Sky launches Virtual Reality unit MARCH 17, 2016 14

Sky is launching a new unit to create original virtual reality content putting viewers at the heart of the story.

Sky VR Studio will release its first content on Friday; two films shot during Formula 1 testing in Barcelona, designed to transport viewers to the pit lane, into the team garages, and out onto the track.

The two F1 VR experiences, which were produced in conjunction with Formula One Management and Williams Martini Racing, will be made available via the Facebook 360 Video platform. The full VR experience will also be available on the Oculus platform, and viewable on the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift headsets.

Later in the year, Sky will look to distribute content through a dedicated Sky VR app.

Sky News has already shot footage in the VR format.

Gary Davey, Sky’s managing director of content said, commented: “The Sky VR Studio allows us to add a new dimension to storytelling, taking viewers to extraordinary places and offering a unique perspective on a whole host of events. The development of VR technology is moving at an incredible pace and excitement is building about its potential.”

The team, which is led by Executive Producer Neil Graham, includes production staff with rare and valuable experience in VR film making. It will be bolstered with the addition of award-winning VR director Richard Nockles, who directed Sky VR Studio’s F1 film, and is behind a wide range of VR projects for a number of global brands.

It’s anticipated some 20 films will be shot in VR over the course of the year.

Sky to overtake Liberty Global in Western Europe

Liberty Global has been the largest pay TV operator in Europe for some time (with assets both in the West and in the East). However, its top slot in Western Europe is under threat, with Sky Europe [satellite subs only] expected to overtake its subscriber count in 2017, according to a new report from Digital TV Research.

Liberty Global’s subscriber count will fall as the company has to try to convert 8 million analog cable subs in 2010 to none by 2020 – some of these subs will be lost to other digital platforms. To put it another way, Liberty Global’s analog TV revenues [subscriptions and PPV] in Western Europe in 2010 were $1.5 billion (29% of its total) – but they will fall to nothing by 2020.

Pay TV subscriptions for the 66 operators across 15 countries covered in the Western Europe Pay TV Operator Forecasts report will increase from a collective 82.0 million in 2010 to 93.1 million by 2020. Covering 98 platforms, these operators will continue to represent just under 90% of Western European pay TV subscribers.

Only 36 (55%) of these operators will add to subscribers between 2014 and 2020. Traditional pay TV operators now face greater rivalry than ever before – either from other pay TV platforms such as IPTV or satellite or from “free” multichannel TV services such as DTT and OTT TV and video (such as Netflix).

Spain’s Telefonica will add 2.18 million IPTV subscribers between 2014 and 2020 to take its total to 3.84 million. The UK’s BT and TalkTalk will also gain; climbing by 999,000 and 607,000 IPTV subs respectively.

At the other end of the scale, Germany’s Unitymedia will lose 592,000 cable TV subs, followed by the Netherlands’ UPC (down by 400,000) and Sweden’s Com Hem (down by 390,000 subs). France’s TNT will lose a third of its subs, with Switzerland’s UPC/Cablecom and Finland’s Canal Digital down by a quarter.

Total subscription and VOD revenues for the 66 operators will remain at around $29 billion. These operators account for about 92% of Western European pay TV revenues. Sky Europe [satellite TV subs only] will remain at the top of the revenues league, recording $10.5 billion subscription and VOD revenues by 2020.

Subscription and VOD revenues will fall for 37 of the 66 operators (56%) covered in the Western Europe Pay TV Operator Forecasts report between 2014 and 2020. UPC in the Netherlands will be the biggest winner; increasing revenues by $310 million between 2014 and 2020 as subs convert from analog to digital. However, France’s CanalSat will lose $229 million as homes convert to fixed/triple-play options.

Sky and Cisco maintain alliances in clients and cloud

It is a no-brainer for Sky and Cisco to maintain the relationship between the two companies. But the technology company no longer had the advantage of being a part of the News family now that NDS is just a memory, and the decisions are absolutely taken on technology. Not that we ever had a doubt.

But the decision to renew agreements on set-top box middleware solutions take on a greater significance now that Sky is buying not just for the UK market, but also businesses in Germany and Italy.

Also included is an extension to the agreements for VideoGuard conditional access and digital rights management.

Alun Webber, Managing Director, Product Design & Development, Sky said: “Our relationship with Cisco is critical to helping us realize our vision to accelerate time to market for the delivery of advanced entertainment services for our DTH subscribers that offer greater choice, convenience and control.”

Cisco cloud technology also plays a key part in the AdSmart targeted advertising platform.

Sky to overtake Liberty Global in Western Europe

Liberty Global has been the largest pay TV operator in Europe for some time (with assets both in the West and in the East). However, its top slot in Western Europe is under threat, with Sky Europe [satellite subs only] expected to overtake its subscriber count in 2017, according to a new report from Digital TV Research.

Liberty Global’s subscriber count will fall as the company has to try to convert 8 million analog cable subs in 2010 to none by 2020 – some of these subs will be lost to other digital platforms. To put it another way, Liberty Global’s analog TV revenues [subscriptions and PPV] in Western Europe in 2010 were $1.5 billion (29% of its total) – but they will fall to nothing by 2020.

Pay TV subscriptions for the 66 operators across 15 countries covered in the Western Europe Pay TV Operator Forecasts report will increase from a collective 82.0 million in 2010 to 93.1 million by 2020. Covering 98 platforms, these operators will continue to represent just under 90% of Western European pay TV subscribers.

Only 36 (55%) of these operators will add to subscribers between 2014 and 2020. Traditional pay TV operators now face greater rivalry than ever before – either from other pay TV platforms such as IPTV or satellite or from “free” multichannel TV services such as DTT and OTT TV and video (such as Netflix).

Spain’s Telefonica will add 2.18 million IPTV subscribers between 2014 and 2020 to take its total to 3.84 million. The UK’s BT and TalkTalk will also gain; climbing by 999,000 and 607,000 IPTV subs respectively.

At the other end of the scale, Germany’s Unitymedia will lose 592,000 cable TV subs, followed by the Netherlands’ UPC (down by 400,000) and Sweden’s Com Hem (down by 390,000 subs). France’s TNT will lose a third of its subs, with Switzerland’s UPC/Cablecom and Finland’s Canal Digital down by a quarter.

Total subscription and VOD revenues for the 66 operators will remain at around $29 billion. These operators account for about 92% of Western European pay TV revenues. Sky Europe [satellite TV subs only] will remain at the top of the revenues league, recording $10.5 billion subscription and VOD revenues by 2020.

Subscription and VOD revenues will fall for 37 of the 66 operators (56%) covered in the Western Europe Pay TV Operator Forecasts report between 2014 and 2020. UPC in the Netherlands will be the biggest winner; increasing revenues by $310 million between 2014 and 2020 as subs convert from analog to digital. However, France’s CanalSat will lose $229 million as homes convert to fixed/triple-play options.