The popular Sky Go service allows Sky subscribers to stream content from their Sky subscription channels. Now Sky has announced an expansion to this service called Sky Go Extra, this service allows downloading of content from your Sky subscription channels for watching later anywhere, no Wi-Fi or cellular network required. Sky Go Extra is launching today and will cost you an extra £5 on top of your current Sky subscription fees.
While there are more and more Wi-Fi and fast cellular networks to be found, we are still a long way from being able to rely on a good, fast and stable internet connection anywhere, especially for the bandwidth-hungry activity of video streaming. So Sky has decided to address this problem, and make a few more quid, by building on the streaming Sky Go service to launch Sky Go Extra. Sky says that “customers can download the latest blockbuster films from Sky Movies and great content from channels such as Sky 1 and Sky Atlantic to watch when and where they want”. Actually you will have to watch the content within 30 days of downloading. Another bonus for Sky Go Extra customers is that they will be able to register for Sky Go on up to four, rather than two, internet-connected devices.
Stephen van Rooyen, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at Sky, summarised the utility of the new service; “Building on the ever-growing popularity of Sky Go, Sky Go Extra lets Sky customers download great movies and TV shows to take with them to watch offline whenever and wherever suits them, as well as access to Sky Go on up to four internet-connected devices.”
Netflix and Lovefilm watch out
The Sky Go Extra service offers Sky Movies subscribers the capability to download “hundreds of titles exclusive to Sky Movies”. Users will be able to download many blockbuster Hollywood releases around 6 months after the movies end their cinema release run. Of particular note is that many Sky exclusive movies and TV shows will be kept off competitor services for a long time “All titles are available exclusively to Sky Movies subscribers and will not be available on any other online movies subscription service for a least a year after they first appear on Sky Movies.”
How much can you download? Sky doesn’t limit you and if you are going away somewhere for a month and had a 64GB iPad, for example, Sky says you could store in excess of 400 half hour shows or 80 movies.
After signing up for Sky Go Extra, the next time customers use their Sky Go app they will see the an option enabling them to download content. Sky Go customers can trial the Extra service for free for two months.
