Sky Go initiates overhaul as it tries to keep pace with streaming competition
Sky has unveiled a redesign of its on-demand and live-streaming service, Sky Go, in preparation for a larger overhaul that will include additional features designed to help the platform hold off competition from the Netflix and Amazon.
The redesign, while not radical, signals an offense from Sky as it looks to strengthen the service while adding subtle new features such as ‘watch next’ which fit with the popular binge viewing habits of consumers nowadays.
Other feature additions similar to those employed by the likes of Netflix include content recommendations tailored to the user's established tastes and viewing history.
Starting with the online browser and Android versions, the redesign of Sky Go is the biggest since its launch in 2011 and features a new home page and layout. The iOS version is expected to follow in February, and new features will be introduced across all versions later this year.
Michele Swaine, director of product development at Sky, said the changes were "just the start of a really exciting year for Sky Go.”
She added that "both the redesign rolling out today and brilliant new features coming later this year are all part of our commitment to making finding the best TV brilliantly simple."
Sky will hope that the changes can build on the success of its advertising platform AdSmart which it claims has kept almost 50 per cent mor viewers from changing channel during ads.