BSkyB Buys Into Gaming Portal

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has acquired a 10% stake in UK computer games portal and community, gameplay.com. As part of the deal, Sky and gameplay have entered into a strategic alliance through which Gameplay will become BSkyB’s computer and video games ecommerce partner across Sky’s online interests, including www.sky.co.uk. The partnership includes Gameplay committing to a number of advertising and sponsorship activities with BSkyB.

Gameplay is also to produce a 13-episode weekly series of computer and video games television programmes to be broadcast exclusively on BSkyB’s main entertainment channel, Sky One, in the second quarter of next year. Gameplay has also already launched a games channel on interactive TV company Open, in which BSkyB has a 32.5% stake.

Commenting on the deal, Sky’s director of new media, John Swingewood, says: “This investment for BSkyB continues to expand our ecommerce interests from Open, a TV-based platform, to the internet-based PC, signalling our commitment to be an innovative and leading player in this medium.”

Last month BSkyB made took its first holding in an internet-based ecommerce company when it bought a 5% stake in toyzone.co.uk (see BSkyB Takes Stake In Toyzone And Eyes More New Media Equity).

BSkyB: 0171 705 3000 Gameplay.com: 0171 959 8421