SKY customers can now enjoy live sport, news, movies and more on their Apple iPhone or iPad with the new SKY GO App.

Launched this week, if you are watching SKY on anything but a television, it will be through SKY GO as iSKY, SKY’s online service offering streamed channels and on demand content becomes SKYGO.co.nz and the SKY GO App launches.

“More than 70 per cent of our customers have a smartphone or tablet and that number continues to grow rapidly,” says Alex Winter, Product Manager, SKY.

“Our customers have told us they’d like mobile access to SKY content beyond their living rooms so we’re delighted to be bringing it to their handbags, backpacks and pockets – just in time for Christmas and the Kiwi summer.”

Ten channels are available through the SKY GO App, including four LIVE sports channels; SKY Sport 1, 2, 3, & 4, SKY Movies Premiere, E!, UKTV, Cartoon Network, National Geographic and BBC World News.

“SKY is already a much-loved part of millions of Kiwis’ lives and with SKY GO they can enjoy more of the SKY shows they love, whether they’re at the beach, the bach, the boat, or beyond,” Winter adds.

“We expect LIVE sport to be especially popular over the summer but SKY GO offers something for every member of the family, whether they’re a film buff, a news hound or a tiny armchair critic.”

SKY GO is part of the company’s previously announced strategy to expand the delivery of SKY’s content via the internet.

The SKY GO App is free for SKY customers to download and enables them to watch any of the SKY GO channels they currently subscribe to.

Developed in collaboration with Christchurch-based Smudge Apps and Australia’s Massive Interactive, the app's interface design has been carefully considered, bringing some of the best features of the television to the small screen and featuring SKY’s new look brand in an attractive and easy to use interface.

“A key focus for us has been to take the best of both devices and the personal TV viewing experience and combine them into a compelling product,” Winter says.

“The next phase of this project will see video on demand and further LIVE streamed channels added to the App, meaning our customers will be able to access even more of our premium content via their mobile devices.”

SKY customers can register their two favourite mobile devices for SKY GO and view SKY on their television and one other device at a time.

“That means you could watch SKY GO on your iPhone while you are working in the city, then switch to your iPad when visiting the beach over summer,” says Winter.

Summary of SKY GO features:

• Watch up to ten streamed channels (if you subscribe to Basic, Sport and Movies)

• Adaptive streaming to suit your internet connection

• Check your viewing hours on the tracker

• Browse a seven day electronic programme guide (EPG)for channels on the App

• Book recordings for current and future events to your MY SKY

• Post about programmes via social media and e-mail

• Set and manage parental controls to keep content family friendly

A SKY GO App for Android devices will launch in the New Year.