New mobile offerings launched for sports fans in Ireland, Italy

Pan-European pay-television broadcaster Sky is launching new products tailored to mobile devices for its online streaming service Now TV in Ireland and Italy.

The Irish Independent newspaper said Sky’s Now TV a la carte service in Ireland will provide monthly subscription options for phones and tablet devices. The service will offer access to Sky’s sports content, along with movies and general entertainment.

Sky’s Now TV launch in Ireland comes as rival pay-television operator Eir has said it will launch a premium sports television service direct to its Meteor mobile customers’ phones.

The channels to be included on the platform are Eir Sports 1 and 2, specialist boxing channel BoxNation and four channels from pay-television broadcaster BT Sport. The service will provide content in the form of English Premier League and Uefa Champions League football, Gaelic Athletic Association events and the Formula One motor racing championship.

The service is available for 68,000 Eir and Meteor billpay customers on €35 ($37), €45 and €55 per month plans. Data used viewing the channels on mobile devices will not be included in customers’ monthly data usage limits.

Meanwhile, Sky Italia has launched Now TV Mobile, which will include two packages dedicated to sport. The first is football-themed with Serie A, Serie B and Uefa Europa League coverage offered for a monthly price of €19.99.

A second package – priced at between €9.99 for a day’s viewing and €29.99 for the month – adds the English Premier League, as well as other sporting action such as Formula One and the MotoGP motorcycling championship.

Both packages are available in addition to a basic monthly fee of €6.99.