Sky Player Extends Reach Through Fetch TV Deal

LONDON: British satellite platform Sky has clinched a deal that makes its online TV service Sky Player available via IP Vision’s Fetch TV devices.

From early next year, some of Sky’s most popular channels, including Sky Movies, Sky Sports and a range of general entertainment channels, will be accessible via Fetch TV’s broadband-enabled set-top boxes, which also deliver Freeview channels and the BBC iPlayer. Fetch TV is a hybrid DTT/IPTV offering that offers linear and on-demand services. Its set-top box, the SmartBox, can used with any broadband connection, and serves as a Freeview+ DVR unit.  Sky Player will be a standalone service on the Fetch TV box. Sky TV customers will be able to access a range of content for no extra cost based on their core subscription, whilst non-Sky customers will be able to sign up to a choice of TV packages via a monthly subscription paid directly to Sky.

Griff Parry, the director of on demand at BSkyB, noted: “Sky is committed to offering customers more ways to access our content and our agreement with IP Vision represents an important step in that process. Offering Sky Player through the Fetch TV box gives U.K. consumers yet another way to experience Sky content, complementing the services already available on satellite, PC, games consoles and mobile. It also demonstrates the continued development of innovative IP-enabled video services. As more and more commercial players harness broadband distribution to extend consumer choice, there’s an opportunity for all content owners to reach new audiences. Sky will continue to look to support new, secure delivery platforms as this fast and dynamic sector evolves.”