[Callum]

Sky has today made significant strides towards broadening its video on-demand offering by agreeing deals to make BBC iPlayer and ITV Player available to around 5m of its satellite TV homes.

The catch-up TV services operated by the BBC and ITV will launch this year in Sky Anytime+, the video on-demand platform launched by Sky in 2011, which delivers content over an internet connection in Sky+ boxes rather than over satellite.

ITV shows such as Prime Suspect and Lewis will be offered on Sky Anytime+ from tomorrow, accessible through the main Sky Anytime+ menu, as well as a new dedicated ITV Player section.


BBC iPlayer will launch on the platform later in the year, offering catch-up access to shows such as Sherlock, Top Gear and Outnumbered.

Sky Anytime+ was previously only available to Sky subscribers who also took a Sky Broadband connection, but Sky has today announced plans to broaden access to the service to cover all Sky+ homes, regardless of their chosen broadband providers.

According to Sky, this means that more than 5m homes will be able to receive Sky Anytime+ by Easter 2012, extending it from the previous 1.2m taking Sky broadband.

Alongside programmes from Sky channels, Sky Anytime+ offers content from partner networks, including MTV, Discovery, FX, History, Disney, UK TV and National Geographic Channel.

Sky has been able to offer on-demand access to some BBC shows through its partnership with UKTV, the pay-TV joint venture between BBC Worldwide and US firm Scrips Networks interactive.

However, the broadcaster was unable to offer the full BBC iPlayer service due to a lack of agreement with the corporation over the process of syndication of on-demand content.

But after a change in the BBC's syndication policy last November, Sky has secured access to the iPlayer platform, which racked up more than 2 billion programme requests last year across all devices and platforms where it is available.

"We want customers to get the best out of their Sky subscription and Anytime+ is a great way to give them more control and choice over how they enjoy TV," said Jeremy Darroch, Sky's chief executive.

"We already know how popular Sky+ is and how it puts customers back in charge of their TV viewing. Anytime+ builds on that control and it's no wonder we've seen such strong demand for it.

"Sky Anytime+ will go from strength to strength in 2012 and we are delighted that the addition of the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player will allow customers to also enjoy the best of terrestrial TV, whenever they want. We're also delighted to be able to widen access to the service so that millions more Sky customers can enjoy the added flexibility it offers."

BBC director general Mark Thompson added: "Having the BBC and Sky work together to further build on the BBC iPlayer success story can only be fantastic news for audiences.

"Making BBC iPlayer available on all platforms is key to our commitment to universal access and this agreement takes us one step further towards that goal. I'm delighted to take this first step on a story of innovation for both organisations."

Brilliant

[arista]

Yes it would be silly not to.


As Virgin have it.

[Callum]

They've had it for ages haven't they?

Sky are the last to do it, about friggin time too.

[Black Dagger]

Thank god for that... any chance of 40D anytime soon as well?

I loved Virgin's catch up TV service and their music service when we had Virgin Media..