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Peacock will debut in the UK and Ireland on November 16th
The soft launch on Sky and NOW is the streaming service's first expansion outside of the US.
'Game of Thrones' piracy is rampant, but UK TV smashes records too
Whether they're tuning in as it airs or grabbing a copy via their favourite file-sharing site, people just can't get enough of Game of Thrones. The fifth season has only just drawn to a close, but during its run, the HBO fantasy series managed to smash its own piracy records and break a few broadcast milestones too. In fact, the season finale became the most popular "entertainment programme ever" on Sky, reaching a record 3.1 million homes on June 15th.
'Star Wars' streaming finally comes to the UK on May 4th
When the Star Wars saga finally became available to buy on digital storefronts like iTunes and Google Play, we hoped it would only be a matter of time until Disney and Fox made them available to stream. Thankfully, that's now about to happen, after Sky announced today that it's struck a deal with the two companies to bring all six movies to Sky Movies and Now TV from May 4th. That day obviously holds a special significance with fans, so Sky will kick things off with "UK TV's first ever 48 hour Star Wars marathon" on that date, showing the movies in "episodic order, as well as release order on both days." They'll also be offered to non-Sky subscribers through its separate streaming service. So, if you're already signed up to the Now TV movie bundle and ownership doesn't mean that much to you, you can skip the £64.99 Digital Movie Collection and get your geek on for the cost of your monthly subscription.
Sky's digital movie and DVD combo store is now open to everyone
If you want to buy the latest movies digitally, where do you go? There are countless storefronts to consider, including iTunes, Google Play and Blinkbox Movies. But Sky has a simple reason to choose its 'Buy & Keep' service over the others: purchase a movie from us, and we'll throw in the DVD too. Before the offer was only available to Sky TV customers, but now anyone can use Buy & Keep through Sky Store. You can order movies through skystore.com or the Sky Store apps, before watching them on a mobile device, or Roku, YouView, Now TV or Sky+ HD box. Four devices can be registered to a single account and two devices can stream the same movie simultaneously -- useful if you watch a lot of movies on the go. A new "follow me" feature means you can also pause a film on your smartphone or tablet and pick up where you left off on your big-screen TV.
Now TV for EE TV is coming to your TV tomorrow
If you're "lucky" enough to be both an EE mobile and broadband subscriber, chances are you'll own one of the operator's new EE TV set-top boxes. While it essentially operates as a Freeview DVR, it also comes with a couple of notable apps like BBC iPlayer, Demand 5 and YouTube, but pickings are relatively slim. Sky's saw an opportunity for the taking, so it's picked EE customers to be the recipients of its new Now TV app. It'll go live tomorrow, a full month before Game of Thrones returns to screens, allowing you to watch Sky movie and TV content that you can't otherwise get on your EE TV box.
Sky confirms a 'next-generation' Now TV box is coming this year
With the rise in cord-cutters and streaming services such as Netflix, Sky knows it needs a cheaper alternative to its traditional TV bundles. At the moment its answer is Now TV, a standalone service that lets viewers pick and choose from three smaller packages: sport, movies and entertainment. Just over 18 months ago, Sky supplemented it with a dedicated set-top box -- and now it's planning a refresh. In an investor presentation, the broadcaster today revealed plans for a "next-generation" Now TV box coming later this year, which will feature a refreshed UI and a new marketing campaign. Notably, Sky has been an investor in set-top box maker Roku since 2012, and last December it launched a rebranded model called the Sky Online TV Box in Germany. It's quite possible that Sky is planning a similar move for the UK, which means we could see a much-needed leap to full HD.
Sky Go finally arrives on the PlayStation 3
Sony's PlayStation 3 is getting a bit long in the tooth, but if it's still your preferred device for streaming video, Sky is finally ready to lend its support. Following the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4, the broadcaster is launching a Sky Go app today for Sony's older gaming console. As per usual, the service lets you watch live programming and stream videos on-demand, including the bevy of films offered via Sky Movies. Simply having a Sky TV subscription isn't enough though -- like its other supported gaming consoles, to use Sky Go on the PS3 you'll need an active Sky Go Extra subscription (£5 per month) or Sky Multiscreen. If that sounds like quite a stretch for your wallet, there's always Now TV, which separates some of Sky's offerings into standalone monthly subscriptions.
