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

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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:

#1 master2k27 on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:03

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

(1 reply) #2 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:05

Its not switched off im using it now!

#2.1 +TCLN Ryster on 27 Oct 2009 - 20:05

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

#3 NimrodUK on 27 Oct 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

#4 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:10

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

(1 reply) #5 Tom W on 27 Oct 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

#5.1 +BeLGaRaTh on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:16

Tom W said,

Ask and you shall receive ...

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

However it seems to have been removed

#6 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:19

Sure n

Last edited by Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:24

#7 Browno on 27 Oct 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

#8 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:21

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

#9 lunamonkey on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:27

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

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

#10 Tom W on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:27

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

#11 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:38

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

(2 replies) #12 NimrodUK on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:41

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

#12.1 Tom W on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:45

Not working here, what's the link?

#12.2 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:49

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

(1 reply) #13 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:45

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

Worked on my brothers 360, now uploading a video

#13.1 lunamonkey on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:08

Browno said,

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

#14 Unimatrix Xero on 27 Oct 2009 - 18:45

doesnt work for me

(2 replies) #15 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:05

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

#15.1 lunamonkey on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:09

cheers.

Last edited by lunamonkey on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:16

#15.2 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:19

No problem. It's not completely scrubbed yet.

#16 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:25

Now fully scrubbed, oh ****, didn't turn the sound on my phone!

#17 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:26

I'll do one more video

(3 replies) #18 agnewjamie on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:26

Where did everyone download the player from?

I turned on my xbox at about midday today and I couldn't find it

#18.1 Jaxkesa on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:31

agnewjamie said,

I guess it's been switched off like the article says :

#18.2 agnewjamie on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:34

Yes but was it switched off at 12? What I'm saying is.. when it was available.. how did people get to it? Because I didn't seem to be able to find it

#18.3 Jaxkesa on 27 Oct 2009 - 20:07

I guess so...probably the ppl who have it got it before it was switched off. It's not available for me either

#19 lunamonkey on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:32

If I register for ï¿½15 on the PC, does that carry through to xbox? I'm assuming yes... right?

#20 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 19:35

Yeh should do luna

#21 acnpt on 27 Oct 2009 - 20:10

Its all those pesky Virgin Media Customers.

I've got it installed, and in my opinion it's only good for those who already have Sky multi-room or max BB, and have the movies package (which I do (: ) Hoepfully they will start adding more content to the Sky1 and other channels 'on-demand' service.

(1 reply) #22 agnewjamie on 27 Oct 2009 - 20:41

So when it does come back online, where do I do download it!?

#22.1 Mambo Boy on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:18

Supposedly it's listed in the Video Marketplace. You'll need to put in your Sky ID when it asks and you should be good to go.

(2 replies) #23 tom01 on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:04

How'd you get Facebook on the 360 like in the video?

#23.1 Mambo Boy on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:20

God knows. I got accepted to the preview and even I haven't got it yet. I assume MS must have numerous servers we get assigned to when we first make our accounts. Some get it earlier than others dependent on what one they are on. That the only assumption I can come to, anyways.

#23.2 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:34

Xbox Live Preview Program

#24 lunamonkey on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:06

Is it back?

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/skyplayer/

#25 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:35

Nope, it's not in Spotlight or Video Marketplace

(1 reply) #26 +warwagon on 27 Oct 2009 - 21:56

Is it just me or was the resolution on the XP side stretched to hell?

#26.1 Browno on 27 Oct 2009 - 22:37

On the computer? It's a visual style.

#27 +BeLGaRaTh on 28 Oct 2009 - 00:26

For those of you who downloaded it earlier when it was available and now cannot see it in the menus, you can still acces it and watch sky. Heres how ...

Go to MyXbox
Click on your profile
Select Manage Account
Select Download History
Select Sky Player
Select Play Now

You now have access to Sky Player

Be weary though, you have to either sub to the Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband in order to get the Live TV, and everything else seems to be chargeable too. 98p per episode etc. A whole lot of crap IMO especially as I sub to the full package including Sports, Movies and ESPN alongside the Â£10 a month HD subscription and I get no live option

Yes I know I can just change channels and watch, but thats not the point if I move the 360 to the bedroom

#28 M_Lyons10 on 28 Oct 2009 - 05:44

Wow, I hope they get that resolved quickly.

#29 tobe22 on 28 Oct 2009 - 10:14

the Entertainment package channels are a bit Sh*t imo, £15 a month for a bunch of childrens channels and G.O.L.D, does this mean no Sky 1?

(1 reply) #30 agnewjamie on 28 Oct 2009 - 11:13

I still can't seem to find it, I think I must be blind

#30.1 +Citizen Erased on 28 Oct 2009 - 11:37

I can't find it either, although my Xbox did just update....

(1 reply) #31 Unimatrix Xero on 28 Oct 2009 - 19:26

got it installed but having issues watching stuff, it just says 'cant perform this action' or something simular atm

#31.1 PDJKEELAN on 28 Oct 2009 - 19:33

Unfortunately the entire SKY Player website seems to be down with a DNS error at the moment... the number of 360's connecting to the SKY player must have caused a complete overload of their entire SKY player network... either that or they're fiddling with the DNS at a stupid time of the day...

#32 Ferret on 28 Oct 2009 - 19:33

Still not available - What an absolute disgrace !

#33 Steve on 28 Oct 2009 - 20:22

It was working about 3.30pm today, but now I can't login at all.

I can't amend my subscription through Sky Active on my Sky box either, so I'd imagine Sky have major issues right now...

#34 +TCLN Ryster on 30 Oct 2009 - 00:30

Sigh.... how long as this been coming? And yet they still can't get it right. Somebody should get fired for this monumental c0ck-up.

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