Sky boosts broadband delivery

Sky has signed a distribution agreement with the hybrid DTT-IP platform Fetch TV and confirmed the launch date for the delivery of its content over the Xbox.

The deal with IP Vision’s Fetch TV means that from early 2010 customers will be able to receive Sky Movies, Sky Sports and a range of general entertainment channels through Fetch TV’s broadband enabled boxes. The device already offers access to the full range of Freeview DTT channels, the BBC iPlayer and Fetch TV’s own VOD content. They can be used with any ISP. Sky’s channels will be available on subscription directly from the broadcaster.

Confirming the launch of the Sky Player over the Microsoft Xbox as October 27, Griff Parry, director of on demand, BSkyB, said the distribution of Sky content over broadband was not the defensive move being made by some cable operators, but a way to add value for Sky customers. Rather than being a pure on demand play the Sky Player also features linear content and was offered to a wider Sky audience during the summer’s Ashes cricket between England and Australia.

“We started pushing the Sky Player much harder around The Ashes and now with distribution on the X-box we’ll start to push again,” Parry told the Screen Digest Future of Online Media event.

Parry said that at some point the Sky Player might simply become Sky TV because of the broadcaster’s desire to be platform agnostic.