Sky to offer Lost for free on PC service

by Tristan O'Carroll, Media Week 05-Feb-08, 12:54

LONDON - Sky is to offer hit Disney series Lost via its on-demand service Sky Anytime on PC on an ad-supported basis for the first time.

The News Corp-backed company is offering subscribers the ability to download full episodes of Lost via Sky Anytime on PC effectively for free, as part of their core Sky satellite subscription.

Sky subscribers taking its Sky Variety Mix package will have the option of watching new Lost episodes free for 30 days, once it has debuted on Sky One and Sky One HD.

The deal marks the first time that the whole season of Lost has been made available to download in the UK on a non-paid-for basis. It is also the first time that Sky has struck such a deal with a third-party content provider.

As a result of the deal, Ubisoft will become the first brand to advertise around entertainment content on the service and will have a range of inventory to support this deal.

In addition to brand creative on the dedicated Lost web page within Sky Anytime on PC, each Lost episode will have short pre-roll and post-roll ads.

Paul Wright, director of sales, Sky Digital Media, said: “Ubisoft has seen this opportunity and we look forward to working with other innovative brands as we move forward.”