PRESS RELEASE
21 August 2014 From today, Sky customers will start to see a raft of new features from Sky+ which will be rolled out to its Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), Britain's most popular on-screen TV guide.
With this latest update, it will be easier than ever for Sky customers to find shows they love with the launch of a brand new recommendations engine. The new feature provides suggestions of TV shows and movies that a customer might enjoy based on recent recordings and downloads in their Sky+ Planner. So for example if a customer has a recording of The Following in their planner, recommendations might include Luther, Hannibal, Criminal Minds and The Blacklist. Results offer up both linear TV and on demand shows as viewing options, from hundreds of TV and movie channels.
Sky TV customers need never miss their favourite shows ever again with another new feature launching - Smart Series Link - as it now remembers to record the next season and all subsequent ones after that.
For sports fans, a new Sports tile has been added to the Homepage, providing quick access to all the live sporting events that are currently showing on any channel. Sky customers will also be able to see movie DVD cover art for Sky Movies On Demand and Sky Store so they can quickly recognise the movies they are looking for.
Luke Bradley-Jones, Sky's Director of TV Products, said: "We know customers love the new Homepage as it puts catch-up, box sets and movies at the heart of their TV viewing.
"That's why we're introducing even more features to help discover more TV they really want to watch. Get recommendations for shows we think you'll enjoy based on your recordings, and never miss a returning season ever again with Smart Series Link. It's all part of our commitment to make Sky+ the ultimate entertainment experience."
The complete list of features being introduced from today:
- Suggestions: customers will find shows that they might enjoy, based on recordings or downloads in their Planner.
- Smart Series Link: customers will never miss the returning series with Smart Series Link, as it is now updated to remember to record all the future new series
- DVD Cover Art: instantly-recognisable DVD cover art will be seen in the Sky Movies and Sky Store sections
- Sports: a new tile for the homepage will be introduced showing all live sports on any TV channel at that moment in time and all the sports channels from the TV Guide
- Combined SD and HD options: easily choose between HD & SD when downloading TV shows or movies from any on demand section.
- HDMI One Touch: the Sky button on the remote now turns on the latest Sky+HD box and a compatible TV in one go from standby. It tunes the TV to the correct HDMI input ifthey've been using another device so there's no need to pick up the other remote control.
- Sky Store: customers can now access Sky Store from Sky Box Office.
- Simplified Card Pairing: customers will now be able to easily pair their viewing card without calling Sky; it just takes one press of a button on the Sky remote.
- Entertainment shows: the Lifestyle tab has been merged into the Entertainment tab in the TV Guide
- Homepage images: will be updated on a regular basis to showcase the latest and best movies and TV shows.
These updates to the Sky+ homepage are the second tranche of major improvements this year following a major overhaul in March when On Demand and the Sky+ Planner were moved alongside channel listings as equal options, and a brand new enhanced Search function was launched. Since then, the number of searches has increased dramatically, now with around 1.6 million every day as customers take even more control over their TV viewing.
This software update is rolling out to customers starting from today, and will be available to over 8 million customers with compatible Sky+HD boxes by the winter this year. To make the most of the Homepage and most of these new features, Sky customers should connect their Sky+HD box to their home broadband. For further information visit: sky.com/homepage.
Smart Series Link is available on compatible Sky+HD boxes except DRX780
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 £2.6 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 on the move through 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 25,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.6 billion and is estimated to support a £6.0 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).
