Sky Player for Xbox 360 dated

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 October, 2009

Late October launch.

Microsoft has announced that Sky Player will launch for Xbox 360 on 27th October.

As you can see on the official website, the full channel line-up and pricing will be confirmed at launch.

Sky Player is currently available via the internet and allows you to subscribe (for a steep monthly fee) to watch things like Sky Movies, Sky Sports and other marquee channels.

It's heavily reliant on Microsoft's Silverlight technology for encryption - so much so that when a Silverlight exploit was exposed a while ago the service was taken offline - which presumably explains the Xb0x bi4s.

Look out for our impressions of the service soon, and check out our existing article on how it's all intended to work for more.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • cianchristopher #1 2 years ago

    But what about the porn channels? When are they "available on your Xbox 360 entertainment system"?

  • geoffw22 #2 2 years ago

    I hope its free for multi-room subscribers, like the current PC Sky Player is

  • GamerG #3 2 years ago

    I have heard conflicting reports about this can some one clarify, I have a Sky HD subscription (with sports etc) and an Xbox Live Gold account. I do not have multiroom or sky player subscription.

    Am I good to go?

  • udat #4 2 years ago

    I think you are good to go as long as you pony up a bit more cash...

  • Jay-ITFC #5 2 years ago

    I thought you may have to already be paying for multi-room to get it free as it's essentially an extension of that. Guess we'll see.
    Edited by 2 at 14/10/09 @ 16:29

  • B0MBJ4CK #6 2 years ago

    @ Gamer G

    Your looking good, son.

    More info here

    http://www.xbox. com/en-GB/skyplayer/

  • ForburyLion #7 2 years ago

    Presumably there's no need to actually keep the xbox at your home address which means you can watch your sky channels elsewhere if you take your xbox 360 with you?

  • B0MBJ4CK #8 2 years ago

    and here

    http://f.chtah.com/s /29/2072009801/xbox....

  • Zomoniac #9 2 years ago

    If you can buy individual football matches, best thing ever (or if Sky Sports is affordable as a sub). Otherwise, pointless. For me, at least.

  • Quint2020 #10 2 years ago

    So.... does this mean I can watch Sky TV on the upstairs Xbox using our current Sky subscription? i.e. Not having to pay extra for a multi viewer whatsit.

  • Shane86 #11 2 years ago

    I don't have a multiroom or a sky player subscription, so I assume they're going to charge me extra to watch live tv

  • seasidebaz #12 2 years ago

    HOORAY!!

    Even though I'll miss most of the Heineken Cup before it arrives though...

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #13 2 years ago

    I've got Gold but no Sky sub whatsoever, so I'm assuming I'll have to pay for everything they do. Which makes it a bit pointless for me; why fork out £1.50 per episode of Lost when I can buy an entire series for £15 or something?

  • peteb #14 2 years ago

    Oh man I'd so pay for this if I thought I could use it in Germany (to watch stuff from UK I mean). I guess its IP filtered?

  • ZuluHero #15 2 years ago

    So if I'm already subbed to sky, i can use my xbox to watch TV in another room? Seeing as its all streamed I'm going to need an unlimited broadband service now! :p

  • GamerG #16 2 years ago

    @B0MBJ4CK

    I hope thats right! Thats the way I read it as well!

    So all going well all you need is an xbox 360 an existing sky tv or sky player subscription and an Xbox live subscription and you can move sky around anywhere in the house!

    By the way I found this deal on live subs if anyone is after any £26.99 for 13 months
    http://ww w.xboxliveuk76.com/index.php?pr...
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/09 @ 16:55

  • WinterSnowblind #17 2 years ago

    It will be great if we only need a Sky subscription, but if there's anything on top of that, I just don't see the point.
    It'll be interesting to see what channels are available though, hopefully it goes beyond simply the movies and sports channels.

  • Vortex808 #18 2 years ago

    Ah well, the sky sub is in the missus' name and XBL in mine, so no doubt we'll be expected to pay through the nose, unless they're matching billing addresses.

    Bit of a shame, as i would've liked to have the option to take on the occassional football match as i wouldn't watch enough to justify the sky sports sub, but that would be about that. We already have sky+ for what little televisual needs we have.

  • Shane86 #19 2 years ago

    @Gamer G

    The on demand movies,sports, tv shows etc. are free to sky movies and sports subscribers, but you'll need a multiroom subscription for live tv

  • Skoptsie #20 2 years ago

    Don't forget folks, this won't give you anywhere near the full lineup of satellite channels. Like with the Sky Player website, it's a selection of about 25 - mainly Sky's own channels plus things like Nat Geo, some sports and kids stuff. No BBC, ITV, C4 etc.

