[cable]

Yes, Sky Stream isn’t a like-for-like upgrade in every respect in the way you’d want it to be for Sky Q customers in order to drive demand-led upgrades.

Really, they need a recording-capable version of Sky Stream (although they may be trying to avoid introducing this so they can charge for the Ad-skipping add-on and force people to use players instead).

Personally, I think a total lack of recording is a major drawback for many which would actually be enough of a detractor to stop any consideration of an upgrade. I do think they will eventually have to introduce a “Sky Stream+” with recording, before Sky Q is completed phased out.

The ad skip add on also allows fast forwarding (but not entirely removing) commercials on ITVX/Channel 4/My5 (without the need to have subscribed to the paid tier of the streaming service) so not just for pause and rewind functions of live channels.

I guess the licensing of content means that it no longer makes sense to allow the user to store it to a hard drive. Also, not many people want large boxes where the bulk is mainly the hard drive and the provider would benefit in support costs due to mechanical parts used, SSDs have never been used so I guess they are not cost effective. Even Freeview PVRs have declined in popularity, so those that have got used to apps probably wont miss the recording function much anyway.