BSkyB (LON:BSY) is expanding its Sky Anytime PC TV download service to let customers buy download-to-own TV shows via the web. The satellite operator already offers pay-per-view Sky One shows for between £0.50 and £2 with a DRM’d expiry window, download-to-own shows for between £2 and £2.50 and Box Office movie rentals for £3.95. But the distribution is handled by Kontiki download manager, the peer-to-peer Windows desktop application also used by BBC’s iPlayer and Channel 4’s 4OD. Now BSkyB has enlisted Dutch pay media facilitator Entriq to power a pay-for backend that will allow customers to download and keep programming from Sky’s in-house channel line-up without it expiring.
Correcting details given earlier, a BSkyB spokesperson told paidContent:UK it had enlisted Dutch pay TV facilitator Entriq to build a backend that would allow customers to buy shows via sky.com web properties. He said it would remove the necessity to make purchases via the desktop application, but stressed it was an experiment. It gives the operator more flexibility in the commercial offerings in its armoury, he said; roll-out will be incremental and include content from Sky’s own in-house channel lineup, though not all programming will be available. Sky Anytime currently also gives subscribers to Sky’s movies, sport and entertainment TV packages free downloads of sports highlights and 400 movies.