Sky launches online pay-TV service

Sky has made some of its channels available to view on the internet.

The Sky Player TV service is aimed at Windows and Apple Mac users, with a choice of three channel packs available. Customers can pay monthly, with no minimum contract period.

The Base Entertainment Pack costs £7.50 per month until the end of January and £15 per month after that. It includes the Disney Channel, British Eurosport, National Geographic, Sky News and Sky Sports News. MTV One and Nickelodeon will be added later this month.

Paying £22 per month, or £26 from February, adds Sky Sports Xtra and either Sky Sports One or Sky Sports Two. Paying £30, or £34 from February, adds all four Sky Sports channels.

Subscribers can access on-demand programmes from the channels included in their subscription. All channels are available at several different levels of quality, allowing users to pick one suitable for the speed of their broadband internet connection.

Customers who currently subscribe to Sky’s satellite TV services can view on-demand programmes using the same Player TV system. In order to watch the channels live on the internet, however, subscribers will need either a Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Max subscription.

Griff Parry, director of BSkyB's on-demand operations, said: “We believe in giving customers the control and flexibility to access the best in live entertainment and on-demand content to fit with their lifestyles. Sky Player TV gives customers access to enjoy up to nine different live channels from today with more coming in the new year.”