Sky’s New On Line Service Goes Live

Media Release

19 May 2008

Sky’s New On Line Service Goes Live

SKY Television has launched a brand new service, “SKY Online’’ allowing consumers to download and stream content over the internet.

Phase one of the new service will only be available to SKY subscribers, with the second phase, scheduled for launch later in the year.

Initially, over 500 hours of content will be available, including movies currently screening on SKY Movies 1, 2, MGM and Rialto, delayed sports broadcasts from SKY Sport 1,2 and 3, SKY Sport Highlights and a selection from “START UP”, SKY’s basic tier channels.

The second phase of the service will offer the SKY Box Office movies, live sport from SKY Sport 1, 2, and 3 and additional content from the basic tier.

SKY’s Chief Executive, John Fellet says, “This new service has been developed as part of SKY’s philosophy to provide New Zealand consumers with anything, anywhere, anytime on a variety of different platforms”

“SKY Online will provide New Zealand consumers with even more viewing choices and options, giving them the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of movies, sport and entertainment programmes” says Fellet.

SKY already broadcasts more than 100 channels on both its satellite and UHF networks, partners with TelstraClear to deliver content via cable, with Vodafone to provide an 8 channel mobile service, launched satellite delivered video on demand in July 2007 and will roll out the next generation of high definition MYSKY personal video recorders in July of this year.

ENDS

About SKY Television

SKY Television (SKY), is in more than 45% of New Zealand homes via both a digital satellite network and UHF. SKY is New Zealand’s pre-eminent pay television operator, offering a wide range of sports, movies, music, on-demand and general content across more than 100 channels. SKY’s channel line-up includes 7 sports channels, 6 movie channels, 7 general entertainment channels, 5 documentary channels, 5 news channels, 4 children’s channels, as well as other niche and special interest channels. (As of 31 December 2007, SKY had 720,919 subscribers).

SKY launched as a three-channel UHF service in 1990, with two further channels added four years later. SKY’s UHF signal reaches more than 83% of the country’s 1.5 million households. In December 1998 SKY launched a digital satellite service, extending its reach to the whole country. SKY also offers pay-per-view movies, live events and interactive services including Skybet, the Weather Channel, and games channels Mind Games and Playin’ TV.

With the establishment of a new on line DVD rental service and in December 2005, the launch of MY SKY, a new set top box incorporating a personal video recorder, SKY provides New Zealand viewers with even more entertainment options.

MY SKY HDi, SKY’s new PVR, will deliver four MPEG4 High Definition television channels to subscribers in July of this year.

On 8 February 2006, SKY completed the purchase of the New Zealand television business of PRIME Television Ltd. The acquisition of a free-to-air channel gives SKY the opportunity to showcase its channels and programmes whilst ensuring that New Zealand consumers can view delayed free-to-air sports programmes such as rugby, rugby league and cricket in primetime.

For further information, please visit SKY’s web site at www.skytv.co.nz

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