Sky launches new Multiroom HD box
Wednesday, March 16 2011, 12:25 GMT
By Andrew Laughlin,


Sky has today announced the launch of a new midrange set top box aimed at customers wanting to watch high definition TV in more than one room.

When taken with Sky's HD pack, the new Sky HD box gives customers access to the same lineup of more than 50 HD channels, including Sky Atlantic HD, BBC One HD and Sky Sports 1 HD.

The receiver completes Sky's high definition product lineup, alongside the standard Sky+ HD box and the one terabyte receiver.

Sky said that the Sky HD box will particularly suit Sky Multiroom customers wanting to access HD channels in more than one room of their homes.

Currently, to watch HD in a secondary room requires the purchase of a Multiroom subscription at £10.25 a month and an additional HD subscription (also £10.25 a month), along with spending a further £199 on another Sky+ HD box.

The new offer cuts out the £199 cost of buying a new Sky+ HD box, as one Sky HD receiver is free for each Multiroom subscriber.

Any additional box taken with a new Multiroom subscription will cost £49, and an installation cost applies of £30 for new customers and £60 for existing customers.

"We want to offer customers as much choice as possible, both in terms of content and innovation," said Hilary Perchard, Sky's director of product management.

"Therefore, as the appetite for HD viewing grows we want to make this service available to customers throughout the house so they are always able to watch great content in high definition."

The Sky HD box is not a personal video recorder, meaning it has no hard disk and cannot support the Sky+ functionality. The EPG does, however, allow customers to set reminders.