Discovery-Sky dispute (Now resolved)

Johnboy1951

Gonzo wrote: »

didn't realise this, I just thought they were adding channels to their package without making them available to Ireland, similar move to Channel 5 and Spike TV etc.

Not sure what you mean by this .... Spike & Channel 5 are FTA .... obviously I missed the intent.

galtee boy

I'm assuming that eir, Vodafone and Virgin platforms are unaffected by this spat between Sky and Discovery ?

uck51js9zml2yt

Libertarian Kant wrote: »

But they continue to invest in new content and shows and marketing people... :pac:

We'll be able to watch the Obama legacy:)

Recently signed up to sky q at 30€ P.m
Don't watch many of the Discovery channel's but am happy to cancel and just use NOWTV for entertainment channels.

helimachoptor

irishgeo wrote: »

some interesting reading here. Sky suffering with huge numbers leaving

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/01/26/sky-launch-full-pay-tv-broadband-struggles-hold-satellite-subscribers/

Unless I'm blind it doesn't mention churn numbers in there. It also mentions revenue and profit is up (excluding the epl rights)

dublinman1990

11214 wrote: »

I really enjoy Eurosport, can we subscribe to their online offering here?

Yes. You can subscribe to Eurosport 1 & 2 online. You can use it as a standalone subscription if you cancel Sky.

http://uk.eurosportplayer.com/

SteM wrote: »

So 4 HD channels will be going. Are they still charging 17.50 per month extra for the HD channels? Gave up on Sky HD a few years ago.

I count 5 HD Channels there going from Sky Feb 1st.

Discovery 1 HD
Animal Planet HD
Eurosport 1 HD
Eurosport 2 HD
TLC HD

L1011

There is minimal new content of any great cost and similarly little rights issues on Discovery. I wouldn't be surprised if rather a lot of these channels go FTA if the cut from Sky is as poor as they're making out. Quest on Freeview was a very tiny toe-dip not even close the UKTV Freesat move but it may have given them enough data.

Beanntraigheach

I got rid of Sky last Summer, replacing it with a combo Freesat & Saorview box (anything else I want I get online).
One of my reasons for doing so was the realisation that I simply never watch any of the "Documentary" channels any more. They turned to pure crap years ago.

I haven't missed Sky in the slightest

irishfeen

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Yes. You can subscribe to Eurosport 1 & 2 online. You can use it as a standalone subscription if you cancel Sky.

http://uk.eurosportplayer.com/



I count 5 HD Channels there going from Sky Feb 1st.

Discovery 1 HD
Discovery 2 HD
Eurosport 1 HD
Eurosport 2 HD
TLC HD

Not to mention the HD channel we lost a few weeks back when UTV Ireland became be3.

dave98

I have kept it in my parents house as my dad loves all the Discovery channels. Realistically, if he went FTA now the only channel he would miss is National Geographic. Everything else is on free to air - as their not into sports. Time to get rid of it.

Mod Edit: post edited and take a warning, you can't throw an accusation like that lightly

Gerry Wicklow

From the Sky rep on Talk to..
....

I've checked with the team managing this change.

They have reiterated that Sky does not consider this to be a material change to a customer's terms and conditions based on the viewing figures for the channels that may be impacted. We will continue to offer the widest range of high quality, award winning factual content, both through our original commissions and through our partner channels. We also have an incredible line-up of factual programming scheduled for the beginning of next year from partners like NatGeo, History and CI, as well as a great line-up of Sky Originals.

However we recognise that some customers may not feel the same. In circumstances where an individual customer thinks that theu have been materially disadvantaged then they would be entitled to end their contract. Such customers would need to give notice of their intention to terminate the contract by calling Sky (7 days' notice for Sky+ customers or immediately for Sky Q customers) at any time in the 52 days after the change takes effect. This right would obviously not coming into play until such time as the channels are removed from the Sky platform.

Meanwhile you will be expected to pay top rate for content that you wont have for another year.

icdg

Gonzo wrote: »

didn't realise this, I just thought they were adding channels to their package without making them available to Ireland, similar move to Channel 5 and Spike TV etc.

