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Sky Player on Xbox 360 off to a shaky start [UK]

Tom Warren
27 October 2009 - 17:57
50 Comments
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British firm BSkyB has joined forces with Microsoft to give Xbox 360 owners the chance to watch live television and on demand content on their consoles.

The two firms launched the new Sky Player service on Xbox 360 today but in a u-turn the service has been switched off for new users until tomorrow due to an "unforeseen technical issue". According to many who were able to use the service today there has been a mixed reaction to the service. Some were able to use it perfectly whilst others struggled getting content streaming correctly. Microsoft issued the following statement:

"The Sky Player on Xbox 360 service did successfully launch early this morning, it has subsequently been suspended due to an unforeseen technical issue. With so much excitement and interest in the service, we'd much prefer to ensure that our customers enjoy the highest possible quality of service. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our customers who have attempted to access the service today. Sky Player engineers are hard at work to resolve the problem - we expect to have the full service available tomorrow."

Clearly both companies did not anticipate the high demand for the service and may not have conducted enough large-scale user testing beforehand.

Sky Player for Xbox 360 gives subscribers access to live pay TV channels - including Sky Sports and video on demand content. Neowin exclusively revealed the full channel list and cost earlier this month. Microsoft also plans to launch the Sky Player service in Media Center "soon". We managed to get an early sneak peek at this service at the Windows 7 UK launch last week. Existing Sky TV customers will be able to purchase an online Sky Player multiroom subscription for £9.75 per month. Customers with Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited will be able to access live channels for no extra charge. Non-Sky TV customers will require a monthly subscription that starts at £15 per month to the Base Entertainment Pack. In addition to the live channels, customers will also have access to on-demand programmes from channels they subscribe to.

Fingers crossed that the service is up and running correctly tomorrow. Meanwhile here's a hands on video from one of our Neowin readers, Chris Brown:

Comments (50)

  1. master2k27 - 27 October 2009 - 18:03

    i hope when they release it on windows 7 they get it right

  2. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:05

    Its not switched off im using it now!

  3. +TCLN Ryster - 27 October 2009 - 20:05

    No-one said it was switched off. Switched off to new users is what they said.

  4. NimrodUK - 27 October 2009 - 18:10

    Im still using it now to, infact I have even quit it and relaunched it a minute ago to check.

    Im guessing there stopping new users from getting it until the bugs are sorted out, however for those of you who have already downloaded it, just go to account management and select view download history. Select Sky Player and click Launch Game. Loads up perfectly :)

  5. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:10

    Or you can load it by pressing the guide then Quick Launch then recently downloaded

  6. Tom W - 27 October 2009 - 18:13

    If you have downloaded it already can you please go into:

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/myAccoun...aseHistory.aspx and paste in the link for the Sky Player one please

  7. +BeLGaRaTh - 27 October 2009 - 18:16

    Tom W said,
    If you have downloaded it already can you please go into:

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/myAccoun...aseHistory.aspx and paste in the link for the Sky Player one please


    Ask and you shall receive ...

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/games/of...00-0000584807de

    However it seems to have been removed

  8. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:19

    Sure n

  9. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:20

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/games/of...00-0000584807de - Sky Player

    and

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/games/of...00-0000584807e3 - Last.fm
    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/games/of...00-0000584807e1 - Facebook

  10. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:21

    Add to queue links work - http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/myAccoun...p;mt=18&d=0

  11. lunamonkey - 27 October 2009 - 18:27

    Any know what the picture quality is like and the resolution?

    Is any HD available? If you have a HD sub?

  12. Tom W - 27 October 2009 - 18:27

    Thanks for the links guys, looks like it's not web available

  13. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:38

    It's not HD theres high, normal and low qualities, i'll do a video.

  14. NimrodUK - 27 October 2009 - 18:41

    Browno's add to queue link works, friend just downloaded it

  15. Tom W - 27 October 2009 - 18:45

    Not working here, what's the link?

  16. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:49

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/myAccoun...phf=0&mt=18&d=0

  17. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 18:45

    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/myAccoun...p;mt=18&d=0

    Worked on my brothers 360, now uploading a video

  18. lunamonkey - 27 October 2009 - 19:08

    Browno said,
    http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/myAccoun...p;mt=18&d=0

    Worked on my brothers 360, now uploading a video


    Do you have the link you click on to resolve at this url. This is the history url.

  19. Unimatrix Xero - 27 October 2009 - 18:45

    doesnt work for me

  20. Browno - 27 October 2009 - 19:05

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCb9wi_Iy08

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