Virgin Media Inc. : Virgin TV Anywhere gains eleven dazzling channelsAlso, from The Next Web:
* Watch Corrie on the go with newly-added ITV channels
* HISTORY® and Bio® channels among latest to join line-up
* Total live and On Demand channels upped to 75
Virgin Media has added 11 new live channels to Virgin TV Anywhere, its award-winning1 cloud-based entertainment service available exclusively to Virgin TV customers.
The new array of live channels - including channels from ITV, A&E Networks UK and Viacom International Media Networks2 - enables Virgin Media subscribers to take their home entertainment beyond the TV to devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones at no extra cost.
The introduction of ITV, ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4 to the service means customers need never miss an episode of Coronation Street and can watch everything from The Americans and Britain's Got Talent to The Jeremy Kyle Show and even live sport while they're on the move.
American Pickers and Mud Men on HISTORY will keep those with a hankering for history entertained while Bio programmes I Survived… and Dance Moms inspire viewers with extraordinary true-life tales.
Content from Viacom now available to stream via tablet includes MTV's ever-popular Geordie Shore as well as enduring animated favourites such as Nickelodeon's Sponge Bob Square Pants and Nick Jr's Dora the Explorer.
The new channels join the collection of entertainment, news, documentaries, music and even premium sport and movies channels already available on Virgin TV Anywhere3.
Virgin TV customers can access Virgin TV Anywhere through the web or, for the 1.5 million customers with Virgin Media TiVo®, through a mobile and tablet app.
Scott Kewley, Virgin Media's multiscreen product director, said: "The latest channels to join Virgin TV Anywhere are brimming with top soaps, documentaries and comedy and follow hot on the heels of the 21 channels we added to the service in April. With an ever-expanding array of programmes available that cater for every taste, customers will never be stuck for something to watch, catching their favourite shows and discovering new ones in ways not offered on rival platforms. When paired with a Virgin Media TiVo box, we believe TV Anywhere offers our best, most interactive entertainment experience yet."
The online service is available to all Virgin TV customers, with extra features for TiVo users to manage their boxes through a range of exclusive tools such as remote record and managing 'My Shows'.
The mobile and tablet app is available on iOS devices such as the iPad and will be coming to Android devices later this year. The app offers the ability to manage TiVo boxes including scheduling recordings and deleting shows. It also acts as a touch/gesture-based remote control when at home which means viewers can search for whatever they want using a full QWERTY keyboard and without taking over the big screen. They can flick any live TV show or recording straight to the TV and even immediately start watching something On Demand from any point without the need to fast-forward or rewind4.
For further information on Virgin TV Anywhere, head to virginmedia.com/discovertvanywhere.
Notes to Editors
1 Virgin TV Anywhere was awarded 'The companion and second screen' prize at the 2013 Connected TV World Summit
2 A list of the live channels added to Virgin TV Anywhere is included below. Channel access is based on the TV package customers have and the method of access (online or through the mobile/tablet app). Starred channels were previously available on computers only but are now also available to stream on tablets.
Channel
Bio
CI
H2
HISTORY
ITV
ITV 2
ITV 3
ITV 4
MTV*
Nick Jr*
Nickelodeon*
3 The full list of live channels and On Demand programming is included below. Channel access is based on the TV package customers have and the method of access (online or through the mobile/tablet app).
Channel Live - online Live - iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch App On Demand - online
5 USA
5* [5 Star]
Animal Planet
BBC Worldwide
Bio
Boomerang
British Eurosport
British Eurosport 2
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
Channel 4
Channel 5
CI
CNN
Comedy Central
Discovery Channel
Discovery Home & Health
Discovery Shed
Discovery Science
Discovery Turbo
Discovery History
Disney Channel
Disney Junior
Disney Original Movies
Disney XD
Dmax
E!
Eden
ESPN
ESPN Classic
Fox
GOLD
H2
Heat
HISTORY
I.D.
ITV
ITV 2
ITV 3
ITV 4
Kerrang!
Kids Extra (Hit Entertainment)
Kiss
Magic
More 4
MTV
National Geographic
National Geographic Wild
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
PBS America
Quest
Smash Hits
Sony Entertainment TV
Sky 1
Sky 2
Sky Arts 1
Sky Living
Sky Livingit
Sky Movies On Demand
Sky Movies Action & Adventure
Sky Movies Comedy
Sky Movies Crime & Thriller
Sky Movies Disney
Sky Movies Drama & Romance
Sky Movies Family
Sky Movies Select
Sky Movies Greats
Sky Movies Premiere
Sky Movies Sci-Fi & Horror
Sky Movies Showcase
Sky News
Sky On Demand
Sky Sports On Demand
Sky Sports 1
Sky Sports 2
Sky Sports 3
Sky Sports 4
Sky Sports F1
Sky Sports News
Syfy
TLC
Universal Channel
The Box
US Boxsets (NBCU, Starz)
Streaming services on Virgin TV Anywhere can be used anywhere in the UK using a fixed or wireless broadband connection. Streaming over 3G is not supported. Whilst there is no charge to use the Virgin TV Anywhere service for Virgin TV customers, charges may apply for using public Wi-Fi or mobile networks.
