Pricing announced for Sky on Xbox 360

By Ellie Gibson Published 27 October, 2009

Packages start at 15 quid per month.

Microsoft has revealed how much you can expect to access the Sky Player via your Xbox 360 in the UK.

First off you'll need an Xbox Live Gold membership. Then it's £15 per month for the basic Entertainment Pack, which includes G.O.L.D., Sky Real Lives, Sky Arts 1, Sky News and MTV One.

You also get National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, History and Eden, while for sports fans there's Sky Sports News, British Eurosport and ESPN Classic. Kids get Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Nick Jr.

You can get more channels if you front up more cash each month, as follows. (All packages include the Entertainment Pack as standard.)

  • £25 - Sky Sports 1 OR Sky Sports 2 + Sky Sports Xtra
  • £34 - Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 + Sky Sports Xtra
  • £24 - Sky Movies Screen 1 OR Screen 2
  • £32 - Sky Movies Screen 1 + Screen 2
  • £33 - One movie channel + one sports channel + Sky Sports Xtra
  • £38 - One movie channel + all sports channels, OR vice versa, + Sky Sports Xtra
  • £41 - All sports and movie channels
  • From £9 per month extra - ESPN

You can also access further movies and TV show episodes via Sky's on-demand service. Some of these will be free while others will be paid for, with prices starting at £1 for a single TV show.

If you've already got Sky, you can access on-demand content for the channels you already pay for. If you've got Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited, you can get live channels too.

To celebrate the launch Microsoft is releasing a special bundle pack for £29.99. That gets you a three-month Gold subscription, a one month Sky Player subscription (Sky Sports Pack) and a Media Remote.

Sky Player for Xbox 360 launches today. Visit Sky.com for more info, or read our preview.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (98) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Tyranix #1 2 years ago

    Wow, cheap at twice the price.

    ...

  • mattigan #2 2 years ago

    Not interested in monthly stuff, but the on demand TV shows look cheap enough... On demand Football matches will be a real clincher for a lot of people I would guess. If they actually anounce on demand Premiership matches that is.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 10:07

  • CreepinJesus #3 2 years ago

    Sky's prices are pushing ridiculous.

  • Peew971 #4 2 years ago

    That's too expensive... and I'm a Sky subscriber!

  • bad09 #5 2 years ago

    I like that the TV shows are cheap, but I'm more interested in Sonys offering in a few weeks TBH as I'm more interested in owning the shows than streaming.

  • kinky_mong #6 2 years ago

    Is there ever anything remotely decent on the Sky channels that would actually justify these ridiculous subscription fees?

  • JahB #7 2 years ago

    does anybody know if they broadcast in HD on the 360? if so, i'm tempted. if not, then no thanks

  • Eraysor #8 2 years ago

    Considering I can't get any TV at all here at the moment, the cheapest monthly package looks like a good solution.

  • ColdShoulder #9 2 years ago

    Nuh uh. No way. £15 per month for a service that's 50% adverts? Forget it.

  • Ornithophobe #10 2 years ago

    So you get to pay ridiculous prices and blow your connections download quota / fair use terms into the bargain ? marvelous.

  • Ringot #11 2 years ago

    When can I get the "special bundle pack" from? Linkies please, couldn't find any info on the sky site.

  • barchetta #12 2 years ago

    Funny, but that sky.com webpage has no reference to the 360 or Microsoft at all...

    So would Sky One and more interestingly, FX be included in the base pack?

  • iter #13 2 years ago

    @HenryVIII

    This is to target the people that Sky can't currently get to. Examples: those who live in a rented property and are not allowed to install a satellite dish, people living in listed buildings that are not allowed to have a dish installed, students in uni accommodation, etc.

  • alimokrane #14 2 years ago

    I was really hoping that they would let us choose which channels we want to pay for. I personally only want Sky sports 1,2 and Extra.... make all individual channels available separetely for god's sake!
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 10:25

  • The-Bodybuilder #15 2 years ago

    Has got sky and will get sky broadband soon, so YAY for me.

