Live Pay TV Channels, On-Demand Content and Interactive Sports Available
via Xbox Live Console in UK 'First'
Sky and Microsoft have announced that from this autumn, millions of Xbox owners in the UK and Ireland will have the opportunity to access Sky Player, Sky’s online TV service, through their broadband-enabled games consoles.
Sky Player currently provides access to a range of live pay TV channels – including Sky Sports -
a comprehensive on-demand library of thousands of programmes spanning entertainment, movies, documentaries, kids, culture, news and sport. This innovative deal means that Xbox owners will be able to access pay TV content via their entertainment consoles for the first time. And for existing Sky customers who own an Xbox, their console will provide another way to watch their favourite programming, in addition to their PC or Mac.
The partnership supports Sky’s broader strategy of using a range of distribution platforms to reach new audiences and of giving both new and existing customers alike more choice and control over how they access Sky content. For Xbox, it supports the company’s vision of reaching new audiences by continuing to offer consumers more choice in their entertainment experiences - from films to music videos, and from gaming to live TV.
When the service launches later this year, Sky Player will be available in the following ways:
- For a customer joining Sky through their Xbox, Sky Player TV will offer a wide range of linear TV channels as well as a comprehensive library of on-demand content. A number of subscription packages will be available, as will the opportunity to access programming on a pay-per-view basis.
- Xbox owners who already subscribe to Sky TV will now be able to access Sky Player’s on-demand services through their console, in addition to their PC or Mac. And for those customers who also subscribe to Sky Multiroom, Sky Broadband Max or Sky Player
Multiroom, they will also be able to enjoy live TV via their console.
Stephen Nuttall, Director of Sky’s Commercial Group, comments: “Our innovative partnership with Xbox puts more choice and control in the hands of customers. Now Xbox owners can enjoy
a wide range of TV through their console and can pick and choose the packages that are right
for them. For Sky, this makes our content even more widely available and opens up a new commercial opportunity.”
Neil Thompson, Head of Xbox UK and Ireland, adds “Our customers have told us that they want the opportunity to use their consoles as a way to access TV and once again Xbox has pulled off an entertainment first with amazing content and rich interactive experience. The combination of Sky’s leadership in content creation and aggregation and our own in creating a constantly evolving new generation of rich 360 entertainment experiences means we are one step closer
to our goal of offering Xbox owners the best entertainment experiences out there, whether it’s movies, music, games, interactive experiences or high quality TV.”
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 builds upon the success of Sky Player, which launched in 2006 as a bonus service for Sky’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) customer base, and allows existing Sky customers to access live channels and on-demand content via their computers. It currently provide access to the likes of Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, The History Channel, National Geographic, the BBC, G.O.L.D, Eden, MTV ONE, Sky1, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, among others.
Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network. Xbox LIVE connects millions of members across 26 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos.
In offering Sky Player, participating Xbox owners in the UK and Ireland will also be able to access a wide variety of pay TV content as well as a range of interactive services uniquely delivered by the Xbox LIVE platform. For Sky Sports, for example, this will mean that live coverage will be supported by range of interactive applications to enhance the viewing experience. As well as fans being able to communicate with one another in real time via their broadband connections, they will also be able to check news and access fixtures, league tables and other on-demand information. Interactive applications will also be developed across other programmes genres.
Full details on launch date, channel line-up and pricing will be revealed closer to launch.
-End-
For press information, please contact:
Sky
Stephen Gaynor
stephen.gaynor@bskyb.com
Tel: 0207 705 3446
Mobile: 07824361604
Xbox
Moe Farley
Mfarley@microsoft.com
Tel: 0870 60 1010
Mobile: 07870402929
About Sky Player TV
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 the likes of Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, The History Channel, National Geographic, the BBC, G.O.L.D, Eden, MTV ONE, Sky1, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, among others.
About Sky
Sky is the UK’s leading entertainment and communications company, operating the most comprehensive multi-channel television service. Over 9.3 million homes - a third of households across the UK and Ireland - enjoy the very best entertainment, movies, news and sports channels on Sky Digital. In delivering entertainment through the TV, PC and mobile, customers have more control and flexibility over what, how and when they watch.
Over 5 million customers now choose Sky+, Sky’s digital video recorder, to record and store their favourite programmes and over a million homes enjoy the unprecedented picture and sound quality of Sky+HD, which offers 33 dedicated HD channels. Sky is also the UK’s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider with over 2 million customers taking Sky Broadband and just under 1.7 million customers taking Sky Talk.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of more than 300 games in nearly 40 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox LIVE connects millions of members across 26 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favourite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.
About Xbox LIVE Arcade
Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360 is the premier destination for digitally distributed high-definition games. Xbox LIVE Arcade is a fast-growing phenomenon with a diverse library of original development and classic titles from the world’s best independent and established developers and publishers. With a dynamically updated library and free trials for every title, Xbox LIVE Arcade makes it easy for every type of gamer — from casual to hard-core — to get instantly immersed in the fun. Xbox LIVE Arcade also lets friends connect and play these incredible games either from the same room or from around the world via the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/livearcade.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo,” “Fable,” “Project Gotham Racing” and “Forza Motorsport”; and MSN Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic.”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx