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Sky uses stats to explain why BT and Openreach should split
It's no secret that Sky wants BT and Openreach split up. When Ofcom announced its new review of the UK telecommunications industry, the broadcaster said "structural separation" was vital to address what it perceives as a conflict of interest. Now that the investigation is underway, Sky has published its submission in full with a crucial recommendation: to upgrade the case to a "market investigation reference" with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The company argues that the relationship between BT and Openreach is reducing competition and limiting providers like Sky with its inadequate service. Were the CMA to set up its own inquiry, it could, depending on the outcome, lead to a forced separation of BT and Openreach -- something both parties are keen to avoid.
Sky's making a kids app that will rival Netflix and YouTube
When Sky announced the launch of a new Kids section on its set-top boxes, it immediately put Google and Netflix in its crosshairs. On-demand TV shows and movies were suddenly front and centre on the homepage, allowing children to select up to 4,000 episodes from cartoons like SpongeBob Squarepants, Ben 10, Adventure Time and Dora The Explorer when the company is done adding them all. It appears that was just the start though: Sky is now embracing mobile and will launch a dedicated kids app for smartphones and tablets.
'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.
TalkTalk's new (almost) gigabit broadband is actually affordable
While BT's broadband networks dominate the UK, other ISPs want to avoid giving their rival any more money by creating their own. Just yesterday, Virgin Media announced it had begun installing 152Mbps connections across Manchester as part of a £3 billion UK expansion, but now TalkTalk is going one better with the launch of Ultra Fibre Optic (UFO) broadband in York. Although it's effectively a gigabit service, TalkTalk has steered away from using the term, choosing instead to brand it under the UFO name. Homes and businesses in the city will enjoy up to 940Mbps, which is over six times faster than Virgin Media's current theoretical limit and 12 times quicker than BT's current fibre allocation.
Switching your broadband supplier just got really easy
When Ofcom announced that consumers can ditch their contract if broadband speeds aren't as advertised, it also said it would also make changing providers even easier. This new "one touch" process comes into effect today, finally putting the responsibility of switching onto the company you wish to join. Under the new system, canceling your contract is a thing of the past (if you haven't agreed to a minimum term) and as long as your new provider requires a BT phone line, like EE, Sky and TalkTalk do, then they will handle the rest.
Sky's new full HD Now TV box will launch in August for £15
Sky is shedding a little light today on its next-generation Now TV box and a new monthly streaming plan for Sky Sports. Its refreshed hardware, which slipped out earlier this year in an investor presentation, will debut this August for £14.99 with an ethernet port and a five times faster processor. It's based on the Roku 3 player, the same as the company's "Sky Online TV Box" in Italy, which means it should finally support 1080p streaming too.
Virgin Media's free WiFi app finally comes to iOS
One of the perks of being a Virgin Media customer is gaining access to the company's suite of mobile apps. They let you make landline calls and watch TV on your smartphone, but if you also use its mobile service, you can connect to thousands of free WiFi hotspots all over the UK. Unfortunately for iOS users, WiFi Buddy, the provider's dedicated wireless app, has been Android-only since launch. That's now changing after Virgin Media finally deemed iPhone owners worthy of free WiFi and has made the app available on the App Store too. Once installed, you'll get access to over 22,000 The Cloud hotspots (thanks to Virgin Media's deal with Sky) in places like Marks & Spencer, Wetherspoon, WH Smith, Pret A Manger, Greggs and other popular locations -- useful, if you're trying to save your Virgin Mobile allowance or you find yourself in an area with poor signal.
Slow broadband? Ofcom says you can ditch your contract
While the UK's broadband coverage is expanding, its infrastructure is only maintained by a few providers. With little overlap, some areas suffer from a lack of investment, which often means that speeds are lower than advertised. Those affected have previously had little choice but to put up with it, but a new ruling from communications regulator Ofcom could change that. The watchdog has announced that it will let consumers escape broadband contracts if speeds "fall below expected levels."
BT's launching an Ultra HD box to host Europe's first 4K TV channel
While BT will begin charging Sky subscribers for access to Champions League football next season, the company may soon ask for more money from existing customers too. It's for a good reason, though: the company has said it will launch the first 4K channel in Europe in August, called BT Sport Ultra HD, delivering selected matches from the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Aviva Premiership Rugby. As you'd expect, these broadcasts won't work on BT's existing hardware, so it'll introduce a new BT TV Ultra HD set-top box to do the heavy lifting.
Sky's new Kids section is a direct shot at Netflix
When the little ones are having a temper tantrum, kids TV is often your best line of defence. In the UK, that used to mean switching on CBBC or CITV, but in the internet age Netflix and YouTube rule supreme. After all, it means you can find the exact show or movie that's likely to put a smile back on the little tikes' faces. That could spell trouble for Sky, so the broadcaster is revamping its child-centric on-demand offerings. A software update rolling out to all Sky+HD boxes this week will put a new "Kids" tile on the homepage, providing instant access to on-demand shows and movies, kids TV recordings and live channels such as Cbeebies and Nick Jr. In addition, Sky is expanding its library of on-demand episodes from 700 to 4,000 over the coming months. It'll include new morsels of SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and Ben 10, as well as cult favourite Adventure Time. YouTube appeals because it's (mostly) free, but if you've been stressed out before trying to find a decent clip online, you might want to try grabbing your Sky remote next time.