  • kipper #16 2 years ago

    @ JahB
    Terrestrial channels are not available initially and programmes will also not be shown in HD, because broadband speeds in Britain are "simply not good enough", says Sky's David Mercer.
    http://ww w.computerandvideogames.com/art...

  • Darren #17 2 years ago

    So let's say a Silver LIVE user wanted this Sky Player only; Microsoft expect them to pay £30+ per annum for the privilege of being able to pay £15 per month to Sky? Does that sound right? :?

    Sometimes I think this whole Gold subscription thing is just so utterly, utterly wrong and that it's Microsoft's cynical way of milking as much money out of their users as possible. I'm so glad I cancelled mine when I did and moved over to the PC for the majority of my gaming.

  • cyacomini #18 2 years ago

    "If you've already got Sky, you can access on-demand content for the channels you already pay for"

    Correction...

    "If you've already got Sky, whats the bloody point!"

  • Deckard1 #19 2 years ago

    I've already got multiroom and all the sky packages so its good for me.

    Anyone else not able to sign in to it though? I just get an error message

  • Widge #20 2 years ago

    iter: hadn't thought of those scenarios, good pointage.

  • dirk_aircool #21 2 years ago

    why bother ?. when u had sky for 6 months u seen it all anyway .sooner they go out of buisness the better . lets get back to proper 3 channel TV.

  • BabyJesus #22 2 years ago

    No Sale.

  • Ihya #23 2 years ago

    Jesus that is expensive!

  • El-Dev #24 2 years ago

    Has anyone got this to work yet? I just registered but I can't connect to the service now.

  • WinterSnowblind #25 2 years ago

    @cyacomini
    I already have Sky, and I'm very happy with the news. It means I can watch it another room.
    The prices are high, but if you don't already own Sky, where you expecting it to be cheap?

  • paulf #26 2 years ago

    does it have access to the red button - particually the match choice on the footy on saturday eves?

  • Mkwone #27 2 years ago

    So is this the same pricing/service as it is to have Sky on PC? Having tried it on the PC last night i was impressed with the content i had available although i was disapointed that i had to still pay extra for programmes like House despite having all the packages for the TV serive.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #28 2 years ago

    I can't see me ever bothering with this, ever, at all, ever, but can you download individual episodes/movies/sports events without a Sky subscription? Say, it's a tenner or a fiver or whatever for an individual footie match or movie premiere, even without paying the £15 a month sub...?

  • jambo74 #29 2 years ago

    So......I have an Xbox with Gold Subscription
    I have Sky HD, full package (movies / sport)

    And they want me to pay again to watch the same content live on another device just because I choose a decent broadband provider?

    Get real!

  • Apostle #30 2 years ago

    I have Sky and Sky broadband. Lucky me! Am genuinely happy about this.

  • El-Dev #31 2 years ago

    Managed to watch the first 30secs of Deathproof before I was disconnected from the service. Hope they get it sorted soon.

  • Vic #32 2 years ago

    MS+Sky = the great big rip-off!

  • Anthony_UK #33 2 years ago

    I don't get it, looking on the sky website, you can get the movies & sports pack for £25.00

    Where as on the 360 its £41.00

    I've not been with Sky for a while, but i'm sure they'll still have the half a dozen movie channels where as 360 only seems to have 2.

    Even if this is purely aimed at people who can't actually get Sky normally, why try to rip people off in this way, especially when its such a high profile add on to the 360?

    On demand football matches may interst me depending on the cost, other than that its an atomic facepalm to whoever came up with this pricing!

  • photoboy #34 2 years ago

    I downloaded the player this morning and it wasn't working, it also pointed me to a support website that was dead. The website is now working but it tells me nothing about the error code I was getting.

    At any rate, now I know it needs a Gold account it's all moot as I don't have a Gold account and since I don't like playing online I'm not paying for one. You have to wonder why Sky, Facebook and Twitter bothered if they were going to be shut out from a huge number of users, just so they could be used as a means to try and squeeze a Gold subscription out of people...

