Sky Customer Service Confirm ROI BBC Launch

LegacyUser

I have just called the Sky Customer Service dept (freefone 1800 535767), and I was informed that at 4pm today, they had been given a memo stating that BBC1 will launch on Monday next on EPG 214, and BBC2 will launch on April 30th on EPG 215.
This is the first time they have ever confirmed the launch (I've called them several times over the last few weeks).
The guy who told me was Paddy (believe it or not).
I hope some other forum readers ring and have it confirmed for themselves.
This is not a statement form any 'dealers' in Ireland, it's straight from Sky in Livingstone.
Could be some hat-eating after all next week!

LegacyUser

Like leesider I telephoned Sky this evening.
Yes BBC1(NI) on 214 Monday 26th March
BBC2(NI) on 215 April 30th

So we will be "Watching"

LegacyUser

I also contacted Sky and they confirmed BBC 1 NI from Monday on 214 and BBC 2 on 215 from 30th April as part of the Family Package They could not tell me if it was a full BBC 1 service and they gave me a BBC number in London 0208 743800 on this number I was told to contact BBC in Belfast on 08700 100222 they also confirmed 26th March for BBC 1 and April 30th BBC 2. They also told me that all programs would NOT be available. As I stated earlier a limited BBC service.

"I Rest my Case."

Bye Bye For Ever
The Watcher

icdg

Hmm... I know BBC TWO NI doesn't launch (even in the North) until April 30th, but you think they could have provided BBC TWO English Regions during the intereval.

So its finally confirmed. Excellent. Site update tommorow.

LegacyUser

Great news, hopefully we will get C4, C5 and the rest of the BBC channels soon.I will take pleasure in telling NTL where to go with their terrible service.
All the Best
Mick

LegacyUser

Sounds to me like it's going to be as I speculated in the "BBC - Some of the time ?" thread, i.e. not great !! Most of the reasons that I wanted to see the Beeb on Sky Digital are gone. It seems we're definitely getting the Northern Ireland version (with it's dreadful regional opt-outs). It looks like no Choice, Knowledge or News 24. And there's the possibility that we won't actually be able to see all the programmes due to copyright issues !!

I suppose it's better than nothing, but for someone who already has BBC 1 and 2 NI on cable (with which I can watch one and tape the other), it's not something to be too overjoyed about.

If Sky want to take NTL and Chorus customers they'll have to do better - i.e. get Channels 4 and 5 and the extra BBC channels. I'm sure that as soon as ITV gets onto Sky Digital, UTV will be gagging to get onto it to increase their availability in the south. They seem to have an entirely different attitude to Channels 4 and 5. You'd think they'd be only too happy to have such a huge potential target for their advertisers.

Apart from all that - well done to everyone who has spent time, effort and phone calls to Sky (never a pleasant task) bringing us the latest info on developments.

LegacyUser

Hmmm. I have just rang Customer Services and was told "We are in negotiations yet and nothing is definite!" What do these people in Sky C/S be told? Why can all staff not be told the same thing? I just hope everyone is rite regarding tomorrow! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif" ALT=":)" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> I agree with Ronan that you'd think that they could've shown the general BBC2 until BBC2ni came out on Apr30. Still no word on C4 & C5. I guess we'll not be getting Choice NI (tho it's closing) or News24!

LegacyUser

I rang Sky back again and hmmm i had a strange talk. I was told that Choice, News24 and Knowledge was already available to me a few weeks ago and BBC1+2 from 20th! I said that i did not have them on my EPG so she asked for my Card No and said she is sending down a signal to receive the channels!! The problem was she kept saying to go to 101. I kept saying that it was unavailable. She said i know but go to it anyway? I don't think she knew what she was on about! Anyway, she sent the signal and said it could take up to 12 hours for channels to pop-up on EPG. I await with (doubtful) abaited breath. Did anyone else ring Sky and get the same response as me?? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/pimp.gif" ALT=":hat" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/pimp.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

LegacyUser

below copied off a satellite newsgroup

Starting tomorrow, BBC1 and BBC2 will be available across the whole of
Ireland for the first time. Under a distribution agreement between the
BBC's main commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, and British Sky
Broadcasting, viewers throughout the Republic will be able to see the
same versions of BBC1 and BBC2 as are watched in the North.


The two channels will be carried via satellite on Sky Digital, the
only digital television platform available throughout the Republic.


BBC1 will be broadcast to viewers in the Republic from tomorrow. BBC2
will be obtainable on the platform from April 30 as part of Sky
Digital's `big basic' Family Pack of channels, which is available for
£16 per month.


Sky's chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein said: "We are
delighted to be offering the core BBC channels as part of the Sky
Digital package. We want to be able to offer the widest quality choice
of channels to all our Irish subscribers, regardless of whether they
live north or south of the border.


"We would naturally also welcome channels such as RTE1, Network 2,
TV3, TG4 and UTV onto the digital satellite platform."


BBC Worldwide's chief executive Rupert Gavin said: "We welcome this
opportunity to increase the audience of BBC1 and BBC2 in the Republic
of Ireland. The two channels have already proved popular with Irish
viewers, and we are delighted that a new audience can now enjoy the
wide range of programming the BBC has to offer."


BBC1 and BBC2 will be listed as channels 214 and 215 respectively on
the Sky Digital Electronic Programme Guide. The two channels are
currently available to some 80 per cent of viewers in the Republic
through retransmissions on cable, MMDS and deflector systems

icdg

The source for that article above is actually page 4 of today's Sunday Business Post. So we can take this as been definite, and completely confirmed.

Well done all.