Sky+ customers will be able to start using the new Sky+ app for iPad that lets them connect to online communities around virtually every show on TV, across Sky and other channels.

Through the app, which goes live this week, Sky customers can interact more fully with content than ever before, following and contributing to online chat via an in-built Twitter feed, plus gain easy access to a range of extra information related to the show they are watching.

The immersive second-screen functionality - powered by the augmented TV specialists zeebox - is available in addition to existing features offered by the app which hand more control back to Sky customers over their viewing experience.

These include being able to use the app to change the channels on their TV through a swipe of their fingers on the iPad, as well as browse their Sky+ planner through the app, adding and deleting shows without interrupting their viewing on the main TV set.

The Sky+ app for iPad is available to Sky TV customers at no extra charge.