Hurrah! At long last Sky Go is about to grace the shores of the Android OS, though, in a rather limited fashion.
Firstly, over the February period, Sky will be adding channels to the mix, introducing Sky 1, Sky Living, Sky Arts 1 and Sky Atlantic to the existing package that consists of all Sky's sports channels, ESPN, Sky News and 11 movie channels.
The kicker is that initially, the Android App will only be available for some of the more popular Samsung and HTC handsets:
- HTC Desire
- HTC Desire S
- HTC Desire HD
- HTC Incredible S
- HTC Sensation
- Samsung Galaxy S
- Samsung Galaxy S2
According to Sky, this limitation is caused by the varying hardware from one Android device to another, though, if the app can run on the HTC Desire, it should be 'capable' of running on most modern devices; it's perhaps more likely that Sky has either a time-limited exclusivity deal with the two firms or is attempting to implement its own DRM friendly systems, which require more intimate interactions with each device. Of course it could just be that Sky is yet to embrace the Android quality-control philosophy, where an app either works or it doesn't. Sky has confirmed that it will attempt to expand the device portfolio in the near future, including to Android tablets, reminding us that in the eight months since Sky Go first launched, it has already expanded from PCs and latops to the full iOS range and now several Android handsets.
Sky confirms it is also working to bring Sky Movies on Demand to the Android Sky Go app, though states that this will require more development and testing.
Sky also announced that it plans to launch a Sky Go-like internet TV service for customers who do no subscribe to regular satellite television, which will be available to anyone in the UK with a broadband connection. The service is aimed at the 13 million households that currently don't subscribe to pay TV services. Content will be accessible from "PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, games console or connected TV."
Initially the service will launch with Sky Movies on demand, expanding with sports and entertainment content in the near future, with subscription options in the form of a monthly unlimited subscription with no minimum contract or "pay-as-you-go".
We can certainly see this one being popular with students!