Global satellite provider SES, which operates a network of nearly 70 satellites that can deliver video and data services to 99% of the world’s population, has today announced an extension of their existing partnership with Sky that will see them continuing to provide capacity to support the Sky Q TV service in the UK and Ireland until the end of 2029.
Sky UK has spent the past couple of years putting a lot more effort into pushing their new internet-based streaming platforms, Sky Glass (Sky integrated streaming TV set) and Sky Stream (streaming set-top-box), which are standalone products that use your home broadband ISP and WiFi connection to stream Sky’s on-demand video content and live TV channels – without the need for a satellite dish.
However, Sky have long been expected to continue supporting existing customers of their satellite-based TV products, such as Sky Q, until around 2030 and the new deal with SES supports that strategy. The agreement reflects a multi-year contract renewal for satellite capacity and back-up services from SES’s prime video neighbourhood of 28.2/28.5 degrees East.
SES will extend the capacity for multiple transponders, although interestingly, their complementary back-up services contract with Sky will only run until the end of 2027.
Nick Herm, Chief Business Officer at Sky, said:
“We’re pleased to continue our long-standing collaboration with SES, reinforcing our commitment to providing the best viewing experience to all customers – whether they’re watching on our much-loved Sky Q satellite platform, or over our IP products, Glass and Stream.
This contract renewal provides us with the reliability we need to continue to deliver our market-leading TV offer and broad mix of channels to Sky Q customers across the UK and Ireland.”
Norbert Hölzle, Global Head of Media at SES, added:
“This important contract renewal with Sky reflects our ongoing commitment to deliver the highest levels of performance, service reliability and reach to our customers. As one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, Sky trusts our satellite network to provide its viewers with a premium TV experience. This extension underscores the value satellites continue to deliver in the evolving media landscape to broadcasters and audiences alike.”
SES’s satellites at the 28.2/28.5 degrees East orbital position currently deliver a wide range of Sky TV channels to more than 17 million households in the UK and Ireland. The deal is also good for Freesat, which uses the same satellites as Sky to deliver their free-to-air service in the UK.