Sky announces video on-demand service

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#1068871 18-Jun-2014 21:11

Slightly off topic, but for my Netflix, which was simultaneous viewing on 3 devices, it is now 2 devices + HD, for $7.99 a month. And I have been with Netflix for two years, I think it was changed last year.
Viewing on 4 devices at the same time is $11.99 a month.

You can find your simultaneous viewing options at https://www.netflix.com/ChangePlan

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sdav

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#1068943 18-Jun-2014 23:26

I think its funny that in a global world where Sky buy content produced overseas they have a problem with people using an overseas company to now watch that content!

Anyway - I'm intrigued buy this. My cynical guess - this is driven by the content owners and it's a ploy by Sky to desperately keep the content (other than sport) they need to increase profits. Digital online rights are more important these days and sky has nothing to offer.

I feel if sky keep the online rights - we will be poorer for it. We being people who like to use anything other than a tablet.

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#1069032 19-Jun-2014 09:20

semigeek: Slightly off topic, but for my Netflix, which was simultaneous viewing on 3 devices, it is now 2 devices + HD, for $7.99 a month. And I have been with Netflix for two years, I think it was changed last year. Viewing on 4 devices at the same time is $11.99 a month.

It actually changed last month.

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Giggs

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#1069142 19-Jun-2014 11:33

sdav: I think its funny that in a global world where Sky buy content produced overseas they have a problem with people using an overseas company to now watch that content!

Anyway - I'm intrigued buy this. My cynical guess - this is driven by the content owners and it's a ploy by Sky to desperately keep the content (other than sport) they need to increase profits. Digital online rights are more important these days and sky has nothing to offer.

I feel if sky keep the online rights - we will be poorer for it. We being people who like to use anything other than a tablet.

My understanding and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, is that VOD rights are starting to be sold separately to broadcasting rights so Sky had to get into this area or risk another player streaming shows they have broadcast rights for. Of course sport is not included for now simply because Sky has the rights sown up. The intriguing thing will be what happens when those deals start to expire and the various sports start selling broadcasting and streaming rights separately. NZ Rugby may have issue though since they rely on Sky to film the games so Sky are hardly likely to be happy if the streaming rights go elsewhere, but for overseas events all bets will be off.

As always content is king so no doubt there will be a battle between the various streaming services for rights. It also means that if Netflix launches here then the content will probably be quite different that you can get from Netflix USA.

trig42

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#1069161 19-Jun-2014 12:02

Giggs:
sdav: I think its funny that in a global world where Sky buy content produced overseas they have a problem with people using an overseas company to now watch that content!

Anyway - I'm intrigued buy this. My cynical guess - this is driven by the content owners and it's a ploy by Sky to desperately keep the content (other than sport) they need to increase profits. Digital online rights are more important these days and sky has nothing to offer.

I feel if sky keep the online rights - we will be poorer for it. We being people who like to use anything other than a tablet.

My understanding and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, is that VOD rights are starting to be sold separately to broadcasting rights so Sky had to get into this area or risk another player streaming shows they have broadcast rights for. Of course sport is not included for now simply because Sky has the rights sown up. The intriguing thing will be what happens when those deals start to expire and the various sports start selling broadcasting and streaming rights separately. NZ Rugby may have issue though since they rely on Sky to film the games so Sky are hardly likely to be happy if the streaming rights go elsewhere, but for overseas events all bets will be off.

As always content is king so no doubt there will be a battle between the various streaming services for rights. It also means that if Netflix launches here then the content will probably be quite different that you can get from Netflix USA.

It is my understanding (and, again, could be completely wrong) that Sky buys the online rights at the same time as the broadcast rights (and has done for some time). They are only just now deciding to use them (I do not count SkyGo, but I suppose they do) to stave off the rumoured Netflix startup here.

I know someone quite high up in the retailing of Video (Bluray and DVD) here in NZ, and they have told me Netflix are starting discussions with rights holders for Australia and NZ. Whether or not there can be multiple rights holders for streaming in one locale, I do not know, but I imagine there can be (surely a lot of Netflix stuff is available on other streaming services overseas apart from that countries version of NF).

semigeek

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#1069169 19-Jun-2014 12:16

freitasm:
semigeek: Slightly off topic, but for my Netflix, which was simultaneous viewing on 3 devices, it is now 2 devices + HD, for $7.99 a month. And I have been with Netflix for two years, I think it was changed last year. Viewing on 4 devices at the same time is $11.99 a month.

It actually changed last month.

Yeah the increase for new members did, but my plan changed last year to two devices for $7.99 a month

wasabi2k

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#1069191 19-Jun-2014 13:00

my netflix changed a few months ago too - maybe they rolled it out in stages.

I don't mind paying $12 as we have 2 laptops, 2 rokus and 2 tablets that we watch on (not all at the same time obv).

