Sky Player Extends Distribution Through Innovative Hybrid DTT and IP TV Platform
Sky has announced an agreement with IP Vision to make its online TV service, Sky Player, available via IP Vision’s Fetch TV devices. From early 2010, the deal will allow customers to receive some of Sky’s most popular channels, including Sky Movies, Sky Sports and a range of general entertainment channels, through Fetch TV’s broadband-enabled set-top boxes. These boxes also offer access to Freeview channels and the BBC iPlayer and can be used across any broadband service provider.
The agreement supports Sky’s goals of making its content available on a broad range of platforms and offering customers more choice as to how they access Sky content. In addition, the deal demonstrates IP Vision’s strategy of partnering with third party providers to allow customers access to a wide range of high quality content via their Fetch TV box.
Fetch TV harnesses Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) with a range of IP-supported linear and on-demand services. The Fetch TV SmartBox connects to any broadband connection, and is a Freeview+ unit allowing users to record, pause and rewind live TV. Fetch TV currently provides access to a range of web video services delivered via the broadband connection, including the BBC iPlayer and Fetch TV’s own video-on-demand service, which offers both pay-per-view and subscription content.
Sky Player will be a standalone service on the Fetch TV box, offering a range of live TV channels and associated on demand programming from a variety of leading broadcasters. As with access to Sky Player via PC, Mac and, from later this year, Xbox, existing Sky TV customers will be able to access a range of content for no extra cost based on their core subscription, whilst non-Sky customers will be able to sign up to a choice of TV packages via a monthly subscription paid directly to Sky.
Griff Parry, Director of On Demand, BSkyB, comments: “Sky is committed to offering customers more ways to access our content and our agreement with IP Vision represents an important step in that process. Offering Sky Player through the Fetch TV box gives UK consumers yet another way to experience Sky content, complementing the services already available on satellite, PC, games consoles and mobile.
“It also demonstrates the continued development of innovative IP-enabled video services. As more and more commercial players harness broadband distribution to extend consumer choice, there’s an opportunity for all content owners to reach new audiences. Sky will continue to look to support new, secure delivery platforms as this fast and dynamic sector evolves.”
Eddie Abrams, Chief Executive Officer, IP Vision, adds: “The deal we have signed with Sky further cements Fetch TV’s position as a major innovator for Freeview and over-the-top technologies in the UK. It allows our customers to access some of the most exciting sports and entertainment content available today, either as part of their existing Sky subscription or via a month-by-month subscription if they are new to Sky. Sky’s content is second to none and we are delighted to make it available to Fetch TV users. I am pleased that we continue to lead the way in delivering online content, both free-to-air and pay, directly to Freeview households.”
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For more information please contact:
Stephen Gaynor
BSkyB
Tel: 07824361604
email: stephen.gaynor@bskyb.com
Toby Hemming
BSkyB
Tel: 0207 805 8829
email: toby.hemming@bskyb.com
Nick Southall
ENPR
Tel: 020 7940 9934
Mobile: 07799 620945
email: nick@enpr.co.uk
Emma Nicholls
ENPR
Tel: 020 7940 9931
Mobile: 07891 246615
email: emma@enpr.co.uk
High resolution product photography is available on request.
About Fetch TV
Fetch TV is a self-install ‘plug and play’ product with no need for an engineer installation visit. The VOD service works with any broadband service – unlike other VOD-enabled TV services available in the UK. Customers who don’t have broadband can shop around for the best broadband deal to suit them. It incorporates twin DTT tuners and a 160GB hard drive (capable of storing up to 80 hours of recordings).
The SmartBox allows any programmes recorded from Freeview channels to be exported on to a USB stick or drive, meaning the hard drive need never get full. The SmartBox also acts as a media centre allowing users to view digital pictures, listen to music and watch video stored on their home PC, directly on the TV.
The Fetch TV SmartBox retails at £219 and is available from John Lewis stores nationwide or online at www.fetchtv.co.uk. Further distributors will be announced shortly.
About IP Vision
IP Vision was formed in 2007. Shareholders include Netgem S.A, a French company listed on the Nouveau Marché Stock Exchange in Paris and funds managed by F&C Reit, a major fund management company.
IP Vision’s primary product is an HD-ready hybrid set top box platform that operates as a direct to consumer service or a white label platform offering third parties a fully managed service solution.
The platform delivers multichannel digital TV and video on demand entertainment, including HD downloads. The service can also be branded for affiliates and delivered without the need for expensive head-end servers or dedicated networks.
FetchTV is a registered trademark of IP Vision (UK) Ltd. All other brands, trademarks and names are the property of their respective owners and are solely used to identify their respective products.
About Sky Player
Sky Player TV was launched in December 2008 as a dedicated online subscription TV service, providing an alternative way to subscribe to Sky TV, without the need to subscribe to an existing TV-based service. It built upon the success of Sky Player, which launched in 2006 as a bonus service for Sky’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) customer base, allowing Sky customers to access live channels and on-demand content via their computers.
It currently provides access to Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, The History Channel, National Geographic, the BBC, G.O.L.D, Eden, MTV ONE, ESPN, Sky1, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, among others.
About Sky
Sky operates the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Over 9.4 million homes enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Arts continues to embrace new audiences as the UK’s only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; and Sky News remains a pioneer in multiplatform television news.
Over 5 million Sky homes now enjoy the control and flexibility of Sky+ and 1.3 million homes have already joined Sky+HD, which provides access to 34 dedicated HD channels. Sky is also the UK’s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider.