PRESS RELEASE
From today, Sky Store, the movie rental service from Sky, opens its doors to everyone in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Now millions more movie fans across the country can use the service to rent the latest films they missed at the cinema just as they become available on DVD, plus hundreds of classic favourites, all at the click of a button.
Whether through the new website www.SkyStore.com, or on a NOW TV, Roku® or YouView box, any home with a broadband connection can stream more than 1,200 great titles instantly to their TV or laptop.
This is all part of a wider drive by Sky to broaden distribution of its content and give people new ways to access its unrivalled choice of programming.
From today movie fans can enjoy the very latest releases, such as Man of Steel, The Hangover Part 3, Despicable Me 2 and The Lone Ranger all now available for £3.49 each. Classic must-sees such as The Godfather, Forrest Gump, Top Gun and Austin Powers are also available and range from 99p-£1.99. Coming soon in the New Year will be White House Down, Rush and Captain Phillips.
The launch of SkyStore.com to anyone in the UK and ROI follows on the back of growing demand for the rental service amongst Sky TV's own customers. Movie rentals through Sky Store on Sky's set-top box Sky+ have more than doubled year on year, with 2.1 million rentals in the 3 months ending 30 September.
Nicola Bamford, Director of Sky Store, commented: "Millions of Sky TV customers already enjoy the choice and value of Sky Store. Now we're delighted that millions more homes can access hundreds of box office smashes alongside best-loved movie classics. All you need is an internet connection and away you go.
"With Sky Store there are no late fees and no waiting for the post. Customers simply sign up and stream the film they want to watch, when they want to watch, wherever they want - these days it couldn't be easier to enjoy the perfect movie to suit your mood."
In addition to the SkyStore.com website, anyone with a NOW TV, Roku or YouView box can enjoy the movies on their main TV set using the Sky Store app available to watch from today. After setting an account up on the Sky Store website, customers with these devices simply just need to log into the Sky Store app on their box, select and pay for what they want to watch before streaming it instantly via their box from the comfort of their sofa.
All movies on www.skystore.com and Sky Store app offer a high-quality streaming experience and can be watched for 48 hours once you press play. Sky TV customers can continue to access Sky Store via their Sky+HD box where movies are stored for 48 hours once viewing starts.
About Sky
Sky is the UK and Ireland's leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.
Sky is the UK's biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News. Around two-thirds of Sky's content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.
Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator. Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.
Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi. NOW TV, Sky's second consumer brand, builds on the company's leadership in internet TV. Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play' provider of TV, broadband and home phone.
Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts. Sky employs 24,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.2 billion and is estimated to support a £5.9 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY). www.sky.com/corporate.
About Roku Inc.
Roku is the creator of the most popular streaming software platform for delivering video, music and casual games to the TV. Roku launched the first device to stream Netflix to the TV in 2008, and since then has sold more than 5 million Roku streaming players in the U.S. Roku players are also available in Canada, the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. In addition, Roku works with OEMs who create Roku Ready® devices which access the Roku streaming platform. Roku Ready devices can be purchased from major retailers in the U.S. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. Roku is privately held and headquartered in Saratoga, Calif., U.S. For more information or to purchase directly from Roku, visit www.roku.com.
Roku and Roku Ready are registered trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries.
About YouView
YouView is an on demand TV service with over 70 live free-to-air digital TV and radio channels. It seamlessly combines seven day catch-up on BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5 with a library of on demand television programmes, films and radio. A range of quality content is available via on demand players from Dave imagined by UKTV, Now TV powered by Sky, milkshake! and STV. YouView has record, pause and rewind TV functionality as well as a simple search feature.
YouView is offered as part of broadband subscription bundles from TalkTalk and BT. It is also available to buy subscription-free from all major retailers and many independent electrical stores including John Lewis, Currys, Argos, Tesco, Amazon, Richer Sounds and Euronics.
For more information visit: www.youview.com, on Twitter @YouView and Facebook at facebook.com/youview.
