European TV broadcaster Sky is planning to leverage their ownership of The Cloud Wi-Fi Network (acquired in January 2011) to offer subscribers some of their favorite TV programs via mobile apps when they are using Sky controlled hot spots.
According to NMA:
“The broadcaster is also exploring options to offer brands geo-location targeting on the network and options to serve ads depending on the type of content users are consuming.”
News of the mobile revolution at Sky came from Tim Hussain, Sky’s head of platform development and partnerships who spoke at ThinkBox today:
“We are just at the beginning in terms of what we can do on mobile, there’s a plethora of content we are going to bring to devices.”
If the company’s move towards subscription services is a success they may also move into gaming and editorial partnerships to expand their digital footprint which in turn should help attract new advertisers to their various platforms.
Hussain has also promised an Android app but noted that the fragmentation of the Google Android system has posed some problems that much first be worked out.
If the plan comes to fruition customers will be able to access their programs from more than 5,000 hot spots throughout the UK.