This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/26/sky-tv-without-dish-premier-league-rights-costs

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sky to offer full TV service without a dish for the first time Sky to offer full TV service without a dish for the first time
(35 minutes later)
Sky is to make its full TV service of 270 channels available without the need for a satellite dish for the first time, as it looks to stem customer defections to rivals such as BT.Sky is to make its full TV service of 270 channels available without the need for a satellite dish for the first time, as it looks to stem customer defections to rivals such as BT.
The pay-TV giant, which saw an 18% plunge in profits at its UK business in the last six months of 2016 thanks to spiralling Premier League rights costs, said it will launch the new broadband-delivered TV service next year. The pay-TV giant, which saw an 18% plunge in profits at its UK business in the last six months of 2016 thanks to spiralling Premier League rights costs, said it would launch the broadband-delivered TV service next year.
Jeremy Darroch, the Sky chief executive, said that it would allow Sky to target as many as 6m households across Europe who cannot, or will not, have a satellite dish. Jeremy Darroch, the Sky chief executive, said it would allow Sky to target up to 6m households across Europe who cannot, or will not, have a satellite dish.
“This is the first we have been able to offer the full Sky TV service without a satellite dish,” he said. “It is a big moment for the business.”“This is the first we have been able to offer the full Sky TV service without a satellite dish,” he said. “It is a big moment for the business.”
Customers can currently use the Now TV broadband service to watch a limited range of Sky channels without a satellite dish, but the new offering will allow access to all of its 270 channels. Customers can currently use the Now TV broadband service to watch a limited range of Sky channels without a dish, but the new offering will allow access to all of its 270 channels.
The initiative, which could open up about 2 m homes in the UK for Sky to target, comes as the company revealed that the rate of customers defecting to rivals has climbed significantly.The initiative, which could open up about 2 m homes in the UK for Sky to target, comes as the company revealed that the rate of customers defecting to rivals has climbed significantly.
Sky said that its churn rate, a key metric watched by the City, rose to 11.6% in the last six months of 2016. This is up significantly on the 10.2% in the same period the previous year. Sky said its churn rate, a key metric watched by the City, rose to 11.6% in the last six months of 2016. This is up significantly on the 10.2% in the same period the previous year.
Darroch blamed the jump in churn to the “highly promotional” and competitive UK market with broadband customers proving to be deal hunters more likely to switch to a rival.Darroch blamed the jump in churn to the “highly promotional” and competitive UK market with broadband customers proving to be deal hunters more likely to switch to a rival.
Sky is also launching a loyalty programme to “reward and recognise members” based on how long they have been a customer as part of its strategy to stem customer churn.Sky is also launching a loyalty programme to “reward and recognise members” based on how long they have been a customer as part of its strategy to stem customer churn.