Press Releases

BBC and Sky partner to offer access to BBC iPlayer via Sky Player

Category: New Media
Date: 20.10.2008
Printable version

Joint press release from BBC and BSkyB

The BBC and Sky have announced that BBC iPlayer can now be accessed via Sky Player, Sky's online TV service.

The new version of Sky Player includes a series of BBC branded sections, with listings information and links to all TV programmes on the BBC iPlayer service.

Sky Player, which offers users access to live and on-demand content from a range of channel providers, will now also offer access to content from all BBC television channels.

BBC programme information for these channels will be listed according to its appropriate Sky Player genre.

Once viewers select a BBC programme to view they will be transferred to the BBC iPlayer site for video playback.

The announcement further boosts the Sky Player's channel line-up, while enabling the BBC to reach out to new audiences for online video on demand.

Griff Parry, Director of On-demand, BSkyB, says: "Access to BBC content along with improvements to the user experience will further support the ongoing success of Sky Player.

"The combination of more choice and easier access means Sky Player users will find it even simpler to enjoy a wide range of TV content. The addition of links to content from BBC channels further demonstrates Sky's role as a leading online aggregator with access to one of the broadest selections of online video."

Anthony Rose, Head of the Online Media Group, BBC, adds: "We are delighted to be able to offer access to BBC TV programmes to Sky Player users. This deal further underlines our commitment to reaching new audiences by making BBC iPlayer available on as many services as possible."

Sky Player offers thousands of hours of content across movies, sport, entertainment, lifestyle and culture, and documentaries. The service currently offers content from all Sky channels – including Sky1, Sky Sports, Sky Arts, Sky Movies, Sky News and Sky Real Lives – as well as a range of third party brands such as National Geographic, The History Channel and ESPN Classic.

BBC iPlayer offers more than 400 hours of BBC TV programmes each week.

All BBC iPlayer TV content will be available free to any visitor to the Sky Player service, including non-Sky TV customers.

About Sky Player

• Sky Player allows Sky TV customers access to one of the broadest online libraries of content across Movies, Sport, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Culture and Documentaries, all available on-demand, on their PC.
• The home of Sky TV online, Sky Player offers Sky customers access to free content in line with their core Sky TV subscription, plus some additional content available on a paid-for basis (either pay-per-view or buy-to-own).
• Significant elements of the service are also available to non-Sky customers on a paid-for basis.
• Sky Player (as Sky by Broadband) launched in January 2006 and is the largest legal movie download service in Europe. There are hundreds of thousands of unique registered users for the service. The service can be found at: www.sky.com/skyplayer.

About BBC iPlayer

• The BBC iPlayer is available on PC, Mac, Linux, Virgin Media, Apple iPhone and iPod touch and Nintendo Wii.
• There have been over 180 million requests to stream or download BBC TV programmes via BBC iPlayer since its marketing launch in December 2007.
• The BBC exists to enrich people's lives with great programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain. It provides a wide range of distinctive programmes and services for everyone, free of commercial interests and political bias. They include television, radio, national, local, children's, educational, language and other services for key interest groups.
• The BBC is financed by a TV licence paid by households. It does not have to serve the interests of advertisers, or produce a return for shareholders.

MB1