Clubber TV added, “To welcome Aviva Insurance Ireland as our first major partner is a proud moment. It validates the vision we’ve had from day one: to unlock the power of local sport and bring it to fans everywhere. Together with Aviva, we look forward to increasing the visibility of grassroot sport.”
Fans can watch games from 14 counties including the Tipperary, Cork and Kilkenny Club Hurling Championships, as well as the Kerry, Kildare and Meath Club Football Championships, plus some of the Camogie Club Championships with flexible subscription options.
The Impact of View Count on Twitch Algorithms
Becoming a Twitch superstar is a dream for many. But at the same time, with such harsh competition consisting of literally thousands of other people in the same niche, it may look like an impossible task. Not necessarily, there are ways to make yourself count and benefit from Twitch’s algorithms.
From this point of view, there are a few factors you need to pay attention to. Having a good view count, for example, can put you in the live section of Twitch. That’s where most people look for when they’re interested in something new or exciting.
On the same note, a good view count will also make you go viral by introducing you to the discovery section. This means more and more people will see your work. Obviously, you need quality work as well, if you want these people to actually stick to your channel.
Now, all these things may seem easy, but gaining those views and other elements related to Twitch’s algorithms can be tricky. With this aspect in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the view count and other relevant factors for your popularity on Twitch.
A Visibility Boost
Simply put, Twitch works like a human being. If you see a full restaurant with one empty table, you’ll pick it over an empty restaurant. You naturally assume that food and prices are great there; that’s why there are so many customers.
Well, Twitch works in the exact same manner. A high view count tells Twitch that your stream is popular and engaging. The platform wants everyone to see viral and popular things, so it will be mentioned in the live section. You’ll also become a top recommendation for those looking to discover new content creators.
The higher your view count is, the better your placement will be in these sections. This visibility creates a snowball effect, it means more viewers attract more viewers and your stream gains popularity overnight.
From this point of view, botted Twitch viewers make an excellent addition to your growth techniques, since they’ll help you achieve more organic traffic, let alone potential followers.
Better Rankings
A high view count every now and then will make you more visible in live and discovery sections on Twitch. But having high view counts on a regular basis will make things even better, as you’ll become more of an authority, so you’ll gain even more recommendations from the platform.
Now, the way this works is based on recommendations in the search function. When someone searches for something in particular and the criteria match you, having a regular high view count will make you an authority, so you’ll be among the first results if not even the top one.
Once again, this translates into a better placement and more organic traffic. While the method to get botted viewers isn’t necessarily natural, it pushes your channel into an organic growth line, meaning you’ll become more visible to a wide audience.
However, over time, your channel’s success will depend on your ability to engage real viewers, foster loyalty, and consistently deliver quality content.
Other Relevant Factors
The view count can and will make the difference, but it’s not the only factor to take into account. In fact, it goes hand in hand with other metrics. Plus, you don’t want to look suspicious. You can’t have 10,000 viewers when your channel barely has 500 followers, so you need to focus on other elements too.
Apart from matching the view count to the total number of followers, you should also pay attention to the activity in your channel during streams.
For example, an active chat room indicates good times, which also affects the algorithms. You’ll get even more recommendations and better positions if your chat room is active too.
Any form of interaction can and will help your streams become popular and more visible. This includes responding to chat messages, running polls, and encouraging viewers to participate in discussions or games.
The watching time is not to be overlooked either. If every viewer watches your stream for a few seconds, Twitch will interpret it as being boring and not interesting. That’s what people would actually do. You get in, watch for a bit and get out if you don’t like it.
From this point of view, short watching times will affect your discoverability in a negative manner. You need those views to be long in order to affect the algorithms positively.
Back to the actual interaction, it relates to the title of the stream too, let alone the description. Any form of interaction, whether it’s viewers chatting, sharing your stream, or liking your content, helps your channel grow and become more visible on the platform.
Shared Viewership Helps Too
Last, but not least, shared viewership is another important element in the algorithm, especially if you’re trying to grow and become more popular. This means you shouldn’t overlook any collaboration whatsoever. As long as you can get introduced to someone else’s audience, simply go for it.
Shared viewership means your viewers and your collaborator’s viewers are counted altogether. Not only do you get more visibility, but this also affects the view count, meaning both of you will get better rankings and discoverability. It sends a message to the algorithm and it helps your channel with the exposure. It’s not only about numbers but about building connections, sharing audiences and creating unique experiences as well.
