Go To Latest Video ReviewsSky TV Launches On Xbox 360
| Author | Gordon Kelly |
| Published | 27th Oct 2009 |
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TrustedReviews NewslettersMicrosoft and Sky certainly have become chummy...
Following the launch of Sky on Windows 7, the Sky Player on the Xbox 360 has also now gone live. As the name suggests, this latest service will provide customers with direct access to Sky's online TV service of the same name, plus a selection of live streaming channels. It also has no requirement for a satellite dish.
As with Sky Player both online and through Windows 7, a wide range of content is available including shows from Sky1, films across the full range of Sky Movies channels, comedy classics from G.O.L.D., kids entertainment from Disney and Nickleodeon, documentaries from National Geographic, Eden and History channels and the latest trash from MTV.
In all, 24 live streaming channels plus on-demand (with over 400 flicks at any one time) will give you more viewing hours than you can possibly cram in. Equally importantly, Microsoft and Sky have combined their savvy to create a fast and intuitive UI with one or two neat tricks up its sleeve. Foremost amongst these is 'Avatar Party Mode' which lets viewers use their avatars to watch live TV alongside their friend's - a dorky, but charmingly social feature.
Downsides? No HD content will be initially available while pricing is somewhat complicated. For example, to watch Sky Player through your Xbox 360 customers will need an Xbox Live Gold membership. Non-Sky Direct to Home (DTH) customers will also require a monthly subscription which starts at £15 per month to Sky Player's 'Base Entertainment Pack'. Customers who want to watch Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra, ESPN and the Sky Movies channels will be able to add these 'Sports Pack' and 'Movies Pack' bundles to their Base Entertainment Pack for an additional cost.
Existing Sky subscribers are given free access to on-demand content with streaming channels thrown in for Sky Multiroom and Broadband Unlimited customers. On top of this, a Sky Player retail bundle pack including 1 month Sky Player Subscription (Sky Sports Pack), Media Remote and 3 month LIVE Gold Membership Subscription Card hits shops today priced at £29.99.
Told you it was complicated...
Update: By popular request, here is the full price breakdown of all the Sky Xbox bundle pricing...
Update 2: Well, that was a damp squib. Technical difficulties postponed the launch. In an official statement Sky has declared: "The service has been suspended due to an unforeseen technical issue. Sky Player engineers are hard at work to resolve the problem. We expect to have the full service available on Wednesday." [ie today]. Here's hoping!
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drdark said on 27th October 2009
Richard said on 27th October 2009
they've now re-added the sky player tab to the dashboard, with a message underneath saying 'coming later today', when you click on it you get a little sky sports news advert...why ... more
JayC said on 27th October 2009
@Simon: BBC, ITV, in fact almost all on demand services can be had on Windows Media Center using an add-on called TunerFreeMCE (sadly iPlayer and any flash based services won't wor... more
snoop_7 said on 27th October 2009
@ Tim Sutton
My internet connection is 7mb so I rarely have buffering problems. I understand where you're coming from as compared to illegitimate players such as Sop... more
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@Andrew: Sky Player's been available via Desktop PCs for a while (although probably not the ideal set up for some people I admit).
@Dan: Yes, from what I gather, you... more