Sky

Ofcom has been called in to investigate a little spat between Sky and BT.

Sky has refused to air an expensive advertising campaign from BT on their sports channels, which promotes the new broadcaster’s Premier League coverage.

BT nabbed 38 top flight Premier League matches last year and is spending a ton of money promoting the fact.

However, Sky has said they don’t want to air their adverts on their sports channels due to the fact they are a direct competitor.

BT has complained to Ofcom, saying Sky are showing “undue discrimination”. Continue reading »

BBC drama head Ben Stephenson has some fighting words for Sky.

Following the release of details for the BBC’s new drama line-up, Stephenson took a few pot shots at Sky and their attempts at drama.

He claimed that the BBC is “the adventurous and gung-ho market leader that the competition can only follow and sometimes, maybe even copy”.

“Yes, I am looking at you Sky and your ‘original British drama’ tagline.”

He also criticised Sky Atlantic’s recent commission of The Tunnel, an adaptation of the Scandinavian series The Bridge.

“At all costs we must protect our own British values. Without which we’re a cheap imitation of Hollywood or a less Scandi version of Scandi,” he said. Continue reading »

Android users can now control their Sky TV from their smartphones or tablets with the release of the new Sky+ app.

Previously the app was only available to Apple devices but now Android users can play, pause and rewind their TV as well as change channels using their device.

Users will need an internet-connected Sky+HD box.

The Sky+ Remote app for iOS devices will now allow users to record On Demand and Catch Up programming to their Sky box.

The feature will only work though when the user’s device is connected to the same Wi-Fi as their Sky box but Sky is looking to update this in the future.

“This great new feature capitalises on the iPad or iPhone touchscreen to make it easier than ever to browse and discover something new to watch, regardless of whether you are near your Sky+HD box or elsewhere in your home,” said Sky’s director of TV products Luke Bradley-Jones. Continue reading »

Sky and UPC have concluded a commercial agreement that will see UPC continue to offer its customers in the Republic of Ireland a range of Sky’s most popular entertainment, news, sports and movies channels through its cable TV service.

As part of an enhanced agreement, High Definition (HD) versions of a range of Sky’s channels will also become available to UPC customers for the first time, including Sky 1 HD, Sky Living HD, Sky Arts 1 & 2 HD, Sky News HD, Sky Sports News HD, Sky Sports 1 & 2 HD and the full suite of Sky Movies channels.

Rob Webster, Director of Sky’s Commercial Group, comments: “As we continue to increase our investment in high-quality pay-TV content, we’re keen to distribute our channels as broadly as possible to widen our reach and enable more households to enjoy some of the great programming Sky has to offer. Continue reading »

Sky have unveiled an update to their Sky+ app for iPad which is set to revolutionise the way we use and watch TV.

The app update will allow users to use their iPad as a remote control.

It’s an update that will no doubt be a common feature in the near future; we’re guessing many TV’s will come packaged without remote controls soon enough because you can use your phone or a tablet to change the channels.

Sky has got ahead of the times and allowed their users to control their TV’s through the app.  You will be able to change the channel, pause, play and rewind with just a simple tap or swipe of your fingers on your iPad. Continue reading »

Sky is to establish a new distribution arm to market the international rights to its originated content. As part of the move, Sky has completed the acquisition of Parthenon Media Group, a leading independent international distribution and multi-media rights management company.

In line with Sky’s on-going commitment to increasing its investment in original content, the creation of a high quality distribution capability will help Sky accelerate its plans for international rights management.

This will include playing a central role in the way Sky’s commissioned content is showcased to the international market.

The new in-house model will help generate additional revenues from Sky’s content investment from the sale of overseas rights, which will enable Sky to reinvest even more in the UK’s creative economy, for the benefit of customers and content makers alike.

Sky is one of the largest investors in original British content. This year alone it has invested more than £450 million in British commissioning and production. This is set to increase to £600 million a year by 2014, with most of the growth set to come in genres such as drama, comedy, entertainment, arts and factual.

The current Parthenon team, led by founder and CEO, Carl Hall, will lead the new function within Sky, reporting to Sophie Turner Laing, Sky’s MD of Entertainment, News and Broadcast Operations.

Sophie Turner Laing, comments: “As we continue to increase investment in UK production, this is a natural step in the evolution of Sky’s content business. We are producing world class television – innovative, creatively ambitious and, in many cases, on an epic scale. It’s only right that we match this with world class aspirations for how we take this content to as wide an international audience as possible.”

