BSkyB moots raft of new media services
BSkyB is contemplating a raft of new media services including internet-protocol telephony, video-phone, podcasts and music downloads.
It will follow the recent announcement of its broadband services offer, including video-on-demand and telephony, over its EasyNet network. EasyNet is the internet service provider it bought late last year for &£211m. Last month, BSkyB also created Sky Networked Media, a division devoted entirely to online, mobile and interactive television content.
The satellite television operator has already applied for more than 50 new trademarks, many linked to services for emerging digital platforms. The list includes brand names such as Sky Mail, Sky Video Store, Sky Call, Sky by Podcast, Sky Phone, Sky VoIP, Sky Search, Sky Tunes and Sky Any- time TV.
BSkyB, the UK’s biggest pay-TV company, has given no specific details of the products, but in a presentation given by investor relations head Andrew Griffiths yesterday, it reiterated its intention to provide services including video-on-demand and telephony over EasyNet’s network later this year. EasyNet’s network extends to about 20% of UK households, but this is to be rolled out to about 70%.
BSkyB’s digital assault is part of a swathe of activity in the sector as brands rush to offer consumers multimedia platform entertainment. BT finally announced the brand name of its new digital IPTV plus Freeview service – BT Vision – earlier this week.
