Advanced Television

Sky Deutschland unveils OTT service

October 30, 2014

Pay-TV platform Sky Deutschland has launched what it describes as a new, easy, and flexible way to experience its content, at home or on the go. For the first time, the new, standalone online TV service Sky Online makes it possible for everyone without a traditional Sky subscription to register at www.skyonline.de and immediately enjoy the latest series, most recent blockbusters and exclusive live sports on the Internet, iPad and iPhone.

The service is running on a monthly contract duration and will be expanded in the next months to include the Sky Online TV Box, Xbox One, LG and Samsung Smart TVs as well as select Android tablets and smartphones – with even more devices and platforms to follow.

Two different programming packages including both linear channels and a variety of on-demand highlights (more than 10.000 titles per year) can be booked for Sky Online: The Sky Starter package and the Sky Film package. In addition, customers with either of these packages can easily add a Sky Supersport Tagesticket [Day Ticket] as and when they want.

With the Sky Starter package customers can enjoy a range of first-run series, as well as entire series box sets, thrilling documentaries, classic movies, top quality kids’ programmes and many more highlights on demand over the Internet for only €9.99 per month. This also includes the complete catalogue of Snap, the online video library from Sky with thousands of titles from the Sky Collection, as well as the nine linear streams for web and iOS: Fox, RTL Crime, TNT Serie, TNT Glitz, National Geographic, Spiegel Geschichte, Disney Junior, Disney XD and Sky Sport News HD.

With the Sky Film package on Sky Online, movie and series fans get first run block-buster movies – twelve months before any other online TV service – as well as exclusive programmes from Sky Atlantic, the home of HBO. The package, which is available for €19.99 per month, also allows viewers to stream the linear channels Sky Cinema, Sky Atlantic and Disney Cinemagic on web and iOS.

Every Sky Online customer with the Sky Starter package or Sky Film package can book Sky Super-sport Tagesticket to receive full day access (6 AM to 6 AM the next day) to all Sky Bundesliga and Sky Sport channels. This makes it possible to enjoy the games of the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, Formula One, Formula E, golf and much more exclusive live sport for only €19.99 per day.

As part of a strategic partnership with the American streaming device platform Roku, Sky has also developed its own streaming box, which upgrades every television into a Smart TV. Customers will be able instantly to stream the complete Sky Online and Snap programming catalogue to the television. In addition to both of Sky Online services, customers will also have access to even more apps through the Roku streaming platform. The Sky Online TV Box will be available in the coming months and is based on Roku’s portfolio of award winning streaming players. Further details on the Sky Online TV Box are promised “soon”.

Brian Sullivan, CEO Sky Deutschland, said that Sky TV already delivered its customers the most complete, best value and highest quality viewing experience in Germany and Austria through its core broadcast and online service, which includes Sky HD, Sky+, Sky Anytime, Sky Go and Snap. “With Sky Online we wanted to provide an additional option, combining some of the advantages of our traditional pay-TV premium service with the added flexibility that an online service enables. For the beginning, we are launching the service for the web and iOS and we will expand it to many more devices and platforms over the weeks and months to come, including our own Sky Online TV Box. Sky TV remains the home of the widest choice, highest picture quality and best value, but Sky Online is just the right thing for those who want more flexibility to match their lifestyles. This unique portfolio enables us to offer the ideal product for every customer segment,” he declared.

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