    Sorry to disappoint anyone hoping to catch the 10-minute freeview on channels in the 900+ range on their 360.

  • GamerG #21 2 years ago

    @Shane86

    Thanks mate not quite as good as hoped but still useful for catching up on the odd program

  • seasidebaz #22 2 years ago

    @Vortex:

    Get your missus to set up a MySky account online, then just use those login details on the 360.

  • Petulant_Radish #23 2 years ago

    Skoptsie, why would anyone even bother with those 10 minute freeviews in this day and age, there are numerous sites now where you can watch up to hour long hardcore videos, legally, for free.

  • Madafunkola #24 2 years ago

    I'm going to guess that each sky account can only be linked to one live gamertag?
    But either way - can take your HDD/Mem card (or recover tag) to a friends and watch movies-on-demand on another box?

  • lennon #25 2 years ago

    I was really impressed with Sky Player over the summer watched The Ashes at work and at home on the laptop whilst the kids watched their general stuff was able to watch some of the football on a Sunday whilst doing some jobs and then all of a sudden it stopped working. Multiroom subscription is now required so frankly they can bugger off. I pay enough as it is for something I watch little of.

    Real shame as well coz I thought this sounded like a real winner.

  • Markusdragon #26 2 years ago

    If MS plaster adverts for Sky over my dashboard for more than a couple of weeks, I'm going to unplug the damn thing. Gods, how I loathe Rupert Murdoch.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/09 @ 17:21

  • asphaltcowboy #27 2 years ago

    As a former, long-term Sky customer (who can't get Sky in his new house), I'm intrigued to know how much they're going to charge for this. Any chance of some basic Sky+ features?

  • geoffw22 #28 2 years ago

    Assuming the pricing is the same as the PC Sky Player, it is free for anyone with a Multiroom or Broadband Unlimited subscription, for single box sky subscribers it costs £9.75 and gives you access to a selection of channels that matches your main subscription, i.e if you dont sub to Sky Sports on your main box, you wont get it on Sky Player,

    For non Sky customers its costs from £15 to £41 a month.

    of course this could all be different for the Xbox service.

  • metallicorphan #29 2 years ago

    couldn't they of done a deal with Virgin TV as well?,LOL

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #30 2 years ago

    As far as I know the pricing is exactly the same as the Sky Player as that's essentially what you're subscribing to. That means that Movies and Sports are on a subscription basis only which kills the biggest possible selling point for this service - Pay per view movies and sport.

    I wouldn't mind if the subs where reasonable, but its the same price as a normal Sky sub. i.e. too pricey for me. :(

    There is some on demand stuff on their priced between 80p and £1.40 but none of it was compelling imho.

  • snick #31 2 years ago

    @lennon... works for me still, watching the football on skyplayer right now and I've not got a multiroom account.

    Not sure its particularly useful now though as xbox and sky are on the same TV.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/09 @ 19:00

  • GamerG #32 2 years ago

    just installed sky player on my laptop and with my sky sub I can see that I can not watch live but can watch a lot of the latest shows on demand, it also covers a few of the documentary channels I like like History and NG so i'm pretty happy

    It also covers the BBC so no need for the BBCiplayer

  • canoot #33 2 years ago

    They will get the pricing wrong just the same as they do with everything else.

  • AgentBalti #34 2 years ago

    And how noisy will the Xbox be now with Sky running on it? Hmmm...

  • Merlinho #35 2 years ago

    From Sky website

    If you already subscribe to Sky TV, you can watch TV programmes on demand from the channels you're able to access on your Sky Box. For most recent shows we won't charge you anything extra. You can also choose from our extensive library of older catch-up programmes to rent or buy.

    If you subscribe to Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited, you can watch live TV on Sky Player at no additional charge. All other Sky TV customers can subscribe to watch live TV on Sky Player for only £9.75/€14.75 a month, with no need for additional Sky boxes or installation.

    And you log into it using a username and password linked to your sky account (mysky), so probably be able to get round issues with XBL and Sky account being in different names.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/09 @ 19:21

  • Shane86 #36 2 years ago

    @GamerG

    the bbc content links to the iplayer, it's not on sky player itself.

  • WinterSnowblind #37 2 years ago

    @AgentBalti
    The 360 is only noisy when there's something in the disc drive, and the optional installs completely eliminate the noise. Why would there be any noise watching digital content?

    In my experience the PS3 is far worse for things like this. Although the system is usually relatively quiet, once it's been on for a period of time and the fans kick in, it's definitely louder than the 360 or Wii.

