All I had to access this new feature was open Windows Media Center and let do its usual downloads and then I could see the TV Guide, which when I clicked on asked if I wanted to install the Sky Player. The download and install only took a few minutes and then I was ready to start browsing through the collection of entertainment.

The player comes in two services, one service being able to stream live Sky TV to Media Center and the other service is being able to watch past programs and movies. Unfortunately there don’t seem to be and free programs on the player, some ting are rentable though. Everything is available to Sky subscribers but even then subscriptions to specific packages are needed for some channels/programs.

More pics at the bottom of the post

It looks like the people who will get the best experience from the Sky Player are those who are already Sky subscribers which I think is silly and that Sky are missing out on part of the market. At home we don’t have Sky because the house is listed so we aren’t allowed to have a satellite on the house but I know I would enjoy access to the complete Sky “package” on a rentable basis, maybe even as a subscription (although being a student the cost could prove prohibitive).

Its good to see some kind of Internet TV for us Brits but its a shame so much is only available to Sky subscribers and its not the vast collection of media I was expecting/hoping for. I am still holding out for Microsoft to partner some of out main content providers to access vast catalogues of British TV within Media Center, maybe we can also expect a Zune Movie renting service too see that Xbox now has that service.