Microsoft & Sky Confirm 360 Partnership News

As widely expected, Microsoft and Sky Corporation today announced a partnership that will provide the latter's services across the Xbox 360.

Beginning in the UK and Ireland, Sky's online TV service - Sky Player - will come to Xbox Live during the autumn, providing a range of channels to watch live or on-demand.  Although specific details are being kept under wraps, it is "anticipated" that the service will provide blockbuster movies, a range of entertainment shows, documentaries, kids TV, music shows, and Premiership football, Test Match cricket and a wide variety of other sports.

New customers joining Sky through the Xbox 360 can access content via a number of different packages, or access their favourite shows on a pay-per-view basis.  Existing Sky customers can simply hook up to the Xbox 360 for an alternative way to access the service.

The partnership will see a number of unique services offered when watching Sky via an Xbox 360, including a range of different applications to compliment sports coverage.  Fans can communicate with one another via Xbox Live, while checking news, fixtures, league tables and other information.

Stephen Nuttall, Director of Sky's Commercial Group comments:" Our partnership with Xbox is a further example of our commitment to put choice and control in the hands of customers.  Xbox owners now have a range of ways to access Sky content and can pick and choose the platform and packages that are right for them.  We are extremely excited about the opportunity of reaching Xbox owners who are looking to experience Sky for the first time, as well as giving our existing customers yet another way to experience the content they love."
 
Echoing this, Neil Thompson, Head of Xbox UK and Ireland, adds:  "Our customers have told us that they want the opportunity to use their consoles as a way to access TV and once again Xbox has pulled off an entertainment first with amazing content and rich interactive experience.  The combination of Sky's leadership in content creation and aggregation and our own in creating a constantly evolving new generation of rich 360 entertainment experiences means we are one step closer to our goal of offering Xbox owners the best entertainment experiences out there, whether it's movies, music, games, interactive experiences or high quality TV."