4 The mobile/tablet app can be used to browse and select content and manage recordings as well as view live TV. To use remote control functionality, the Virgin TV Anywhere app needs to be paired to customers' TiVo box(es) and the mobile/tablet device needs to be connected to the same local area network as the TiVo box. Customers will require additional networking equipment such as an ethernet cable, or, in some cases, smart TV wireless adapters or powerline adapters - more information at www.virginmedia.com/powerline.
For journalist enquiries contact
Press Office
t: 0207 909 2225
e: pressoffice@virginmedia.co.uk
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.
The company delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 120Mb, and is expanding this cable network - the result of a multi-billion pound investment - to reach thousands more people across the country.
Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of UK households.
Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world's first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange (VMED).
Virgin adds 8 new channels to its UK TV Anywhere service including ITV, and brings 3 more to mobileAlso, from Broadcast:
UK cable TV company Virgin Media has added 8 completely new channels to its online Virgin TV Anywhere service, and made 3 additional ones available for mobile users, bringing its total ‘live’ and ‘on-demand’ channel count to 75.
The new channel additions include ITV, ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4, and are the latest terrestrial channels to be added after Channel 4 and Channel 5. Indeed, while BBC Worldwide is part of the offering (on-demand only), the main BBC channels have yet to be added.
Virgin TV Anywhere launched last November to rival BSkyB’s Sky Go service, serving up online and mobile access to TV shows and movies on the move – though it only supports WiFi connections. It launched with more than 40 channels initially, though it added another 21 to the mix in April this year.
The other new additions are: Bio, the Crime & Investigation Network (CI), History and History 2 (H2). While MTV, Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon were previously available through computers only, they are now also available to stream on mobile.
Virgin TV Anywhere is available via the Web for any customer, though only those on Virgin Media TiVo are able to access the service via their smartphone or tablet.
BSkyB (Sky) and Virgin are the main competitors for the UK subscription TV market. Sky launched its Sky Go service back in July 2011, after merging its existing Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services. Initially it was only available on iOS in terms of mobile, though it finally hit Android in early 2012. Though Virgin is available through iOS devices, it has yet to land on Android – though this should be remedied later this year.
Virgin Media bulks up streaming service
Virgin Media has added a further 11 live channels including ITV and Viacom’s bouquet of channels to its Virgin TV Anywhere streaming service.
The move means that customers of the cable platform can now watch 75 channels on the cloud-based entertainment service, which is available on devices including computers, tablets and smartphones.
This comes on the back of a deal to add 21 channels to the service in April.
Virgin struck the agreement with ITV, A+E Networks UK and Viacom International Media Networks to add channels including ITV, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4, History, Bio, Crime & Investigation Network, H2, MTV, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.
Scott Kewley, Virgin Media’s multiscreen product director, said: “With an ever-expanding array of programmes available that cater for every taste, customers will never be stuck for something to watch, catching their favourite shows and discovering new ones in ways not offered on rival platforms.
When paired with a Virgin Media TiVo box, we believe TV Anywhere offers our best, most interactive entertainment experience yet.”
Virgin beefs up streaming service
Virgin Media has added 21 new live channels including Channel 4, Syfy and Nickelodeon to its Virgin TV Anywhere streaming service.
The move means that subscribers to the cable platform can now watch 66 channels on the cloud-based entertainment service, which is available on devices including computers, tablets and smartphones.
As part of the move it has added Channel 4, which will see shows including One Born Every Minute available on the service, along with More 4, Syfy, kids networks Cartoonito, Nick Jr and Nickelodeon and Universal Channel.
A raft of Discovery-owned networks will also become available including Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery History, Discovery Home and Health, Discovery Science, Discovery Shed, Discovery Turbo, Dmax, ID, Quest and forthcoming female skewing channel TLC.
Sky channels including Sky 2, Sky Arts 1 and Sky LivingIt have also been included.
Scott Kewley, Virgin Media’s multiscreen product director, said: “We know our customers love being able to watch whatever they want at a time that suits them, and by adding 21 live channels to Virgin TV Anywhere at no extra cost we’re also enabling them to watch their favourite shows wherever they want to.”Virgin TV Anywhere channel additions
Animal Planet
Cartoonito
Channel 4
Discovery Channel
Discovery History
Discovery Home & Health
Discovery Science
Discovery Shed
Discovery Turbo
Dmax
I.D.
More 4
MTV
Nick Jnr
Nickleodeon
Quest
Sky 2
Sky Arts 1
Sky LivingIt
Syfy
TLC (from 30th April)
Universal Channel
Sky unveils a new subscription service - Sky Go ExtraAlso, from paidContent.org:
[...]
PRESS RELEASE
Sky is launching a brand new subscription service, Sky Go Extra, which lets customers download the latest blockbuster films from Sky Movies and great content from channels such as Sky 1 and Sky Atlantic to watch when and where they want, without the need for a WiFi or 3G/4G connection. The service also lets Sky Go Extra customers register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices.
