Sky extends deal with Netflix
David Farnor | On 20, Jan 2020
Sky has extended its deal with Netflix for several more years.
Netflix and pay-TV companies have long positioned themselves not as rivals but as complimentary services, with research showing that a sizeable number of people who sign up to one have also signed up to the other.
In 2018, the pair moved to take advantage of that, with a combined Ultimate On Demand package for Sky customers that added Netflix content to the Sky platform. Customers with a Sky Q Entertainment subscription can get Netflix’s Standard plan (HD 2 streams) and Sky Box Sets in HD as part of Ultimate On Demand. And customers with Sky Q’s premium subscription, Sky Q Experience (multi-room viewing and Ultra HD), can enjoy Netflix’s Premium plan (Ultra HD, 4 streams).
Now, a new multi-year deal agreement in the UK will strengthen their partnership built over the past two years, extending the agreement and allowing Sky customers to take up Netflix’s Basic Plan on Sky Q.
In one seamless service users are able to access all the great TV and film Sky offers, including Sky original productions such as Chernobyl, alongside Netflix’s original dramas, films and documentaries, which include The Witcher, The Irishman and Sex Education.
Stephen van Rooyen, Chief Executive Officer, Sky UK and Ireland, says: “This is a great start to what is set to be another strong year for Sky. Our customers love Netflix content and our partnership continues to go from strength to strength, we plan to launch new channels and genres, start building our new studio, Sky Studios Elstree, and we’ll have great new and returning Sky originals too. This year our customers will have access to even more great content – all in one place.”
The deal is the latest in a series of content partnerships for Sky, with the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Warner Media also entering into new agreements.
Netflix comes to Sky Q this November
26th November 2018
Netflix is coming to Sky Q this November, as the two media giants combine their forces for a single all-in-one package.
Netflix and pay-TV companies have long positioned themselves not as rivals but as complimentary services, with research showing that a sizeable number of people who sign up to one have also signed up to the other. Indeed, cable giant Virgin Media has already added Netflix to its set top box, while YouView (which powers BT TV, among others) also has a Netflix app built in, so that customers can easily incorporate a Netflix subscription fee into their monthly bills.
Sky, though, will be doing something different, creating a new subscription package called Ultimate On Demand. Ultimate On Demand will bring together for the first time Sky Box Sets, which boasts 400 of the best UK and US series, and the full Netflix service in one bundle.
Ultimate On Demand will cost £10 a month for all new and existing customers alongside their Sky Q subscription, with a 31-day rolling contract available. It will include everything from Sky original productions such as Patrick Melrose, Save Me and Tin Star, and US hits like HBO’s Game of Thrones and Showtime’s Billions, alongside Netflix’s original dramas, such as The Crown, Stranger Things, The Kissing Booth, Making a Murderer and Queer Eye.
Recommendations for Sky and Netflix shows will share the spotlight on Sky Q’s homepage and both service’s titles will be visible through Sky Q’s search function. Existing Sky Q customers with Netflix will be able to easily move their account to the new pack or sign in to the Netflix app on Sky Q using their existing Netflix account details. Customers with an existing Netflix subscription that migrate their existing Netflix account to their new UOD account will keep their existing Netflix profiles and recommendations and continue to be able to watch Netflix on all their usual Netflix-supported devices. Titles available to download can be watched on the go as per normal, with Sky shows available through the Sky Go app and Netflix shows through the Netflix app.
Stephen van Rooyen, Chief Executive Officer, Sky UK and Ireland, says: “We want Sky Q to be the number one destination for TV fans. Partnering with Netflix means we will have all the best TV in one great value pack, making it even easier for you to watch all of your favourite shows.”
Chris Whiteley, Director Business Development UK/IE, Netflix, adds: “Innovation is at the core of Netflix. We are delighted to partner with Sky to offer fans a new and exciting way to access the best of entertainment from around the world.”
Customers with a Sky Q Entertainment subscription will get Netflix’s Standard plan (HD 2 streams) and Sky Box Sets in HD as part of Ultimate On Demand. And customers with Sky Q’s premium subscription, Sky Q Experience (multi-room viewing and Ultra HD), will enjoy Netflix’s Premium plan (Ultra HD, 4 streams) – that’s more than 2,000 hours of Ultra HD content across Sky and Netflix.
Payment for the Ultimate On Demand pack will be added to customers’ monthly Sky bills.
Sky and Netflix agree new European partnership
1st March 2018
Sky and Netflix have inked a new partnership to bundle the full Netflix service into a brand new Sky TV subscription pack. This partnership will give millions of Sky customers seamless access to Netflix through the Sky Q platform.
Netflix and pay-TV companies have long positioned themselves not as rivals but as complimentary services, with research showing that a sizeable number of people who sign up to one have also signed up to the other. Indeed, cable giant Virgin Media has already added Netflix to its set top box, while YouView (which powers BT TV, among others) also has a Netflix app built in, so that customers can easily incorporate a Netflix subscription fee into their monthly bills.
Sky, though, will be doing something different: Sky will make available the extensive Netflix service to new and existing customers by creating a brand-new and attractively priced entertainment TV pack, combining Sky and Netflix content side-by-side for the first time. Netflix’s service includes over a thousand hours of Ultra HD content, complementing Sky Q’s extensive UHD programming.
With the Netflix app integrated into Sky Q, and Netflix programmes promoted alongside Sky content, customers can enjoy shows such as Britannia, Billions and Big Little Lies alongside The Crown, Stranger Things and Black Mirror, as well as free-to-air TV, all on the Sky platform. At the same time, customers will have a simple, single one monthly bill.
As part of the new partnership, Sky customers will be able to seamlessly access Netflix content in the Sky Q menu, plus quickly find their favourite Netflix programmes including the use of Sky Q’s search and voice search functionality. Existing Netflix customers will be able to easily migrate their account to the new Sky TV bundle, or sign into the Netflix app using their existing account details. This agreement will add more value to a Sky subscription, as the pay-TV titan continues to woo customers. It builds several other new innovations coming to Sky Q, which were announced earlier this week.
Jeremy Darroch, Group Chief Executive, Sky comments: “The exciting new features coming to Sky Q will enable Sky customers to access even more of the best entertainment delivered over the best product platform. By placing Sky and Netflix content side-by-side, along with programmes from the likes of HBO, Showtime, Fox and Disney, we are making the entertainment experience even easier and simpler for our customers. Our recent announcements mean we will extend our leadership in delivering customers the best viewing and user experience in Europe.”
Reed Hastings, Chief Executive, Netflix: “We are delighted to partner with Sky to bring the latest technologies and great stories under the same roof. With this innovative new partnership and Netflix’s stellar line up of original content from across the world, Sky’s customers will be able to seamlessly access and enjoy all the best entertainment in one place.”
This European partnership will see Netflix – along with the new Sky TV pack – launch on Sky Q in the UK and Ireland in the coming year. Netflix will launch on Sky Q platforms in Germany, Austria and Italy thereafter. The agreement, however, does not include the Sky Q app, and Sky+ customers will not be able to access Netflix through their set top box or the Sky Go app.
The agreement with Netflix also extends to Sky’s contract free streaming services. In the UK and Ireland, Sky will launch Netflix as a standalone app on NOW’s family of streaming devices, including on the recently launched NOW Smart Stick.
Further details on pricing and billing within the Sky Q service will be confirmed nearer to the time Netflix launches on the platform.