Tiscali TV adds Sky basic channels to its offering in the UK

London, 27th June 2007 - Tiscali UK, the broadband, telecoms and media company, has announced a deal with BSkyB that will add the full set of Sky basic channels - including Sky One, Sky Two, Sky Three, Sky Arts, Sky Travel, Sky News and Sky Sports News  - to its channel line up.  The deal, signed today, will see the channels become available to Tiscali TV customers in the UK within the next few weeks.  These channels are in addition to the Sky Movies and Sky Sports channels that are already available via the Tiscali TV platform.  

The launch of Sky’s entertainment channels (Sky One, Sky Two and Sky Three) on the Tiscali TV platform will give customers access to premium entertainment content from the US such as 24, The Simpsons, Lost and the recently-acquired Prison Break, as well as original productions Brainiac, Ross Kemp on Gangs and the award-winning adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather.  Tiscali UK subscribers will also be able to watch an outstanding range of arts programming from Sky Arts featuring architecture, film, design, drama and literature as well as opera, dance, classical music and jazz.  In addition, Tiscali will offer the award-winning news channel Sky News and Sky Sports News, both of which keep the viewer up to date on news in their respective areas.

Mary Turner, Chief Executive Tiscali UK said:

"I am very pleased to be able to announce our deal with Sky for the provision of their channels on the Tiscali TV service.  The content that these channels bring to our platform is of the highest quality and means that Tiscali TV customers have even more viewing content to choose from.  Tiscali TV offers a TV package that gives the consumer some of the best linear TV channels available alongside a video on-demand package that has more content than any other on-demand package available in the UK today."

Mike Darcey, Sky’s Chief Operating Officer, said:

"We’re delighted that Tiscali has chosen to invest in our suite of basic channels and use them to differentiate its expanding TV service.  This is an endorsement of our decision to increase investment in our basic channels by almost 70% in the last five years.

Sky is always looking for new ways to make quality programming available to a wide range of customers, both through our own platform and by working with others.  This agreement highlights why the growth of IPTV is such an exciting new revenue opportunity for Sky."

Tiscali’s bundled pricing gives customers the best value triple play package available on the market today with prices starting from £14.99 a month for 2Mb broadband, TV and free weekend telephone calls.  For £19.99 a month customers can get 2Mb broadband, TV, free weekend calls and line rental.