  • Wolverfrog #35 2 years ago

    Who in their right mind would pay £15 a month for a Sky package which doesn't even contain as many channels as it would if you bought standard multi-room? They should make channels you can get on freeview for free.

  • alimokrane #36 2 years ago

    The only deal I can see as a good one is if they make all channels available SEPARATELY. I want to pay for what I want!

  • GamerG #37 2 years ago

    absurd pricing, this service is really of any real use to people who already have Sky

    Surely it should be discounted because the quality will surely not be as good or as reliable?
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 11:07

  • stevetuck #38 2 years ago

    I can hear Virgin Media crying already about people raping the internet... if its full HD you can prob watch about hmmm 3hrs viewing before your internet gets cut and you cant do ANYTHING on it :)

  • miiiguel #39 2 years ago

    This should be made available outside UK. I wouldn't mind this price as I have no other way of getting Sky (well, not legitimately at least, and I don't do "shady";).

  • optimusprym8 #40 2 years ago

    I already have Sky so not paying twice for the same crappy content

  • Petulant_Radish #41 2 years ago

    @Cyacomini

    Sky does not have a large on demand service, their Anytime service is primarily used to record shows for channels you do not have to attempt to entice you to purchase them, alongside the odd large acquisition for them. As a Sky subscriber being able to access all the Sky Player on demand content via my television is, for me, a very good thing.

    The pricing is ludicrous, but this is Microsoft & Sky we’re talking about, they’re not exactly known for giving their consumers the best value in entertainment. An for everyone asking for a per channel basis subscription, this will never happen, as it takes away from the value of other channels to the platform. Sky need a reason for having NatGeo and all the other channels you would never normally watch on the platform so that they can get a carriage fee from them.

  • skillian #42 2 years ago

    Anyone wishing for no-subscription Premiership games on demand is living in dreamland I'm afraid.

    If Sky did that they would lose 75% of their subscribers tomorrow.

  • cyacomini #43 2 years ago

    Sky Player error codes here fella's

    [link url=http://support .microsoft.com/kb/976843
    ]http://support .microsoft.com/kb/976843
    [/link]

  • Bmovie #44 2 years ago

    Will PPV stuff be available, like the Haye v Valuev fight?

  • jonbwfc #45 2 years ago

    @alimokrane

    Sky are never ever going to allow people to just have the channels they want to watch on a 'pick & mix' basis, on any platform. Sky make money partly by charging the channels for being on the service. if they allowed people to have only the channels they actually watched, the other channels could then say 'well, hardly anyone is watching us, so we're not going to pay you very much to carry our channel'.

    Sky bundles the channels together so it can go to the channel providers and say 'look at all these viewers who we are supplying your channel to. Pay us!' If it couldn't do that, it would lose a lot of money from a lot of it's channels - and the ones most people would want to watch are mostly the channels it provides itself that it actually loses money on, so there's nobody for it to charge for providing them.

    So no, never going to happen. Not on Sky boxes, not on sky player, not on 360. Unbundling simply doesn't make sense for Sky.

  • Madafunkola #46 2 years ago

    Did people actually think Sky would drastically undercut their core packages? If it was "cheap" they would lose customers from there main satallite services. This is an ADDITIONAL SERVICE, not a basic right to all Xbox owners. Nothing comes for free. People here are b*tching like MS are taxing them to breathe!

  • miiiguel #47 2 years ago

    "Sky bundles the channels together so it can go to the channel providers and say 'look at all these viewers who we are supplying your channel to. Pay us!'
    So no, never going to happen. Not on Sky boxes, not on sky player, not on 360. Unbundling simply doesn't make sense for Sky"

    You're totally right, though, this isn't a Sky/MS thing, same thing happens here in Portugal, and I bet in other countries as well.
    And, the same way *they* say: 'look at all these viewers" they also brag: 'look at all these channels', to the other end of the line.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 11:36

  • GamerG #48 2 years ago

    It what circumstances would people take out these packages?

