360 gets Sky TV's Sky Player in UK

Microsoft and Sky have announced a deal to provide Sky TV on Xbox 360, via the Sky Player online TV service. The service will launch in the UK and Ireland this autumn.

The channel and content line-up has yet to be confirmed, but Sky expects to offer movies, Premier League football, Test Match cricket, entertainment shows, documentaries, and kids, music and arts programming. There will be both live TV and on-demand streaming services.

Existing Sky customers will be able to use their 360s as a new way to access content, but the real draw will be for those without satellite dishes. Sky isn't talking pricing for these new customers yet, but promises "a wide range of live channels and on-demand content via a number of special packages" as well as pay-per-view options for "favourite shows".

The Xbox Live Sky Player will also offer interactive options – news, fixtures and league table information on Sky Sports, for example. You'll be able to communicate live with your friends while watching, using Xbox Live's party chat.

"Xbox owners now have a range of ways to access Sky content and can pick and choose the platform and packages that are right for them," said Sky's Stephen Nuttall in a statement.

"Our customers have told us that they want the opportunity to use their consoles as a way to access TV and once again Xbox has pulled off an entertainment first with amazing content and rich interactive experience," said UK Xbox chief Neil Thompson.

You can find out more in our full feature report.