Tiscali TV In Sky Channel Deal
Tiscali has announced a deal with BSkyB that will add the full set of Sky’s basic channels – including Sky One, Sky Two, Sky Three, Sky Arts, Sky Travel, Sky News and Sky Sports News – to its channel line up.
Today’s deal will see the channels become available to Tiscali TV customers over the summer. These channels are in addition to the Sky Movies and Sky Sports channels that are already available via the Tiscali TV platform.
The launch of Sky’s entertainment channels on Tiscali TV means viewers can watch programmes such as 24, Lost and the mighty Ross Kemp On Gangs.
Mary Turner, chief executive of Tiscali UK, said: “I am very pleased to be able to announce our deal with Sky for the provision of their channels on the Tiscali TV service. The content that these channels bring to our platform is of the highest quality and means that Tiscali TV customers have even more viewing content to choose from.
“Tiscali TV offers a TV package that gives the consumer some of the best linear TV channels available alongside a video on-demand package that has more content than any other on-demand package available in the UK today.”
Mike Darcey, Sky’s chief operating officer, said: “We’re delighted that Tiscali has chosen to invest in our suite of basic channels and use them to differentiate its expanding TV service. This is an endorsement of our decision to increase investment in our basic channels by almost 70% in the last five years.
“Sky is always looking for new ways to make quality programming available to a wide range of customers, both through our own platform and by working with others. This agreement highlights why the growth of IPTV is such an exciting new revenue opportunity for Sky.”
Virgin Media and BSkyB are currently locking horns in the courts following a dispute over the carriage of the basic Sky channels on the Virgin Media platform (see Virgin Media And Sky: The Story So Far).
Earlier this month, Tiscali announced the addition of a new subscription on-demand film channel following an agreement with Universal Pictures (see Tiscali Boosts IPTV Service With New Film Channel).
Tiscali’s IPTV service was launched in March following the acquisition of Homechoice’s IPTV service in the summer of 2006. Over 40,000 Homechoice subscribers became Tiscali TV customers, able to access the offer of broadband plus TV for £14.99 (see Tiscali Turns Homechoice Into Tiscali TV).
Tiscali: www.tiscali.co.uk