Sky TV has dropped its plans to introduce a new version of its set top box.
New CEO Martin Stewart has decided not to proceed with the much-vaunted but much-delayed box and opted to develop the company’s streaming services instead.
“Drawing on our understanding of the ways New Zealanders are watching content in 2019 and what they want from us, we have decided that we can best serve our customers by enhancing our streaming services, and we will not proceed with the Puck device. Customers who prefer to consume our sports and entertainment on a set-top box are already well served with My Sky, which offers reliability and great functionality, and they all get complimentary access to our SkyGO app,” Stewart says.
Stewart’s decision is a clear rejection of the direction his predecessor John Fellet mapped out for SKY. Fellet was committed to introducing the new generation box with enhanced storage and the ability to simultaneously record more channels.
However, technical problems had delayed its introduction and in February Fellet announced that it would not available in March as he had promised.
Fellet stepped down as CEO at the end of February and recently resigned as a director of its board.
Stewart, who has been reviewing the company’s technology announced today that he had pulled the pin on what he sees as old technology.
“From my first day at Sky I have talked about how streaming services are our future. Over the last few months we have taken a close look at Sky’s technology roadmap and as a result we have sharpened our future focus.
Stewart also signalled new streaming applications and pricing are in the pipeline as the company fights back against the likes of Spark Sports.
“In August we are launching our new sports app, with a superb content line-up, new pricing and great features. We also have a number of enhancements planned on Neon and Sky Go that will increase choice, quality and ways of enjoying those services.”
Earlier, the company scrapped its HD fee of $10 a month and last week decided it will provide its Rugby Channel free to subscribers of Sky Sport.
