Sky Launches Real-Time Online TV Service

As Matty's previously mentioned and from the daily mail website:

Sky Online TV Service

Quote

Sky has launched an online TV package allowing consumers to watch its TV channels on a computer, without the need for a satellite dish.

The service, launched today, offers a range of channels including Disney, MTV, National Geographic and Sky Sports to anyone in the UK and Ireland with a PC or a Mac.

Sky digital satellite customers can enjoy the Sky Player for free with access to the channels and some on-demand content they subscribe to.

Non-Sky TV customers can purchase a monthly subscription to the broadcaster's Base Entertainment Pack, which offers access to The Disney Channel, British Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, Sky News and Sky Sports News.

Further sports channels (Sky Sports 1-3 and Extra) can be added for an extra cost.

The company says picture quality online is comparable to normal TV service. Prices range from £15-£34 a month, and undercut the firm's TV service.

'Sky Player TV recognises that for some, the computer is now the preferred screen to watch TV,' said Mike Darcey, chief operating officer at BSkyB.

Only the basic package is currently available on Sky Player TV, but more content, including MTV One, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, is expected next month, and further channels in the new year.

Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Max customers can also access live streaming of shows.

I'm sure it's awesome for people like us, although I can't see it having a huge impact on the majority of Sky customers, too many people just don't like watching TV on their computer.

This is just the trial for the launch of Sky+HDIP (haha how they gonna name that one!!) imho.

If it proves to work well, it wont be long before it's expanded to the HD boxes, I think the new EPG software on them is ready for IPTV services with a few tweaks etc, part of the reason for its development.

That is of course, providing they don't get their mitt's on Tiscali first...

Id use it on my media centre, but I didnt think much of the Kontiki software they used when it was called Sky By Broadband. Maybe ill give it another whirl though...

I can only really see it being mutch good if you've got a really good ADSL connection, and even if you do how're they gonna handle that in conjunction with bandwidth caps etc?

At the end of the day, it's not like you can simply plop another method of delivering content on, you have to use the ADSL tech that's already there.

They could well do what Virgin are planning, and end net neutrality. But they won't. However, if the BBC iPlayer can be sustained, then id get a small Sky service could be?

Id assume they would have different speed/quality settings, and some of the compression technologies available nowadays are immense, it's just a case of everyon being stuck in the MPEG4/DivX/Xvid frame of mind. Having said that, even at ~1Mbps incl sound, Xvid id extremely clear, anyone with a 2Mbps connection would be able to watch on TV without taking a hit on quality. I dunno what technology they would be using though.

I know their own full IPTV service, when it launches, will only be available to Sky Broadband customers, for that very reason. Everyone will probably get a free I-Plate when they subscribe, to help things along.

One thing we have to remember, is BT manage to stream on their BT Vision service at less than 1.8Mbps peak, as do Tiscali TV and they are shit popular to be honest, and works well, so I would'nt knock IPTV via ADSL/ADSL2+ just yet.