Channel 5 and Spike never targeted Ireland.

There was an example with the Box Plus Network where they left the Irish EPG after they went FTA, not because of any rights issues but because they wouldn't pay Sky the extra fee to be a FTA Channel on the Irish EPG.

icdg

galtee boy wrote: »

I'm assuming that eir, Vodafone and Virgin platforms are unaffected by this spat between Sky and Discovery ?

Yes. Must edit the thread title to make that clear because it keeps getting asked.

Richard Hillman

Discovery are really taking it to Sky on their FB page

"Discovery has brought quality and variety to your screens but because Sky is refusing to pay a fair price for our channels, they may soon disappear. We believe it’s wrong for Sky to charge you more and offer you less. Make your voice heard. Tweet @SkyHelpTeam #KeepDiscovery"

Attached is a picture saying "If they played football, maybe they would love them like you do" :pac:

Sky usually collapse when a bit of bad PR come their way.

flutered

theteal wrote: »

I've more or less decided I'm packing it all in for FreeSat. Will ditch the landline too. Now to source the best deal for quality standalone BB

your fone

uck51js9zml2yt

Im cancelling my new skyq sub.
I have a combo box which i can connect.
That along with prime and my now tv box..I can add entertainment passes to get the programs I watch.

NUTZZ

NUTZZ

_John C

Lillianna Bumpy Warthog wrote: »

Im cancelling my new skyq sub.
I have a combo box which i can connect.
That along with prime and my now tv box..I can add entertainment passes to get the programs I watch.

Id try connecting up your combo box first before you go cancelling anything. When sky installed your sky q they would have installed a wideband LNB on your dish which wont work with your combo box. So now your dish will only work with a sky q box Unless you asked them to install a hybrid LNB when they were doing the install.

lgs 4

NUTZZ wrote: »

That,s a load of bull.... from Discovery UK ,their best programs are on Discovery Europe subscriptions

Samuel T. Cogley

I have to say, I think this might be a tactic on the part of Sky, basically saying issue a press release, go on, we'll do one too. We'll have to wait and see who caves but I suspect one party will.

mikeym

Interesting times ahead.

A lot of people will reconsider keeping Sky if they lose the Discovery owned channels. Especially those who dont subscribe to Premium Channels.

Samuel T. Cogley

mikeym wrote: »

Interesting times ahead.

A lot of people will reconsider keeping Sky if they lose the Discovery owned channels. Especially those who dont subscribe to Premium Channels.

TBH, and sorry for commenting yet again. People just aren't reconsidering Sky and Sky know this. They're seeing a bit more churn, which could just as easily be down to new products entering the space such as Vodafone and continued uptake of Netflix etc. However, Sky's profits and subscriber number keep going in one direction; up. From a purely business perspective why on earth would they change a winning formula?

galtee boy

Just watching Eurosport now and they had a scrolling banner going across the screen saying that if you're watching Eurosport as a Sky customer, you will lose this channel and other Discovery channels soon, or words to that effect.

lgs 4

galtee boy wrote: »

Just watching Eurosport now and they had a scrolling banner going across the screen saying that if you're watching Eurosport as a Sky customer, you will lose this channel and other Discovery channels soon, or words to that effect.

Free Eurosport One on Astra 1 19e German

Schwanz

lgs 4 wrote: »

Free Eurosport One on Astra 1 19e German

That has nothing to do with 28e on which this discussion is about.

dulpit

galtee boy wrote: »

Just watching Eurosport now and they had a scrolling banner going across the screen saying that if you're watching Eurosport as a Sky customer, you will lose this channel and other Discovery channels soon, or words to that effect.

Wife is watching TLC and similar banner appeared at top after ad break, stayed for maybe 30 seconds..

snaps

Perhaps it's time for the discovery group to do what Netflix are, internet streaming service. I think it's the way forward.

I'm surprised it's come this far, but I would say a last minute deal will be done.

Dave..M

Libertarian Kant wrote: »

TBH, and sorry for commenting yet again. People just aren't reconsidering Sky and Sky know this. They're seeing a bit more churn, which could just as easily be down to new products entering the space such as Vodafone and continued uptake of Netflix etc. However, Sky's profits and subscriber number keep going in one direction; up. From a purely business perspective why on earth would they change a winning formula?

