Sky Go
Sky Go (formerly known as Sky Player, Sky Anytime on PC and Sky By Broadband) is an online television service from Sky which launched in January 2006. The service allows users to watch live and on demand video content from their Mac, Windows PC, mobile phone or Xbox 360 via a broadband or Wi-Fi internet connection. On demand content comprises sports highlights, latest news, movies and TV programmes. Content is viewable for a limited amount of time and is protected by digital rights management software provided by Microsoft, and therefore cannot be copied to disc or viewed beyond the date carried by its license. The service is available at no extra cost to existing Sky TV customers, with accessible content depending on the subscriber's Sky package. Non-Sky TV customers can access the service by subscribing on a pay-per-view basis.
Sky Go is viewable on up to two devices. The Microsoft Silverlight 3.0 browser plug-in is required to play content on computers. Due to viewing rights, certain programmes are not available to watch via Sky Go, and are 'blacked out' from the schedule. In order to have access to the full selection of live TV channels available on Sky Go, users will need either a Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited subscription, on top of the required TV packages that correspond to the available channels.
History
On November 25, 2006, Sky announced that Sky By Broadband had been rebranded as Sky Anytime on PC. The rebranding also coincided with an update to the client, which included a new interface and a pay-per-view service for movies and US television shows. On May 16, 2008, Sky Anytime on PC was rebranded as Sky Player, along with updated software to include live simulcasts of Sky News and Sky Sports.
On October 29, 2009, the service expanded on to the Xbox 360. While users do not require a Sky TV subscription, an Xbox Live Gold subscription is required, and users still need to register via the Sky Go website.[1] Features include a party system which allows multiple users to watch content at the same time, with users represented by their Xbox 360 Avatars in a virtual room. Due to the high level of demand, the launch of the service was held back and rolled out to users incrementally over the following days.[2]
On November 19, 2009, Sky Player was also made available to Windows Media Center-equipped Windows 7 computers.
Users of 3G phones on Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile could subscribe to Sky Mobile TV. The service consisted of three packages, Sky News, Sport and Factual Pack, Sky Entertainment Pack and Sky Music Pack which include a mixture of live and made for mobile channels of broadcasters channels.
On July 6, 2011, Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services were merged and rebranded as Sky Go.[3] Key changes include the ability to watch live channels in line with your Sky TV subscription at no additional cost, limited to two simultaneous devices. Support for Windows Media Center was dropped, however an app was released for Apple's iOS operating system, used on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. A Sky Go app for Android devices is expected to be released in 2012.[4]
Channels
There are currently 38 live channels on Sky Go.[5]
Entertainment
Movies
| Channel name |
Live desktop |
Live mobile |
Video on demand |
| Sky Movies |
N/A |
N/A |
Yes |
| Sky Movies Action & Adventure |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Box Office |
N/A |
N/A |
Yes |
| Sky Movies Box Office World |
N/A |
N/A |
Yes |
| Sky Movies Comedy |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Classics |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Crime & Thriller |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Drama & Romance |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Family |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Indie |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Modern Greats |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Premiere |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Sci-Fi & Horror |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Sky Movies Showcase |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Sports
News
Documentaries
Kids
Radio
References
External links
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UK-based TV on demand
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