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Sky is preparing to axe a flagship product barely three years after its debut, which had vowed to "revolutionise how you interact with your television". Those impacted by this decision will receive compensation when the service shuts down completely next month. Sky Live, which debuted in June 2023 as a camera add-on for Sky Glass, enabled viewers to participate in games through physical movement, virtually watch Sky Sports football matches alongside mates, and dispatch video messages to contacts. The extra gadget came with a hefty price tag of £290 upfront or £6 monthly across a 24-month contract alongside a Sky Glass package. Sky has remained tight-lipped about why they're pulling the plug on the product so rapidly. "Innovation has always been at the heart of Sky," a Sky spokesperson commented. "Innovation has always been at the heart of Sky. This year we've expanded our Sky Glass range to offer more choice, launched the UK's fastest broadband speeds from any major provider, and continued to invest in making the TV experience even better. "Sky Live was part of that journey, and we're proud of the ambition behind it. It's given us valuable learnings that are helping to shape the future of our products. The most popular feature was gaming, which is why we've continued to bring even more games to Sky Glass and Sky Stream, with something for everyone in the family, including Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." "We're focusing our investment where it matters most to customers - faster, simpler products, unbeatable content and brilliant service. Customers who purchased Sky Live will be refunded." The move arrives just weeks after the broadcasting behemoth revealed plans to axe around 600 positions. Sky Live is scheduled to stop working on December 4. Every customer who bought Sky Live will receive a full refund for what they paid for the gadget. Sky is preparing to slash roughly 600 technology roles as discussions involving 900 staff begin. Workers at the Leeds, Livingston and Osterley locations are anticipated to be affected. The redundancies form part of a restructuring of Sky's tech division as it moves from creating new platforms, including Sky Glass and Sky Stream television, to concentrating on current services. As the firm moves away from product creation, it's believed that departments need to be streamlined, more targeted and adaptable. Additional tech operations are also being conducted across Sky's global business. When the redundancies were revealed last month a Sky spokesperson said: "Over the past few years, Sky has launched a set of market-leading products including Sky Glass, Sky Stream and our full fibre broadband service. These products are now firmly established and used by millions of customers, strengthening Sky's reputation for innovation and great service. Looking forward, we're altering our strategy to offer customers the next generation of experiences by investing in a digital-first service, unrivalled content, and enhanced performance from our products, all fuelled by the finest global innovation."
