Sky player launches on FetchTV
May 24, 2010
From Colin Mann in London
Sky's online pay-TV content is now available to homes in the UK via a DTT Freeview+ set-top box. Sky Player, the broadcaster's online service can now be watched on household TVs connected to IP Vision's FetchTV Freeview+ box. The box can be connected to any broadband service to allow specific web content to be watched on the TV. The service will also be available to FetchTV's registered users through the FetchTV SmartBox.
As with access to Sky Player via PC, Mac and Xbox, existing Sky TV customers will be able to access a range of content for no extra cost, depending on their core Sky subscriptions, while non-Sky customers will be able to sign up to a choice of TV packages via a monthly subscription.
Eddie Abrams, CEO of FetchTV described the deal as “a landmark in the pay-TV world.” Griff Parry, Sky's Director of On-Demand, said the move reflected his desire to extend Sky beyond the satellite. “We're platform-agnostic; we'll deliver by whatever means makes sense. This gives us options within and beyond the home.”
Recognising that the box was entering a crowded market place, with the BT Vision IPTV platform already offering a hybrid DTT service, Parry suggested that the strength of the Sky brand made him confident of success. “We're building a connected TV experience across multiple devices,” he said.