Nokia Italy, Sky, and Microsoft yesterday announced the global debut of the Sky Go app for Windows Phone. The combined app and service allows subscribers to Sky's satellite broadcast TV channels to watch live and on demand content on their Windows Phone device. The app has widely be seen as one of the key gaps in Windows Phone's European app portfolio.

The Sky Go app, which is due to be released later this month, will intially only available in Italy. However, a Nokia spokesperson noted that the company is working with Sky to bring the app to other countries.

This process may take some time, as Sky's operations are not unified across Europe, with a series of different companies in different European countries, albeit with the same 21st Century First parent company. That means Sky subscribers in the UK and other European countries will have to continue to be patient.

From the press release:

Paola Cavallero, General Manager, Nokia Italia, said:

"Sky Go on the Windows Phone 8 platform is a world exclusive for Italy and a true Christmas present for our customers. We are particularly pleased with the partnership with Sky as it will further increase the satisfaction of our Italian users of Lumia devices. This app, in addition to the recent arrival in the Store of other successful brands such as Instagram and Vine, will be available on the entire Lumia family stretching from the Lumia 520 to the new Lumia 1520 with its high-quality 6-inch screen."

Remo Tebaldi, Customer & Product Marketing Manager Sky, said:

"We are pleased with this important agreement thanks to which Sky Go for the first time in the world will be making its debut on Nokia Lumia smartphones and the Windows Phone 8 platform. Sky Go is thus taking a further step on the path of innovation, allowing an increasingly broad segment of our subscribers to enjoy ever richer and more compelling viewing experiences. In fact, this partnership will boost customers' chances to access their favourite programs on devices such as the new Nokia Lumia 1520 that guarantee the standard of excellence that has always set Sky apart."

Silvano Colombo, Consumer Channel Group Manager, Microsoft Italia, said:

"We are enthusiastic about our collaboration with Sky and proud that Italy has been chosen for the global debut of Sky Go on Windows Phone. This is further confirmation of the excellent results that have led our mobile operating system to become the second largest in Italy in the third quarter of 2013. Thanks to Sky Go, the line-up of Windows Phone applications has been further expanded, confirming Microsoft's commitment to guaranteeing its users access to the best of entertainment on their smartphones as well."