Sky News Launches Internet TV Widget through Yahoo!

Last Updated on Saturday, 09 January 2010 16:16 Saturday, 09 January 2010 16:16

Sky News today announced a new tool to help people stay connected to the latest news wherever they are and whatever they are doing.

Following its hugely successful iPhone app earlier this year, Sky News has developed a TV Widget for the Yahoo! Widget Engine that will debut in the near future. Consumers with Internet-connected televisions powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine will be able to use the service.

Sky News is the first UK news organisation to develop such a widget, which delivers breaking news by text and images to users’ TV sets. It includes seven different categories of news: top stories, UK news, politics, sport, business, world news and showbiz news.

TV Widgets enable popular Internet services and online media to reach viewers with applications specifically tailored to the needs of the TV viewers. The Sky News TV Widget is powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine and is available on Internet connected TV sets from Samsung. Users who select the TV Widget, will be able to instantly access the latest headlines and stories from Sky News, while continuing to enjoy whichever TV programme they’re tuned into.

The Widget is the latest tool in Sky News’ portfolio of interactive news services, which already includes Sky News Active on TV, mobile phones, Transvision Screens at railway stations and an iPhone/iPod touch app. The Widget is available free of charge and there is no requirement for users to subscribe to a Sky TV package in order to access the Widget. The new Widget is initially only available in the UK, but may be extended internationally at a later date.

James Weeks, Executive Producer, New Media, for Sky News said: “Following hot on the heels of the hugely popular, and award-winning, Sky News iPhone app, we are delighted to announce yet another application which allows people to easily keep up with the latest news within the normal routine of their daily lives.

“Our internet connected TV Widget provides the ability for those with enabled TV’s to quickly and effortlessly stay connected to Sky News, without having to choose to go online, switch channels, or boot up a PC when they are relaxing at home. It is part of our ongoing quest to bring Sky News direct to news consumers, wherever they are and however they want it.”

Arlo Rose, senior director of product management and design, Connected TV, Yahoo!, said: “By creating this revolutionary new Internet experience and combining our technology with the global distribution of major consumer electronics and content partners, we enable consumers to access the relevant information and content to enhance their television watching experience. Yahoo! has combined key attributes of the Internet, including openness, community, and personalization, with the power of television.”