BSkyB ( Sky Broadband ) has today expanded its popular Video-on-Demand (VoD) service, Sky Anytime+, by making it available to all UK based Sky+ HD homes with an internet connection and across all broadband ISPs (the service was previously exclusive to Sky's unbundled broadband packages).On top of that Sky has also expanded the choice of programmes available through new content agreements with the BBC and ITV. This means that ITV archive content, including popular shows such as Prime Suspect and Cold Feet, will join the service from tomorrow at no extra cost. Content from the BBC and more ITV shows will follow by Easter 2012.
Jeremy Darroch, Sky's CEO, said:
"We want customers to get the best out of their Sky subscription and Anytime+ is a great way to give them more control and choice over how they enjoy TV. We already know how popular Sky+ is and how it puts customers back in charge of their TV viewing. Anytime+ builds on that control and it’s no wonder we’ve seen such strong demand for it.
Sky Anytime+ will go from strength to strength in 2012 and we are delighted that the addition of the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player will allow customers to also enjoy the best of terrestrial TV, whenever they want. We’re also delighted to be able to widen access to the service so that millions more Sky customers can enjoy the added flexibility it offers."
"We want customers to get the best out of their Sky subscription and Anytime+ is a great way to give them more control and choice over how they enjoy TV. We already know how popular Sky+ is and how it puts customers back in charge of their TV viewing. Anytime+ builds on that control and it’s no wonder we’ve seen such strong demand for it.
Sky Anytime+ will go from strength to strength in 2012 and we are delighted that the addition of the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player will allow customers to also enjoy the best of terrestrial TV, whenever they want. We’re also delighted to be able to widen access to the service so that millions more Sky customers can enjoy the added flexibility it offers."
The move could worry some rival ISPs, especially those with their own IPTV solutions ( e.g. BT and Virgin Media ), which will be keen to avoid any excessive network congestion occurring as a result of Sky's expanded availability. Apparently Sky Anytime+ saw its weekly usage increase by 80% in the three months to 31st December 2011.
Meanwhile customers will need to be mindful of any restrictions upon their broadband packages, such as usage allowance caps or vague Fair Usage Policies (FUP). A sudden surge in video traffic could trigger extra usage charges or cause your connection to be throttled.
On the other hand Sky's move was by no means unexpected. The UK market for online video and IPTV content has been slowly heating up for awhile, especially since Netflix's recent launch. YouView is set to follow in a few months and all of the big players will be seeking to protect their existing revenue streams by offering similar alternatives. Competition breeds innovation.
Tweet
Comments: 33
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:10 PM
Link to comment
Sky had confirmed that it will not work if you don't subscription to any sky. The box will not enable sky anytime+ unless you join sky subscription at the minimum £20 a month for Sky Entertainment.
Rip off and what the point to have Sky HD+ box if not subscription to any Sky Entertainment to get Anytime + feature work.
Bob2002Posted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:18 PM
Link to comment
I wonder how much an Internet only Sky package, for any broadband connection, would cost?
MarkJPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:21 PM
Link to comment
@Sky, Didn't quite follow all of what you said there, the wording was a bit confused. Naturally you can't access Sky's commercial premium TV content without a subscription and the HD box is normally free or included; depending upon what offers are available at the time.
@Bob, I think they use to do one when Windows 7 launched but it didn't last long. Not sure if the service still exists on the XBox 360 or if it was pulled from that too.
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:30 PM
Link to comment
Mark, I had Sky+ HD but I cancel Sky ages ago due to expensive costy. I had homeplug x 2 and I connected to Sky+ HD and see if Anytime+ is enabled and view BBCi player but the message box come up "You must be sky subscription to view it, please call the boardcasters to enabled Sky Subscription"
BBCi Player is free and Sky are disgrace!
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:32 PM
Link to comment
MarkJ
Please updated "BBC iPlayer and ITV Player to join the service - Sky Anytime+ available to more than 5 million homes at no extra cost by Easter 2012" say Sky website
MarkJPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:35 PM
Link to comment
Yes but Sky Anytime+ is mostly for Sky's own premium TV content and shows; you buy it for that and the new BBC/ITV stuff is added for free. If you just want BBC and ITV content then you can get those via their respective websites.
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:42 PM
Link to comment
Sorry Mark, it will not work for free BBCi or ITV player. My comment here is quite clearly:
What the point of this if you don't subscription to any sky tv packages ? You must be at least one minimum tv package to view Sky Anytime+ feature with a minimum of £20 a month on Sky Entertainment.
