Sky Anytime+ Now Available to Millions More Homes

LONDON, March 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Sky's on demand service now available to all Sky homes with a broadband-connected Sky+HD set-top box
• Over 5 million Sky homes can now access Sky's on demand content over their broadband connection

From today, Sky's on demand service Sky Anytime+, will be available to any Sky+HD home with a broadband connection.  This means that over 5 million homes will be able to enjoy even more flexibility, control and value from their Sky subscription.  

Previously Sky Anytime+ was available to Sky Broadband customers, but from today the service is available across any internet service provider.  By connecting their Sky+HD box to their broadband router,  Sky homes will be able to access a wide range of great entertainment on demand including movies, entertainment, documentaries and drama 'box sets', such as An Idiot Abroad and Boardwalk Empire at a time that suits them. In addition to programmes from Sky's own channels, customers can access content from partner channels such as MTV, Discovery, FX, History, Disney, UK TV and National Geographic Channel whenever suits them.

With Sky Anytime+, Sky Movies customers have flexibility of what they watch and when, with up to 450 movies airing weekly on Sky Movies channels and hundreds* available for download with Sky Anytime+ and through Sky Go.  Sky Movies subscribers can enjoy more than 70 of the UK's 100 highest grossing movies at least a year before any other free or subscription television service.  In addition, through Sky Store on Sky Anytime+ all Sky TV customers with a Sky+ HD box are able to choose from over a thousand movies available to rent, spanning from the latest blockbusters available at the same time as they are released on DVD, through to classic titles.

Earlier this year, Sky announced new content agreements with the BBC and ITV with ITV archive content such as Secret Diary of A Call Girl and Cold Feet  box sets available to customers immediately. BBC's iPlayer service is due to arrive later this year. Popular programmes such as Doctor Who, Outnumbered and Top Gear are already available through Sky's existing deal with UK TV.

This announcement comes as Sky introduces a new, enhanced Sky+ HD 1TB box with even more storage capacity for on demand content. Alongside the existing 1TB of personal storage, there is now a full additional terabyte of space dedicated to Sky Anytime showing the best of the week's Sky TV and Movies.

Luke Bradley-Jones, Director of TV Products, Sky, commented: 

"It's great to be able to bring our on demand service Sky Anytime+ to even more customers, helping them to get more out of their Sky subscription. We already know how popular Sky Anytime+ is and how the flexibility of the service gives customers more choice and control over how they watch an amazing range of content.  We've seen strong demand for it to date which we hope to increase now that the service is available with any broadband provider."

Customers can access Anytime+ by simply connecting their Sky+ HD set-top box to their broadband router, either with an Ethernet wire or wireless connector.  For more information and to activate the service visit: http://sky.com/anytimeplus.  

Notes to Editors:    

*Hundreds of movies defined as: over 500 movies available on demand at no extra cost to a Sky Movies customer.

About Sky

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in HD TV and on demand.

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the groundbreaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service. Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.

SOURCE Sky