SkyPlayer coming to Xbox 360

vanthaman

Winner
Joined
Apr 29, 2003
Messages
26,092
Location
Sussex
BSkyB and Microsoft Join Forces to Offer TV through Xbox Live Pay TV Channels, On-Demand Content and Interactive Sports Available
via Xbox Live Console in UK 'First'


Sky and Microsoft have announced that from this autumn, millions of Xbox owners in the UK and Ireland will have the opportunity to access Sky Player, Sky’s online TV service, through their broadband-enabled games consoles.



Sky Player currently provides access to a range of live pay TV channels – including Sky Sports -
a comprehensive on-demand library of thousands of programmes spanning entertainment, movies, documentaries, kids, culture, news and sport. This innovative deal means that Xbox owners will be able to access pay TV content via their entertainment consoles for the first time. And for existing Sky customers who own an Xbox, their console will provide another way to watch their favourite programming, in addition to their PC or Mac.



The partnership supports Sky’s broader strategy of using a range of distribution platforms to reach new audiences and of giving both new and existing customers alike more choice and control over how they access Sky content. For Xbox, it supports the company’s vision of reaching new audiences by continuing to offer consumers more choice in their entertainment experiences - from films to music videos, and from gaming to live TV.



When the service launches later this year, Sky Player will be available in the following ways:


  • For a customer joining Sky through their Xbox, Sky Player TV will offer a wide range of linear TV channels as well as a comprehensive library of on-demand content. A number of subscription packages will be available, as will the opportunity to access programming on a pay-per-view basis.
  • Xbox owners who already subscribe to Sky TV will now be able to access Sky Player’s on-demand services through their console, in addition to their PC or Mac. And for those customers who also subscribe to Sky Multiroom, Sky Broadband Max or Sky Player
    Multiroom, they will also be able to enjoy live TV via their console.
Stephen Nuttall, Director of Sky’s Commercial Group, comments: “Our innovative partnership with Xbox puts more choice and control in the hands of customers. Now Xbox owners can enjoy
a wide range of TV through their console and can pick and choose the packages that are right
for them. For Sky, this makes our content even more widely available and opens up a new commercial opportunity.”



Neil Thompson, Head of Xbox UK and Ireland, adds “Our customers have told us that they want the opportunity to use their consoles as a way to access TV and once again Xbox has pulled off an entertainment first with amazing content and rich interactive experience. The combination of Sky’s leadership in content creation and aggregation and our own in creating a constantly evolving new generation of rich 360 entertainment experiences means we are one step closer
to our goal of offering Xbox owners the best entertainment experiences out there, whether it’s movies, music, games, interactive experiences or high quality TV.”



Sky Player TV was launched in December 2008 as a dedicated online subscription TV service, providing an alternative way to subscribe to Sky TV, without the need to subscribe to an existing TV-based service. It builds upon the success of Sky Player, which launched in 2006 as a bonus service for Sky’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) customer base, and allows existing Sky customers to access live channels and on-demand content via their computers. It currently provide access to the likes of Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, The History Channel, National Geographic, the BBC, G.O.L.D, Eden, MTV ONE, Sky1, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, among others.



Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network. Xbox LIVE connects millions of members across 26 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos.



In offering Sky Player, participating Xbox owners in the UK and Ireland will also be able to access a wide variety of pay TV content as well as a range of interactive services uniquely delivered by the Xbox LIVE platform. For Sky Sports, for example, this will mean that live coverage will be supported by range of interactive applications to enhance the viewing experience. As well as fans being able to communicate with one another in real time via their broadband connections, they will also be able to check news and access fixtures, league tables and other on-demand information. Interactive applications will also be developed across other programmes genres.












ideal for those with xbox's that dont have sky, and those whose parents/mates that have sky but no xbox
 
Mozza said:
You can watch it on your main tv, don't think many will have their pcs connected to them
Click to expand...

Why don't Microsoft supply the XB360 with a web browser? Even the Wii has one. They don't even have to do much as they have the code for IE in any case. It's probably because then you wouldn't need to pay them for LIVE to get access to these services.
 
WeasteDevil said:
Why don't Microsoft supply the XB360 with a web browser? Even the Wii has one. They don't even have to do much as they have the code for IE in any case. It's probably because then you wouldn't need to pay them for LIVE to get access to these services.
Click to expand...

Paranoid about hackers, so they say.
 
WeasteDevil said:
Why don't Microsoft supply the XB360 with a web browser? Even the Wii has one. They don't even have to do much as they have the code for IE in any case. It's probably because then you wouldn't need to pay them for LIVE to get access to these services.
Click to expand...

If they introduced it they'd charge ya.

Greedy cnuts

€80 for a wireless adaptor(inbuilt on PS3)
€20 for 3 months Internet (free on PS3)
Shitty headset that hurts my head (multiple headsets for PS3)
Bluetooth on PS3
SD slot on PS3
Web Browser on PS3
Cooling fan accessory available for PS3

Anyone wana swap my RROD'd Xbox for a PS3??
 
I'm quite excited by this, hopefully it won't be too expensive.
 
