Tech
Sky's new online-only subscription TV service, Sky Player TV, has been launched.
The new service, which was announced last month, offers three subscription packages featuring a mixture of live and on demand programming.
The entertainment pack, which costs £15 per month, offers Sky News, Sky Sports News, National Geographic, Disney and British Eurosport. MTV One, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr will join the package later this month.
Customers may add a single sports (Sky Sports 1 or 2 plus Sky Sports 3) or dual sports pack (Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra) to the entertainment pack for a combined subscription price of £26 or £34 respectively. Promotional discounts running until the end of January 2009 reduce the prices to £7.50 for the entertainment pack only, £22 for entertainment and single sports, and £30 for entertainment and dual sports.
Sky TV customers taking multiroom or broadband max subscriptions are able to access the new live TV services at no extra charge.
"We want to give customers as much choice as possible not just in what they watch, but in how they watch it," said Sky CEO Mike Darcey. "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. We look forward to making the service more compelling with the addition of even more great pay TV entertainment in the New Year."
Sky Player TV, which uses Microsoft Silverlight, now offers Mac compatibility for live streaming and some video on demand content. Regardless of platform, live TV channels are available at a choice of quality levels; Sky claims that the top level "offers an equivalent viewing experience to standard definition on a TV-based service".
The new service, which was announced last month, offers three subscription packages featuring a mixture of live and on demand programming.
The entertainment pack, which costs £15 per month, offers Sky News, Sky Sports News, National Geographic, Disney and British Eurosport. MTV One, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr will join the package later this month.
Customers may add a single sports (Sky Sports 1 or 2 plus Sky Sports 3) or dual sports pack (Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra) to the entertainment pack for a combined subscription price of £26 or £34 respectively. Promotional discounts running until the end of January 2009 reduce the prices to £7.50 for the entertainment pack only, £22 for entertainment and single sports, and £30 for entertainment and dual sports.
Sky TV customers taking multiroom or broadband max subscriptions are able to access the new live TV services at no extra charge.
"We want to give customers as much choice as possible not just in what they watch, but in how they watch it," said Sky CEO Mike Darcey. "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. We look forward to making the service more compelling with the addition of even more great pay TV entertainment in the New Year."
Sky Player TV, which uses Microsoft Silverlight, now offers Mac compatibility for live streaming and some video on demand content. Regardless of platform, live TV channels are available at a choice of quality levels; Sky claims that the top level "offers an equivalent viewing experience to standard definition on a TV-based service".
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