Sky NOW TV app now available on Play Store

New Android app for streaming the latest movies

Sky’s new app, which enables you to watch the latest movies on your Android device, is now available to download from the Play Store (with support for selected handsets). There is a 30 day free trial available (see the top right of the homepage), which is worth checking out if your device is compatible. You don’t need a Sky subscription, but you will need to create a Sky ID.

Another digital rental service

For years Sky has been a leader in the UK market for premium videos on demand. There’s Sky Box Office for sport, Front Row for movies, as well as its usual subscription service. In the past you have needed a Sky subscription (which doesn’t come cheap) to access these services, but this has changed with Sky NOW TV. In the face of competition from the likes of Netflix, LoveFilm, Amazon, Google Play Store, iTunes and more, it’s essential for Sky to offer a similar service of its own, which it is now doing.

It’s not just Android that NOW TV is available for, it’s also compatible with PC, MAC, iPhone and iPad. XBox 360 support is due to be added soon. In terms of cost, there’s the option for a monthly pass for £15, which gives unlimited access to all the movies available on the service, or movies can be rented one at a time, ranging in price from 99p to £3.50.  For those outside of the UK, you should be still be able to access the service through a VPN, although you may need to provide a UK address and card details.

How does it compare to the competition?

Sky NOT TV does have a good range and some of the most recent movies available. It’s got more new releases than Netflix and LoveFilm, which offer a cheaper monthly rate. It shares some videos (which are also close in terms of a one-off price), with the Google Play store, but does have a fair bit of exclusive content. The £15 a month fee does make it seem expensive compared to Netflix and LoveFilm, but then the UK content for those two isn’t great. The advantage that they do have is the offering of TV series, which the Play Store and NOW TV doesn’t have.

XBox 360 support is due to be available soon for NOW TV, although Xbox Gold membership is required, which adds an extra £5 to the monthly cost. So £20 a month for a good range of movies. Well, it could be £15 a month, but the other solutions compatible with Now TV aren’t nearly as convenient as using an XBox controller. So £15/20 a month for access to a reasonable range of the latest movies. Is that a reasonable price? Or is it too expensive to compete?

Via Eurodroid