Sky TV viewers who watch Disney+ on their box are getting a bad deal, and here’s why

Disney+ has launched in the UK today – bringing access to animated classics, the Star Wars saga, documentaries from National Geographic, almost every episode of The Simpsons, and a slew of new exclusive shows and films. The app, which might not offer the streaming quality that many were hoping for, is available on Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks and tablets, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android TV sets, and more.

The streaming service (which you can access for free if you’re one of a lucky few) is also available on Sky Q set-top boxes from today – although NOW TV customers will face a significant wait. However, those tuning into the feverishly-anticipated streaming service on their Sky Q might be disappointed with the experience.

Sky made a big deal about striking a partnership with Disney that would enable it to offer Disney+ to its customers from launch day. However, it turns out Disney+ isn’t quite as integrated into the Sky Q set-top box as we might’ve hoped.

Unlike streaming rival Netflix, which is available under the same Apps section of the Sky Q menu where you’ll find Disney+, you won’t be able to search for content available through the subscription service with the search button on your Sky remote control. So, if you’re searching for Toy Story on your box, Sky will show you any corresponding results from Sky Cinema, terrestrial channels, Sky Store, and Netflix – but nothing from Disney+.

Needless to say, that could led to some confusion. Viewers who thought something was available from Disney+ who don’t spot it within the search results might opt to splash out on an unnecessary rental from the Sky Store, or decide to watch something else instead.

And the quirks of watching Disney+ on Sky Q don’t end there.

Those who decide to tune-in via Sky Q will find their streams limited to 1080p High Definition (HD) rather than Ultra HD 4K, which you’ll be able to access through other devices, like the Apple TV 4K, for example.

AV expert John Archer says there will be fixes for some of these issues. Sky Q customers will be able to add Disney+ to their bill – so that all of their entertainment is charged in a single monthly bill (exactly like its already possible to do with Netflix) sometime at the end of April.

But it remains unknown whether some of the other problems, like the lack of HDR – something that Sky promised would be coming to its Sky Q system in 2018, before it was repeatedly pushed back, will be solved for Disney fans anytime soon.

Express.co.uk has contacted Sky for comment on this story.