GRcade

UK pay TV service Sky has just announced its quarterly results, and despite adding 100,000 subscribers as well as notching its "highest ever first-half adjusted operating profit" it will launch a new internet TV service, available to anyone in the country with a broadband connection. Sky describes the new over the top (OTT) service as being aimed at the 13 million UK households who don't currently subscribe to pay TV, with access available via "PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, games console or connected TV." Initially, it will offer Sky Movies on demand joined by sports and entertainment options later, with access based on either monthly unlimited subscription or "pay-as-you-go" pricing. As far as the company's basic services, it will continue to develop its existing Sky Go product for standard pay-TV subscribers and zeebox iPad companion app, although this seems to initially be a worth competitor for things like Lovefilm and recent UK entrant Netflix. We have plenty of questions about what it will offer cord-cutters and cord-nevers in the UK when it launches in the first half of this year, we should find out more on the earnings call shortly. Until then, hit the PDF link for more detailed financial breakdowns, or check out the IPTV service press release after the break.

Fargo wrote:Yeah but you're paying for Sky TV. Sky Go is just a free bonus service. This is a standalone version of Sky Go without the TV package.

Fargo wrote:Yeah but you're paying for Sky TV. Sky Go is just a free bonus service. This is a standalone version of Sky Go without the TV package.

Ecno wrote:

Fargo wrote:Yeah but you're paying for Sky TV. Sky Go is just a free bonus service. This is a standalone version of Sky Go without the TV package.

I don't have Sky TV just Sky Go. Pay £35 a month for Sky Sports + an awful entertainment package.

bear wrote:Its also worth mentioning that Sky Anytime+ will soon be available across all broadband providers. While that may not be a huge deal for UK customers its a big deal for Irish customers as Anytime+ is not available in Ireland yet but that should change soon.

bear wrote:Its also worth mentioning that Sky Anytime+ will soon be available across all broadband providers. While that may not be a huge deal for UK customers its a big deal for Irish customers as Anytime+ is not available in Ireland yet but that should change soon.

TigaSefi wrote:I still have that Sky Sports iphone service so I don't have to pay a huge whack for ESPN.

Subtitles on the internet would be interesting since Lovefilm has failed and Netflix is super awesome for me.

Minty14 wrote:I expect this to be horrendously restricted and hideously overpriced.

Moggy wrote:I think that legal streaming of music, movies and TV is the perfect solution to piracy. Who would bother downloading illegal files when you can just open up Netflix (or Lovefilm, or Sky, or whatever) and watch what you like for £5-£10 a month?

Except the greed of the companies involved is going to kill it. All this exclusive stuff worked when we only had TV channels, but it is going to stop people subscribing to these streaming services when people realise that to get a good range of content you will have to subscribe to three or four separate services and even then some stuff will be exclusive to TV or exclusive to America.

Imagine the DVD market if every content provider signed exclusive deals with DVD player manufacturers. To watch the Alien films, buy a Samsung player but for Terminator you need a Sony. Lord of the Rings? Sorry sir, that is exclusive to Phillips.