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http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...y-anytime.html

Sky has today made significant strides towards broadening its video on-demand offering by agreeing deals to make BBC iPlayer and ITV Player available to around 5m of its satellite TV homes.

The catch-up TV services operated by the BBC and ITV will launch this year in Sky Anytime+, the video on-demand platform launched by Sky in 2011, which delivers content over an internet connection in Sky+ boxes rather than over satellite.

ITV shows such as Prime Suspect and Lewis will be offered on Sky Anytime+ from tomorrow, accessible through the main Sky Anytime+ menu, as well as a new dedicated ITV Player section.

Sky has been able to offer on-demand access to some BBC shows through its partnership with UKTV, the pay-TV joint venture between BBC Worldwide and US firm Scrips Networks interactive.

However, the broadcaster was unable to offer the full BBC iPlayer service due to a lack of agreement with the corporation over the process of syndication of on-demand content.

But after a change in the BBC's syndication policy last November, Sky has secured access to the iPlayer platform, which racked up more than 2 billion programme requests last year across all devices and platforms where it is available.

"We want customers to get the best out of their Sky subscription and Anytime+ is a great way to give them more control and choice over how they enjoy TV," said Jeremy Darroch, Sky's chief executive.

"We already know how popular Sky+ is and how it puts customers back in charge of their TV viewing. Anytime+ builds on that control and it's no wonder we've seen such strong demand for it