• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005

What is RSS?  

Video-focussed app allows users to send in their own breaking news

Sky News has announced that it has launched a free to download application for iPhone™ and iPod® touch through the UK and Ireland Apple App Store.

The new app delivers breaking news by text, images and video and features seven different categories for users to choose from: top stories, UK news, sport, business, world news, showbiz and skynews.com’s popular ‘strange news’ category.

And in a first among UK-based news broadcasters, as well as keeping up with the latest news, users will also be able to send Sky News their own stories and pictures directly through the application. A second unique tool available to anyone using the new application, allows users, with one easy click, to sign up for breaking news alerts, delivered straight to their iPhone by text.

As well as watching in depth coverage on individual stories, by selecting the ‘Video’ icon at the bottom of the home page, users can watch a news headlines video, a top showbiz headlines video clip and an up-to-date weather report, delivered by one of Sky News’ team of well-known weather presenters.

James Weeks, executive producer, New Media for Sky News, said: “We are delighted that the video capabilities of this app for iPhone and iPod touch bring yet another first to Sky News viewers.

“We have spent a long time developing this app to make sure that it delivers first class breaking news in the way that Sky News viewers and web users have come to expect.

We are also looking forward to receiving news and pictures from iPhone users, further enhancing our reputation for being first for breaking news, wherever you are.”

The launch follows on from another successful line iPhone and iPod touch app, the Sky+ Remote Record application. The app, which launched on 5th April 2009, has to date had more than 260,000 downloads and currently an average of 60% of the total Remote Record requests to Sky+ are being received through the new application.

The app is available for free from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/

For more information and a Q&A visit: www.skynews.com/iphone/support

-Ends-

 

For further information please contact:

Charlotte Dixon – Publicity Manager, Sky News

Tel: 020 7800 4341

Mob: 07824 824834

charlotte.dixon@bskyb.com

Notes to editors:  

Since its launch in 1989, Sky News has established itself as a formidable and innovative force in the world of news broadcasting. It now provides news to around 145 million people in 36 countries in Europe alone, with distribution across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Valued for fairness, balance and journalistic objectivity by both viewers and regulators, the award-winning channel has also earned a reputation for the speed of its 24-hour coverage and flexibility in reporting live news – first.  In addition to its status as one of Europe's leading 24 hour news channels, sky.com/news is one of the fastest growing websites on the continent.  It is also available on mobile phones, on desktops, on UK rail platforms and Virgin Atlantic flights.

Sky News now makes a number of programmes for web-only broadcast on skynews.com. These include, ‘Unplugged’ - a live show broadcast from Sky’s Milbank studio, during which Martin Stanford will discuss the most topical and interesting stories of the day – but with no running order, the programme will be able to respond to latest developments as they happen. In April 2007 skynews.com launched embedded video clips as standard on the site.  

Skynews.com won the Royal Television Society’s innovation award in 2007 for the user generated content it carried during Sky News’ Green Week. And in 2008, it won the Association of Online Publishers award for website of the year.

back to the article list...

• Help & accessibility |
• RSS |
• Site map |
• Privacy statement |
• Terms & conditions |
• Designed by oneshoe