But, hold on Sky, my Sky+ HD box is belong to me, and Anytime + feature should never disabled for any free to air channels such as BBCi player / ITV player and yet again, Sky is conned and rip off. Glad I have Freesat box to access ITV Player and BBCi Player for free of charge, not £20 a month like Sky does!
Hope you do understand what my point of view are coming from. Sky is try to get all customers to pay up £20 to access both free to air BBCi player and ITV player.
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 1:45 PM
Link to comment
I hope Ofcom are going to banned Sky of stop being selfish of non anytime+ enabled without sky subscription such as free to air bbci player, itv player and also record, playback and pause feature for any free to air channels (sky say it will cost £10.25 a month if want Sky+ feature enabled)
No wonder I hate Sky and left them!
onephatPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 2:14 PM
Link to comment
I see that ITV joins tomorrow but iPlayer wont be on the service till christmas apparently (source: Telegraph.co.uk.
@sky there are plenty of free ways to access the iplayer as im sure you are aware. Sky charge you the £10.25 for use of their software. Your more than able to write your own software and install it on the box. Sky are perfectly free and able charge you to use theirs, after all Windows isn't free.
DeductionPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 5:10 PM
Link to comment
LOL using his logic Ofcom need to ban every TV service in the UK then. You cant get BTVision unless you subscribe to BT broadband and you cant have Virgin TV unless you pay a subscription fee to Virgin. Maybe "Sky" wants content which costs providers money for free and expects them to survive without paying bills.
Anyway back on topic, great move by Sky i may even consider Sky TV again. Cant wait to see how this, Netflix and future similar services slurp away at bandwidth of those ISPs that still choose to have pathetically small caps or even worse throttle to unusable levels. I suspect a few ISPs this year are going to see more than a few subscribers start to leave them.
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 6:01 PM
Link to comment
Deduction, more fool you if you ever do return to Sky subscription the most ripped off company.
DeductionPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 7:10 PM
Link to comment
Do you pay a licence fee? You do realise ALL tv services technically speaking are subscription.
KylePosted: 30 January, 2012 - 7:54 PM
Link to comment
@Deduction - I couldn't agree with you more! Clearly, Sky, who uses the name as free advertisement for BskyB, has had issues with Sky in the past.
I have no issue with people who suffer problems with a company and are very bitter towards them in the future. However, wanting to rejoin them on a free of charge basis just shouts 'cake and eat it'.
If Sky were as bad as 'Sky' portrays, I personally, would want to be with them: free or not.
Great point about the TV licence; a perfect analogy!
SkyPosted: 30 January, 2012 - 9:22 PM
Link to comment
TV License isn't that bad £145.50 a year compare to Sky £747 a year! (full skyworld with HD)
KylePosted: 30 January, 2012 - 10:37 PM
Link to comment
You are a consumer.
You have a choice. If you aren't happy, leave.
You are not forced to pay to be a customer if you are unhappy.
DeductionPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 12:33 AM
Link to comment
quote"TV License isn't that bad £145.50 a year compare to Sky £747 a year! (full skyworld with HD)"
Id say its terrible, The license fee only applies because of the beeb.
If we then factor in the FREE channels you get on Freeview
http://www1.freeview.co.uk/Channels
Compared to what you can get through a Sky dish without subscription.
http://www.sky.com/shop/tv/free-to-air-channels/
Its obvious sky are not the rip off some would like us to believe.
Far better than Virgin and BT Vision where you pay a subscription fee for less.
Factor in the package you decided to choose includes even more as wel as real HD content and options for 3D (something you dont get on other platforms, freeview is a weird res hybrid for its few HD channels) and id say per channel its much cheaper than the license fee or any other TV service in the UK.
beenPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 9:18 AM
Link to comment
I'm not sure a quantitative comparison is quite appropriate. If I had to choose between the four BBC channels and all of the other channels available on Sky and Virgin, it would be the BBC without a moment's pause.
SkyPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 10:40 AM
Link to comment
Yes agree. Do you really need to watch over 400's channels on Sky every day ? Just ask yourself !
I only able to watch at least 4 or 5 channels a day never mind 400's channels! So Freeview is more sense than Sky.
DeductionPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 4:47 PM
Link to comment
Id sooner the license fee be scrapped. If "Sky" has an issue with subscription services he could then watch his 4 BBC channels for free.
The rest of us can get on with watching the latest movies, sport etc over the new Sky internet service.
All just in time for the Formula 1 season which obviously the Beeb didnt think was worth spending the license fee on this year even though (apart from Wimbledon something else they almost lost to sky a few years back) it was their biggest watched sporting show last year.
