Big move: Sky TV will put the new series of Game of Thrones on Neon, immediately
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The streaming video war keeps getting more and more interesting.
The latest move, and it's a biggie, comes from Sky TV. It's going to put Game of Thrones season five, which starts April 13, on Neon the same day it screens in the US (Sky earlier said it will screen GoT on Soho at 1pm Monday as a simulcast with HBO in the US, where it will be Sunday night. It will repeat the show in prime time. On Neon, it will be available from 8.30pm).
GoT is Soho's jewel in the crown. Previously, subscribers to the $20/month Neon have had to make do with older series, presumably because Sky wanted to protect its higher yielding traditional business.
Why the sudden change of heart?
It could be Netflix' NZ launch.
Or HBO's move to offer GoT through its new HBO Now direct service, which is US-only but will be relatively easy for New Zealanders to access.
Maybe both.
Previously, I've written about Sky's fat profits from its traditional business acting as golden handcuffs.
Now it looks like there's a bit of shackle-breaking going on.
What's next? The All Blacks or Black Caps on Fanpass?
READ ALSO: Game of Phones: Sky TV’s ultimate move to counter-attack Spark
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Big move: Sky TV will put the new series of Game of Thrones on Neon, immediately
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