Sky Q goes on sale: Tech-powered TV box available to buy

The new set-top box was first unveiled in November, and brings 'fluid viewing' as part of the company's response to other internet-powered equipment

It's not yet clear how much more a Sky Q subscription will cost compared to the regular service (David Parry/PA Wire)

Sky Q, the company’s new set-top box, has gone on sale.

Existing and new customers can buy the new box — based around the idea of “fluid viewing” — from now. It will go on sale in Sky retail outlets from Friday.

Sky Q is the company’s attempt to take on new cable cutting solutions that get their content from the internet, like the Apple TV and other plug in boxes, as well as smart TVs that do it themselves. It includes some of that same content, such as YouTube, but also works like a traditional Sky+ set-top box.

The new hardware is based around the idea of “fluid viewing”. That means that users can pause their recordings in one room and then carry on in the next, either on a traditional box or on an app for tablets.

It comes in the form of the main Sky Q box, as well as smaller versions of it. The company has also released a new touch remote and app, all of which work together.

The kit also connects to Sky Broadband hubs, which will be upgraded to allow the set-top boxes to work as Wi-Fi hotspots for Sky Q customer.

Existing Sky+ customers will pay about £12 extra per month to be upgraded to the new setup, Sky says. New customers can get it from £42 per month. It will cost £99 to set it up.