Launching today and available to all Sky TV customers for just £5 per month, the new service delivers even more flexibility to Sky customers by letting them download movies and TV shows depending on their Sky TV subscription to their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook via WiFi to watch offline later. So whether in a car, on a flight or on the train or Tube, Sky customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of content anywhere, not just where they can find a reliable WiFi or high-speed mobile connection.
The launch of the new service builds on the success of Sky Go, which offers Sky customers access to live and on demand programmes and films from up to 43 channels on a wide range of internet-connected devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets and games consoles. Sky Go now attracts more than 3 million unique users each quarter.
In addition to being able to download content, Sky Go Extra customers are also able to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices, giving Sky households even more flexibility over when and where they enjoy the service.
Sky Go Extra is the first mobile TV subscription service in the UK and Ireland to offer Hollywood movies to download and watch offline. With a choice of hundreds of titles exclusive to Sky Movies available to download at any one time, Sky Go Extra customers who subscribe to the Sky Movies pack will be able to download blockbuster releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas. Once downloaded, customers can store the films on their portable devices for up to 30 days.
Blockbusters such as Avengers Assemble, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and Pirates In An Adventure with Scientists will all be available for download through the service, alongside the entire James Bond film catalogue, containing all twenty-two official Bond films. All titles are available exclusively to Sky Movies subscribers and will not be available on any other online movies subscription service for a least a year after they first appear on Sky Movies.
Sky Go Extra customers will also be able to download the latest shows from channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney. This includes the best of the US, including Girls and The Following (Sky Atlantic), as well as Sky's own home-grown hits such as Stella, An Idiot Abroad and Trollied (Sky 1). Customers with a 64 GB iPad will be able to store in excess of 400 half-hour shows and more than 80 movies.
Stephen van Rooyen, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at Sky, comments: "Building on the ever-growing popularity of Sky Go, Sky Go Extra lets Sky customers download great movies and TV shows to take with them to watch offline whenever and wherever suits them, as well as access to Sky Go on up to four internet-connected devices. Together with our comprehensive On Demand service and our range of award-winning apps, we continue to deliver helpful and innovative ways for Sky customers to enjoy even more flexibility over when, where and how they enjoy Sky."
During 2012, millions of Sky customers have used Sky Go to watch movies on demand, with Bad Teacher, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Captain America: The First Avenger the three most popular movies on Sky Go last year. Entertainment series on demand have also proven popular on Sky Go, with more than 2.5 million views of the second series of An Idiot Abroad and 1.1 million views of the latest season of Game of Thrones.
Sky Go Extra is the latest in a series of recent developments from Sky that help customers take full control of their TV viewing. This includes Sky's comprehensive TV On Demand service through the Sky+HD box, which now delivers hundreds of hours of catch-up TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and Sky channels alongside on demand access to shows from a number of other leading channels including UKTV, MTV and Discovery. Sky also offers its customers a wide range of award-winning apps at no extra cost, including the popular Sky+ app, which can even be used as a remote control for the Sky+HD box.
To sign up to Sky Go Extra, all customers need to do is visit sky.com/shop/offers/sky-go-extra. Once they've done this, the next time they enter the Sky Go app they will be able to download programmes and register two more devices. To provide even more flexibility, Sky Go customers can cancel the service at any time, subject to giving 31 days' notice. Sky Go customers will also be able to sign up for a two month free trial of Sky Go Extra until the end of March.
For more details, please see our blog on Sky Views.
Sky Movies content can be watched for up to 30 days and once viewing commences is available for 48 hours. Most other Sky content can be watched for up to 7 days and once viewing commences is available for 48 hours. Sky Go Extra customers will be able to register up to four internet-connected devices for Sky Go, viewing content via WiFi or 3G/4G on a maximum of two at any one time.
About Sky Go
Sky Go brings together online and mobile TV in a simple service for Sky TV customers at no extra cost. Available on PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, selected Android smartphones and Xbox 360, Sky Go allows Sky customers to watch content in line with their subscription while on the move in the UK and Ireland through a 3G or WiFi connection. Each Sky home is entitled to register up to two devices, through which they can enjoy access to live channels and selected on-demand content.
On computers customers can access up to 43 live TV channels, including all six Sky Sports channels, Sky Movies, Sky News, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts, MTV, Disney, G.O.LD, Nickelodeon, NatGeo, History, Eden, Eurosport and ESPN, supported by an extensive library of on-demand content. Sky Go is also available to non-Sky TV customers, with monthly subscriptions priced from £15-£40.
Compatible iOs mobile devices: iPhone 3GS and above, iPad 1 & 2 and iPod touch 4th generation, and is compatible on a total of 26 Android handsets, including OS versions 2.2, 2.3 and 4.0.
About Sky
Sky is the UK and Ireland's leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.
Sky is the UK's biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.3 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News. Around two-thirds of Sky's content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.
Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator. Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.
Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi. NOW TV, Sky's second consumer brand, builds on the company's leadership in internet TV. Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play' provider of TV, broadband and home phone.
Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts. Sky employs 23,000 people, has annual revenues of £6.8 billion and is estimated to support a £5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY). www.sky.com/corporate.
