Sky has unveiled what it calls “the next-generation home entertainment system”, designed to make it easier for customers to access a wide range of television content.

Sky Q will launch early next year, and intends to give users a ‘fluid viewing’ experience, with features including the ability to pause live television in one room and press play in another room. It will also allow subscribers to save recordings onto their tablets to watch on-the-go.

The company’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Darroch, said he wanted to re-imagine television for Sky’s customers “so that it’s flexible and seamless across different screens and to put a huge choice of entertainment at their fingertips.”

This will mean a new touchpad remote control to enable easy scrolling and swiping, a new TV guide and a new search capability that will bring together live channels, recordings and on-demand content.

The new Sky Q boxes will also double as Wi-Fi hotspots to boost internet coverage, using a home’s electrical wiring.

The product will allow customers to watch Ultra High Definition content later in 2016, and Sky promises “a pipeline of other innovative new features” to follow.