MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky has been recognised at the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards, its Bigger Picture initiative taking the award for ?Communicating Sustainability.?
 
The awards celebrate innovation and impact in corporate sustainability, with this particular category recognising British businesses that make a big difference through campaigns that take sustainability to the masses. The judges praised the breadth of the communications that make up the Bigger Picture initiatives - which operate across the arts, the environment, sport and in schools - particularly noting the ?transformative potential of Sky?s work? in sustainability.

Sky focuses on four areas where it believes it can make a difference and can inspire people to take action. These are helping to tackle climate change, improving lives through sport, opening up the arts to more people and raising the aspirations of young people. Amongst its successes to date, Sky?s partnership with British Cycling has inspired more than one million people to cycle regularly, while its partnership with the WWF through Sky Rainforest Rescue has raised over ?6 million to help save one billion trees in the Amazon.

Sky Group director of corporate affairs Graham McWilliam said, "Sky is committed to playing a positive role in the communities in which we live and work. We?re therefore delighted that the Bigger Picture has been recognised with this prestigious award. Whether it?s getting people active through sport, helping them take action to tackle climate change or immersing themselves in the arts, the Bigger Picture makes a positive contribution to life across the UK & Ireland. We look forward to continuing to make a difference."

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky has reported financial results for the first nine months of its fiscal. It reported revenue of ?5.3 billion an increase of six per cent. Adjusted operating profit was ?994 million up by nine per cent.

Total paid-for subscription product base exceeded 30 million for the first time. Subscription product growth of 715,000 was recorded in the third quarter. Arpu is up ?30 year on year to ?576.

The company adds that there was rapid growth in take-up of new connected TV services. There are now 2.3 million internet-connected Sky+HD boxes, up almost 600,000 in the quarter. There are 4.5 million average weekly On Demand downloads, up more than fivefold year on year. There were 3.5 million movie rental transactions, up 37 per cent year on year.

Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch commented, "We have had a good third quarter and our multi-product strategy is delivering strong results. Increased take-up across our product set led to another improvement in financial performance with growth in revenues and profits accelerating in the third quarter. Group revenues are up by six per cent, operating profit was up by nine per cent and earnings per share up 16 per cent for the first nine
months.

"Despite the tough consumer environment, we added 715,000 more subscription products in three months, taking the total past 30 million for the first time. On the back of this growth, we are creating 550 new jobs to meet demand for our products and serve our growing customer base.

"In our television business, we continue to see rapid growth in our connected TV services as customers take advantage of new ways to watch our content. The number of internet-connected Sky+HD boxes grew by almost 45,000 every week in the quarter, leading to a fivefold increase in On Demand downloads and 37 per cent growth in movie rentals against last year.

"Alongside the expansion of our mobile video service with the launch of Sky Go Extra, these trends are opening up new sources of future growth and value creation.

"These results highlight the way that our successful transition to more broadly-based growth has created a bigger, more profitable business. And having more ways to grow serves us particularly well at a time when household budgets look likely to remain stretched. We will continue to focus on overall product sales as the best means of delivering sustainable growth and returns for shareholders."

Content: Sky said that it continued to bring the best new content to customers and to develop new ways for them to enjoy that content

In movies, it built on its longstanding relationship with Disney with the creation of a brand new channel, Sky Movies Disney. This is the first time that Disney has ever been involved in a co -branded linear movie channel and the first time that viewers in the UK and Ireland have been able to watch all Disney movies on one channel. The launch of the channel on 28 March was a big hit with customers, with Disney titles accounting for 40% of all downloads through On Demand and attracting 685,000 views across Sky Go in its first weekend.

In sport, it announced the renewal of both ATP and US Open tennis contracts and have, for the first time, secured the rights for RaboDirect Pro 12 rugby.

Products: The company said that its focus on giving customers new ways to consume content and giving
it new opportunities for future growth -is working well,with a rapid increase in the take-up and usage of its On Demand and mobile video services in the third quarter.

The number of internet-connected Sky+HD set -top boxes rose by 33 per cent on the previous quarter to 2.3 million. The launch of 4oD in the quarter, along with on demand content from leading partners including National Geographic and The History Channel, means that it now offers the UK?s most complete catch-up service at no extra cost to customers. Sky also expanded the range of movies available on Sky Store. Recent blockbusters like ?Skyfall?, ?Argo? and ?Taken 2? were all available to customers at the same time as the DVD release , helping to drive significant demand.

The number of average weekly On Demand downloads in the quarter increased by almost 500 per cent year on year to 4.5 million,while the number of movie rental transactions, through both Sky Store and Sky Box Office, increased 37%
over the same time period.

Customers Sky said who use its On Demand services consistently report the highest levels of satisfaction: they are more loyal, more likely to recommend Sky and more likely to take up additional products

As a result, Sky is offering wireless connectors to selected Sky Movies customers -a segment that derives a particularly strong benefit from its On Demand service. These devices will make it easy for them to connect their Sky+HD box to the internet at no extra cost and enable them to access the full range of On Demand services including over a thousand movie rentals on Sky Store.

The company says that in Sky Go, it has developed a mobile video service which it says continues to get a great response from customers.

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky is creating 550 new permanent jobs as it invests in its customer service and sales teams to support its growing product base. The roles will be located throughout the UK with 350 based at Sky?s existing customer contact centre in Newcastle.