Tags: BSkyB (LON:BSY)
Sky’s new subscription service lets UK users download video for offline viewingAlso, from Silicon Republic:
Summary: U.K. digital satellite TV service Sky has launched Sky Go Extra, which lets customers download shows like Girls and Game of Thrones and movies to mobile devices for offline viewing.
Digital satellite TV service Sky has launched Sky Go Extra, a service that lets Sky customers in the U.K. and Ireland download movies and TV shows over WiFI for offline viewing on mobile devices and laptops.
Sky Go Extra is £5 (USD $7.93) per month for existing Sky customers and builds on Sky Go, the company’s on-demand service for mobile and connected devices (which is free to subscribers). Customers who sign up for Sky Go Extra can also watch on-demand streaming video on four devices, up from the two allowed under Sky Go.
The offerings available to Sky Go Extra users depend on their underlying Sky TV package. Customers who already pay for the Sky Movies pack can “download blockbuster releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas,” according to the release. That includes movies like Avengers Assemble and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, as well as all the James Bond films. Customers who don’t pay for the Sky Movies add-on can download TV shows from Sky channels and from partner channels like Nickelodeon, Disney and HBO — including HBO hits Girls and Game of Thrones, AMC’s Mad Men and Fox’s The Following.
Once users download Sky content, it’s not to keep: “Sky Movies content can be watched for up to 30 days and once viewing commences is available for 48 hours. Most other Sky content can be watched for up to 7 days and once viewing commences is available for 48 hours.”
Other U.K. companies are also experimenting with downloadable video. The BBC’s iPlayer lets users download BBC programs to computers, iPhones and iPads for offline viewing. (Content can be watched for up to 30 days, with playback available for seven days after viewing begins.) The Amazon-owned Lovefilm doesn’t allow offline viewing, but plans to do so.
Sky Go Extra allows users to download films and TV shows to watch whenever, whereverAlso, from Indiantelevision.com:
Now that Sky Go is seeing more than 3m unique users in the UK and Ireland each quarter, Sky has decided to add a little something to the service to make its content even more flexible. With Sky Go Extra, users will be able to download content in line with their Sky subscriptions to watch any time, even when they don’t have access to the internet.
Launched today, the new subscription service will cost €6 per month, though new users can sign up for a two-month free trial up until the end of March.
With Sky Go Extra, users will be able to download films from Sky Movies six months after their cinema release. This includes the box-office smash of last year, Avengers Assemble, and the entire James Bond catalogue all the way up to Skyfall. Users can also download TV shows from up to 43 channels, ranging from Sky Atlantic to Nickelodeon.
What users can download depends on their Sky TV subscription, of course, and once the content is downloaded it will remain on their devices for 30 days.
Another extra with Sky Go Extra is the ability to register up to four devices. With Sky Go, a free service for Sky TV customers, users can register only two devices and access to live and on-demand programmes and films is limited to when an internet connection is available.
For the daily commute, this can be difficult, as Sky’s research found that almost 83pc of Irish people travelling to and from work have limited or no internet connection on their journey. More than three-quarters of respondents owned a tablet or smartphone, though, and 81.8pc of those use one such device on their commutes.
To get access to Sky Go Extra, users simply have to register online in order to access the service via the Sky Go app. Users can cancel the service at any time with 31 days’ notice.
Sky unveils new subscription service Sky Go ExtraAlso, from The Next Web:
MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky has launched a brand new subscription service, Sky Go Extra, which lets customers download films from Sky Movies and content from channels such as Sky 1 and Sky Atlantic to watch when and where they want, without the need for a WiFi or 3G/4G connection. The service also lets Sky Go Extra customers register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices.
Available to all Sky TV customers for just £5 per month, the new service delivers even more flexibility to Sky customers by letting them download movies and TV shows depending on their Sky TV subscription to their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook via WiFi to watch offline later. So whether in a car, on a flight or on the train or Tube, Sky customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of content anywhere, not just where they can find a reliable WiFi or high-speed mobile connection.
The launch of the new service builds on the success of Sky Go, which offers Sky customers access to live and on demand programmes and films from up to 43 channels on a wide range of internet-connected devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets and games consoles. Sky Go now attracts more than 3 million unique users each quarter.
In addition to being able to download content, Sky Go Extra customers are also able to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices, giving Sky households even more flexibility over when and where they enjoy the service.
Sky Go Extra is the first mobile TV subscription service in the UK and Ireland to offer Hollywood movies to download and watch offline. With a choice of hundreds of titles exclusive to Sky Movies available to download at any one time, Sky Go Extra customers who subscribe to the Sky Movies pack will be able to download blockbuster releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas. Once downloaded, customers can store the films on their portable devices for up to 30 days.
Films such as 'Avengers Assemble', 'Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows' and 'Pirates In An Adventure with Scientists' will all be available for download through the service, alongside the entire James Bond film catalogue, containing all twenty-two official Bond films. All titles are available exclusively to Sky Movies subscribers and will not be available on any other online movies subscription service for at least a year after they first appear on Sky Movies.
