Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Sky to develop video on demand through users' TV

Updated at 7:06 am on 25 February 2013

Sky Network Television says plans to entice new subscribers through developing its video on demand service through users' television is at least a year away.

On Friday, Sky reported its half year profit rose 7% to $67.4 million due to more people using its higher value MySky HD boxes, while more users subscribed to premium channels like SoHo, all of which lifted average revenue per user.

That's proved a mixed blessing for Sky Network chief executive John Fellett, who would also like to revive flagging overall customer growth for pay TV services.

Mr Fellet said one way to garner interest among more resistant people is using its video on demand iSky service to offer more shows, films and sports through their television, rather than their computer.

He said iSky had 1.8 million downloads in December, from people who requested to watch a movie or a sporting event.

Mr Fellet said it's likely to be a year before Sky subscribers will be able to view material through iSky on their televisions, rather than via their computer.

Copyright © 2013, Radio New Zealand