    I guess if you cant have a dish or are in a non cable tv area this is a good way of getting sky sports?

  • Markitron #49 2 years ago

    I was hoping they would announce an on-demand football service with this, nothing else on sky really interests me. A few quid here and there for the odd game would be pretty sweet.

  • deadmonkeyuk #50 2 years ago

    I have both sky tv and unlimited broadband so this part could be interesting "If you've already got Sky, you can access on-demand content for the channels you already pay for."

    Will this mean I can watch series that I missed earlier in the year or will it only be what has been on sky that week?

  • septimus #51 2 years ago

    Wow, no wonder I dumped Sky HD. Hideous pricing mainly for shit TV.

  • JahB #52 2 years ago

    @kipper

    thanks for clearing this up, i'll be keeping my money then.

  • Eurolamer #53 2 years ago

    God bless Justin TV.

  • Lebowski #54 2 years ago

    Just fired it up to see if it could tempt me. Error codes all over the shop. Sod it, I'm not that bothered about paying £15 for Sky Arts and Nick Jr anyway.

  • Retroid #55 2 years ago

    Sky have approached this as a Sky box, basically. So no surprise with the prices, especially as they've been offering boxless online subs for a year or so now at very similar prices.

  • awb83 #56 2 years ago

    Right, so I have a Sky Subscription (sport but no movies), Sky Broadband Unlimited and Live Gold, does that mean I can watch on the Xbox Sky Player what I watch through normal Sky ?

  • Retroid #57 2 years ago

    I *think* so.

    We're subbed to the whole package and have Sky BB Unlimited, not signed up for this yet though.

  • El-Dev #58 2 years ago

    @awb83, yes. We have Sky HD multiroom and I was able to use it for free.

  • actionfitz #59 2 years ago

    hahahahahaha.
    yeah. thats a real bargain!
    wankers lol.

  • mukki #60 2 years ago

    not that I live in the UK but that seems a bit pricey...

  • miiiguel #61 2 years ago

    EURO prices please EUROGAMER.

    This doesn't make sense, in this case. This is not available outside UK.

  • El-Dev #62 2 years ago

    @miiiguel, yes it does. Sky and their channels can only show their shows in the UK, where they own the rights to show them. Maybe a TV provider in Euroland will set up some agreement with MS to get this going with their version.

  • mrmonkey1980 #63 2 years ago

    the words 'smeg' and 'off' occur

  • miiiguel #64 2 years ago

    @El-Dev : What I tried to say was that Sirish's claim for Euro pricing in this matter doesn't make much sense as the service is UK only.

  • El-Dev #65 2 years ago

    @miiguel, ah. Very well then.

  • secombe #66 2 years ago

    It what circumstances would people take out these packages? I guess if you cant have a dish or are in a non cable tv area this is a good way of getting sky sports?

    Exactly, I'm not entirely sure why people are bitching about it, I assume 99% of those moaning have Sky (or have the option to have Sky), so why are they moaning?! Anyone thinking this would be a viable alternative to their current package are in dreamland, Sky didn't get to where they are today by being generous.

    The crucial benefits are:

    1. For those who can't get Sky or Cable, and trust me, there are plenty of us out there.

    2. This article doesn't make it clear, but as I understand it there is no 'contract' with this service, if there is a month with lots of Premiership football you want to want, just pay a one-off charge for that month.

    Of course, the issue with bandwith remains. The services being offered in the UK now far outweigh the capability of our network. I live in a newish built up area with hundreds of 'executive homes', yet we are 3 miles from the nearest exchange and Virgin do not cable new estates for whatever reason.
    Edited by 2 at 27/10/09 @ 12:43

  • Redeye #67 2 years ago

    Have a Sky sub and Sky Broadband, but I'm not shelling out extra for some Multiroom tosh. I pay enough as it is, and if I want to watch TV in my office instead of in the living room that badly, I'll buy a Freeview box.