The expansion of Sky?s Newcastle site, with 350 new recruits, will provide service and support to new customers joining Sky following the acquisition of O2 and BE?s consumer broadband and fixed-line business creating the UK?s second-largest home broadband provider. The new employees will form a dedicated broadband customer service team and will be joining Sky?s established in-house customer sales and service advisors located in the city centre from August onwards.

The additional 200 new hires will take up positions in Sky?s in-house sales team and will be based either at one of the stores in shopping centres across the UK, or working from one of Sky?s new sales vehicles which exhibit Sky products and services in city centres nationwide. Key locations for these roles include the north east of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South Coast.

Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said, "I?m delighted to announce our plans to expand our workforce with the creation of 550 new jobs. These new roles will help us to meet demand for our products and serve our growing customer base.

"Today?s announcement comes on top of the 700 previously announced new Sky jobs in our home installation team, bringing the total number of new Sky jobs created in the UK in 2013 to 1,250. In the past four years alone we have created 4,000 more jobs for people across UK and Ireland. I look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to Sky over the coming year." He concluded.

Sky serves over 10.7million customers across the UK and Ireland and is committed to providing a top-quality customer experience. The creation of these jobs is an example of its continuous investment in service. It forms part of an on-going programme to bring more of Sky?s customer workforce in-house and ensure its own people are available to serve customers. Sky opened its Newcastle site, one of ten customer service centres located across the UK and Ireland, in October 2011.

All successful applicants will receive training and support in the skills needed for the role, along with competitive salaries, rewards and benefits. All Sky employees receive free Sky+HD, Broadband and Talk, as well as excellent personal development opportunities.

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky and media conglomerate Disney are working together to create a new television channel, Sky Movies Disney.

The new channel will be the home of new and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar movies in the UK and Ireland.

This is the first time that Disney has been involved in a co-branded linear movie channel anywhere in the world. It is also the first time that viewers in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch all new blockbuster Disney-branded movies, as well as classics from the past, on one single channel.

The launch of Sky Movies Disney builds on Sky and Disney?s 24-year relationship in the UK and forms part of a new wide-ranging agreement between the two companies, covering further movies, and Disney Channels, across multiple platforms and devices.

Launching in time for Easter on 28 March 2013, Sky Movies Disney will show films like ?Brave? and ?Wreck-It Ralph ?in their first pay TV window. Future releases that will be available include ?Oz: The Great and Powerful?, ?Monsters University? and ?The Lone Ranger?.

The new movies will be available on Sky Movies Disney from around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas and will be exclusive to Sky Movies for at least a year.

Alongside new releases, Sky Movies Disney will also offer a library of classic Disney films, including ?Bambi? and ?Pinocchio?, as well as Disney/Pixar films such as ?Finding Nemo?, ?Cars? and ?A Bug?s Life?. Live action titles such as ?Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man?s Chest? and ?National Treasure? will also be available.

In addition to broadcasting in standard and high definition on the Sky Movies Disney channel, all of the new and classic movies will be available to view on demand and on the go.

Sky TV customers will be able to watch movies on the move with Sky Go, on their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook. NOW TV, Sky?s new internet TV service, will also offer easy and flexible access to the Disney titles to customers who buy the Sky Movies monthly. Disney films available in 3D will be shown on the Sky 3D channel.

In addition to the launch of the new channel, the agreement gives Sky Movies the first subscription pay TV movie rights in the UK and Ireland to other titles distributed by Disney, including new movies from Lucasfilm, and also Marvel Studios features such as ?Iron Man 3? and ?Avengers Assemble?, which will be broadcast across the Sky Movies portfolio of channels.

In addition to movies, the agreement covers Disney?s TV channels - Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior - which will continue to be made available to Sky customers, alongside a new HD version of Disney Junior, launching in April. All Disney-branded channels will also continue to be available on Sky Go across a range of internet-connected devices.

Additionally, Sky will launch a dedicated Disney section on its popular On Demand service, offering hundreds more hours of catch-up and library shows.

Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said, "The launch of Sky Movies Disney is great news for our customers and builds on the strong relationship that Sky and Disney have enjoyed for more than 20 years. We?re delighted that an entertainment company of Disney?s international stature has chosen to work with Sky on its first co-branded linear movie channel. This is a world-first collaboration that will excite millions of families and further strengthen our market-leading movies service."

Sky Movies director Ian Lewis said, ?Disney?s movies are loved by all ages and generations, so we?re delighted to be bringing this new channel to millions of families at no extra cost. Sky Movies Disney will be the home of new and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar movies and will offer all new titles at least a year before other TV channels or subscription services. The combination of Disney?s fantastic movies and Sky?s award-winning innovation means that customers will have the chance to enjoy the very best of Disney on their own terms, whether that?s watching on demand, on the move or in 3D."

Disney president Europe, Middle East and Africa Diego Lerner said, "In launching these new initiatives, we are underlining Disney and Sky?s shared goal: bringing high quality, creative entertainment to audiences in the UK and Ireland. The ways in which people watch TV and movies have changed immeasurably in the past 20 years, but consumers always seek out Disney?s great stories and memorable characters."

Disney Europe, Middle East and Africa senior VP, GM, media distribution Catherine Powell said, "Through the launch of Sky Movies Disney, we will offer viewers our broadest range yet of popular current and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar films, featuring many of our much-loved stories and characters.

?Building on the strong performance of our movies and Disney channels in the UK and Ireland, this agreement will not only increase the range of Disney entertainment being made available, but also the devices and platforms that viewers will be able to enjoy them on."