Now TV gets a Windows 8 app
Whether you're a sports fanatic or a movie buff, December is generally a good month to sit down in front of the tellybox. One way to treat your eyeballs is via Sky's standalone Now TV streaming service, which is preparing for a busy Christmas full of movies, TV shows and live sports coverage. Instead of grappling with the Now TV website though, Sky has finally released a proper Windows 8.1 app for you to sink your teeth into. Available from the Windows Store, the new app embraces Microsoft's unique Metro aesthetic and features both live channels and on-demand video for its three (Entertainment, Movies and Sports) passes. In recent months, Sky has been busy bringing Now TV to new set-top boxes, including Apple TV and Chromecast. Broader platform support is always welcome, but it's good to see that Sky hasn't forgotten about desktop users -- so how about a native Mac app?
Vodafone in talks to bundle Now TV boxes with its new broadband service
Vodafone only confirmed it will take another stab at selling broadband last week, but already rumours of potential tie-ups are starting to circulate. According to The Telegraph, the operator is in talks with Sky to bundle Now TV access in with its internet service when it launches next Spring, like it already does for its 4G plans. Although negotiations are said to be in the early stages, Now TV streamers could provide Vodafone with a short-term answer to set-top boxes offered by rivals EE, BT and TalkTalk, allowing it to offer quad-play packages in the UK. Let's not forget, Sky is also set to become a member of the exclusive quad-play club, after it began trialling its own mobile network (with Vodafone's help) late last month. While you might not be a Vodafone customer, you could still benefit from a potential tie-up with Sky -- increased competition provides more choice and greater choice often results in lower pricing.
Google offers three months free Now TV streaming to UK Chromecast owners
Every now and again, Google likes to give something back to Chromecast owners. In July, it celebrated the streaming dongle's first birthday by offering a free 90-day subscription to Google Play Music All Access, but now it's now decided to provide UK streamers with more of a visual treat. If you head on over to Google's Chromecast Offers site right now, you'll be offered a free three month Entertainment Pass for Now TV, allowing you to stream all 13 of Sky's pay TV channels live or on-demand. Sky's streaming service hasn't been available on the Chromecast all that long, so now might be the time to see what it's all about.
Now TV's movie and entertainment packages finally come to Apple TV
Sky's Now TV streaming service has offered an iOS app for the longest time, but when it came to Apple TV, the company only let subscribers enjoy sport on the big screen. As of today, that's no longer the case, because Sky's brought its Entertainment and Movies packages to the streamer, just a couple of weeks before prices are set to rise. If you're already a subscriber, the menus feature the same New In, Most Popular and Must See categories, which have been given a flatter look to fit in with the Apple TV's new iOS 8 UI. Sky's recent rush of updates means you can also now stream via the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Google's Chromecast, as well as its own £10 set-top box.
Sky's finally increasing the prices of its Now TV packages
It was back in May that Sky announced that Now TV bundles would cost you a little more each month, but never got around to implementing the rise. Five months later, and the company has now decided that the increases (£2 for Entertainment, £1 for Movies) will begin on October 16th. In exchange for more of your moolah, the £7 Entertainment bundle will offer Nickelodeon, Nick. Jr. and ITV Encore as well as an increased number of episodes to watch on catch-up and box-set services. Meanwhile, the £10 Movies package will now get a further 200 titles, as well as access to Sky Movies Disney, which shows around 150 extra titles from the House of Mouse. Hopefully some of that cash has also gone to resolving some of those long-standing reliability issues, too.
Now TV comes to the Chromecast
Ever since Now TV launched, subscribers have cried out for Sky to support more streaming devices. Today, the company answered some of its critics by announcing it's built Chromecast functionality into its Now TV apps on both iOS and Android. If you own one of Google's £30 streaming dongles, you'll now be able to beam movies, TV shows and sports coverage over to your big screen by simply hitting the new Chromecast icon inside the updated apps. While Sky knows today's launch will give customers less of an incentive to buy its £10 Now TV set-top box, it hopes it'll be able to lure new subscribers to the service as it battles Netflix and Amazon for a share of the UK streaming market.
Sky Sports News HQ app comes to Now TV boxes
Following Sky's big Sky Sports News rebrand, it was only a matter of time until the updated channel made its way to the broadcaster's Now TV set-top box via an app. Already delivering breaking news on smartphones and tablets, the new Sky Sports News HQ app comes to the £10 streamer today, offering 24/7 access to sports updates, breaking news and highlights. While access to the app isn't free, there are a couple of easy ways unlock it, as long as you subscribe to Sky's existing Now TV packages. One way is to buy a Sky Sports Day Pass or the new Sky Sports Week Pass, which will allow you to access the channel for up to 30 days after your current pass has expired. Sky's making it available to Entertainment or Sky Movies pass holders too, meaning that if you're already putting money down to catch up with the Lannisters or watch Sandra Bullock float around in space, you'll be able to follow all of the latest player movements come Transfer Deadline Day.
