Sky TV

The Rialto channel will be available to all Sky TV subscribers for free for a five day period at the end of this month.

Sky is opening up the channel for all Sky domestic subscribers with the basic package from Friday, April 26 to Tuesday, April 30. Continue reading »

Sky TV is hosting a Margaret Thatcher-themed showcase this weekend for those who are mourning the death of the controversial former British PM.

Here’s the line-up. Continue reading »

Kiwi league fans will indeed be able to watch the upcoming Anzac Test with Sky Tv announcing they will broadcast the match.

As was the case with the 2013 NRL season, Sky were late in securing the broadcast rights.

“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with New Zealand Rugby League to broadcast this important first Test for the Kiwis under the new captain Simon Mannering,” said Richard Last, SKY’s Director of Sport. Continue reading »

Todd Communications, part of the privately owned Todd Corp, has sold its 11.1% stake in Sky TV.

Todd has agreed to the $218m sale of its 43.2 million shares, which will end a 22-year tie with pay TV provider.

The agreement was dated November 1 and is expected to be settled on November 8. Continue reading »

Kit John Murray has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for fatally punching Sky TV employee Billy Dawson outside Auckland’s Spy Bar during the Rugby World Cup last year.

Justice Patrick Keane described Murray’s punch as an “unprovoked, gratuitous act of violence”.

The judge didn’t accept claims of self defence or that Murray was remorseful.

While Sky TVs competitors have welcomed the recent scrutiny placed on the pay TV provider, its chief executive still maintains that they have always been under the microscope.

John Fellet says Sky TV has always been under the watchful eye of the Commerce Commission and believes the recent action is putting investors off New Zealand.

“Overseas investors have said to me ‘Jeez, New Zealand’s just not the place to invest’,” Fellet said.

“I think Sky has been one of the most scrutinised companies. Continue reading »

Sky is looking into the possibility of a new set-top box that will let viewers watch what they want whenever they want.

The idea is to do away with traditional scheduling and allow users to select programmes from a “pool” and stream them over broadband.

The programmes would be available at any time once Sky had bought the rights.

Spokesperson Kirsty Way said that the concept was still at an early stage and that no prototypes had been created. 

While the existing MySky boxes have an unused Ethernet port which allows it to be connected to the internet, Way says Sky would probably develop a new box.

“I don’t think we’ll go from `all linear’ to `no linear’ but you may see channels that are particularly well suited for it becoming available on an on-demand basis,” Way said.

The iSky internet TV service will likely be retained, as viewers will still use that to watch programmes on devices that are not connected to their set-top box.

Source: Stuff

Sky TV says that profits for the company have been boosted by, among other things, the introduction of new drama channel SoHo.

The company’s net profit for the first half of the financial year was up 3.8 per cent from $60.3m from the same period in 2010 to $62.55m.

SoHo is among the reasons for the growth, with continued sales of MySky and advertising adding to the profit.

The channel is available to Sky subscribers for an additional $9.99 per month after initially screening for a month free in November last year.

Sky has described the uptake for the channel as “strong” but did not detail specific numbers.

Source: Stuff

SKY Television and Television New Zealand (TVNZ) today announced that they have formed a partnership to launch a new digital pay television service, delivering pay channels over SKY’s digital terrestrial spectrum.

SKY has a 51% shareholding and TVNZ a 49% shareholding in the joint venture.

The new service will provide paid-for and free content, including free-to-air channels, to a digital decoder, which is also readied to utilise Ultra-Fast-Broadband (UFB) in the future.

The launch will be in the first half of 2012, timed to take advantage of the digital switchover (DSO), when a large number of New Zealand homes will need to transition to a digitaltelevision service.

SKY’s Chief Executive Officer, John Fellet, said;

“It’s exciting to be working together with TVNZ to provide Kiwis with more television viewing options. We’ll be working hard to develop a brand new television service we believe will appeal to a large number of households.”

TVNZ’s Chief Executive Officer, Rick Ellis added;

“TVNZ and SKY have enjoyed a growing relationship in recent years and our strategy is to reach more New Zealanders in more ways. This investment helps us to achieve this. “

TVNZ’s Head of Digital Media and Channels, Eric Kearley, who will also serve on the Board of the venture, added;

“This is a win for consumers who will enjoy more choice in terms of how they access free and paid-for content and future proofs access to further options once UFB comes on stream.”

The joint venture will announce further details, including content and pricing, in the near future.

TVNZ and Telecom re looking to join Sky TV’s proposed new digital terrestrial pay television platform.

The Herald reports today that the pair are in “advanced talks” to join Sky’s venture, which will have its business plan finalised before Christmas.

Sky TV chief John Fellet confirmed that they have held discussions with two parties but declined to name them. It is believed they are TVNZ and Telecom.

The venture, which is tentatively titled “Igloo”, will coincide with the digital switchover between 2012 and 2014. It will make use of the TV masts that are currently used for the existing free-to-air channels.

“Igloo” will offer an alternative between free-to-air digital channels on Freeview and a basic Sky digital package, which costs $47.66,” Fellet said.

The platform is likely to cost around $25 per month and feature 10 to 14 channels, not including sport.

Source: Herald