Sky rolls out New Sky+ HD EPG
Sky rolls out all-new design for Sky+ Homepage with Top Picks
Sky+, the UK’s biggest connected TV platform, is set to get even better with a new Homepage design introduced to help customers discover even more TV to watch. The new features, the latest in a series of updates this year, form part of Sky’s continued commitment to put great TV at the heart of Sky+.
The latest update introduces editorial Top Picks to the Sky+ Homepage. The new section gives millions of customers’ recommendations on the best new TV from entertainment channels such as Sky Atlantic and FOX. Plus, depending on customers’ subscriptions picks will include addictively good box sets like Sex and the City, sporting highlights, kids’ favourites and the latest movies.
Along with the newly designed Homepage, new features also being introduced are:
Download next: Sit back and enjoy episode after episode of box sets including Entourage and Desperate Housewives. When customers start watching an episode from a series, if the next episode is available it will automatically start to download.
Continue watching: A new Continue tab in the Planner will let customers easily pick up where they last left off in an episode or series from shows including The Catch, Outcast and Agatha Raisin.
Customers can look forward to a great line up of TV on Sky this summer including Ray Donovan, Nashville and Shades of Blue. In May, Sky+ customers set Sky’s new record for box set bingeing on the platform, as downloads hit nearly 60 million in the month as they settled into epic dramas including Game of Thrones and Billions.
Luke Bradley-Jones, Director of TV and content products commented: “We know that customers are watching even more TV, and with every update to Sky+ we’re making it even better. Since the Homepage was launched on demand viewing has increased by 209%. That’s why we’re introducing Top Picks, a brand new Homepage section, telling our customers about even more fantastic shows, both live and On Demand, recommended by our TV experts.”
Other changes being introduced as part of the update are:
A newly designed Services Homepage to help customers to customise the Sky Guide. Press the Services button on the remote control and customers will find Accessibility, Parental Control & PIN, Radio, Settings Options, Get Sky Products, My Account and Help menus
Viewing progress bar: A new blue bar will appear across recordings in the Planner highlighting how much of a programme has been watched
The Radio section can now be found in the new Radio tab in the TV Guide
Search is now located at the top of the Homepage where customers can search for any of their favourite shows
The new features come as part of a series of updates to Sky+ that include Download All and Watch Next functions introduced earlier this year. Even more features will follow as part of Sky’s continued commitment to put great TV and technology at the heart of Sky+.
Notes to Editors
The latest software update is now rolling out to customers and will be available to millions of homes with compatible Sky+HD boxes by the end of August. To make the most of the recent updates, Sky customers need to connect their Sky+HD box to their home broadband. Visit sky.com/connectfor more information.
Download Next: the next episode will automatically be scheduled to download when a customer plays back an on demand programme from Catch Up, Sky Box Sets, Top Picks, Kids or Sports. An on screen message highlighting this feature will be shown on the first playback of on demand content. The feature will be switched on by default, but it is possible to switch this off through a new ‘Auto Download’ setting in the Customise menu. You can find this by choosing Services, then Options and highlighting the Customise tab.
‘Top Picks’ titles are editorially selected, will be updated regularly, and will include on demand and linear programmes. The titles shown are also based on the customer’s subscription package, and contain content both from Sky and other providers.
209% based on – 6 month period before Homepage was introduced (Aug-Jan 2014) to the same period ending in 2016.