[Satellite TODAY Insider 10-25-10] BSkyB has launched its Anytime Plus IP Video-on-Demand (VoD) service to customers in the United Kingdom, the company announced Oct. 22.
    The service aims to enable Sky customers to connect the operator’s service network to access a library of on-demand content. BskyB COO Mike Darcy told Satellite TODAY Insider that while content to the PC is attractive, television will still be the main medium to watch content.  “We will see some consumption on the margin of TV on the PC, but I tend to think there is much more demand for IP delivery on the TV,” said Darcy. “I think most of the industry around the world has been trying to work out how to connect those last few yards and there is a lot of activity going on. We had Sky Player on the PC in 2006-2007 and it was a good story for us by adding value to the core subscription by building in more flexibility and the ability to consume content on the PC. But we want to bring that to the television.”
    BskyB also announced their latest set of results. At the end of September, the operator had about 9.96 million subscribers, with 3.2 million subscribers taking HD services. The operator had over 2.8 million broadband subscribers at the end of quarter.
The operator also increased its operating profits by 22 percent compared to the same stage last year, with revenues up 15 percent.
    Jefferies International Media Equity Analyst Nick Bell told Satellite TODAY Insider that BSkyB’s numbers were above expectations. “With BSkyB’s strong take up of HD, which added 215,000 net subscribers to reach 3.2 million or 32 percent of the customer base, we view Sky as well on track to surpass their 10 million subscriber target before the end of the year, as net adds accelerate during the seasonally strong year end. However, as satellite TV reaches saturation, we expect Sky to shift focus from subscriber net adds to selling additional products such as HD and broadband.”

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