EE's 10 million 4G customers are great news for BT
EE was the first mobile network to offer 4G in the UK, and now, more than two and a half years later, it's still easily the most popular. The company has accumulated 10 million 4G customers, beating the numbers last reported by Three, O2 and Vodafone. It's a huge lead and one that will please BT, which is in the midst of buying EE's business. BT wants to strengthen its quad play offering and EE, provided the deal goes through, will give it a substantial network and subscriber base to work with. The company already offers mobile contracts -- using EE's network, unsurprisingly -- and Sky has confirmed it'll launch an O2-powered network in 2016. Three UK's owner, meanwhile, is acquiring O2 in order to leapfrog EE and become the UK's biggest carrier. While they sort out the details, BT has some time to fortify its position -- after all, EE's base of 4G subscribers will only continue to grow, benefitting the provider when its £12.5 billion buyout is finally approved.
'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 closing its dedicated 3D channel
Once touted as the next big thing in television and film, 3D has ultimately failed to find an audience. It's been five long years since Sky first introduced 3D programming, starting with a Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea, but after it chose not to schedule any matches in 3D for this past season, its TV future was called into doubt. Following that pretty big warning sign, Sky's latest move appears to have driven the final nail in its coffin: from June, the broadcaster's dedicated 3D channel will close and move on-demand.
Virgin Media blames TV rights auction for rising Sky Sports prices
Virgin Media is still trying to persuade Ofcom to change the way Premier League TV rights are auctioned in the UK. The company filed a complaint with the regulator last September, complaining that the current system -- a limited number of match "bundles" which broadcasters bid for every few years -- is leading to higher prices for the consumer. Ofcom said it would look into the matter, but failed to draw any conclusions before the most recent TV rights auction finished earlier this year. The rivalry between Sky and BT meant that bidding increased to a record £5.1 billion -- £4.2 billion of which was spent by Sky. Now, Virgin Media is telling its TV customers that they'll soon need to pay more for Sky Sports and Sky Movies. From June 1st, these extras will go up by £2 per month and 50p per month respectively, due to increases in the amounts Sky is charging Virgin Media.
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.
Sky+ update makes it easier to manage your TV recordings
Ready for a new Sky+ update? The broadcaster's HD set-top boxes are getting a minor refresh in the coming months that add a few useful, if not particularly groundbreaking features. The TV guide "Planner" is being spruced up a bit, making room for a new "Scheduled" tab that keeps track of all your planned recordings. Meanwhile, a new "Delete All" option makes it easier to wipe complete series, freeing up vital space on your hard drive before Game of Thrones is back on the telly. We suspect parents will be most interested in the "Family" setting, however, which bundles together Sky's various parental controls. These include hiding adult channels, restricting Sky Store purchases and PIN-protecting playback of 12+ on-demand content before the watershed. None of these features are going to blow your socks off, but they're welcome additions all the same. Sky says the update is rolling out now and should hit all Sky+HD boxes before June.
Sky's raising its TV prices to balance Premier League costs
Sky just spent a whopping £4.2 billion on Premier League broadcasting rights, so unsurprisingly, it's decided to make up some of the cost by increasing the prices of its various TV packages. The cheapest "Original" bundle will stay the same, but otherwise all of its satellite TV packages are set to receive a small price bump in June. The "Variety" bundle will increase by £2 to £30 per month, while the "Family" bundle is climbing by £3 to £36 per month. Football fanatics, meanwhile, will notice a £1 increase for Sky Sports, making it £25.50 per month for existing Sky TV customers, while the Sky Movies package is jumping by 50 pence to £17 per month. Finally, if you pay for Sky Sports and Sky Movies together, you'll see an increase of £1.50, making it £34.50 per month.
Virgin Media customers finally get access to Sky Sports' Android app
As part of its tie-up with Sky, Virgin Media has been letting subscribers use their logins to access Sky Sports and Sky Movies. Apple users gained access to both services in August last year, while Android device owners have had to make do with Sky's movie streaming app. Today, the cable giant announced that it's finally completing its Android rollout by granting customers access to the Sky Sports app. Like the other services, users need to have already signed up for the TV package, but if that prerequisite has been fulfilled then Sky Sports 1 to 5, Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports News HQ can be streamed right away.
Sky and TalkTalk are itching for Ofcom to break up BT and Openreach
Back in 2006, Ofcom forced BT to set up Openreach, a separate division that manages its network infrastructure across the UK. The agreement struck between the pair was designed to give rival telephone and internet service providers (ISPs) equal access to BT's wide-reaching network of copper and fibre cables, promoting much-needed competition and, as a result, lower prices and better services for the consumer. Now, Sky and TalkTalk are urging Ofcom to split up BT and Openreach once and for all.
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.
