Sky and Telecom Italia have signed an agreement that will allow the latter’s customers to access the whole Sky television offer through its ultra-broadband networks, with a My Sky HD decoder specially created for internet TV.
The Sky offer will become the key element of Telecom Italia’s ultra-broadband strategy, and access to the new generation network allows Sky to benefit from an additional distribution platform for its programmes.
From 2015, consumer customers of Telecom Italia will be able to access a Sky offer that is equivalent, in terms of contents, services and pricing, to the satellite offer.
Similarly, the agreement with Telecom Italia has strategic importance for Sky, because it makes the whole of its extensive offer of exclusive services and programmes available on broadband – starting with HD and the many features of My Sky HD – allowing it to expand the sales base of pay-TV and access a new share of the market represented by potential subscribers who cannot install a satellite dish.
The Sky offer will be primarily directed towards customers who have an optic fibre connection, and will be a driver for the development of ultra-broadband.
The partnership between the two companies will also strengthen the Cubovision offer, with high quality Sky content on the move.
Commenting on the agreement, Marco Patuano, CEO of Telecom Italia, said it is “part of Telecom Italia’s overall strategy, which identifies the offer of premium content as an element that adds value to its new generation network infrastructure. Indeed, we are totally convinced that one of the main drivers of our business is the development of innovative services, particularly in entertainment for the consumer market. This partnership, which allows our customers to access the most extensive pay TV offer available on the market, is particularly satisfying for us, since it creates a new industrial model for the consumption of audiovisual content, thanks to the technological skill of Telecom Italia and the production know-how of Sky”.
Andrea Zappia, CEO of Sky Italia, added: “Until today, satellite was the only technology that could bring the full richness of our offer into Italian homes, guaranteeing the quality standards that have always been associated with the Sky brand.
“So we are very satisfied with this important agreement that, thanks to Telecom Italia’s ultra-broadband network and the possibility of developing a new generation IPTV platform, allows us to assure the excellence of the Sky user experience also through the internet, with HD, on Demand and all the features that enrich the viewing experience, starting with My Sky HD. We are convinced that the partnership with Telecom Italia represents a great opportunity to extend the customer base for pay-TV in Italy, bringing the Sky offer into the homes of all those families who could not access it before today and creating new motivations to try Sky TV specialties”.
