Sky is no stranger to hardware, having Sky boxes and branded routers, but they never expected a broadcaster to make a TV. But Sky Glass has done just that.

Sky Glass aims to offer a single entertainment package that combines a 4K TV, built-in soundbar, and Sky's services, all delivered over a Wi-Fi connection without the need for an antenna. limited to the countries where it operates, but the actual concept here is interesting, especially if U.S. cable and satellite providers are paying attention.

Typically, when non-electronics brands enter hardware to offer all-in-one packages, the resulting products are lackluster. These products are often poorly made, have middling specs, and are essentially rebrands of inexpensive devices; there are some surprisingly decent TVs, like the Amazon Fire TV, but few offer serious specs at affordable prices or as part of an affordable subscription model. Few of them do.

Skyglass, however, offers three different TVs in 43-, 55-, and 65-inch sizes, all with 4K Quantum Dot panels (the type of panel found on Samsung's top-of-the-line TVs) and support for Dolby Vision, a fairly high standard for HDR The TVs also support Dolby Vision, a fairly high standard for HDR. They also have built-in Dolby Atmos soundbars.

All of this is offered at a starting price of £649 or a monthly subscription of £13. For context, I paid £800 for my 4K Samsung TV, but it lacks Dolby Vision and Atmos Soundbar.

We would need to test the Sky Glass thoroughly to draw any definite conclusions, but in our hands-on review of the Sky Glass, we were rather impressed with this TV. It may be a bit bulky and the colors may be pale, but it is reasonably priced, sounds great, and offers a one-box solution for getting started with Sky.

And I kind of wanted one. I have never seen Sky TV. That's because back in the day, in the deepest, darkest house in my rural West Wales, Sky TV was too expensive to watch. As prices dropped, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Now TV came along, and not only did cord-cutting become more attractive, but the need for cable was eliminated in the first place.

But there are only so many streaming services you can subscribe to before your bank account runs out and you are forced to resort to plain toast meals. So Sky's approach, which covers much of what I like to watch, including the best shows and movies from HBO Max, combined with an attractive TV package, is appealing.

Now, there are probably some big TV and audio fans out there who would scoff at the idea of an all-in-one TV becoming the center of the entertainment universe. Don't get me wrong. I would love to buy one of the best OLED TVs we have to choose from and pair it with a carefully assembled surround sound system.

However, I live in a one-bed London apartment where space is not only limited, but almost non-existent. Therefore, a device that can do a lot without taking up a lot of space would fulfill my requirements. Of course, there is a compromise in quality when choosing a soundbar over a true surround sound setup, but such is life.

In short, Sky Glass is not only an attractive way to entice me to consider a Sky subscription, but also presents an elegant solution to the problem of setting up a pseudo home cinema in a limited space.

Will Skyglass revolutionize the way we buy TV? I don't know, but a smartphone-like subscription/subscription agreement is very interesting. I have seen Microsoft offer the Xbox Series X as part of a subscription package with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making it a very attractive deal, even though restocking the Xbox Series X is a challenge.

Sky Glass will not be introduced in the U.S., but it would not be surprising if U.S. broadcasters take notice of Sky and are inspired to do the same. In any case, the future of television beyond improved displays is likely to be quite interesting.