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Sky Go comes to the PlayStation 4 under another name
With Christmas on the horizon, many households will be fighting for control of the TV remote. Sky hopes to keep the peace with its new "TV from Sky" PS4 app, which gives console owners the ability to stream live TV and video on-demand. Although it goes by a different name, this is essentially Sky Go. Just like the existing Xbox 360 app, you'll need an active Sky Go Extra subscription (£5 per month) on top of your normal Sky TV membership to use the service. The add-on is touted as a way to download Sky content for offline playback, but consoles are a notable exception; you can only use the new "TV from Sky" app to watch online content on your PS4. So if you have a spotty internet connection, you might want to look elsewhere. Cord-cutters can, of course, opt for Now TV instead to save some pennies and continue streaming some of Sky's content this winter.
BBC iPlayer and Sky streaming apps go dark on iOS (update: both fixed)
If you've experienced problems trying to access BBC iPlayer or Sky's streaming apps on your iPhone or iPad today, you're not alone. In what appears to be a connected issue, both companies have confirmed that users are currently unable to access their streaming services on an Apple device. Right now, Android phones and tablets remain unaffected, while Netflix continues to enjoy trouble-free playback. The BBC reports that some users have been able to circumvent Now TV errors by setting their iOS clock back by 24 hours, suggesting that the issues are date related. However, the workaround may stop other apps from operating normally. Both the BBC and Sky say they're working hard to restore access to their services, but are unable to say exactly when they expect to be able to do so. Update: The BBC says things are back up and running for iPlayer on iOS, however we haven't received an update from Sky yet. Update deux: Not that Sky's support page is any help right now, but at least it's providing timestamped updates as to the state of its services on iThings. They're still down, if you hadn't guessed. Update 4/18: Sky Go is finally back up and running as well, although iOS users will need an app update (download here) to get things going again.
Sky Go boosts its TV lineup with 14 new channels
Sky's mission to boost its roster of mobile TV content has today seen it add no fewer than 14 new entertainment channels to its Sky Go streaming service. Available on iOS and a number of Android devices, Sky Go now counts a total of 57 channels after Comedy Central, MTV, Dave, Watch, Gold, Discovery, Nat Geo, History, Alibi, Nat Geo Wild, TLC, Animal Planet, Good Food and Eden all went live earlier today. It comes just weeks after the company expanded Now TV with the launch of its contract-free Entertainment Month Pass, which moved to overlap content with the sister service. In addition to the new channels, Sky Go users can access the box-set catalog of older ABC TV on-demand shows, letting you binge-watch Grey's Anatomy a-la-Netflix when you're out and about.
Sky Go Extra will let users download shows to their mobile devices for £5 a month (update)
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. Update: And it's official! PR's after the break.
Sky adds Bond Channel to its movie offering, will screen entire back catalog in high-definition
Fresh from his appearance at this year's Olympic opening ceremony, James Bond is getting his own dedicated channel on Sky. The UK broadcaster will start showing all 22 movies in high-definition from October 5th, gearing up to the British spy's latest adventure, Skyfall, which launches a month later. Android, iOS and PC platforms will be able to stream the collection through Sky Go, while its new on-demand service will also be showing the full gamut of Bond adventures in a few months. For England, James.
Sky Go for Android adds support for Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung's Galaxy S III, Nexus and Note
When v2.0 of the Sky Go for Android app arrived earlier this month it promised another update would follow soon with support for Android 4.0 and more phones, and now it has arrived. We're not seeing it in Google Play yet, but the press release (included after the break) indicates the app is ready to run on the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note from Samsung, and is also finally Ice Cream Sandwich compatible on those devices and the HTC Sensation / Sensation XE. That brings the total supported device count for the video on-demand player to a round 11, which is less than the "all" we're looking for but still more than the zero supported prior to February.
Sky Sports iPad app, Sky Go for iOS and Android refreshed with more content and features
BSkyB has been busy pushing updates to several of its apps, starting with the Sky Go player. On both iOS and Android, the big new addition is access to Anytime+ video on demand from the Movies and Entertainment category, covering Sky1, Sky Living, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts 1. On Android, v2.0 of Sky Go brings the ability to manage ones account directly via the app, move the app to the SD card and other bug fixes. What it does not do, yet, is expand the (short) list of compatible devices, although the listing promises Ice Cream Sandwich support later this month. Meanwhile, the Sky Sports app for iPad has a new update too, adding a guide, split screen view for F1 races and the ability to remotely set recordings and reminders from the tablet. All the updates are available at their respective app stores, the links can be found below. Update (7/5): Sky has pushed out a press release for the Android update, and other than confirming the ICS compatibility update by the end of July, it also mentions support for more devices. The only two mentioned specifically are the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Nexus, you can see the release for yourself after the break.
