Sky viewers are to get the chance to download movies and sports via their PCs when the British satellite outfit unveils a new "on-demand" service later this year.

Subscribers to Sky Sports will be able to download match highlights, interviews, Sky Sports News bulletins and other footage while Sky Movies punters will have the chance to watch some 200 films.

The downlaods will not be made via viewers' sat dish, but by their existing broadband connection. Sky will not be providing the broadband connection insisting that this is purely a content deal.

Sky reckons that this "on-demand" service will help retain subscribers to its digital TV service and help attract new punters, from 7.7m at present to 10m by 2010.

"The intention is to reinforce Sky's value proposition and forge deeper customer relationships by enabling subscribers to get more from Sky," said the company in a statement.

Last week Sky announced plans to create a new interactive television portal that should let its punters view web sites via the TV. The portal is to be launched later this year and is satellite broadcaster is looking to attract web content providers such as e-businesses.

"Available without subscription to all digital satellite viewers in the UK and Ireland, the easy-to-use portal will provide access to a range of internet services that have been adapted specially for television.

"Services will be accessed using conventional URLs or via the portal's listings pages and online search engine," said Sky in a statement. ®

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