Sky Go Extra customers will also be able to download the latest shows from channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney. This includes shows from the US 'Girls' and 'The Following' (Sky Atlantic), as well as Sky's shows such as 'Stella', 'An Idiot Abroad' and 'Trollied' (Sky 1). Customers with a 64 GB iPad will be able to store in excess of 400 half-hour shows and more than 80 movies.
Sky MD of sales, marketing Stephen van Rooyen said, "Building on the ever-growing popularity of Sky Go, Sky Go Extra lets Sky customers download great movies and TV shows to take with them to watch offline whenever and wherever suits them, as well as access to Sky Go on up to four internet-connected devices. Together with our comprehensive On Demand service and our range of award-winning apps, we continue to deliver helpful and innovative ways for Sky customers to enjoy even more flexibility over when, where and how they enjoy Sky."
Last year millions of Sky customers used Sky Go to watch movies on demand, with 'Bad Teacher', 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' and 'Captain America: The First Avenger' the three most popular movies on Sky Go last year. Entertainment series on demand have also proven popular on Sky Go, with more than 2.5 million views of the second series of 'An Idiot Abroad' and 1.1 million views of the latest season of 'Game of Thrones'.
Sky Go Extra is the latest in a series of recent developments from Sky that help customers take full control of their TV viewing. This includes Sky's TV On Demand service through the Sky+HD box, which now delivers hundreds of hours of catch-up TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and Sky channels alongside on demand access to shows from a number of other leading channels including UKTV, MTV and Discovery. Sky also offers its customers a wide range of award-winning apps at no extra cost, including the popular Sky+ app, which can even be used as a remote control for the Sky+HD box.
Sky Go Extra launches to let you download movies and shows for offline viewing in the UK and IrelandAlso, from Cable.co.uk:
Sky has launched its latest subscription service for downloadable content that can be viewed offline in the UK and Ireland. Sky Go Extra provides content from channels including Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, partner channels including Nickelodeon and its range of movies so that users can watch on up to four different mobile devices.
The service is available to Sky TV customers for £5 ($7.93 USD) per month and builds on the Sky Go product which allows users to watch live and on demand programmes. The ability to download content to more than one device reflects the rise in the number of mobile and Internet connected devices per household and provides a little more flexibility.
The broadcaster says that the original Sky Go attracts more than 3 million unique users per quarter, so it has a fair starting point to work with.
Spreading the subscription
Whether you can access Sky Movies as part of the offering depends on your existing home subscription. Films can be seen around six months after they leave the cinema and once downloaded, they can be stored for up to thirty days.
This puts Sky in direct competition with services like iTunes which already provide a download service where content can be watched over several days. Whether the subscription format rather than pay on demand will be more lucrative, remains to be seen. But so far Netflix and LoveFilm are not quite as flexible.
Sky estimates that customers with a 64 GB iPad will be able to store in excess of 400 half-hour shows and more than 80 movies. The firm is advancing with the demand of its customers having already released an on-demand service and a suite of free apps including the Sky+ app which can be used as a remote control for the Sky+HD box.
To use Sky Go Exta, customers can visit the site to join or upgrade. From there, when they enter the Sky Go app, they should be able to download programmes and register other devices. The apps have been updated across platforms. The service can be cancelled at any time subject to 31 days notice and there is a two-month free trial running until the end of March.
[...]
Image Credit: Stringer – AFP/ Getty Images
Sky Go Extra offers downloadable content on up to four devicesAlso, from Pocket-lint.com:
A new multiscreen service called Sky Go Extra has been unveiled by Sky.
Sky has unveiled a new subscription service that allows customers to download blockbuster movies and other pay TV content so they can watch on the move without having to find an internet connection.
Known as Sky Go Extra, the proposition also lets subscribers access Sky Go on up to four internet-enabled devices, rather than the two they can currently register.
The service, which launches today (January 22nd 2013), is available to all Sky TV households at a cost of £5 per month.
Customers who sign up for Sky Go Extra will be able to download content depending on their Sky TV subscription to devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops via a Wi-Fi connection. They can then watch at their leisure without having to rely on 3G or 4G mobile networks or a wireless broadband link.
Content from Sky Movies and other channels such as Sky Atlantic, Sky1, Disney and Nickelodeon is available via the service.
Stephen van Rooyen, managing director of sales and marketing at Sky, said: "We continue to deliver helpful and innovative ways for Sky customers to enjoy even more flexibility over when, where and how they enjoy Sky."
Sky Go Extras app goes live, first two months are freeAlso, from SlashGear:
New features and new devices
Sky had already confirmed that it would be launching Sky Go Extra, a new update to its Sky Go app, this week, and now it has gone - and done it, adding new features and support for a couple of new Android devices at the same time.
The new service, which will cost £5 a month for Sky subscribers (after the first two months), will allow up to four device access the Sky Go service, rather than two previously, and more importantly will allow them to download movies and TV shows to their device to watch on the Tube or an aircraft.
Sky is hoping the offer will help it in the battle between Lovefilm and Netflix, neither of which offers downloads for offline viewing. Unlike Lovefilm or Netflix, Sky's approach will be to offer a rolling catalogue of movies and TV shows to watch rather than go for a large permanent catalogue offering.