BBC iPlayer reaching Windows Phone within 'weeks,' will catch up with Sherlock on your Lumia (update: perhaps not)
We've see BBC iPlayer reach many devices over time, but it's been conspicuously absent on Windows Phone. Nokia has stepped into give us some relief, and it's now promising that a port of the TV catch-up service will be ready for your Lumia 800 "in weeks." Good news no doubt, although Nokia's encyclopedic knowledge of British TV streaming is also dashing hopes of using the Sky Go mobile app on Windows Phone anytime soon: the same Nokia rep doesn't see Sky being ready for a "good few months" at the earliest. As such, you'll have no problems keeping up with Doctor Who and Sherlock when they're airing, but we wouldn't count on watching live football matches for awhile. Update: Pocket-lint is reporting that it quizzed the BBC over this issue and got a firm denial about a Windows Phone version, which suggests that The Inquirer's report, or its Nokia source, may have made an illogical deduction.
Sky Store replaces Sky Box Office in the war against everyone else
In the face of increasing competition from movie services like Lovefilm, Knowhow Movies and iTunes, Sky has reportedly decided to reinvent Box Office as Sky Store. Rather than the limited number of pay-per-view titles each month, it'll be repositioned as an online movie library with over 1,000 titles to view on your set-top-box, desktop or mobile device. New releases will be priced at £3.50 in standard-definition or £4.00 ($6.30) in HD. Back-catalogue titles will be priced at £1.99, with discounts on that figure on an infrequent basis. Sadly the service is only available to the five million or so subscribers with Anytime+, those who currently remain using SD services will get to keep the old-school Box Office.
Sky Go finally available on a few Android devices, brings some new channels
It's taken about eight months, but Sky Go is finally available on select Android handsets (HTC Desire, HTC Desire S, HTC Desire HD, HTC Incredible, HTC Sensation, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy S II) after launching on iOS last year. Beyond the limited hardware support, there's a few other caveats to be aware of -- the app is only supported on Android 2.2 and 2.3, so when Ice Cream Sandwich hits some of those phones soon, users will be forced to choose between upgrading or keeping Sky Go working. Another drawback is that due to DRM, the app is blocked from working on rooted devices. Once users have jumped through those hoops though, there will also be even more content available for viewing on all platforms including Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts 1, before F1 coverage launches in March. Speaking of F1 -- Sky also announced its new channel will bring 5.1 surround sound to UK and Ireland broadcasts for the first time this season.
Sky will launch an internet based TV service in the UK in the first half of 2012
UK pay TV service Sky has just announced its quarterly results, and despite adding 100,000 subscribers as well as notching its "highest ever first-half adjusted operating profit" it will launch a new internet TV service, available to anyone in the country with a broadband connection. Sky describes the new over the top (OTT) service as being aimed at the 13 million UK households who don't currently subscribe to pay TV, with access available via "PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, games console or connected TV." Initially, it will offer Sky Movies on demand joined by sports and entertainment options later, with access based on either monthly unlimited subscription or "pay-as-you-go" pricing. As far as the company's basic services, it will continue to develop its existing Sky Go product for standard pay-TV subscribers and zeebox iPad companion app, although this seems to initially be a worth competitor for things like Lovefilm and recent UK entrant Netflix. We have plenty of questions about what it will offer cord-cutters and cord-nevers in the UK when it launches in the first half of this year, we should find out more on the earnings call shortly. Until then, hit the PDF link for more detailed financial breakdowns, or check out the IPTV service press release after the break.Update: Still waiting for Sky Go on Android? The company mentioned during its presentation that the app will finally arrive on Google's platform in February, starting with Samsung Galaxy and HTC handsets. It will also have new channels, including Sky 1, Sky Living and Sky Arts, plus, of course, the new Sky Sports F1 HD channel. The company is also expanding its broadband reach, with plans to cover a million more homes by June 2013, and add a Sky Broadband Unlimited Fibre option. For 20 a month, it offers 40 megabit download speed with no usage caps based on BT Fibre.
