Digitaltveurope.com

UK service provider Sky is reportedly planning to launch a next-generation set-top box in the spring that will support ultra high-definition, 4K content.

According to a Telegraph report, the box has been developed as part of a major overhaul of Sky’s TV technology, with cloud programme storage and multiscreen viewing on smartphones and tablets to also be supported.

News first emerged last year claiming that Sky had set up an internal unit to work on the new set-top box initiative, dubbed ‘Project Ethan’, which included plans to move recorded programmes from customers’ DVR hard-drives to a central data centre.

The new Telegraph report claims that while Sky had initially planned to launch the new set-top box last year, it is now due to introduce the update in spring alongside a major marketing push, in a bid to fend off pay TV and broadband competition from BT.

A Sky spokesperson told DTVE: “Innovation is at the very heart of Sky’s business. We have a proven track record of leadership in the industry as we continually strive to find new ways to enhance the customer experience”.