"All titles are available exclusively to Sky Movies subscribers and will not be available on any other online movies subscription service for a least a year after they first appear on Sky Movies," says Sky, in promoting the new service.
Sky Go Extra customers will also be able to download the latest shows from channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney.
Customers with a 64GB iPad will be able to store in excess of 400 half-hour shows and more than 80 movies.
To sign up to Sky Go Extra, all customers need to do is visit sky.com/shop/offers/sky-go-extra.
Once they’ve done this, the next time they enter the Sky Go app they will be able to download programmes and register two more devices.
To provide even more flexibility, Sky Go customers can cancel the service at any time, subject to giving 31 days’ notice.
Sky Go customers will also be able to sign up for a two-month free trial of Sky Go Extra until the end of March.
Additionally Sky has added two new more Android devices to the list of smartphones and tablets that it supports. Users of the Motorola Razr I and the Galaxy Tab2 7.0 will now also be able to get the service.
The full list is now as follows:
Smartphones
- Google Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4
- HTC Desire, Desire S, Desire X, Desire HD, Incredible S, Sensation, Sensation XE, One X, One XL, One S, One V and One X+
- LG 4X HD
- Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy S III LTE, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 2 LTE
- Sony Xperia S and Xperia T
- Motorola RAZR i
Tablets
- Google Nexus 7
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
Full tags Sky, Apps, iPad apps, Android apps, iPhone apps
Sky Go Extra app adds offline viewing for a monthly fee
Sky has added offline playback to its mobile apps, with Sky Go Extra offering the ability to pre-download TV and movies to their phone, tablet, or notebook in return for a monthly fee. The new feature, adding to the existing Sky Go apps – which require a persistent data connection for streaming content – is priced at £5 ($8) per month and only available to Sky UK subscribers; that monthly fee also doubles the number of devices that can be registered to the Sky Go service.
Unlike the usual two phones, tablets, or other hardware that Sky Go’s free tier supports, Sky Go Extra increases that to four. However, that’s only registrations; only two devices can be actually used to watch content over 3G/4G/WiFi simultaneously.
Channels available include Sky Movies, Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Arts, Nickelodeon, Disney, and others, while Sky’s exclusive deal to offer the full James Bond collection means they’re also available to app users. A 64GB iPad, Sky suggests, has enough space for 400 30-minute TV shows and more than 80 movies.
Each download lasts on the mobile device for up to 30 days; if subscribers subscribe to the Sky Movies pack, they can access any of the films available through that, too. However, once you start watching a film, it’s available for 48hrs, while the network says “most other” content “can be watched for up to 7 days and once viewing commences is available for 48 hours.”
Sky Go is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and 26 different Android devices. Sky has also added support for the HTC One X+, the Motorola RAZRi and the Samsung Galaxy Tab2 7.0 today.
Sky Go adds Extra element for TV Everywhere downloadsAlso, from Digital Spy UK's technology news column:
Aiming as ever to stay one step ahead of the competition, an increasingly competitive one at that, BSkyB has added a download element to its Sky Go TV Everywhere service.
The new Sky Go Extra service is designed to enable subscribers to download films and TV shows — from Sky Movies, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney— depending on their Sky TV subscription to their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook via Wi-Fi to watch offline.
BSkyB claims that its new service, priced at £5 per month, is the first mobile TV subscription service in the UK and Ireland to offer Hollywood movies to download and watch offline.
Content will include films such as Avengers Assemble, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and Pirates In An Adventure with Scientists which will all be available for download through the service, alongside the entire James Bond film catalogue, containing all 22 official Bond films. All titles are available exclusively to Sky Movies subscribers and will not be available on any other online movies subscription service for a least a year after they first appear on Sky Movies.
Sky Go Extra customers who subscribe to the Sky Movies pack will be able to download releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas. Once downloaded, customers can store the films on their portable devices for up to 30 days. Sky Go Extra customers are also able to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, Internet-connected devices.
Sky’s director of sales & marketing Stephen van Rooyen commented: “Building on the ever-growing popularity of Sky Go, Sky Go Extra lets Sky customers download great movies and TV shows to take with them to watch offline whenever and wherever suits them, as well as access to Sky Go on up to four Internet-connected devices. Together with our comprehensive On Demand service and our range of award-winning apps, we continue to deliver helpful and innovative ways for Sky customers to enjoy even more flexibility over when, where and how they enjoy Sky.”
Tags: united kingdom, bskyb, sky, sky go, sky go extra, tv everywhere, sky movies, sky 1, sky atlantic, sky arts, nickelodeon, disney, download, offline, subscription, smartphone, tablet, laptop, macbook, wi-fi, hollywood, avengers assemble, sherlock holmes: game of shadows, pirates in an adventure with scientists
Sky Go adds Extra subscription service - downloads, more devicesAlso, from IPTV News:
Sky has today launched Sky Go Extra, a new subscription offering for its multiplatform TV service that adds content downloads and scope for additional devices for a monthly fee.
Sky Go Extra is being offered on top of the Sky Go service that allows the 10m+ Sky customers to watch live and on-demand TV on multiple devices, such as Android smartphones or an Apple iPad.
