Sky Launches Movie Download Service
Sky TV, the incumbent (and pretty much only) satellite broadcaster in the UK has announced the launch of Skybybroadband, allowing existing Sky subscribers to download and view movies on their home PCs at no extra charge.
The requirements are fairly obvious:
- A PC with Windows XP
- Windows Media Player version 10 or above
- A fast internet connection such as broadband (recommended)
- To subscribe to a package which includes Sky Sports 1 & 2 and/or Sky Movies 1 & 2
- To be based in the UK or ROI
- You can only download Sky by broadband to one PC in your household and you must be the Sky digital account holder to download it
The actual delivery is performed using the Kontiki media delivery service, which allows you to watch downloaded movies and clips for up to 30 days (depending on the actual clip) through the bundled media player direct from your hard drive. It will be interesting to see what the reaction to this is. I’d test it out myself, but not having a Sky Movies or Sky Sports subscription I’m ineligible.
If anyone does sign up, drop me a note and tell me how you get on.
January 15th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Hi im am eligible, and its nice that sky have given there subscribers something back for change.
The problem ive had at the moment is their servers are heavly overloaded with the uptakers. The start up program can be only downloaded to one pc per subscription, but ive been trying to download the software for the last 24 hours and still havent been able to download any more than 234kb of 50mb. I have rang sky and they admit that the servers are overloaded, i suggested that they put the file on open source bit torrent (ive even offered to do this for them) site or other peer to peer sites to lessen the load on the main servers. It does look fantasitc, i am really looking forward to being able to download the highlights of the football games, it should beat football plus in content!.
i will let you know how i get on when ive finally got the program on.
roy
May 6th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
Hello sky by broadband sounds good i’m a paying customer to sky but I can’t even download it I can’t find it not even a link i’ve been on the sky by broadband site and still I can’t even find it so if anyone can help me please do however if it’s true it goes that slow when downloading I best not bother what do you think?