Sky Signs Vodafone For Mobile TV Service

BSkyB is to launch a fully-fledged mobile TV service in partnership with telecoms operator Vodafone, offering users live feeds of Sky News, MTV and cricket coverage from Sky Sports from tomorrow.

The 19-channel service will be available free of charge to all Vodafone customers using the company’s 3G service until 31 January 2006, after which a standard charge of £5 per month will be billed for each “TV package” they subscribe to.

BSkyB has confirmed plans to allow the service on other mobile networks from April 2006, positioning the company as a major mobile content provider.

Commenting on the deal, Vodafone UK’s chief marketing officer, Tim Yates, said: “This is a highly significant day for both the mobile and television industries. Two industry leaders in Sky and Vodafone have come together to provide the country’s first commercially available mobile TV service available on such a wide range of handsets.”

The move by Sky to provide live mobile feeds builds on the broadcaster’s Sky Mobile service, an application allowing mobile users on any network to access the latest sports, news and weather information from its various channels and websites. The service also allowed video updates, although these were in the form of clips rather than true video streams (see Sky Targets Mobiles In Content Push).

Elsewhere, Sky acquired internet service provider EasyNet earlier this month to broaden its offering to customers with broadband connections and the possibility of on-demand TV and films in the future (see Sky Nets ISP For Triple Play Services).

The acquisition will enable sky to offer triple-play services to customers, comprising TV, phone and internet services, which more readily compete with those from cable providers, such as the soon to be merged ntl and Telewest.

Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com Vodafone: www.vodafone.co.uk