I can not even remember the last time the beeb spent a huge pile of cash on a long running TV series, rather than silly mini (2 night) series programs. They didn't even have a single film première for UK TV over xmas, just the old repeats and junk. License fee = rip off!
beenPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 6:31 PM
Link to comment
Well Sky is fine if you want to pay a huge sum for sports or love Hollywood movies and imported shows. But Sky has larger revenues than the BBC but spends a fraction of the BBC's outlay on original British content ... but Mitch Benn puts the case far better than I ever could.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3q2iZuU5WM
Incidentally Deduction ... do you work for Sky or own shares in News Corporation?
DeductionPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 7:18 PM
Link to comment
Nope don't own shares in Sky, my ISP is not sky either (SITE STAFF CAN CHECK THAT IF THEY WISH), unlike some i dont need to shout the support of certain organisations i have ties with. In fact that only seems to happen with regards to BT here doesnt it?
As for the song, quite jolly and fun but......
Newsround..... Er hardly original
Blackadder... When did they even spend money on that last?
Postman Pat..... My god, desperate much?
The other wrathed of stuff like question time hardly costs a fortune, and some of the other kids programs just like blackadder they dont make anymore..... Nor comedy classics like steptoe and son.
And did he actually mention the two ronnies??? What an insult one of that pair unfortunately is dead and most definitely wont be able to ever entertain the nation again, except via repeats. Which is what most of the stuff mentioned is. And the Goon show...Err!
DeductionPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 7:29 PM
Link to comment
Even more ironic. while we are talking costs of services.....
http://www.corporationrecords.com/store/index/104
http://www.mitchbenn.com/proudofthebbc/
Not that it isnt a fun tune but talking about how wonderful things are that havent in some cases been made let alone had money spent on them for 30+ years and charging for your work is hardly a model for or argument against subscription services of any type not just sky for new content is it?
If only we could all master how to make 15 quid on a T-shirt saying how great something is which had tax payers money spent on it 30 years ago and not since.
I actually admire the bloke....... Business Genius. Pay your license fee for repeats, then pay me for singing about them LOL
beenPosted: 31 January, 2012 - 7:44 PM
Link to comment
Well you answered half of my question!
You highlight the old programmes and say all BBC content is old?! Recently I've enjoyed Doctor Who, Birdsong, Great Expectations, Sherlock, great comedy like QI and Rev and the fantastic documentary series about Putin's Russia. Later I'll be watching Newsnight and the documentary about rioters' families on BBC2. I've just been listening to the podcast of Start the Week (which commercial broadcaster could ever produce anything like Radio 4?). The BBC is one of the largest backers of British cinema and without the BBC the huge eco-system of independent production wouldn't exist in any thing like its present vibrant form. And don't forget that Sky receives £10million pounds a year of license money from the BBC ... a testament to Murdoch's use of inappropriate power and fear to capture politicians and regulators.
colinPosted: 1 February, 2012 - 8:13 AM
Link to comment
to pre register click on this link www.sky.com/preregister will be launching in april easter time
colinPosted: 1 February, 2012 - 8:17 AM
Link to comment
try this 1
https://discoversky.sky.com/anytimeplus/Default.aspx
DeductionPosted: 1 February, 2012 - 6:57 PM
Link to comment
quote"You highlight the old programmes"
No his song highlights the old programmes, if you watch again around a third of what he mentions hasnt been made for years, another third is cheap to produce, and the rest of it is either short running series or stuff thats been going decades. Theres only a VERY SMALL amount of programming in that song which is in anyway BRAND NEW content the beeb has done.
ALSO....
I think you will find the UK lottery and Film4 have been the largest backers of UK cinema for the past few years not the beeb, dunno where you are getting your info but its dated.
As to Murdoch, how much do you think he pays the beeb and other terrestrials to carry their channels... Go look that up ;)
beenPosted: 1 February, 2012 - 10:36 PM
Link to comment
The BBC pays Sky for retransmission, not the other way round.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a345342/sky-urged-to-waive-bbc-transmission-fees.html
beenPosted: 1 February, 2012 - 10:38 PM
Link to comment
I also said that the BBC is ONE OF the largest backers of British cinema ... which it is.
beenPosted: 1 February, 2012 - 10:54 PM
Link to comment
This is a very good comment piece by Polly Toynbee on the subject.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/02/maimed-bbc-parasitic-sky
Briecheese TotalpongPosted: 2 February, 2012 - 11:00 AM
Link to comment
Good luck to sky and their very good TV service
DeductionPosted: 3 February, 2012 - 3:17 AM
Link to comment
Yep will be great, original TV thats had significant money spent on its production for anyone with a Broadband connection now :)
Generated in 0.59857 seconds.
DB queries: 8
Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved (Terms, Privacy Policy, Links (.), Live Chat & Website Rules).