Sky Could Make Pay-TV Service Available Via PC

Sky is reportedly in discussions with Microsoft about making its proposed digital terrestrial pay-TV service available via PC.

Sky is planning to take its three free-to-air channels from Freeview and replace them with a pay-TV service available through a new specification set-top box (see New Sky Service To Lure Consumers From Free TV).

According to a report on MediaGuardian.co.uk, the tie-up with Microsoft would run alongside this and be delivered to PCs via Windows Media Centre PCs that operate as an “all-in-one” entertainment device.

Speaking at last week’s Institute of Economic Affairs conference on the future of broadcasting, BSkyB chief operating officer Mike Darcey said: “Most of the external focus on our plans so far has been on the plans to offer this service via a traditional set-top box, but this is not the whole story.

“Working with Microsoft and other technology partners, we are also working to make our DTT service available on future generations of the Media Centre PC, catering for the segments of the population for whom it is the PC, and not the TV, that is the natural epicentre of their entertainment world.

“The delivery of premium services to Media Centre PCs in this way will place the UK’s DTT platform at the forefront of innovation and at the centre of the convergence of the TV and PC industries.”

Sky first needs approval from Ofcom before it can launch the pay-per view service, with the PC offering an attempt to show the regulator that it could extend the reach of the proposed service to new customers.

Ofcom announced last week that it will conduct a public consultation on Sky’s proposal to replace its free channels with pay TV services on DTT (see Ofcom Consultation Delays Sky’s Pay DTT Plans).

This effectively scuppers Sky’s hopes of launching the pay-TV service in time for the start of the Premiership football season – when rival broadcaster Setanta starts offering Premiership matches via DTT (see Sky’s New DTT Proposal Could Damage Freeview).

Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com