Sky Sports Channels on BT Box

[JDC26]

A question regarding how Sky Sports channels are viewed with the Big Sport package.. 

I currently have a NOW TV sky sports pass that I use via the NOW TV app on my smart TV. My partner and I decided to switch our ISP to BT and we added the Big Sport package with this.

One of the benefits of this in our mind was that we would be able to watch Sky Sports channels using the BT TV box, straight through the TV Guide. It would be less hassle than using the app and we'd also have the benefit of being able to pause, rewind and record whilst watching Sky Sports. 

I've been doing some digging online and I'm finding conflicting answers as to whether the above is actually possible.

Will we be able to watch Sky Sports through the TV guide and have the ability to pause, rewind and record programmes on Sky Sports? Or are they accessed through a dedicated NOW TV app on the BT Box? The latter of which I assume would make the benefits of pausing, rewinding and recording not possible.

Thanks in advance. 

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[-Richie-]

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@JDC26wrote:

Will we be able to watch Sky Sports through the TV guide and have the ability to pause, rewind and record programmes on Sky Sports? Or are they accessed through a dedicated NOW TV app on the BT Box? The latter of which I assume would make the benefits of pausing, rewinding and recording not possible.

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The content you subscribe to BT will be available as a live channels and through the EPG, so yes you can pause, rewind and record if the subscription is provided by BT.
Any passes you have from elsewhere would be app only access.

[JDC26]

Thank you for the quick reply and providing the answer I was hoping for! Much appreciated.

[BillyM]

HI @JDC26 

if this link works it will give you an idea of what the schedule/Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) looks like: https://www.player.bt.com/#/livetv/schedule?filter=sport

And if you haven't already, it's well worth going for the HD add-on.

[JDC26]

Hi @BillyM

Thanks for the reply. The link did work, I logged into my account and had a look at the TV Guide which didn't show any of the Sky Sports Channels which is slightly concerning.. Any possible reason I'm missing for this?

[NigelB72]

@JDC26 are you logging in using your BT log in details? They'll be the same ones you use to log into MyBT to manage your account...

[JDC26]

I am yes. When I ordered my package I transfered the NOW TV Sky Sports pass I was already paying for over to my BT account. 

[NigelB72]

Are the NowTV channels showing in the EPG on your Youview box and can you access them? 

[JDC26]

Our view box hasn't actually arrived yet. I only placed the order this morning so our activation date isn't until 13th April. I just wanted to get some clarity on the original question I asked as there's doesn't seem to be a solid yes or no answer to it. If it was a case of only being able to access Sky Sports through an app rather than the EPG I would consider cancelling the order as that was one of the main selling points for me. 

Although from the earlier reply @-Richie- gave it seems as though I will be able to access Sky Sports how I was hoping so I think it might just be a case of waiting for everything to arrive and seeing what's what. 

[NigelB72]

Ahh ok .. nothing will work until you get to your activation date and you have to allow up to midnight for the order to complete.

But in answer to your original question, you can happily watch Sky Sports through the Youview EPG. Rewind, pause and record until your heart is content. Be warned though that NowTV push out 720p 25fps as standard and football looks pretty terrible. Add the HD Boost to notch it up to 1080 50fps and it looks stunning.

Just to confuse even more, the HD Boost only works for the Sky channels, if you want HD/UHD BT Sport, you'll need to add the HD add on for that too. You need to order them separately through MyBT but you only get charged once.... So £5 for both and it's well worth it