At the UK launch of Windows 7, Microsoft today announced a major partnership with Sky to add Sky Player, Sky’s online TV service, to Windows Media Center in Windows 7, creating a new and exciting way to watch live and on-demand TV from Sky on a PC.
TV on a PC is part of Microsoft’s multi-screen entertainment strategy which, in addition to Sky Player in Windows 7, sees Microsoft and Sky working together to bring Sky Player to the TV screen via Xbox LIVE. Sky Player in Windows 7 will bring a wide range of live and on-demand entertainment programmes to the Windows platform.
The service will give Windows 7 users access to a wide range of high-quality live and on-demand pay TV currently on Sky Player, which includes the latest blockbuster movies, live action sports, must see entertainment, programming dedicated to kids, music, the arts and thought provoking documentaries.
For existing Sky TV customers, Sky Player in Windows 7 offers another way to view their Sky TV, in addition to their set top box. For new customers, Sky Player in Windows 7 will offer a wide range of live channels and on-demand content via a number of different packages through a monthly subscription.
Windows 7 enables audiences with a broadband Internet connection to watch TV from Sky on a PC. In addition to offering digital music, photos and personal videos all in one place, Windows 7 makes it easier to discover great TV, sports and movies from Sky straight from the PC desktop, via a new desktop gadget. Users can also browse programme galleries or search for shows using keywords.
Ashley Highfield, Managing Director and Vice President Consumer & Online, Microsoft UK, comments: “The way UK consumers interact with TV is changing. Audiences now want to consume great quality TV anywhere and at any time and are demanding a lot more from their TV experience. With the launch of Windows 7 and through partners such as Sky, we are making new things possible and delivering TV to British viewers the way they want it.”
Griff Parry, Director of On Demand, BSkyB adds: “We are committed to giving our customers more choice and flexibility in how they access Sky content. Sky Player in Windows 7 offers yet another innovative and attractive way through which to access a wide range of live and on-demand TV. Whether it’s an existing customer looking to get even more from their Sky subscription, or someone connecting with Sky for the first time through their PC, everyone can enjoy a high-quality online TV experience through Windows 7.”
Sky Player currently has 24 live streaming TV channels and provides a comprehensive on-demand library which includes 500 movies to download at anytime from Sky Movies and thousands of programmes spanning entertainment, sport documentaries, kids, culture and news.
Windows Media Center in Windows 7 gives user’s access to broadband and broadcast TV in one place. With the simple addition of an inexpensive TV tuner*, Windows 7 can function like a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), so audiences can also watch and record broadcast TV on their PC. A new integrated programme guide makes it easy to view available broadcast and internet TV channels in one place and with keyword search and Turbo Scroll it is quick and easy to look for and discover shows up to two weeks in advance.
Windows Media Center is included in Windows 7 Home Premium, Ultimate, Professional and Enterprise.
To watch Sky Player with Windows 7 you need an effective broadband connection of 2Mbit/s or more.
*UK TV License may be required for certain functionality.
About Sky Player
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 built upon the success of Sky Player, which launched in 2006 as a bonus service for Sky’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) customer base, allowing Sky customers to access live channels and on-demand content via their computers. It currently provides access to channel brands such as Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, The History Channel, National Geographic, the BBC, G.O.L.D, Eden, MTV ONE, ESPN, Sky1, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, among others.
Non– Sky TV customers will require a monthly subscription which starts at £15 per month to Sky Player’s Base Entertainment Pack, customers who want watch Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, ESPN and Sky Movie channels will be able to add these channels to their Base Entertainment Pack for an additional cost. In addition to the live channels, customers will also have access to on-demand programmes from channels they subscribe to.
Customers with Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited subscriptions are additionally able to access live channels for no extra charge. Customers who do not have subscriptions to Sky Broadband Unlimited or Sky Multiroom are still able to access the live channels by taking an online Sky Player multiroom subscription for £5 per month.
ENTERTAINMENT PACK CHANNELS:
G.O.L.D., Sky Real Lives, Sky Arts 1, MTV ONE, Sky Sports News, British Eurosport
ESPN Classic, Sky News, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, History, Eden, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Nick Jr
SPORT PACK CHANNELS:
Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3, Sky Sports XTRA + All sports video on demand programmes
MOVIES PACK CHANNELS:
Sky Movies Screen 1 and Screen 2 + Hundreds of movies from these channels to watch on demand.
ESPN can be added to any pack for additional cost.
Internet only subscription:
| Pack | Channels | Cost per month | Total cost with ESPN |
| Entertainment Pack | G.O.L.D., Sky Real Lives, Sky Arts 1, MTV ONE, Sky Sports News, British Eurosport ESPN Classic, Sky News, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, History, Eden, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Nick Jr | £15 | £27 |
| Sport | |||
| Entertainment Pack + Single Sports Channel | Entertainment pack + Sky Sports Xtra and the choice of either Sky Sports 1 or Sky Sports | £25 | £34 |
| Entertainment Pack + Dual Sports Channels | Entertainment pack + Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3, Sky Sports Xtra | £34 | £43 |
| Movies | |||
| Entertainment Pack + Single Movies Channel | Entertainment pack + Sky Movies Screen 1 or Sky Movies Screen 2 | £24 | £36 |
| Entertainment Pack + Dual Movies Channels | Entertainment pack + Sky Movies Screen 1 and Sky Movies Screen 2 | £32 | £44 |
| Sport & Movies | | | |
| Entertainment Pack + Single Movies Channel + Single Sports channel | Entertainment pack + Sky Movies Screen 1 or Sky Movies Screen 2 and
the choice of either Sky Sports 1 or Sky Sports 2, with Sky Sports Extra | £33 | £42 |
| Entertainment Pack + Dual Sports Channels + Single Movies Channel | Entertainment pack + Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3, Sky Sports Xtra and
Sky Movies Screen 1 or Sky Movies Screen 2 | £38 | £47 |
| Entertainment Pack + Dual Movies Channels + Single Sports Channel | Entertainment pack + Sky Movies Screen 1 and Sky Movies Screen 2 and
Sky Movies Screen 1 or Sky Movies Screen 2 | £38 | £47 |
| Full channel pack – including all sports and movie channels | Entertainment pack + Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3, Sky Sports Xtra and
Sky Movies Screen 1 & Sky Movies Screen 2 | £41 | £50 |
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