SkyD on-demand use spikes

Sky Deutschland (SkyD) has reported a 367% increase in on-demand sessions for the third quarter of 2012, as it prepares to launch a kids’ programming block on its VoD platform this month.

Sky Go saw usage jumpe to 8.2 million sessions – possibly with a number of shows screened in each session – in the three months to September 30, compared with 1.7 million for the same period last year.

The service is also expanding the content it offers and platforms it is available through. Since September, for instance, subscribers have been able to view Germany’s Bundesliga football matches live on iPhone.

Furthermore, from this month Sky Go will roll out a dedicated kids’ zone with more than 100 programmes, ranging from classic cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Sylvester & Tweety to movies like The Muppets, Rio and Happy Feet 2.

SkyD will pick up content to run online through partnerships with channels including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon and German net Junior.

The News Corp-owned pay-TV platform recorded net growth of 80,000 customers for the period, up 12% compared with the same period last year, to 3.2 million total subscribers. The 12-month cancellation rate was 11.8%.

The company’s third-quarter revenue was €976m (US$1.24bn), up 18% year-on-year, while it made a €16.5m overall loss in the period, an improvement on the €46.9m loss in Q3 2011.