Sky launches online pay-TV service

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 04-Dec-08, 12:20

LONDON - Sky has launched its online TV offering Sky Player TV, which introduces the ability for non-Sky TV subscribers to watch premium content online at a cost starting at £1 per programme and £15 per month for channel packages.

Sky Player TV offers live TV and video-on-demand and can be accessed through a PC or Mac.

It marks the first time that consumers can access pay TV content online without the need to subscribe to an existing TV-based service.

Subscription packages for Sky Player TV range in price from £15 for the Entertainment Pack through to £34 for the addition of all of the Sky Sports family of channels.

The Entertainment Pack initially offers access to Disney Channel, British Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, Sky News, and Sky Sports News.

Customers can add to their Entertainment Pack by subscribing to one or both of the Sky Sports Packs to access Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, and Sky Sports Xtra.

Later in December, MTV Networks UK & Ireland's channels MTV ONE, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr will join the Entertainment Pack. Further channel launches, including additions from the rest of the Sky channel portfolio, will follow in the New Year.

The Sky Player TV service was developed in conjunction with Microsoft using its Silverlight and PlayReady technologies.

Mike Darcey, chief operating officer at BSkyB, said: "We want to give customers as much choice as possible not just in what they watch, but in how they watch it.

"Sky Player TV recognises that for some, the computer screen is now the preferred screen through which to watch TV.

"In developing a standalone subscription to a secure online platform, we are responding to the diverse needs of today's customers."

Comments

lori jones - 04/12/2008

The Ultramercial patented ad format would be a perfect option for Sky Player TV: viewers are presented with a choice before gaining access to premium content they've selected: either pay for special On Demand content - or - get it for free after completing a brief 30 second interactive commercial.

Nicola Lucas - 05/12/2008

"Disney Channel, British Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, Sky News, and Sky Sports News." That's the worst pack ever. If they were talking Sky One then maybe I'd consider.

Ed Lamb - 05/12/2008

Tried this last night and it's a great service. Watched the highlights of England v New Zealand rugby as I don't have Sky so couldn't watch England at the weekend - what was great was that it wasn't just the Sky programme - it was 21 minutes of match highlights without having to sit through chit chat in the studio. Although I'm registered in my own name, the thought did go through my mind, why not register in a family member's name who has Sky, as the online service is free to Sky subscribers? There are others in my family who have Sky TV but they'd never watch online, so I could have logged in as them and got the footage for free couldn't I?