Sky Sports dedicated F1 HD channel coming next season
The 2011 Formula 1 racing season just wrapped up in Brazil, but Sky is already breaking down what it will bring to the series as it takes over UK coverage next year. Launching in March, Sky Sports F1 HD will be a channel dedicated to round the clock coverage of the world's most technologically advanced racing series including every race, practice, and qualifying session. Sky customers with the Sports and HD packages will see the HD channel appear at number 408 on the dial, although there's no word yet whether or not it will be available on BT Vision or Virgin Media. Other tidbits include a promise of Sky Go access, and that despite the broadcaster's big 3D push, there's no such coverage planned for 2012. Seeing how long it took for true HD broadcasts from F1 we're thinking that could take a while, but here in the US we'd simply settle for a promise of no more tape delayed broadcasts on Fox (and some competent challengers for the Red Bull team while we're asking) for next season. Until then, check out this brief video trailer, plus a press release with all the details after the break.
Sky mobile apps on the way include Movies channel companion for iOS, Go for Android
Back in June,the UK's Sky TV said we would see an Android version of its mobile viewing Sky Go app, and while it may not have arrived in time to fall back (in Europe, don't ask us to explain DST around the world, it makes our heads hurt) the company says it's still on track. Telling Tech-Radar the app is still due "in the coming months", Sky has already indicated in a recent earnings report that it has more than 1.6 million viewers of its aggregated mobile VOD on iOS. Speaking of, iOS users will be getting a new app designed to work alongside the Sky Movies channel. It can show what movies are on the channel at the moment, schedule recordings, display info on movies in theaters, and even launch streaming flicks in the Sky Go app when it hits iTunes next week. The screenshot above gives a hint of what it will look like and expect more like it -- the company plans more individualized companion apps that work together, as opposed to the all-in-one approach of a DirecTV or TiVo.
iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy
British football fans agree on very few things: how much everyone likes Jimmy Bullard, Arséne Wenger's need to buy a proper centre-half and how painful it is to be dragged out shopping just before kickoff on Saturday. It's those sympathetic and forward-thinking people at Sky who have the answer, at least to that last one. The company has teamed up with supermarket Sainsbury's (which has a track record of innovation) to trial a new trolley with a solar-powered iPad dock and speakers. Now you can watch the game, or anything else, via the Sky Go app on your device and get the grocery shopping done at the same time. Worried about getting so engrossed in Juan Mata's footwork that you'll be a danger to others? Rest easy, the cart has proximity sensors attached to let you know when you're about to sideswipe a pensioner. It's being trialled in the Cromwell Road Sainsbury's in West London -- all you need to try it yourself is an iPad, Sky Go access and a desire to be on the cutting edge of sports and technology. If the thought of shouting 'Taxi for Bent!' down the fruit aisle appeals, you can catch another pic and the press release after the break.
UK's Sky TV consolidates efforts, will stream to iOS devices
Here's even more streaming video content on the iPad for users in the UK. Sky TV has introduced Sky Go, which will combine Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV into just one service, which will be free for subscribers and let the rest of us who don't have a subscription watch for a monthly charge of about US$40. Note that this service would include not only Sky content but also channels like MTV, ESPN and Disney. For subscribers, that's basically just like the Time Warner app, but without Sky TV already, that price (assuming it is available to North American customers, which might be a stretch) seems like a good one. We'll see -- the service is going live on July 6, with the full non-subscriber service available sometime in August of this year.
Sky Go consolidates live TV streaming on UK PCs and iOS devices next month
Over in the UK, Sky TV is streamlining its efforts to serve up TV channels away from the TV by launching the new Sky Go service July 6th. It combines and replaces the existing online Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services into one offering that's free for subscribers, and in August will open up to those who don't have Sky TV service for between £15-£40 per month. The new package also means changes for Sky Player on the Xbox 360 (which has its own changes in store) and Fetch TV, which will now just be "Sky" and will no longer count as one of the two allowed Sky Go device activations. Check the link below for the full list of channels which includes all the Sky Sports feeds, MTV, Disney and even ESPN without requiring the WatchESPN app we have in the US. There are a few drawbacks however, as it drops support for Windows Media Center and so far only iOS devices (running version 4.0 or higher - no first gen iPod Touches allowed) are on the approved list, but the official FAQ mentions an Android version on the way this year.