“We are delighted to be moving into distribution with Carl and the team at Parthenon. I’m confident that together we will be able to create a model that delivers great opportunities for our independent production partners as well as Sky. This is a tremendously exciting time, both for us and those who are making great TV with us.”

Carl Hall adds: “This is a great day for everyone associated with Parthenon. Over the past ten years, our success has been built upon our unique, boutique-style approach to all our content providers. I am honoured to be leading the new distribution division within Sky. This will also open new and exciting opportunities for international producers looking to benefit from the support of one of the UK’s largest investors in original content and a global leader in the provision of world-class television.”

Sky and Talk Talk have concluded a commercial agreement that will see Talk Talk offer its customers a wide range of Sky’s entertainment, sports and movies channels on its YouView service later this year.

The deal will allow Talk Talk to offer an extensive pay TV service to its customers while allowing Sky to extend the reach of its channels to more pay TV households and to grow its content related revenues.

The agreement will see a wide range of standard definition channels become available through Talk Talk on a wholesale basis. These channels include Sky 1, Sky Living, Sky Arts 1 & 2, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, Sky Sports F1 and the full suite of Sky Movies channels. In addition to the live linear channels, in time Talk Talk customers will be able to access a comprehensive selection of bonus subscription video-on-demand content through Sky Anytime. Continue reading »

Okay, so we admit, YouView is a great concept and invention…. but maybe a couple of years too late.

Apprentice head honcho Lord Sugar, launched YouView yesterday and it is deemed as being the next generation of free, on-demand TV instead of watching shows on a laptop.

By the end of July, and just in time for the Olympics, you will be able to tune into online services such as BBC iplayer via your TV screens by using  YouView box for a one off fee of a whopping £299.  For that fee, you will also be allowed to track back 7 days and pause and fast forward shows in real time.  It does mean that the end of streaming via your computer or mobile phone or game console is nigh.

Continue reading »

ITV has lost the movie rights to screen the James Bond movies for the first time in 37 years.

The movie franchise will instead move to Sky Movies in a move which is set to anger viewers who do not subscribe to Pay TV.

Sky Movies will take over the rights in October, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie, Dr. No, while also landing the coup of being able to screen the new movie, Skyfall, just months after its cinema release.  Skyfall is due to be released in November and could be screened on Sky early next year.

Bond movies have been a staple on ITV for as long as I can remember and were my first experience of the franchise before I was old enough to see them in cinemas (I will always remember hiding behind my cushion being scared while watching the voodoo and occult in Live and Let Die) and my only gripe was when ITV would interject the news halfway through the movie and oh yes, the adverts.

A TV insider said, “This is a big blow to ITV, 007 is a ratings banker.”

ITV can however take solace in the fact that the deal with Sky looks set to be a one year deal at the moment leaving them with an opportunity to hustle back in when the contract is up.  

The insider added, “This is just a window of opportunity for Sky.  In terms of Bond on terrestrial TV, it’s a case of never say never again.”

Sky will be able to show the 22 Bond movies made by Eon Productions and those made without them, Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again.  Director of Sky Movies, Ian Lewis, said, “We are delighted.  Everything about these films is iconic – the cars, the gadgets, the catchphrases.”

The news comes as fans were given their first glimpse of the brilliant Ralph Fiennes in the new movie Skyfall as well as several shots of Daniel Craig.  Fiennes has remained tight-lipped on his latest role only saying, “If you’re a Bond fan then you’ll be happy.  I can tell you that John Logan has written a fantastic screenplay and Sam Mendes is a class act.  They’re doing something quite special I think.  I think they’re going to be great for Bond.”

For me, well I have Sky and I must admit, while I have seen the Bond films I like plenty of times and got Sky, the thing that saddens me is that it’s a bit of a tradition treating yourself to a rendition of a Bond film on a bank holiday or over Christmas.  I am so looking forward to Skyfall and the fact that I can see it in the cinema this year and on Sky early next year is a bonus.  I don’t have the boxset of DVDs of James Bond even though I love them; for me, when it’s a series they are always adding to, it makes it difficult (ahem, Pirates of the Caribbean).  In fact, the only box set I think I own is the Friends one.  

Does Bond moving to Sky affect you and what are you thoughts?