Sky By Broadband Trial Offers Glimpse Of VOD Plans

Sky’s pilot broadband TV service has launched, giving a glimpse of the broadcaster’s intentions for a fully-fledged video on demand (VOD) service following its acquisition of internet service provider, EasyNet.

The Sky By Broadband pilot is available free of charge to all Sky subscribers, offering content from Sky Movies and Sky Sports through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network.

The system works in a similar way to the BBC’s integrated Media Player (iMP) software, although Sky’s system offers much more generous digital rights management (DRM), with users able to keep content for up to 30 days in many cases, rather than the BBC’s seven day limit (see BBC Extends On-Demand Access Trial).

Those signing up for Sky’s service can currently download whole movies and sporting highlights from football, rugby, cricket, golf, motorsports, darts, snooker and boxing, including premiership match highlights and interviews.

Downloading programmes through the system typically takes the same amount of time as the programme itself, although this can be scheduled as a background activity. Sky has also announced a partnership with computing giant Microsoft to create a version of the software for Windows Media Centre PCs, integrating fully with the home entertainment systems.

Sky is understood to be developing a fully-fledged VOD service, with live streaming via broadband as well as downloadable content. The company’s acquisition of EasyNet last year is likely to form the first stage of the project, allowing Sky to offer a triple-play of phone, broadband and satellite TV services (see Sky Close To Completing EasyNet Deal).

Elsewhere, rival operator Telewest recently announced the completion of its VOD roll-out, offering all of its customers access to movies and TV programmes at the touch of a button, complete with DVD-style controls for pausing, fast-forwarding and rewinding content (see Telewest Completes On-Demand TV Roll Out).

MediaTel INSIGHT’s latest TV Technology Executive Report offers forecasts and predictions for emerging technologies, including VOD, PVRs, HDTV, iTV, broadband and IPTV. The report is available free of charge for INSIGHT subscribers at www.mediatelinsight.co.uk, or for purchase by non-subscribers here.

Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com