By paying a £5 monthly subscription fee, Sky Go Extra customers can download blockbuster films from Sky Movies and content from channels such as Sky1 and Sky Atlantic to watch on their device to watch without the need for a WiFi or 3G/4G connection.
Available to all Sky customers, Sky Go Extra also allows its subscribers to register up to four Sky Go devices, rather than two on the main offering.
Launched in 2011 when Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV merged into one service, Sky Go now offers live and on-demand programmes from 43 channels and attracts more than 3m unique users each quarter, according to Sky.
The pay-TV giant feels that the new Sky Go Extra package will give greater flexibility for people wanting to watch content on their device even when without an internet connection, such as on a train or flight.
The £5 monthly fee allows Extra customers to download movies and TV shows to a smartphone, tablet or laptop, where they will stay available for a 30 day period.
Sky Go Extra customers will be able to download shows from channels such as Sky Atlantic, Sky1 and Sky Arts, as well as partner networks including Disney and Nickelodeon.
Sky said that customers with a 64GB iPad would be able to store in excess of 400 half-hour TV shows and more than 80 movies.
Sky Go Extra is being billed as "the first mobile TV subscription service in the UK and Ireland to offer Hollywood movies to download and watch offline".
But downloads on Extra still depend on a customer's Sky TV subscription. Anyone who is not already a Sky Movies pack customer, will not be able to download films such as Avengers Assemble, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and classic James Bond films to their device.
Alongside the downloads option, Sky Go Extra customers can register up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices, giving them more scope to stream and download content.
Sky Go Extra will appear within Sky Go and come as an update in all the respective app stores. To sign up to the service, customers should visit the Sky Shop, including the offer of a two-month free trial of the service until the end of March.
Also today, Sky has said that three more Android devices will be added to Sky Go - the HTC One X+, the Motorola RAZRi and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.
In addition, Sky has released some facts about Sky Go use in 2012, including that Bad Teacher, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Captain America: The First Avenger were the three most popular movies on the service last year.
On the TV side, the second seasons of Karl Pilkington's unique travel show An Idiot Abroad pulled in 2.5m views in 2012, while the latest season of Game of Thrones generated 1.1m views on Sky Go [Sky Go Ratings].
Sky debuts new subscription download service Sky Go ExtraAlso, from DigitalTVEurope.net:
UK broadcaster BSkyB has unveiled yet another brand new subscription over-the-top (OTT) video service called ‘Sky Go Extra’, offering customers the ability to download the latest blockbuster films from Sky Movies.
The service is available to all Sky TV customers for GB£ 5 (US$ 7.90) per month and means that users can download premium Sky content to smartphones, tablets, laptops and other connected devices via WiFi to watch offline later.
It follows the notable success of the ‘Sky Go’ service, which provides users with the chance to watch premium live and on-demand programming from Sky on any connected device, with more than 3mn unique users currently accessing the service each quarter.
Subscribers to the new Sky Go Extra service also get expanded options for the Sky Go service: they can register for Sky Go on up to four devices, rather than the two device limit imposed on regular customers.
Sky Go Extra customers who subscribe to the Sky Movies pack will be able to download Hollywood blockbuster releases around six months after they have finished showing in the cinema, with these titles unavailable on any other online movie service for at least a year after their debut on Sky Movies.
Sky Go Extra customers will also be able to download the latest shows from channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney.
Stephen van Rooyen, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at Sky, comments: “Building on the ever-growing popularity of Sky Go, Sky Go Extra lets Sky customers download great movies and TV shows to take with them to watch offline whenever and wherever suits them, as well as access to Sky Go on up to four internet-connected devices.
“Together with our comprehensive On Demand service and our range of award-winning apps, we continue to deliver helpful and innovative ways for Sky customers to enjoy even more flexibility over when, where and how they enjoy Sky.”
Sky Go Extra screenshot
BSkyB launches movie download offering Sky Go ExtraAlso, from Connected Digital World:
UK pay TV operator BSkyB has launched a new service to supplement its Sky Go TV Everywhere offering that enables customers to download movies and TV shows and watch them offline.
The, Sky Go Extra, also allows users to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than the existing two, internet-connected devices.
Sky Go Extra, which is available for £5 (€6) a month, allows customers to download movies and TV shows on smartphones, tablets, laptops or Macs via WiFi to watch offline later.
According to BSkyB, this is the first time a service that allows users to download Hollywood movies and watch them offline has been available in the UK and Ireland. Sky Movies subscribers will be able to download film titles about six months after their theatrical release. Once downloaded, customers can store the films on their portable devices for up to 30 days. Titles such as Avengers Assemble, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and Pirates In An Adventure with Scientists will all be available for download through the service, alongside the entire James Bond film catalogue.
Customers will also be able to download shows from Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney.
Sky Go Extra the new subscription service from Sky launchedAlso, from Engadget:
Sky is launching a brand new subscription service, Sky Go Extra, which lets customers download the latest blockbuster films from Sky Movies and great content from channels such as Sky 1 and Sky Atlantic to watch when and where they want, without the need for a WiFi or 3G/4G connection. The service also lets Sky Go Extra customers register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices.
