Sky Player on connected TV and more STBs
March 25, 2010
Sky Player, Sky's online TV service, is to launch on a connected TV and a set-top box following agreements with Cello, a manufacturer of LCD TVs, and 3View maker of a hybrid DTT/IPTV set-top box.
Sky Player will be available as a pay TV option on both platforms and follows an earlier deal with Fetch TV.
All three deals are with small operators that will have negligible impact on audience or market share but they demonstrate Sky is open to providing its service to third parties. It will doubtless be part of its consideration that this signals to regulators it is prepared to provide access to its content – it has criticised the BBC for not providing access – and that IPTV providers don't need a common platform, i.e. Canvas, in order to stimulate the market.