Ah beautiful, blinding hubris, never hurt anyone....

SKY are extremely savvy and unarguably at the top of their game, but everyone makes mistakes.

Dave..M

_John C wrote: »

Id try connecting up your combo box first before you go cancelling anything. When sky installed your sky q they would have installed a wideband LNB on your dish which wont work with your combo box. So now your dish will only work with a sky q box Unless you asked them to install a hybrid LNB when they were doing the install.

assuming your dish is accessible it's very easy to swap out for a standard LNB, they can be picked up very easily either online (freetv, satworld) or in local hardware or electrical stores (B&Q, Powercity). You could also affix an aeria onto the wall fixture behind the dish at the same time and get a combination LNB to feed the Saorview channels down the same cable (split at other end). Failing that you can phone an installer to do it. Most recent TV's have Saorview built in with pause and record via USB and Freesat boxes are the way to go for UK channels (e.g. Humax, Netflix app built in), there are cheaper freesat boxes too that record via USB

_Kaiser_

I think Sky have passed the point where they can charge what they like for stuff. While there are some who'll pay €100+ a month for TV, I think an increasing number are realising that the content (much of which is FTA anyway) just doesn't justify it no matter how fancy the box is or how sharp the picture is (both of which come at additional premium)

With the rise of alternative triple/quad play providers in the market and services like Netflix as well as more dubious means (no point ignoring they exist!) becoming more accessible to Joe Public than "IT nerds", more are indeed starting to reconsider their options.

FRIENDO

It should open a door for Freesat, with the introduction of the previously talked about Eurosport player subscription app on Freesat.

We could also see the arrival on freesat of the Discovery free to air channel Quest and its plus one which are already carried on freeview (terrestrial).

And possibly as said earlier a new subscription app for the Discovery family channels package.

PAKNET

Libertarian Kant wrote: »

TBH, and sorry for commenting yet again. People just aren't reconsidering Sky and Sky know this. They're seeing a bit more churn, which could just as easily be down to new products entering the space such as Vodafone and continued uptake of Netflix etc. However, Sky's profits and subscriber number keep going in one direction; up. From a purely business perspective why on earth would they change a winning formula?

Virgin had the same arrogance with their recent Eir Sport bunfight.
All their responses claimed that churn was low, most people weren't bothered by it, cancellations were low etc. etc. etc.
Yet their figures show they lost a pretty sizable amount of TV customers over it (11,000 alone in the 3-month period to 30th September).

Sky numbers are up but their profits yesterday were down.
They too are trying to play down the impact the loss of these channels would have.
Yet the level of displeasure shown across various social media platforms is incredible and the hold times on their retention departments is significantly longer than normal - make of that what you will!

Sky's problem now is that for sport, unless you are an F1 fan, you can get everything Sky Sports related on other platform operators.
Now all of those operators will also have quite a number of channels you potentially can't get from Sky anymore to add into the mix.

joe_99

PAKNET wrote: »

Sky's problem now is that for sport, unless you are an F1 fan, you can get everything Sky Sports related on other platform operators.

All F1 races are shown live on eir Sports. Also a good chunk of races are shown FTA on Channel 4.

thisNthat

Just popped an email to Freesat there to see if there is any hope/chance that they would be interested in taking the Discovery channels to their platform (and the rest of the channels which are leaving the sky platform) since they are now up for grabs in the UK and Ireland.
I doubt they will but I thought I'd ask anyway, God I'd love if they went to Freesat,
I'll let you know if/when I get a reply

Gerry Wicklow

thisNthat wrote: »

Just popped an email to Freesat there to see if there is any hope/chance that they would be interested in taking the Discovery channels to their platform (and the rest of the channels which are leaving the sky platform) since they are now up for grabs in the UK and Ireland.
I doubt they will but I thought I'd ask anyway, God I'd love if they went to Freesat,
I'll let you know if/when I get a reply

Since they are subscription channels on the other UK services they are hardly going to give them to FreeSat

Samuel T. Cogley

Dave..M wrote: »

Ah beautiful, blinding hubris, never hurt anyone....