  • Moz #68 2 years ago

    Here's an interesting question, if you subscribe to Sky over xbox do you then count as a "sky subscriber" for the perposes of getting sky talk and broadband, cos if so then thats a great deal as sky telephone is £10 line rental (cheaper then BT) and Sky unlimited is £10 a month for 20mb "max" with unlimited data. and from the sounds of things if you have a second 360 or 360 in differnt room to your sky box your essentially getting multiroom for free!!! (If i'm understanding the service orrectly).

    If i've got that right then BT are so screwed.

    EDIT:

    Also not sure what people are complaining about the prices are basically the normal sky subscription prices were you really expecting it to be cheaper?
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 13:14

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #69 2 years ago

    "HUUUUURRRRGGGGGLLLLHHHHHH"

    Aplogies, just brought up my lunch at the sight of those prices.

    I wonder if Sky have found a way of blocking the service or charging even more to users of Virgin Media Broadband yet?

  • Korpers #70 2 years ago

    The link in the article is just generic.

    'This is the link you are looking for' -

    http://ne ws.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technol...

  • El-Dev #71 2 years ago

    This appears to have been removed from the dashboard...

  • Deckard1 #72 2 years ago

    Yeah I've just tried to reinstall it and they've took it down. I'm guessing its because its "fucked"

  • Razorus #73 2 years ago

    Too expensive. I'll stick with Virgin for now.

  • Turrican #74 2 years ago

    I suppose this could be of use to me as my Xbox connects to my PC monitor and my Sky is working in the other rooms. So basically an extension of Multiroom - however existing subscribers already have access to the PC-based Sky Player, I just wasn't sure if it streamed live feeds like this claims to do.

    Will check it out (if it works), but as non-HD its only going to be a last resort.

  • Wildsleven #75 2 years ago

    like to get it but i dont like the idea paying for gold too when im already paying for the channels

  • spookyzombie #76 2 years ago

    This may be of some use to me as I don't have Sky and should be moving soon, so I don't want to get a dish installed on a house I may not live in for very much longer. Two questions though. Is it a monthly non 12 month contract deal and can you also get all the usual freeview channels through this package on the 360?

  • UKwoods #77 2 years ago

    This may sound stupid, but how do you get this to work? I downloaded the sky player thing and tried to start it but got an error code. Then when I looked later I could not even find the tab.

    Also, i'm still confused about the price. I have the complete sky package in my living room and sky's mid level broadband. Am I correct in thinking that if I upgrade to sky unlimited that will be the only cost?

  • UKwoods #78 2 years ago

    .........just found this

    http://www.t alkxbox.com/article3438.html

  • spatss #79 2 years ago

    What a ripoff.

  • feistycheese #80 2 years ago

    This is a huge rip off, the subscription fees for the Sky xbox channels are ridiculous, like many have said its easier and cheaper to get a Sky HD box and the relevant multiroom package. Of course thats to be expected, this was only ever going to be an expensive luxury which isnt really needed. And to those guys saying that it would be good if you want to pay £5 or £6 for a single footy match (not including the other charges), then go down to your local pub with some mates and spend that cash on a few pints while you watch it.

  • jefranklin18 #81 2 years ago

    Personally, I am happy with iPlayer & PlayTV combo on my PS3. The only reason I have Sky is for Sports1&2, and even then I do it through Virgin for their broadband.

  • Cider-X #82 2 years ago

    I wish this was available here in Denmark. I would cancel my regular crappy cable TV instantly

  • mcmonkeyplc #83 2 years ago

    [link url=htt p://skyplayer.sky.com/vod/page/default/home.do
    ]http://sk yplayer.sky.com/vod/page/defaul...[/link]

    For the people that think sky's website has no mention of the xbox or microsoft....probably PS3 fanboys.

    Anyway yes it's far too overpriced. I wont partake after the free month.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 16:51

  • Marshall2008 #84 2 years ago

    Guess its screwed up. No option to download it now, just the advert.

    I have sky HD already and pay for the multiroom subscription for my 2nd box which I don't use but this gives me access to the SKY player on my PC at work.

