Playboy TV UK pioneers SMS payments
Playboy TV UK is claiming a breakthrough in making digital television subscriptions payable via mobile phones.
The UK arm of Playboy TV International, home to the eponymous Playboy TV channel, Spice Extreme and Adult Channel, says it is the first broadcaster to allow customers to pay via premium rate text messages.
The subscription method is provided in partnership with text message operator Yakara.
By texting the word 'go' to a short code, Sky viewers can access six channels, paid for by receiving the equivalent of 20 premium rate text messages at £1.50 each per month.
Subscribers need to provide details such as their telephone number, postcode and Sky viewing card number before the service is activated within two hours.
Richard Gale, marketing and sales director at Playboy TV UK, said: "It is very exciting to be the first broadcaster in the UK to use SMS technology in this way."
Yakara managing director Stuart Malcolm said: "This is a UK first."
Meanwhile, Playboy TV UK said it had concluded an arrangement with BSkyB to enable viewers to subscribe by pressing the red button.