Launching today and available to all Sky TV customers for just £5 per month, the new service delivers even more flexibility to Sky customers by letting them download movies and TV shows depending on their Sky TV subscription to their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook via WiFi to watch offline later. So whether in a car, on a flight or on the train or Tube, Sky customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of content anywhere, not just where they can find a reliable WiFi or high-speed mobile connection.
The launch of the new service builds on the success of Sky Go, which offers Sky customers access to live and on demand programmes and films from up to 43 channels on a wide range of internet-connected devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets and games consoles. Sky Go now attracts more than 3 million unique users each quarter.
In addition to being able to download content, Sky Go Extra customers are also able to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices, giving Sky households even more flexibility over when and where they enjoy the service.
Sky Go Extra is the first mobile TV subscription service in the UK and Ireland to offer Hollywood movies to download and watch offline. With a choice of hundreds of titles exclusive to Sky Movies available to download at any one time, Sky Go Extra customers who subscribe to the Sky Movies pack will be able to download blockbuster releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas. Once downloaded, customers can store the films on their portable devices for up to 30 days.
Blockbusters such as Avengers Assemble, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and Pirates In An Adventure with Scientists will all be available for download through the service, alongside the entire James Bond film catalogue, containing all twenty-two official Bond films. All titles are available exclusively to Sky Movies subscribers and will not be available on any other online movies subscription service for a least a year after they first appear on Sky Movies.
Sky Go Extra customers will also be able to download the latest shows from channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, as well as partner channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney. This includes the best of the US, including Girls and The Following (Sky Atlantic), as well as Sky’s own home-grown hits such as Stella, An Idiot Abroad and Trollied (Sky 1). Customers with a 64 GB iPad will be able to store in excess of 400 half-hour shows and more than 80 movies.
Sky Go Extra will let users download shows to their mobile devices for £5 a month (update)Also, from TBI Vision:
Being able to watch Sky TV on the go using, erm, Sky Go, is great, but streaming video away from your home router can often be costly, especially if you're on EE's basic LTE plan. Thankfully, the broadcaster is looking to launch Sky Go Extra, which, if The Telegraph is to believed, will allow up to four users to download anything from the Murdoch library straight to their mobile device. Adding such functionality to your family's viewing habits will set you back £5 a month (after a two month free trial) but that also includes unlimited access to the company's first-window movie catalog, a jewel it's paid heavily to keep out of the hands of rivals such asNetflixLovefilm.
Update: And it's official! PR's [above in the first article in this blog post].
Source: The Telegraph, (2)
Tags: hdpostcross, OTT, Sky, Sky Go, Sky Go Extra, SkyGo, SkyGoExtra, VOD
BSkyB launches advanced TV Everywhere serviceAlso, from uSwitch:
UK pay TV operator BSkyB has launched a new service to supplement its Sky Go TV Everywhere offering that enables customers to download movies and TV shows and watch them offline
The, Sky Go Extra, also allows users to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than the existing two, internet-connected devices.
Sky Go Extra, which is available for £5 a month, allows customers to download movies and TV shows on smartphones, tablets, laptops or Macs via WiFi to watch offline later.
According to BSkyB, this is the first time a service that allows users to download Hollywood movies and watch them offline has been available in the UK and Ireland.
SkyMovies subscribers will be able to download film titles about six months after their theatrical release.
Once downloaded, customers can store the films ontheir portable devices for up to 30 days. Titles including Avengers Assemble, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and Pirates In An Adventure with Scientists will all be available for download through the service, alongside the entire James Bond film catalogue.
Customers will also be able to download shows from Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and SkyArts, as well as partner channels including Nickelodeon and Disney.
Sky Go Extra launches for tablet broadband users
The new Sky Go Extra gives pay-TV subscribers more viewing options.
Sky has launched a new subscription service which enables broadband customers to download film and TV content from the web to be viewed at a later date.
The broadband provider's Sky Go Extra service allows viewers to watch movies and TV programmes as and when they want, regardless of whether they are connected to the internet.
The service also allows Sky Go Extra customers to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices.
Available to Sky TV customers for just £5 per month, the offering delivers additional flexibility to broadband and TV subscribers.
Content can be downloaded to smartphones, tablets, laptops or MacBooks via a wireless broadband connection to be watched at a more convenient time - potentially in a different location.
The service builds upon Sky Go, which offers customers access to live and on-demand programmes and films from up to 43 channels.
Stephen van Rooyen, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at Sky, said Sky Go Extra lets customers download great movies and TV shows to take with them to watch offline whenever and wherever suits them, as well as access to Sky Go on up to four internet-connected devices.
"Together with our comprehensive On Demand service and our range of award-winning apps, we continue to deliver helpful and innovative ways for Sky customers to enjoy even more flexibility over when, where and how they enjoy Sky," he stated.
During 2012, millions of Sky customers used Sky Go to watch movies on demand, with Bad Teacher, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Captain America: The First Avenger the three most popular movies on the service.
In addition, the service has notched up more than 2.5 million views of the second series of An Idiot Abroad and 1.1 million views of the latest season of Game of Thrones.
Tags: Sky, Broadband and TV packages, Broadband and iPad
