Sky News Wins RTS Innovation Award for iPhone App

Sky News has won this year’s ‘On The Move’ category at the RTS Innovation Awards for its iPhone application.

Sky News launched the app, available to download for free through the UK and Ireland Apple App stores, in May 2009 and within three months it had already been downloaded by more than half a million people.  The 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.

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

Announcing the award win in London on 10 November, RTS commented that: “The jury reported they loved this application – it is clear, effective, offers excellent video quality and is highly rated among those who use it. It will be fascinating, they commented, to see how Sky fully exploits the development’s sharing capacity that allows viewers to connect to Sky and submit their own eyewitness or user-generated material.”

James Weeks, Executive Producer, Interactive, for Sky News said: “We are delighted with the win and at just how well the app has done since its launch. We knew it would be popular with regular Sky News viewers, but to win an RTS award is a fantastic commendation for the whole team, from the developers right through to the Sky News journalists who keep the content fresh, relevant and make sure that anyone using it knows they will always be connected to the latest breaking news wherever they are.”

The win came a day after Sky announced it was launching a new Sky Mobile TV App on the App Store, featuring Sky News content. The new app offers the best in live TV on the move, through a dedicated app for Sky Mobile specifically developed for iPhone and iPod touch. The new app allows users to stream live TV via WiFi and the channels available include all Sky Sports channels, Sky Sports News, Sky News, ESPN and At The Races.

Speaking about the new app, David Gibbs, General Manager for Mobile at Sky, said: "In less than a year we’ve already seen millions of downloads of Sky’s Apps from the App Store. Our new Sky Mobile TV App combines the demand for great live TV on the move with the high quality viewing experience offered by iPhone and iPod touch. Sky Mobile TV offers more choice, control and flexibility for customers ensuring they can access the content they want, at a time that’s convenient to them, on the screen of their choosing."