Sky Anytime
Encyclopedia
Sky Anytime is the brand-name of a range of services from BSkyB
designed to compete with video on demand
services currently offered by rival companies such as Virgin Media
or Tiscali
TV as well as Internet Television
services such as ITV Player
and Sky Go.
Sky Anytime has been available in various forms including: a PC version using a peer-to-peer
platform over broadband Internet connection, a version for users of 3G
mobile telephones, a push video on demand service for subscribers equipped with a Sky+ HD set top box or the PVR3 version of the Sky+
set top box and a pull video-on-demand service.
) system similar to Top Up TV Anytime, where the Sky+ PVR automatically records programmes transmitted over-night. The service uses 140GB of previously reserved disk space on Sky HD
boxes hard-disk space whilst on standard Sky+
boxes it uses 80GB of the hard-disk space. The service is intended to provide a catch-up of a selection of the last week's programming. The service was launched on PVR3 Sky+ boxes manufactured by Pace
and Amstrad
on 24 April 2007.
The update for Thomson
boxes was delayed because of technical difficulties, it was finally launched for Thomson boxes on 29 May 2007.
In July 2011, Sky Anytime was added to Virgin Media
with content from Sky Living, following on from Sky's purchase of Virgin Media Television. Additional content began rolling out on 11 October 2011 ahead of a full launch the following day. Programming is available in both standard and high definition from Sky1, Sky Arts, Sky Living and Sky News and later Sky Sports. However, Sky Movies is only available in standard definition. Sky Anytime content also became available through Virgin Media Player online on 28 October 2011 but not on mobile devices.
through a broadband
internet connection. As of November 2008 the software also allows the live streaming of selected Sky TV channels. The VoD
content comprises sport highlights, news, feature-length movies and TV programmes. On July 6, 2011, Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services were merged and rebranded as Sky Go.
, which advertises the shows coming up on the following week. It is updated each week on a Sunday.
Sky HD viewers receive a slightly different programme, The Big New HD Preview Show, which showcases upcoming high definition content on both Sky Anytime on TV and the linear HD channels.
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
designed to compete with video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
services currently offered by rival companies such as Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
or Tiscali
Tiscali
Tiscali may refer to:*Tiscali, an archaeological village of Nuragici people, in Sardinia, Italy, notable because it was completely inside a huge cavern*Tiscali SpA, a telecom company based in Italy*Tiscali TV , multiple uses...
TV as well as Internet Television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
services such as ITV Player
ITV Player
ITV Player is an online video on demand service accessible though the main ITV website. The service offers a variety of programmes from homegrown programming to imports across ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV. Some sports programming is available to watch again via the service, the 2010 FIFA World...
and Sky Go.
Sky Anytime has been available in various forms including: a PC version using a peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
platform over broadband Internet connection, a version for users of 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
mobile telephones, a push video on demand service for subscribers equipped with a Sky+ HD set top box or the PVR3 version of the Sky+
Sky+
Sky+, or Sky Plus, is a personal video recorder service for Sky in the UK. Launched in September 2001, it allows the user to record, pause and instantly rewind live TV. The system performs these functions using an internal hard drive inside the Sky+ set top box...
set top box and a pull video-on-demand service.
Sky Anytime TV service
On 27 March 2007, Sky launched its Sky Anytime service for owners of Sky HD set top boxes. The service is a Push-Video on Demand (push-VoDVideo on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
) system similar to Top Up TV Anytime, where the Sky+ PVR automatically records programmes transmitted over-night. The service uses 140GB of previously reserved disk space on Sky HD
Sky HD
Sky+ HD is the brand name of the HDTV service launched by BSkyB on 22 May 2006 in the United Kingdom and Ireland to enable high definition channels on Sky to be viewed. For the first 2 years after launch, the service was branded Sky HD. The service requires the user to have a Sky+ HD Digibox...
boxes hard-disk space whilst on standard Sky+
Sky+
Sky+, or Sky Plus, is a personal video recorder service for Sky in the UK. Launched in September 2001, it allows the user to record, pause and instantly rewind live TV. The system performs these functions using an internal hard drive inside the Sky+ set top box...
boxes it uses 80GB of the hard-disk space. The service is intended to provide a catch-up of a selection of the last week's programming. The service was launched on PVR3 Sky+ boxes manufactured by Pace
Pace
Pace may refer to:*Pace , the speed at which movement occurs*Pace , a unit of length*"Peace" in Italian, sometimes written on a rainbow flag...
and Amstrad
Amstrad
Amstrad is a British electronics company, now wholly owned by BSkyB. As of 2006, Amstrad's main business is manufacturing Sky Digital interactive boxes....
on 24 April 2007.
The update for Thomson
Thomson SA
Technicolor SA , formerly Thomson SA and Thomson Multimedia, is a French international provider of solutions for the creation, management, post-production, delivery and access of video, for the Communication, Media and Entertainment industries. Technicolor’s headquarters are located in Issy les...
boxes was delayed because of technical difficulties, it was finally launched for Thomson boxes on 29 May 2007.
In July 2011, Sky Anytime was added to Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
with content from Sky Living, following on from Sky's purchase of Virgin Media Television. Additional content began rolling out on 11 October 2011 ahead of a full launch the following day. Programming is available in both standard and high definition from Sky1, Sky Arts, Sky Living and Sky News and later Sky Sports. However, Sky Movies is only available in standard definition. Sky Anytime content also became available through Virgin Media Player online on 28 October 2011 but not on mobile devices.
Sky Anytime+
On 30 July 2009, Sky confirmed the launch of a ‘pull’ video-on-demand service for 2010, adding to the current Sky Anytime ‘push’ VOD service. On 29 April 2010, BSkyB revealed that it will name its video-on-demand service Sky Anytime+.Sky Go
Sky Go (formerly known as 'Sky Player', 'Sky Anytime on PC' and 'Sky By Broadband') was launched in January 2006. The service allows customers to download video onto their PCPersonal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
through a broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
internet connection. As of November 2008 the software also allows the live streaming of selected Sky TV channels. The VoD
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
content comprises sport highlights, news, feature-length movies and TV programmes. On July 6, 2011, Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services were merged and rebranded as Sky Go.
The Big New Preview Show
The Big New Preview Show is a programme shown on Sky Anytime, presented by Jason BarlowJason Barlow
Jason Barlow is a motoring journalist and broadcaster from Northern Ireland.He began his television career in 1998, when he was approached to present Channel Four's new car programme Driven, with co-presenters Mike Brewer and James May...
, which advertises the shows coming up on the following week. It is updated each week on a Sunday.
Sky HD viewers receive a slightly different programme, The Big New HD Preview Show, which showcases upcoming high definition content on both Sky Anytime on TV and the linear HD channels.
External links
- Sky Anytime at sky.com
- Sky Player