Now TV launches weekly Sky Sports passes for £10.99
Good news, sports fans: Sky's finally decided to do something about the prohibitive cost of streaming your favorite sporting events on Now TV. Where before 24-hour access to Sky Sports would set you back a whopping £9.99, the company's new Sky Sports Week Pass offers access to all seven of its sports channels (including the new Sky Sports 5) over seven days for just for just a quid extra (£10.99) until November 27th. Launching on Thursday, it'll come just two days before the Premiership season kicks off, giving those without a Sky Sports subscription the chance to get their fill of sport. BT, of course, still offers access to its Premiership coverage for free (if you're a BT Broadband or Virgin Media subscriber), but with domestic football, access to extended European matches and the Ryder Cup building up its listings, Sky's new weekly pass is significantly better value, at least right now. The same can be said for the daily pass, which'll now cost you £6.99 (a saving of £3) until Sky ramps up the price ahead of the holidays.
Sky's Now TV app out on Xbox One, Verizon updates FiOS
Xbox console owners in the UK now have an expanded variety of entertainment options at the ready, as Sky has released an Xbox One version of its Now TV app, bringing the service's streamed and on-demand catalog to Microsoft's platform. Verizon also updated its FiOS app on Xbox consoles this week, introducing 14 additional channels to its lineup. New channels available to subscribers include AMC HD, Encore, Bloomberg HD, Showtime, and Starz. While Xbox entertainment apps were previously available only for Xbox Live Gold members, Microsoft recently updated its policies to grant access to Netflix, HBO Go, and other services to all Xbox owners. [Image: Sky]
Sky's Now TV streaming app comes to the Xbox One
Well that didn't take long. Less than a week after it rolled out the app to the PlayStation 4, Sky's now brought Now TV to the Xbox One. With today's launch, Sky now has Microsoft and Sony's new and old gaming consoles covered, as well as a number of smartphones and tablets, giving it a firm footing on which to challenge Netflix. Now that Microsoft doesn't require a subscription to access Live apps, you only need to stump up the cash for one of Sky's movie, sport or entertainment packages to get streaming on your next-gen Xbox.
Now TV arrives on the PlayStation 4 today, Xbox One in the coming weeks
A couple of months back, Sky revealed that it was working to bring Now TV to Sony and Microsoft's latest consoles. Today, it finally started that rollout with the PlayStation 4, ensuring Sony fans have all of their bases covered in the process. Although the Xbox One app is still in development, the broadcaster notes that it will become available in the coming weeks. Neither the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One require a subscription to access the Now TV app, meaning you'll only need to put money down for Sky's movie, entertainment or sports packages to get streaming.
Sky's Now TV woes continue as streams go down before the Premiership finale
Sky's Now TV streaming service has experienced its fair share of issues in recent months, but today it couldn't have picked a better time to leave users in the lurch. While previous hiccups took the premiere of Game of Thrones offline, Sky Sports streaming went down just minutes before the final ten games of the Premiership season kicked off. That meant many were left without the chance to watch Manchester City secure their second title in recent years. To save face, Sky has begun contacting all Sports Pass customers to issue refunds, whether they were affected or not. While Entertainment subscribers can gain access to Sky's crown jewels for £4.99 a month, Sky protects its TV sports revenue by pricing a one-off Sky Sports Pass at £9.99 per day. The broadcaster will have lost a significant chunk of change trying to put things right, but it may need to invest more in its streaming infrastructure if it wants to stop customers from switching off completely.
Sky's raising Now TV package prices, but don't blame Game of Thrones (update)
If you've invested in Sky's super-cheap Now TV box, the chances are that you've also been enjoying the company's introductory pricing it offers on its streaming packages. Sky's entertainment and movie bundles are currently priced at £4.99 and £8.99 per month respectively, but are set to rise to £6.99 and £9.99 later this month. At first glance, it looks like the broadcaster has chosen the optimum time to recoup some of the investment its made in exclusivity for shows like Game of Thrones, but the reality is a little less scandalous. Prices were actually meant to shoot up in March, but Sky decided at the time to extend the introductory offers until May 29th. So while it appears like the Lannisters are after yet more coin ahead of the cut-off in the coming weeks, it was actually the plan all along. It's probably not the news you were hoping for as you wait to see whether Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons can conquer the seven kingdoms, but the Now TV honeymoon period originally had an earlier deadline, so you've still had better luck than Ned and family. Update: Since the time of writing, Sky has decided to put the price hike on hold, for now at least. The note on Sky's Now TV forums doesn't offer any new timeline, but we assume it means you'll be seeing out the current series of Game of Thrones, and watching all your favourite characters die, no doubt, at the current monthly rate.