Got this on my xbox right now, watching American Pie just to try it. Seems good. Already a sky customer with multiroom so will only be watching stuff ondemand really.
 
That went well!

A system to watch Sky TV channels on the Xbox 360 has suffered technical problems on its launch day.

Users in the UK and Ireland should have been able to access on-demand programmes and up to 24 live streaming channels on the Sky Player.

The new service allows Xbox Live gold subscribers to access Sky content and is available on a variety of tariffs starting at £15 per month.

The channels available to Sky subscribers will depend on their existing television package.

Sky Digital's Director of On Demand, Griff Parry, has demonstrated the new service, which currently includes no BBC content.

Sky is in discussions with the BBC about providing the state broadcaster's shows on Xbox Live.

The BBC's catch-up TV iPlayer has been launched on the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, although it has recently suffered problems on the Wii.
Click to expand...

BBC NEWS | Technology | Xbox 360 gets Sky TV player

It was supposed to run like clockwork. The launch of a new service that would give XBox Live users access to dozens of live Sky channels and on-demand TV shows.

But Tuesday's 10am launch didn't quite go according to plan. All some people logging on to the service could see was an error message.

It was announced months ago that XBox Live and Sky were going to work together.

The idea was to give users on-demand access to shows, as well as some live channels.

Toby Doyle, 15, from Cheltenham was one of those affected.

He said: "I was really disappointed when I found out it wasn't working.

"There's been lots of hype going on about it and I thought it'd all go well, so I was a bit shocked when it wasn't."
Sky statement

Sky has apologised and said: "The service has been suspended due to an unforeseen technical issue.

"Sky Player engineers are hard at work to resolve the problem. We expect to have the full service available on Wednesday."

Eighteen-year-old Liam from Dumfries said that wasn't good enough for him.

"I'm quite annoyed. I think they could have done a bit more to let people know they are having problems," he said.

This service isn't the only one to suffer problems.

Nintendo's Wii has offered users the chance to watch the BBC's iPlayer for months but has also suffered technical problems since September.

When the Sky Player service on XBox does get up and running users will be able to sign up to it on a month by month basis.

Depending on what package users go for it costs anywhere from £15 to £50.

Users also need good broadband speeds, around two meg, to make it work properly and it doesn't come in HD quality.

But, if you are willing to pay, you can see live Premier League football games, get Sky One on-demand and connect with online friends at the same time, using headsets to speak while you're watching.
Click to expand...

BBC - Newsbeat - Sky Player launch on XBox delayed
 
I've had this on computer for quite a while and apparently it's just the same service.

Costs me £34 a month and I get the sky sports channels but the amount of other channels is ridiculous for the price...there's only about 20 of them and sky1 isn't one of them. Off the top of my head there's 4 childrens ones, Nat Geo, History, MTV1, Sky sPORTS 1-3 PLUS EXTRA, SKY NEWS AND SSN.

Also it buffered a lot during the Liverpool game. Nothing from my end because my net was running fine...I don't think their servers were coping...and I suspect it'll get worse when xbox 360 users join up too. Yesterdays game ran buffer free mind, although I imagine there'd be less inyterest in that than our Liverpool game.

It's nothing special but it's very handy if you, like me, live in student places and it's not viable to get sky dish.
 
Number7 said:
I've had this on computer for quite a while and apparently it's just the same service.

Costs me £34 a month and I get the sky sports channels but the amount of other channels is ridiculous for the price...there's only about 20 of them and sky1 isn't one of them. Off the top of my head there's 4 childrens ones, Nat Geo, History, MTV1, Sky sPORTS 1-3 PLUS EXTRA, SKY NEWS AND SSN.

Also it buffered a lot during the Liverpool game. Nothing from my end because my net was running fine...I don't think their servers were coping...and I suspect it'll get worse when xbox 360 users join up too. Yesterdays game ran buffer free mind, although I imagine there'd be less inyterest in that than our Liverpool game.

It's nothing special but it's very handy if you, like me, live in student places and it's not viable to get sky dish.
Click to expand...

what is this?
I wouldn't mind having sky sports on my computer so I could cap some games. What about other package deals, any cheaper ones but with sports still included
 
a_devil_inside said:
what is this?
I wouldn't mind having sky sports on my computer so I could cap some games. What about other package deals, any cheaper ones but with sports still included
Click to expand...

Watch Live TV Online | TV Guide | Sky Player

I'm sure I'm on the cheapest possible for sports at £34. There are packages where you only get sky sports one (n not 2-extra), but sky are bastards and they purposely shift the games around, ie we were on sky sports 2 yesterday.

EPSN is an extra £9 a month
 
The Flying Potato said:
So why did you lie Roon?:p
Click to expand...

it was on xbox live yesterday for about 3 hours before it was pulled due to problems at skys end, so loads of people have already got it, they just use the xbox guide button to access it instead of on the dashboard, was talking to a mate last night who got it, his was working fine apart from the EPG
 
So if my Dad is already paying for Sky at home, I can get the On Demand stuff for free on my 360 here at uni?
That's how it works with the Sky Player so hopefully it'll be the same with this. That would be immense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.