StarBlazer

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#1069203 19-Jun-2014 13:30

I really hope we don't end up with fragmented delivery between providers. Imagine if in the old days you could only rent certain videos from specific chains or that a particular film would only show at one cinema group. It doesn't make sense and yet we accept it for broadcast TV and sports! Why?

The distributor should make the series/film/event available for a fee - the same fee to all broadcasters (on demand, terrestrial or satellite) and whichever broadcasters wish to pay that for the content they can do. It's then down to the broadcaster to win dollars and subscriptions by offering a good service. If no broadcaster buys the product then the distributor needs to either bring the price down or produce better programming.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

davidcole

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#1069210 19-Jun-2014 13:38

StarBlazer: I really hope we don't end up with fragmented delivery between providers. Imagine if in the old days you could only rent certain videos from specific chains or that a particular film would only show at one cinema group. It doesn't make sense and yet we accept it for broadcast TV and sports! Why?

The distributor should make the series/film/event available for a fee - the same fee to all broadcasters (on demand, terrestrial or satellite) and whichever broadcasters wish to pay that for the content they can do. It's then down to the broadcaster to win dollars and subscriptions by offering a good service. If no broadcaster buys the product then the distributor needs to either bring the price down or produce better programming.

Can't see it happening. The drive seems to be for each sports code to provide their own service. That's not to say that a hulu like service could not aggregate them all like it does with tv broadcasts from different networks.

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tangerz

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#1069345 19-Jun-2014 16:51

Inphinity:
turb: This from the NZ Herald today:

Sky Television has unveiled a new subscription video-on-demand service that will be free for MySky customers and available for one-off purchases on tablets and mobile phones by non-Sky subscribers.

Where does this leave Sky subscribers who don't pay for mysky? lol

My guess is it's tied to the long rumoured upgrade of the MySky EPG, where the SVOD service will just be another available viewing option in the menu. Whether subscribers who don't have a MySky will have to pay is unclear but I imagine it will be available without extra charge in the same way SkyGo is now.

Having the service running on the MySky would certainly work well for Sky as far as I can see:

1- Less likly to 'canabilize' their current subscribers.
2- 'Secure' delivery platform could allow for service not just to be streamed but downloaded to MySky for 'offline' viewing.
3- If '2' above is true then potentially free up satellite bandwidth currently used for the OnDemand movie services.

Will certainly be interesting to see exactly what content is made available with this service.

MileHighKiwi

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#1071296 20-Jun-2014 20:58

I unsubscribed from Sky today after more than 10 years 'loyal' service. Reading this story today was a coincidence after I told the retention rep that lack of customised digital content was a reason for leaving, lol...but seriously, if you could unbundle their products and get it delivered online I'd still be a customer. I'd be happy to pay for a sports only package, say $149-199 per year? I know that's 'not the model', but come one, it's time for a change in the way they do business.

I don't anticipate that with this announcement but I hope it's on the cards. It was also a laugh when the Sky rep and I got talking about Netflix and he told me he has it too. How ironic, lol. I'm looking forward to seeing what they offer but don't have high hopes.

Benoire

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#1071314 20-Jun-2014 21:42

MileHighKiwi: I unsubscribed from Sky today after more than 10 years 'loyal' service. Reading this story today was a coincidence after I told the retention rep that lack of customised digital content was a reason for leaving, lol...but seriously, if you could unbundle their products and get it delivered online I'd still be a customer. I'd be happy to pay for a sports only package, say $149-199 per year? I know that's 'not the model', but come one, it's time for a change in the way they do business.

I don't anticipate that with this announcement but I hope it's on the cards. It was also a laugh when the Sky rep and I got talking about Netflix and he told me he has it too. How ironic, lol. I'm looking forward to seeing what they offer but don't have high hopes.

I doubt you'll get an unbundles sports package ever from a pay broadcaster, sport is just too costly for them to make it a reasonable price. Just look at Premier League Pass, this is $25 a month for one single sport! Sky Sports is subsidised by all subscribers to make it cheaper.

steve98

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#1071411 21-Jun-2014 07:24

Sky has specifically stated that sports content is off the table with this offering.

Lurch

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#1072026 22-Jun-2014 13:05

Satch:
jtbthatsme: Plus it has always surprised me that people want to pay Sky so much anyway.

A good proportion of the population neither have the technical skills nor desire to set up DNS services as well as Netflix and other online streaming services. That is why MySky is so popular because it is easy - plug in and go.

Switch to Slingshot, click global mode box, and buy a Roku :-)

However I just signed up to unotelly. If you have no idea about computers the guides on their site are very easy to follow.

Companies like Sky need to watch out as even my 7 year old son is tech savvy enough to change a DNS. Kids these days go to Minecraft LANs...

clinty

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#1072832 23-Jun-2014 17:55

A clarification of sorts today

www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/60117588/no-crossover-for-skys-existing-customers.html

the service will be "independent" of normal sky

Clint

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