    Going to put this on my kids xbox so he can have the movies etc on demand in his room instead of using his laptop.

    No issues with broadband as I have Virgin 50MB cable. I didn't take virgin TV after the 30 day trial as it was complete shit and the V+ boxes are total crap with incredibly slow software on them.
    Edited by 2 at 27/10/09 @ 16:59

  • Invisible_Cow #85 2 years ago

    I was quite excited when I first heard this announcement, but now.. meh. Like most people, the only thing I would have been interested in is unbundled channels\pay-per-game sport coverage. I get all the other shit on Virgin TV anyway, without raping my broadband quota.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 16:54

  • jonsaan #86 2 years ago

    So, utterly pointless then, and another indication of how SKY are pricing themselves out of existance. Twunts.

  • Emmit_Assassin #87 2 years ago

    What a fuckin load of shit. I thought it was advertised as 'no subscription'?!!! Fucking wankers. And it doesn't even work yet. I downloaded it this morning, tried to use it and it told me to fuck off, then they removed it and replaced it with an advert. Typical Microsoft overhyped bullshit....I thought it was pay per view? Why would anyone pay it when they can get it with a dish and not worry about broadband speeds.
    This shit will be the biggest failure since the PS3...

  • dllord #88 2 years ago

    I'll stick with SkyHD!

  • GamesConnoisseur #89 2 years ago

    Loads of naysayers, but yes don't want it, don't pay it.

    Simple, already got Sky HD upstairs but increasingly the kids and wife watch their share of recorded progs, THIS makes lot of sense for me to watch Top Gear etc on x360 in the basement!

    We ll see how many takes this up but yes advantage for Sky is reaching those without access to dish and get few more customers.

    PS3 has their free subs as business model but their services aren't cost free and perhaps why European doesn't see as much contents? I do wish to pay monthly subs on PSN if the result is going to be a lotta better service but yes big advantage to pay nothing.

    Edit: Those of us who got Sky already doesn't need to pay extra for same package other than multi room right? Then how is it a problem, only if choose not to subscribe to Gold then that is a matter of choice ie not online playing any.

    Also if paying double to watch same, course no one in right mind will bend over and get ripped off!! I wouldn't but certainly keen on watching paid for content in another room, put my name on please!!
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/09 @ 18:47

  • MattyD #90 2 years ago

    wot no Bravo?

  • Goffee #91 2 years ago

    Officially buggered - http://ww w.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/...

  • freakzilla #92 2 years ago

    Why the hell do people watch this shit? Even a supposedly educational channel like Nat Geo is all about action and CG and drama.

    And why the hell would you want to pay extra? It doesn't look like the 360 offers anything that the sky box can't (unless I got something wrong)

  • freakzilla #93 2 years ago

    Rupert Murdock and Bill Gates... Hmm... I'm not feeling too good.

  • Badassbab #94 2 years ago

    I'm a Sky World subscriber with Sky broadband + Sky Talk + Multiroom so it's all free for me. The quality and buffering speeds is excellent.

  • Badassbab #95 2 years ago

    Whats all this about Sky Player not working, I've been on it al evening.

  • icematt12 #96 2 years ago

    Based on how I understood the xbox site:

    Do you have xbox live gold?
    Do you have a current sky tv subscription?
    Doyou have either Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited?

    If you answer Yes to all 3, then it appears you can get this for free. Surprise, surprise there is now no mention of Sky Player on the dashboard now after all day saying it will be available later today. Except now, we can't blame people the other side of the atlantic for this mess.

  • Ashcroft #97 2 years ago

    Why the hell do you need Gold for this? As far as I can see, there is no need for it. You're not using Live in any way, it's just a connection to Sky. Typical fucking Microsoft, taking money but providing no service.

  • TheNewGokWan #98 2 years ago

    What are the chances of them ever doing Pay Per View Football matches or even just offering the Sports Pack (1,2 and 3) for a certain price. I would be happy to pay for both but not 15 quid for that fucking Entertainment pack cos I would watch none of the channels that come with that.