Sky VoD service signs up 52,000

More than 70,000 movies have been downloaded from Sky's video-on-demand service since its launch three weeks ago, the pay TV outfit said today. Unveiled last month, "Sky by broadband" allows premium channel subscribers to download movies and Sky Sports highlights onto their PCs for free.

Although some punters have complained that the service is slow and clunky, Sky says its "encouraged" by the response from users and that 52,000 punters have signed up to the service so far.

Sky's investment in broadband - including the £211m it splashed out for LLU operator Easynet - is part of the broadcaster's plan to compete with cable TV outfit NTL and Freeview.

Or as Sky said in the blurb today: "In a dynamic market place, as entertainment and communications converge, the group continues to differentiate itself by evolving its entertainment-led proposition to give existing and future customers more choice and control over how, when and where they watch.

"Following the acquisition of Easynet, the group is well positioned to extend its range of innovative products and services further and set the pace of change in this fast growing market place."

Not only is Sky positioning itself as a provider of converged communications, it also reckons punters that want Sky to provide more than just TV.

"We are well positioned to sustain our growth as existing and future customers tell us that Sky is their preferred brand for new entertainment and communications services," said Sky boss James Murdoch.

He also added that firm will "push the bar further" with the launch of its broadband access service later this year, whatever that means. ®