Wednesday, October 17, 2012

UK And Irish Satellite TV Provider Sky Unveils Irish Video-On-Demand Service; Service Includes Content From Nickelodeon UK And Ireland!

From The Irish Times:
Sky unveils Irish on demand service

BROADCASTER SKY has unveiled a new on demand TV service for Irish viewers.

The service, which requires a broadband connection, allows Sky subscribers to access thousands of hours of content available on their Sky service when they want, at no extra cost.

Sky is making content from up to 50 channels including Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Discovery and Nat Geo Wild, available through the service. A library of box sets from the US and UK will also be available to viewers, along with movies.

Those who do not subscribe to Sky’s premium movie channels will be able to rent movies from an online store, while content from Sky Sports will also be available through the service according to a customers’ subscription.

“It’s a great example of the innovation that Sky tries to bring to enrich the viewing experience,” said Mark Anderson, Director of Sales Marketing at Sky Ireland.

Talks are underway to bring more Irish content to the service, as offered by catch-up players from broadcasters RTÉ and TV3.

On-demand content can also be accessed through the Sky Go application on an iPad, and an Android application is in development.

Sky also showed off an iPad application for its Sky+ service that allows viewers to use it to browse recordings and use it as a remote control.

The new on demand TV service comes only months after UPC unveiled its own on demand offering, which is delivered through set top boxes without the need for a broadband connection.

The economic difficulties may have caused some consumers to reconsider their spending, but Mr Anderson said Sky Ireland is still seeing growth. It may be at a slower rate than before the downturn began, but it’s still taking place, he said.

The broadcaster is trying to offer more value to customers as a result, including new channels. The penetration of premium channels remains strong, he said.

The impending switch-off of the analogue system may also be helping to lift Sky subscribers, he said, with a noticeable rise in calls to the broadcaster in recent months.
Also, from Ireland's Marketing & Media Monthly Magazine:
Sky goes with on demand

Sky has launched an on demand service for Irish viewers. The new service, which requires a broadband connection, allows Sky subscribers access to thousands of hours of content available on their Sky service at any time and at no extra cost.

Content is available from up to 50 Sky serviced channels, including Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Nickelodeon and National Geographic. A library of box sets from the US and the UK, along with movies, will also be available, Sky Ireland’s Mark Anderson confirmed.

On demand content can also be accessed through Sky Go on an iPad. An Android application is in development. Sky has developed an iP application for Sky + allowing viewers to browse recordings and use it as a remote control. UPC offers its subscribers on demand delivered though a set top box, without the need for a broadband connection.
Also, from TechCentral.ie:
Sky brings new on-demand service to Ireland

Free service foreshadows arrival of broadband

TechLife | 17 Oct 2012 : Sky Ireland today introduced an on-demand service, giving subscribers with a Sky+HD box and a broadband connection content from up to 50 channels including Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Nickelodeon, Discovery, Sky Movies and Sky Sports.The announcement comes as the broadcaster prepares to enter the broadband market in Ireland in collaboration with BT.

The service consists of four components: Showcase, a selection of the week's best TV on demand; TV Library, collection of series box sets; Movies, a catalogue over 500 titles; and Sky Store, a rental service of over 1,000 movies with prices starting from €1.49 per download.

Customers can access On Demand from Sky by connecting their Sky+HD box to their broadband router using an Ethernet cable or a wireless connector.

Sky's offering will prove a compelling alternative to UPC's longer established but underpopulated service.