Cost of Sky TV

[Indestructable]

I am not knocking the product as Sky is excellent and I couldn't bear to part with Sky Sports. I appreciate that the number of channels available come at a cost, but just think it is too dear. A clear lack of competition hasn't helped.
I guess it is just like most things in life these days like council tax, water rates etc. If you add up the increases on your usual monthly bills and compare to wage rises etc it is no wonder that so many are ending up skint. I realise that I am one of the lucky ones in that I have no debts, but dread to think how many try to cope with the cost of living increases.
What can i say it is summer, it is pouring down and I am  feeling grumpy.

[Graham C]

Sky is great and pretty good value too imo.  We did away with the movies as we never watched them but it's well worth the money for the sports.  That said, I am a little disapointed with them losing the golf and some Premiership matches to Setanta - I'm not forking out another £15pm for them

[ifm]

Buy a "modded" cable box.
Get the basic subscription.
Buy a card programmer and a flash card.
Put the supplied box in your bedroom.
Download latest hex files and program new card.
Watch every available channel on the modded box and run the feed to the normal box (not skyone).
Alternatively if you know a cable fitter get him to turn on your feed for a drink (don't need a subscription).
Done, 4 years of free cable.

[Tinsel Town]

Try this . Martin lewis usually has good take on things like this.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheaper-sky-cheap-cable


 

[George2Loose]

Hey, if they knocked down the price challenge may not be able to afford great programmes like casino casino

[Indestructable]

Good point. 

Out of interest does anyone know how this works. Does some of my money go to channels like Challenge, or do they pay Sky to transmit and then they rely on adverts?

[suzanne]

I pay I think its £48 a month now. I have tried 3 times to ring and cancel the movies as I never watch them and have got fed up waiting to be connected and hung up.

Sky IMO has the WORSE customer services...even worse than BT and that takes some doing.

[tikay]

Good point. 

Out of interest does anyone know how this works. Does some of my money go to channels like Challenge, or do they pay Sky to transmit and then they rely on adverts?

Much of the content on various Sky Channels is supplied to them free of charge, with the programme Sponsor footing the bill, Sky simply agree to take it. Nice business model, gotta be said.

[Indestructable]

Ok cheers, makes more sense now about adverts being needed.

[Zebediah]

Good point. 

Out of interest does anyone know how this works. Does some of my money go to channels like Challenge, or do they pay Sky to transmit and then they rely on adverts?

They pay sky for the privelage.

Tv channels pay sky something like £70,000 a year to be on the EPG within their subscription service.
If they want to be true free to air (no sky subscription needed to watch them) they charge 2-3 times that
Also certain channel numbers worth more than others.

But cheap if you consider the extra possible viewer numbers, bit like paying extra for a prime shop location.

BBC had a big faling out with sky over this as they were being charged a fortune for the prime 101 and 102 spots in free to air.
Think the government had to step in before BBC pulled all their services from the sky box.

[Newportlad]

NTL (now Virgin Media) has the worst 'Customer Service'  Hang on for 45mins just for someone to then put the phone down on you!

 

[kinboshi]

NTL (now Virgin Media) has the worst 'Customer Service'  Hang on for 45mins just for someone to then put the phone down on you!

 

Their broadband service is superb.  Their customer service is shocking.  They've got my bill correct once in the past 7 months.  Each month it's at least an hour on the phone waiting to speak to someone and then waiting to speak to the right person.

I'd move, but from what I've heard the grass isn't greener on the other side.  If only one service provider could get the service delivery and the customer service sorted - they'd make a killing.

[henrik777]

Try this . Martin lewis usually has good take on things like this.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheaper-sky-cheap-cable


 

As well as that information have a look at what you can watch online for free. (check out the alluc thread for some info)

Most US tv shows and films can be watched advert free and before they actually air on uk tv anyway. If this saves you money and you want it to your tv the weigh up the small (in comparison) cost of connecting your pc to your tv.  http://www.weethet.nl/english/video_connect_pc2tv.php

Sandy

[ifm]

There are many streaming sites that carry many of the big us channels, i can even watch the sci fi channel online these days.

[fatshaft]

its less than a tenner a week ffs!!!!

its not complicated, if you want it you pay if you dont you dont.

Not according to my maths, and that's if you don't add HD or Xtra on top at £10 a time each per month.

Well I am a little pissed off that they lost most of the USPGA golf which they happened not to mention.

I can now get the US golf on Setanta for an additional £15 per month !

Not only has the golf gone last year, but the SPL a couple of years ago, and now splitting some of the fixtures in England with Setanta also. I loved the letter detailing the price increase and trying to justify their better than ever value for money. I fail to see how gradually getting less and less of the top events is getting value for money?