Sky previews 'Taste of Hayu' ahead of full launch

Sky has begun rolling out a selection of Hayu reality shows to Ultimate TV customers, offering early access ahead of the full launch later this year.

The 'Taste of Hayu' update includes more than 150 episodes from shows like Below Deck and The Real Housewives, available at no extra cost on Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q.

It's the latest step in Sky's move to integrate streaming services into a single subscription, alongside Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max.

Illustration: Choose.co.uk

A 'Taste of Hayu' on Sky TV

From today, Sky Ultimate TV customers gain access to more than 150 Hayu episodes, giving early access to a selection of reality shows before the full service launches in July.

This staged rollout was first outlined in February, when Sky confirmed Hayu would be included in Ultimate TV as part of its wider bundle - alongside Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max - with a smaller selection of content available from March.

The preview includes content from around 10 of Hayus most recognisable franchises, including Below Deck Mediterranean, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Vanderpump Rules, with selected seasons available on demand.

Rather than launching as a standalone app, the shows are integrated directly into the Sky TV interface, appearing within the homepage and on-demand rails alongside other programmes.

This means customers can start watching immediately as part of their existing package, without needing to sign up separately, with the full Hayu catalogue set to arrive in July.

How Sky TV is changing

Sky's latest updates reflect a change in how its TV platform is structured, driven in part by shifts in underlying content rights.

Sky Atlantic has historically been the exclusive UK home for HBO content, but that model is now changing. New HBO shows are moving to HBO Max, which launches in the UK in March and will also be available on Virgin Media.

That leaves Sky Atlantic focused primarily on existing and library content rather than new releases. For the first time, the channel is also being made available on Virgin Media from 1 April - removing one of Sky's long-standing selling points.

In response, Sky is placing more emphasis on how content is delivered through its platform, rather than relying on individual channels as the main draw.

This approach builds on the foundations of Sky Stream, where Netflix content has been integrated into the platform since launch in 2022, appearing within search, recommendations and "Continue Watching" rather than sitting in a separate app.

What has changed is the number of services being brought into that model.

Disney+ has now been added to Ultimate TV, with its content appearing within Sky's interface - including features like "Continue Watching" - and being incorporated into Sky Cinema channels.

Disney previously closed its UK TV channels in 2020 to move its content into Disney+, but Sky is now helping reverse part of that by splitting Disney content back across certain plans, with platform integration and selected linear channels - including Disney Jr HD and the Disney+ Cinema channel.

HBO Max is set to launch on 26 March as part of the same bundled approach, while Hayu is being introduced in stages, starting with this preview ahead of its full rollout in July.

Instead of simply providing access to streaming apps, Sky is now integrating their content directly into its platform, bringing them into the same viewing experience rather than leaving them in separate apps.

What's next?

Several further changes to Sky's TV platform are scheduled over the coming months, beginning with the launch of HBO Max in the UK on 26 March.

The new service will become the home for new HBO series, while existing HBO shows and Sky Originals remain available on Sky TV, including for customers on Essential TV which doesn't include HBO Max.

That shift also affects how Sky Atlantic is positioned. From 1 April, the channel will launch on Virgin Media for the first time, extending access to its existing catalogue beyond Sky as newer HBO titles move into HBO Max.

Alongside this, Warner Bros Discovery is separating its content across different services. HBO Max will carry new HBO and TNT Sports content, while Discovery+ continues to host its entertainment programming, which remains available to Sky customers. Paramount's agreed takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, expected later in 2026, will bring those services under a single owner.

The final stage of Sky's current rollout comes in July, when the full Hayu service launches on Sky, expanding from the current preview to a much larger catalogue and completing the set of streaming services included within its updated TV bundles.