In perhaps one of the most disingenuous claims in the history of marketing, Sky and the BBC have announced a deal to combine Sky Player and iPlayer.
Users of Sky's online pay-TV service can now access free content held on the BBC's iPlayer by the technical breakthrough of...a hyperlink.
Yes, if you click on a BBC show in the Sky Player programme listings, you'll go direct to the relevant page in the iPlayer streaming service, where you can watch it online.
You won't be in the Sky Player any longer, and it doesn't offer a back door for international viewers to watch iPlayer shows.
In fact, even our creaky old blog can join the fun. Here's the latest from Britain's National Treasure (Stephen Fry).
The BBC and Sky are understandably quite chuffed with their achievement, although the greater success is probably that the BBC and Sky are getting along so well.
Griff Parry, director of On-Demand, BSkyB, comments: “Access to BBC content along with improvements to the user experience will further support the ongoing success of Sky Player. The combination of more choice and easier access means Sky Player users will find it even simpler to enjoy a wide range of TV content. The addition of links to content from BBC channels further demonstrates Sky’s role as a leading online aggregator with access to one of the broadest selections of online video.”
Anthony Rose, head of the Online Media Group, BBC, adds: “We are delighted to be able to offer access to BBC TV programmes to Sky Player users. This deal further underlines our commitment to reaching new audiences by making BBC iPlayer available on as many services as possible.”
Our news-hungry cousins at TechRadar had the story first here.