SKY are extremely savvy and unarguably at the top of their game, but everyone makes mistakes.

I could not agree more, but I expect the guys and gals sitting at the top, earning the big bonuses aren't keen to move from a formula that is working for them. I suspect they expect a soft landing, and will alter the strategy if needed.

I'm all for Sky being brought down a peg or two, they've completely lost sight of the customer in my opinion.

Schwanz

There's more chance of me winning the Euro Millions twice in a month than Discovery going to Freesat.

PabloAndRoy

Schwanz wrote: »

There's more chance of me winning the Euro Millions twice in a month than Discovery going to Freesat.

Maybe they will switch encryption off for a week or so in order not to p1ss off their customers viewers and leave Sky looking like the bad guys. As mentioned somewhere else, they would still be contracted for the transponder bandwidth.

Johnboy1951

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

Maybe they will switch encryption off for a week or so in order not to p1ss off their customers viewers and leave Sky looking like the bad guys. As mentioned somewhere else, they would still be contracted for the transponder bandwidth.

is it not likely that the transportation contract is with Sky as well as the encryption and the EPG listing?

So I expect it all to go at the one time.

flutered

Schwanz wrote: »

There's more chance of me winning the Euro Millions twice in a month than Discovery going to Freesat.

are not some or most of the discovery chanells free on roku

JTMan

Vodafone have today announced changes to their TV packages in response to this and obviously to encourage switching. The Disney Channel suite is now included in all Vodafone TV packages.

Source: Bonkers.

sjb25

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

I think Sky have passed the point where they can charge what they like for stuff. While there are some who'll pay €100+ a month for TV, I think an increasing number are realising that the content (much of which is FTA anyway) just doesn't justify it no matter how fancy the box is or how sharp the picture is (both of which come at additional premium)

With the rise of alternative triple/quad play providers in the market and services like Netflix as well as more dubious means (no point ignoring they exist!) becoming more accessible to Joe Public than "IT nerds", more are indeed starting to reconsider their options.

This would be me like an ejet paying sky the guts of €70 a month and more out of laziness on my part than anything else had been starting to reconsider anyway but this has given me a big push to get rid of sky it's just not worth what I'm paying

galtee boy

JTMan wrote: »

Vodafone have today announced changes to their TV packages in response to this and obviously to encourage switching. The Disney Channel suite is now included in all Vodafone TV packages.

Source: Bonkers.

What does the Disney Channel suite consist of ?

Kristopherus

galtee boy wrote: »

What does the Disney Channel suite consist of ?

Disney XD & +1.
Disney Channel & + 1.
Disney Jnr & + 1.

galtee boy

Kristopherus wrote: »

Disney XD & +1.
Disney Channel & + 1.
Disney Jnr & + 1.

I have Vodafone TV since last June and those channels have been on it, except the +1 channels and anyway, what have those channels got to do with Discovery and Eurosport, which are on Vodafone TV anyway.

Agent Coulson

galtee boy wrote: »

I have Vodafone TV since last June and those channels have been on it, except the +1 channels and anyway, what have those channels got to do with Discovery and Eurosport, which are on Vodafone TV anyway.

I'm guessing adding more channels to try and entice the Sky customers away from Sky who are p1ssed off losing the discovery channels.

galtee boy

Agent Coulson wrote: »

I'm guessing adding more channels to try and entice the Sky customers away from Sky who are p1ssed off losing the discovery channels.

If they want to entice customers away from Sky, they could for a start, put TV3, TG4 and BBC2 in HD, like they are on eir vision. While Vodafone have the Discovery channels, most are in SD only, but Eurosport 1 and 2 are in HD. Anyway, we better not turn this thread into a Vodafone TV discussion.

uck51js9zml2yt

Are any sports channels available FTA?

Johnboy1951

Lillianna Bumpy Warthog wrote: »

Are any sports channels available FTA?

On Astra Bike and Horse & Country come to mind.

There are more on other Satellites.

batistuta9

Of these channels were really valuable to sky would they be letting this happen?