Digital TV News

Fancy Sky without the satellite dish?

Wednesday 2 February, 2012

By Anthony Hill

New internet TV platform will be available to any UK household with broadband - no satellite dish required.

Sky is planning to launch a “connected” television service aimed at the 13 million UK households not currently signed up to a digital TV package.

The new platform will allow customers to watch Sky Movies, sport and entertainment over the internet, without the need for a satellite dish. It will be available to anyone with broadband, on a wide range of devices, from PCs and tablets to smartphones and internet-connected TVs.

Launching in the first half of 2012, the new product will rival BT Vision - the telecom giant’s connected TV platform, and Virgin Media’s TiVo as well as online streaming services like LOVEFiLM and Netflix.

Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s chief executive, said: “This will be a new way for us to reach out to consumers who love great content, but may not want the full Sky service. Bringing a distinctive, new choice to the marketplace will help us meet the needs and demands of an ever wider range of consumers.”

“This new product launch will build on our early leadership in multi-platform distribution. It will allow us to make our expertise and investment in content and technology work even harder, extending our options for continued growth.”

It comes after the broadcaster announced record profits in the six months to December 2011, up 16% on the previous year at £601million. A total of 10.47 million customers now subscribe to Sky services, with over three million households taking TV, broadband and home telephone.

Key features of Sky’s internet TV platform include:

• Content - Some of Sky’s most popular programming. Sky Movies will be available from launch, with sport and entertainment to be added soon afterwards.
• Flexible pricing - No minimum contract. Customers will choose from several pricing options, such as pay monthly or pay-per-view film and TV rentals.
• Easy access - Available on a wide variety of connected devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, games consoles and internet-connected TV sets.

More details about the new service will be revealed closer to launch.

Photo by watchsmart