Tag Archives: SkyGo

Sky’s Now TV box is a £9.99 Roku clone that streams iPlayer and more

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Sky Now TV box is a 999 Roku clone that streams iPlayer and more

BSkyB started investing in Roku last year and it's leveraged that involvement to develop this new Now TV set-top box. Going on sale today for just £9.99 (including shipping), it brings a rebranded Roku 2 XD (no gaming remote) with software built for Sky's IPTV platform and a curated list of additional channels. Notably missing from the list are Netflix, Lovefilm, ITV Player, and 4oD, however Now TV (of course), iPlayer, Demand Five, Spotify, Facebook and several Sky channels are included. It gives up a bit in flexibility compared to the standard player, but the ultra-low entry price certainly makes for a compelling option. Roku is facing more competition than ever with new game consoles, Google's Chromecast and even Apple's TV ambitions, we'll see if partnering with traditional providers makes it the "operating system for TVs" CEO Anthony Wood wants it to be.

For Sky, this is just part of a multi-pronged plan to move its TV offerings into the future, detailed in today's earnings report. Starting in September it will offer a WiFi equipped Sky+HD box to customers as the standard, and low cost wireless adapters to those with older hardware that isn't already connected. It's also enhancing Sky Go, with plans to add 10 new channels in the next year while marketing Sky Go Extra more. Finally, it's adding more content to the Catch Up TV and Sky Store VOD bundle -- check the PDF linked below for more details.

Gallery: Now TV box

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Source: Now TV, Sky FY 2013 earnings (PDF)

Sky adding more on demand content, revamping Go apps for summer

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Sky adding more on demand content, revamping Go apps for summer

Lounging around in the sun is great and all, but what to do on a rainy day? One option is to get some TV time in, and Sky's got a few updates to share that might tempt you in front of a screen on dreary afternoons. At some point this summer, shows from Fox, Universal and SyFy will be available on Sky's On Demand service, as well as content from Disney if you're signed up for the Entertainment Extra package. Mobile apps will be getting a makeover, with "enhanced navigation" and a new design including bigger thumbnails when cruising through the VOD library. The Sky Go Xbox 360 app will also be updated to bring it in line with Microsoft's UI style. Furthermore, Sky Multiroom subscribers will get access to Sky Go Extra, which allows you to download content in addition to streaming, at no extra cost in early July. Vitamin D's overrated anyways.

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Sky opts for Hannibal on-demand and Go debut ahead of May 7th TV premiere

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Sky opts for Hannibal ondemand and Go debut ahead of May 7th TV premiere

Sky customers with On Demand or Sky Go access can snag an early look at the very first episode of Hannibal, along with Trollied, Mad Dogs and The Borgias. That first hit is due for a May 7th premiere on Sky Living at 10PM in the UK, but in what's being billed as a television experiment of sorts, the show's available now through On Demand with select Sky+ set-top boxes, or the Sky Go streaming service, if you're able to access that. We can imagine plenty of other ways to get your fix without waiting for next Tuesday to roll around, but we'll let you use your own imagination to tackle that one.

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Via: Pocket-lint

Source: Sky

Sky Go for Android now streams to the HTC One, Galaxy S 4 and Xperia Z

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Sky Go for Android now supports 1080p phones and the RAZR HD

Brits accustomed to catching up on their shows with Sky Go likely don't want that seamless viewing experience broken just because they bought that latest 1080p-capable Android flagship. Thankfully, they won't have to. An update to the Android app now supports the HTC One, Xperia Z and the upcoming Galaxy S 4: while none of them will stream in 1080p, the software will at last do more than take up space. Those on the "merely" 720p-native RAZR HD can also tune in with the upgrade. Swing by Google Play for the update if you're a Sky subscriber with a shiny new device.

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Source: Google Play

Sky Movies lands deal with Entertainment Film Distributors to stream top movies

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Sky Movies strikes deal with Entertainment Film Distributors to stream top movies

The core of any good movie service is... good movies. We're glad to hear, then, that Sky Movies has struck a years-long deal with UK outlet Entertainment Film Distributors to stream a large number of recent and back-catalog titles. The pact gives Sky access to Silver Linings Playbook and a slew of other notable movies during the initial pay-per-view and pay TV windows, which usually start six months after the releases leave theaters and last for over a year. The agreement isn't so hot for those on rival services when Sky has an exclusive on subscription access, but its viewing is at least independent of both the platform and business model: customers can see the newly added flicks through a Now TV pass on their phones or rent them through the Sky Movies Box Office, for example. Older included titles like Gangs of New York are already available; if you've been waiting for Sky to get a healthier video selection before signing up, now's as good a time as any to take a closer look.

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Source: Sky Movies

Sky cuts a deal with Disney for exclusive access, launches Sky Movies Disney

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Sky cuts a deal with Disney for exclusive access, launches Sky Movies Disney

In Sky's latest bid (after getting Sony and Warner on the hook) to corner premium viewing content in the UK before rivals including Lovefilm and Netflix get traction, it has announced an extension to its 24-year agreement with Disney. Beyond guaranteeing Disney -- which means Lucasfilm, of course -- Pixar and Marvel flicks will be on Sky (plus Sky Go, and 3D movies on Sky 3D) a year before any other service, it's also creating a new Sky Movies Disney Channel in its lineup that launches March 28th. In order to reach those not with the typical TV package, the deal also brings Disney's movies to Sky's Now TV internet video service for users with a monthly movie pass. We're sure 24 years ago, such deals didn't cover so many devices or avenues of access but snagging exclusives to gain a market advantage has stayed exactly the same.

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Source: Sky

Sky Go Extra will let users download shows to their mobile devices for £5 a month

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Sky Go Extra will let users download shows to their mobile devices for 5 a month

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 as Netflix Lovefilm.

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Source: The Telegraph, (2)

Sky Go update adds support for 14 more Android devices, Jelly Bean

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Sky Go update adds support for 14 more Android devices, Jelly Bean

With the grand total of supported phones and tablets sitting at 25, Sky's Go is hardly the most widely supported streaming video platform. But the British broadcaster isn't just resting on its laurels. With today's update the number of officially supported devices more than doubled adding 14 slates and handsets to its existing list of 11. The company also added Jelly Bean (both 4.1 and 4.2) to its repertoire, almost five months after finally arriving on Ice Cream Sandwich. The Nexus 4 and 7 were both granted access (though not the 10) as was HTC's vaunted One line. For a complete list of devices on which you can watch the entire James Bond collection, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Sky Go update adds support for 14 more Android devices, Jelly Bean

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