BSkyB introduces online TV service

BSKYB IS STEPPING it up a notch with its new online video service which will offer popular channels with cheaper subscription packages than the current satellite TV packages Sky offers.

Sky Player TV launches today offering surfers a choice of three packages ranging from £15 to £34 a month.

This new online service will beat Sky’s current satellite package which starts at £17 a month.

The cheapest online package, The Entertainment Pack will begin at £7.50 a month until January as part of the promotion – this channel features such popular gems as the Disney Channel, British Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, Sky News and Sky Sports News.

After January this package will be £15 and will feature additional channels soon.

The £26 a month package will include all that the Entertainment Pack offers plus Sky Sports 1 – this package will be offered at a less reasonable £22 a month while the promotion is on.

This second package is only £2 cheaper than Sky's cheapest satellite TV package including Sky Sports 1 which is £28.

The third package combines the Entertainment Pack with all of the Sky Sports channels and costs £34 a month – this one will have £4 shaved off until January - Sky's cheapest satellite TV package including all of its sports channels is £36.

What will be music to non-Sky customer’s ears is that you don’t have to be a Sky TV or Sky broadband customer to take advantage of Sky Player TV.

Mike Darcey, the chief operating officer at BSkyB said, "Sky Player TV recognises that for some, the computer screen is now the preferred screen through which to watch TV."

In developing a standalone subscription to a secure online platform, Sky is responding to the diverse needs of today's consumers, he concludes. Unless you don't use Windows, of course, in which case you can go get your Simpsons fix elsewhere. µ

L'Inq
The Guardian