  • StooMonster #38 2 years ago

    Svpamm1: red ringing, are you talking channels in the 900+ range? ;p

  • Quixz #39 2 years ago

    I wonder if the movies will be HD.. That would be very cool since we have the sky+ and not the HD box.

  • Shane86 #40 2 years ago

    @Quixz the movies are all SD

  • chiz #41 2 years ago

    http://tvcatchup.com . Fuck sky.

  • TheJuriel #42 2 years ago

    Again, this would be a chance for them to give some freebies to Gold subscribers, but of course that's not happening. I'm not going to pay lots for something that takes about the same effort to download to my PC.

  • GamerG #43 2 years ago

    @ TheJuriel

    thats ok if you have a PC set up to your tv, getting this working full screen on your tv will be a lot easier on 360 than playing around with settings etc

    @shane86 yu you are right about the BBCiplayer, seems a bit of a cop out on the sky's part!

  • CableNut #44 2 years ago

    Will it be in full screen, because if its only a window mode whats the point of having a 47" - 50" TV ?

  • rhubarbandcustard #45 2 years ago

    As Sky TV is owned by Rupert Murdoch doesn't that make all Sky viewers scum of the earth by association?

    Just saying.

  • CableNut #46 2 years ago

    I take it you only have freeview then ;)

  • Vortex808 #47 2 years ago

    Cheers seaside baz and merlinho:

    >If you subscribe to Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited, you can watch live TV on Sky Player at no additional charge. All >other Sky TV customers can subscribe to watch live TV on Sky Player for only £9.75/€14.75 a month, with no need for >additional Sky boxes or installation.
    >
    >And you log into it using a username and password linked to your sky account (mysky), so probably be able to get round >issues with XBL and Sky account being in different names.


    This is fairly reassuring- we're on sky broadband currently, and i think the missus is set up on mysky, so i guess my point/fretting was needless.

    Now, i just want to be able to buy the odd football game with minimal (i wish) MS points so i can watch the odd game live!

  • actionfitz #48 2 years ago

    so assuming im stupid enough to pay a large fee for movies and TV I can rip off the internet anyway, with my Sky box sitting beside my xbox - under my large HD telly...
    im supposed to be excited about being able to watch that stuff from my xbox too?
    rly?
    at its very basic, does this just mean that sky suscribers now have the option of an extra standard sky box?
    whoopdee doo.

  • Masterless #49 2 years ago

    What about us paupers who do not have anything sky?

    The website seems to say you don't need a sky account. Does that mean I can buy a footie game on a one off for like £5-10 and just watch that?

    Any sort of subscribtion will put me right off

  • systems #50 2 years ago

    A bit of a shame you have to be a Gold member *and* already have access to the Sky Player. As it is you're just getting a free Sky box in effect (but already connected to the big telly your Sky box is on!).

    I'm a Gold member, but I only have Sky+ single room and no Sky broadband. Oh well. I was looking forward to this.

  • RexRunti #51 2 years ago

    I agree, to be useful for a wider audiance, (as opposed to something useful for a few) there needs to be an on demand service for live sport/events for non subscibers.

    Of course having a V+ box with a full subscription to all the Sky Channels sitting next to my XBox will always make this redundent for me. (I could always put the spare Xbox in my bedroom but I've already got an additional cable box there anyway.)

  • rhubarbandcustard #52 2 years ago

    @ Masterless:

    Why would a pauper want to spend money he can ill afford watching multi-millionaire halfwits running around a football pitch?

    It boggles the mind that so many people continue to follow football when it is so blatantly obvious that these pros despise and scorn the masses that worship them from afar.

    Footballers really do hate you.

    Especially Craig Bellamy. And Michael Owen.

  • BigE0n #53 2 years ago

    Ill be interested in this when the Sky player on the 360 can access HD content, until then I may as well stick to my Virgin Cable, as the resolution is the same.

  • Teamallstar #54 2 years ago

    A long list of who cares. When exactly is MW2 coming out?

  • Masterless #55 2 years ago

    @rhubarbandcustard

    If thats the case, I'll have to go and kneecap Bellamy, I won't need to bother with Owen as no doubt he's already injured.

  • Syrette #56 2 years ago

    Will it be in full screen, because if its only a window mode whats the point of having a 47" - 50" TV ?

    Yes, there's a full screen option. You can either use that or have it letterboxed so you can see your avatar and make him/her emote.

  • Sar #57 2 years ago

    "or looking to extend your existing Sky subscription into another room"

    Pfft. They'll be wanting another £10 a month off me. No fucking chance. I pay £47 a month for the full package as it is. If they think I'm paying them nearly £60 a month for TV they can fuck right off.