Sky player is coming to media centre in windows 7

Amid the Windows 7 launch event came the announcement that Sky Player will be an integrated part of Windows Media Center in the OS.

With the launch of Sky Player on Xbox scheduled for next week, greater integration was always likely and a more intuitive application through Windows Media Centre will boost the streaming service from the broadcaster.

Sky Player will allow current subscribers to view live streamed channels and on demand television through their PC although the download service is not in place as yet.

Non-subscribers will be able to upgrade to an online-only (or full satellite) account with access, with the right package, to premium content.

Choice and flexibility

«We are committed to giving our customers more choice and flexibility in how they access Sky content,» said Sky’s Director of On Demand Griff Parry.

«Sky Player in Windows 7 offers yet another innovative and attractive way through which to access a wide range of live and on-demand TV.

«Whether it’s an existing customer looking to get even more from their Sky subscription, or someone connecting with Sky for the first time through their PC, everyone can enjoy a high-quality online TV experience through Windows 7.»

Launching ‘soon’

Although the service has not been given a firm launch date, Sky told TechRadar that it would definitely be in place by the end of the year, and we’d speculate that with the build already all but done it will probably make the first half of November.

«We were aiming for it to be ready for the Windows 7 launch,» explained Parry to TechRadar. «But we just want that bit of extra time to make sure it’s absolutely perfect.»

Microsoft UK’s Ashley Highfield, Managing Director and Vice President Consumer & Online believes that the inclusion of Sky Player in Windows 7 is a great example of giving customers what they want.

«The way UK consumers interact with TV is changing. Audiences now want to consume great quality TV anywhere and at any time and are demanding a lot more from their TV experience. With the launch of Windows 7 and through partners such as Sky, we are making new things possible and delivering TV to British viewers the way they want it.»

Standard definition

The service is only carrying standard definition pictures at the current time, but HD is something that both Sky and Microsoft are striving for – when a consistent service can be offered.

«You’ve got to consider where Sky comes from here; HD is central to our strategy,» said Parry

«Plenty of people claim to have an HD offering online, but there are good quality HD experiences and bad ones and we believe that we are for the best.

«So it would be inconsistent and confused if I claimed we could provide HD here when it wouldn’t be up to scratch versus the set top boxes.»

«It’s a constant thing to improve the consistency of the picture and there will be improvements to the service early next year, for example.

«The question is, at what point will we brand it HD? We’ll wait until it’s absolutely perfect before we do that.»

Costs

Sky subscribers with multiroom or the top broadband package the Sky Player is part of the package and you can watch the streamed television on your computers.

For Sky subscribers without multiroom or the top broadband an extra fee will be payable in order to get access to all of your content. That fee is going to drop to £5 ahead of the launch.

For non-Sky subscribers, you will need to buy a package to access the non-free content – although you need not get a satellite dish installed. The package prices are in line with the equivalent satellite services.

You can now read our full hands on with Sky Player on Windows Media Center

This is just a part of TechRadar’s massive Windows 7 week — you can check out even more content on our dedicated Windows 7 Week page.

Windows 7 users here in Ireland can get a richer experience of Sky’s online content service now that it has teamed up with Microsoft to give Sky Player Windows Media Center integration.

While anyone on a PC or Mac (and Sky Player subscription) can access the service through their web browser, this Media Center integration looks more like a rich TV-on-demand entertainment experience.

“We’re delighted the Irish public can now take advantage of the full capabilities we deliver in Windows 7.  With Windows Media Center we are continuing to deliver on how people are choosing to view their entertainment,” said Ronald Dockery, client manager, Microsoft Ireland.

“Teaming up with Sky was a no-brainer, delivering rich content through the power and ease of Windows Media Center gives people the best possible selection and viewing experience right at their PC,” he added.

So what you can expect to get from the new service through Windows 7 and Media Centre is a search for shows using keywords, the ability to browse programme galleries or scroll through the familiar Sky on-screen guide, touch-enabled interface and it works with any Windows Media Center-enabled remote control.

Also, if you’re a current Sky TV customer, this is another way for you to view your favourite shows or alternatively if you’re not subscribed to Sky TV there is a wide range of live TV channels and on-demand content right through Media Center through a few different monthly subscriptions, which starts at €15 per month.

A large part of this Sky Player integration was developed right here in Dublin through Microsoft’s European Development Centre (EDC) TV and the Microsoft Ireland EDC TV team was responsible for the development, test and programme management of the Sky Player on Windows Media Center project.

“We deployed a full featured team including developers, testers and program management which drove the project from requirements management all the way to beta testing and launch. This demonstrates again the value of having a core development team based in Europe,” said Renaud Bordelet, group manager, E&D Division of Windows TV Group, Microsoft Ireland.

By Marie Boran

Photo: Renaud Bordelet (group manager, E&D Division of Windows TV Group, Microsoft Ireland), Ronald Dockery (client manager, Microsoft Ireland) and Mark Deering (director, Sky Ireland).