HDTV/3D TV News
The BBC’s iPlayer has gone from strength to strength since its launch, but the video-on-demand market is changing quickly, with more services challenging the established ones, including Sky Anytime+ and Demand Five.
Sky Anytime+, an internet delivered video-on-demand (VoD) service, will be rolled out to customers from Tuesday.
Viewers with Sky+HD set-top boxes will be able to connect to the Sky Broadband network to access thousands of hours of content, including hundreds of films and ‘box-sets’ including series from HBO.
The core content from the service will come from Sky channels including Sky Movies, Sky Sports, Sky Arts and Sky 1.
Sky, which is benefiting from increased demand for HD, is the UK’s fastest growing ISP, adding 96,000 new TV customers in the quarter to the end of September.
Channel Five is also expanding in the video-on-demand market by upgrading its Demand Five service to create a service that will emulate the iPlayer in design.
It will bring together catch-up service Demand Five, with Five.tv, which offers programme information and news.
Demand Five will be compatible with YouView, the BBC led IPTV service in which Five is a partner.
Demand Five is expected to offer paid-for content from early next year.
This should worry Virgin too, as with Sky+, free broadband for Sky TV customers and other innovations they have been well ahead of Virgin and gain marketshre of their nearest rivals each time.
Sky’s so-called ‘free’ broadband is capped at 2GB/month which means you’ll only be able to view a couple of VOD titles per month before exceeding your usage limit. Also hardly free when it requires a £19 Sky TV pack plus phone line making it at least £30.
Virgin offers VOD including the highest quality BBC iPlayer HD in the land without the need for broadband or a phone line and it also offers unlimited broadband for the same price as Sky’s ‘free’ capped broadband. As for innovation, Virgin has spearheaded TV VOD and broadband and is set to launch the best PVR in the land which will ensure Virgin remains market leader for TV, VOD and broadband in its serviceable areas.
Nice try Sky, but like your broadband & clunky Sky+ DVR, this is clearly a 2nd rate service aimed at those who can’t get cable.
Sorry Ellen,
But your comments are way off the mark.
Virgin doesn’t even cover the amount of channels sky covers, and it sure as heck aint a second rate service.
and your internet access isnt free on virgin, its all part of your package, so your paying for it at some point, obviously due to a reduced service in your tv viewing.
As for PVRs nice try but sorry, still not good enough, get your facts straight before you start slagging off other companies, at the end of the day its personal choice, there are pros and cons with both companies.