Sky today revealed that more than half of all its TV customers have now connected their Sky+HD box to broadband for easy access to its full range of On Demand services. This milestone follows the launch last summer of Sky's big push to drive take-up and usage of connected TV services, bringing more value to customers and opening up new growth opportunities.

In less than a year, the total number of connected Sky+HD boxes has more than doubled to 5.4 million, equivalent to 56,000 new households getting connected every week. This explosive growth means that more than 50% of Sky's 10.6m TV customers are now connected, stretching Sky's lead as Britain's most popular connected TV platform.

Connected customers can access a much richer range of content, including Britain's biggest Catch Up TV service and Box Sets of hit series like Game of Thrones, Prison Break and 24. They can also rent or purchase recent blockbusters and classic movies through Sky Store, which opens up an entirely new area of growth for Sky. All of this is available to customers through a new home page on the Sky electronic programme guide (EPG), which showcases the full range of On Demand content available to customers.

With On Demand downloads up more than three-fold in the last year, the impact on the viewing experience has been transformational. In the most recent quarter, On Demand viewing accounted for more than 5% of viewing in connected homes - equivalent to the third most popular linear channel in those homes. Evidence also shows that connected TV customers are watching more TV overall, are more satisfied and are more likely to recommend Sky.

The milestone was revealed on Wednesday morning by Jeremy Darroch, Sky's Chief Executive, in a speech to the EY Sustaining Digital Leadership conference in London. 

In his speech, Jeremy Darroch commented: "Our job is to offer customers the best possible TV experience, making sure that they can watch what they want, when they want, wherever they want. We aim to put Sky at the heart of the 'digitally connected household' - to meet customers' growing desire to consume content on their terms."

He added: "We see a widening and growing opportunity for Sky. Our market is opening up, getting bigger and broader. By innovating across different platforms, and adopting new technologies, we can create more ways to reach more customers than ever before."

-END-

For more information, please contact:

Matt Beake
Corporate Communications, Sky
matt.beake@bskyb.com

About Sky:

Sky is the UK and Ireland's leading home entertainment and communications  company.  Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK's biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News.   Around two-thirds of Sky's content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes.  More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator.  Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV anywhere they like with Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi.  NOW TV, Sky's second consumer brand, builds on the company's leadership in internet TV.  Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite 'triple-play' provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts.  Sky employs 24,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.2 billion and is estimated to support a £5.9 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).

distributed by