Sky to get Native iPlayer (soon) and ITV player (tomorrow, partially)

[Tom]

Neat. i dont have sky, but this is nice for those that do.

Sky Anytime+ goes from strength to strength with more content and increased reach

BBC iPlayer and ITV Player to join the service.
Sky Anytime+ available to more than 5 million homes at no extra cost by Easter 2012.

Sky has today announced a series of enhancements to its video on demand service, Sky Anytime+, which will expand the choice of programmes available for customers and make it available to millions of homes for the first time. The move follows strong growth for Sky Anytime+, which is already in more than a million Sky homes and has seen weekly usage increase by 80% in the three months to 31 December 2011.

The enhancements form part of Sky's commitment to bring more value to customers through their subscription. Sky Anytime+ comes at no extra charge and already provides access to a wide range of on-demand content including movies, entertainment, documentaries and drama 'box sets'. In addition to programmes from Sky's own channels, it offers access to content from partner channels such as MTV, Discovery, FX, History, Disney, UK TV and National Geographic Channel.

To expand the range of high-quality content available on Sky Anytime+, Sky has reached new agreements with the BBC and ITV.

This means that ITV archive content, including popular shows such as Prime Suspect, Lewis and Cold Feet, will join the service from tomorrow, accessible through the main Sky Anytime+ menu as well as a new dedicated ITV Player section. And later this year, customers will be able to use Sky Anytime+ to catch up on programmes from both the BBC and ITV when the BBC iPlayer joins the service and more programming is added to ITV Player.

Archive BBC content - including the likes of Doctor Who, Outnumbered and Top Gear - is already available on Sky Anytime+ through Sky's existing deal with UK TV.

And to help even more customers enjoy the service, Sky is extending the reach of Sky Anytime+ by making it available to all Sky+HD homes with an internet connection, across all broadband providers. This means more than 5 million homes will soon be able to access the comprehensive video on demand service. The extension of the service builds on the
1.2 million Sky Broadband homes that already use the service.

Anytime + getting rolled out to non sky BB customers too, nice touch.

 

[Gally]

That's a massive coup! Very impressed with that. Not long away either.

I usually just watch iPlayer on the laptop if i'm desperate was waiting it coming to Xbox but no need!

 

[.Adam.]

Nice one, that's great news.

 

[Krispwee]

Finally allowed to use Anytime+ since moving to Infinity. On Demand services really have changed the way I watch TV.

 

[fletch8]

excellent news

 

[Millsy]

About time they allowed anyone with an internet connection to use it! When you live outside the sky broadband reach it makes it really limiting.

going to look forward to this.

 

[Emma.]

I think I've used the anytime + a couple of times.

In theory it's great but the lack of HD content puts me off downloading a lot of programmes and films.

As soon as they make more HD content avalible it will be really good.

 

[Tom]

HD= Bandwidth.

Bandwidth required for decent looking HD content = lots.

 

[Dink]

well it was about time sky caught up with a half decent on-demand service.

 

[Cookie]

Is this to counter (the Anytime+ free bit) Netflix, do you think?

 

[Joe#]

I was saying the other week to someone that they should do this.

Should be a nice feature

 

[AK]

Nice.

 

[Emma.]

HD= Bandwidth.

Bandwidth required for decent looking HD content = lots.

Can't be too much of an issue as there is some HD content on there just not enough.

 

[Cookie]

Can't be too much of an issue as there is some HD content on there just not enough.

It's a sensible move, done on purpose to see how the network copes with the current strain on it. I'm sure they'll ramp up the HD content once they've looked at the usage.

Thing is, it's either do a partial roll out of HD content, and the network stays solid and everyone gets a go, or they roll everything out, and the servers fail to cope, which pisses off customers

 

[Tom]

Especially customers of Sky.

I dread to think what would happen..

 

[FiXX]

Can't be too much of an issue as there is some HD content on there just not enough.

Just about everything on anytime+ is available in HD... if you go to ALL you can access HD versions of everything not listed under other sections. Ive yet to see a movie on it not available in HD.

 

[Emma.]

Just about everything on anytime+ is available in HD... if you go to ALL you can access HD versions of everything not listed under other sections. Ive yet to see a movie on it not available in HD.

That must be a relatively new thing as it never used to be like that. 90% was SD not so long ago.

 

[MaLicE]

anyone know the rollout date for anytime+ to non sky bb customers?

 

[jenic]

I'd also like to know that, although I'm not too fussed until the other players are added.

It was a bit of a joke the having to have sky BB thing, especially because our old sky ADSL connection was too slow to run sky player. And they dont (yet) supply FTTC which we now have to have to get a decent speed.

 

[Krispwee]

Mine works fine on BT Infinity now. Just plug the ethernet cable in and then go into your Sky box settings and turn on the ethernet option. You may also need to activate it on your Sky account on the website.

 

[jenic]

Mine works fine on BT Infinity now. Just plug the ethernet cable in and then go into your Sky box settings and turn on the ethernet option. You may also need to activate it on your Sky account on the website.

wont let me add it online until I have sky BB

 

[Mells]

wont let me add it online until I have sky BB

I'm with virgin and plugged my box into the router and rather than getting a fail under the service connection I get connected but it doesn't let you do anything.

 

[MaLicE]

Mine is connected via Ethernet, shows an ip etc... But no anytime+ just normal anytime

 

[Rich-D]

wont let me add it online until I have sky BB

same here, just tried to do it

 

[Ronnie R]

I'll try mine later. With Virgin, but have Sky TV

 

[dk]

Anytime plus for non sky bb customers has been rolled out, fill your boots!

 

[mace¬]

Hmmmm David! I can't remember what it was but included ice? Penguins? Boats? chop chop

 

[dk]

Hmmmm David! I can't remember what it was but included ice? Penguins? Boats? chop chop

fine, given you a small update!

 

[Rich-D]

Had an email today saying Anytime+ was available to all, just logged in and it's already been added

Now I just need to connect the router to the Sky box, shame it's upstairs in the office, need to get some homeplugs I think

 

[Rich-D]

update, it's added to your basket already when you login, but you still need to proceed with order to activate it