Sky To Offer Film Downloads

UK Satellite broadcaster BSkyB yesterday announced a series of technological innovations designed to neuter the threat of its pay-TV rivals, including allowing subscribers to legally download blockbuster films to watch on a computer, and news bulletins for iPods.

Sky, which has 8 million subscribers, said it had moved beyond satellite broadcasting with the broadband and mobile services, which will be available only to Sky customers who already subscribe to two or more premium channels.

With the impending launch of video-on-demand from BT and other telecoms companies, the growth of free digital service Freeview and the prospect of a revitalised cable sector, Sky is keen to compete by finding ways for viewers to watch its programmes on other devices at home and on the move.

Chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein, who has announced he will leave the company this year, said Sky planned to roll out a series of additional services over high speed internet connections and mobile networks.

"Families' entertainment needs are changing fast and audiences increasingly expect to be able to access content whenever and wherever they want," he said.

Sky by Broadband would initially offer 200 films for download including recent hits such as Spiderman 2 and The Day After Tomorrow, as well as more than 1,000 video clips of sports news and highlights, including Premier League and Champions League football. A film would typically take an hour to download with a standard connection and then be available to view for 30 days. Sky said that rights holders were becoming more amenable to flexible deals allowing it to deliver films and television in different ways.

Mr Freudenstein revealed that Sky One would also launch a broadband entertainment package this year, while the library of films would be expanded significantly and live Champions League football would be available from next year.

Initially, subscribers would have to watch downloaded content on a computer but the next generation of high-definition Sky set-top boxes would include a broadband connection and the service would be compatible with Microsoft's Media Centre home entertainment system.

Sky by Mobile, meanwhile, would package various entertainment, sport, news and weather clips and stories in a single portal that would be available on all mobile networks.

Story source: guardian.co.uk.