Lots of speculation that Sky is about to buy Easynet, a UK broadband provider. Such a move would give Sky the ability to offer a triple play (phone, broadband and TV) which would enable them to better compete with the newly merged cable companies. It would also enable them to offer IPTV and Video on Demand which would give them a better defence against next summers BT launch of IPTV.
This sort of move also makes sense of the USB connection in Sky+ boxes. And, many people forget that, way back in 2000, Sky formed a JV with Kingston Communications who have pioneered IPTV in this country - so have quite a lot of knowledge about how this service can work.
And by adding a VOD service Sky can make much better use of its content deals such as movies and football.
To us though, there is still one piece of the jigsaw missing - a mobile play. Our money is still, despite denials, on a Sky MVNO - in some form or other.
Two things strike me as interesting about this deal. The first is that Easynet is focused on business customers, one report says 98% of their base. I've posted about that here - http://slgeorge.wordpress.com/2005/10/21/is-skys-purchase-of-easynet-good-for-business/
The second is the potential impact on some of the consumer broadband providers such as Be, who have been hoping to get into the triple play space. Sky is an elephant, eating their lunch - to mix metaphors!
Posted by: Steve George | October 21, 2005 at 12:33 PM