Sky deals anyone?

[phpe]

bhstewie said:

I know I sound a bit broken record here but Apple TV is a really nice solution to this IMHO.

The apps integrate pretty nicely and multi-tasking is about as good as it gets for a streamer.

I'll second that - the box arrived today and set it up tonight with the EE TV guide streaming live TV via broadband

Nicely integrated with all the Now channels and other channels part of my EE channel bundle.

[OMITN]

2172cc said:

I'm no expert in company finances but this just doesn't make any sense to me. I suspect they have calculated a certain percentage of customers that will leave and have factored that in but even so It smacks of things going the wrong way for Sky. Glad I'm out of it all now and no longer a customer.

I haven’t worked for Sky but have worked for similar businesses. On the whole the model works on the average revenue per user (ARPU). So some people are on great deals, others on less good deals.

Then you’re looking at churn (the ration between losing a customer and bringing a new one in). Churn rates are affected by customer satisfaction, the competitive market place. It tends always to be cheaper to retain a customer with a retention offer than it is to recruit a new one. We were a broadband business - a new customer broke even at month 13, hence 18 month contracts.

Naturally you also want your customers to be “sticky” through good product and service. And once they’re loyal to your product, you slowly ratchet up the ARPU….

I’ve been a Sky customer for years and it’s now only because it’s the rugby league season that I’m holding out. Our viewing tends to be very little live TV. Mainly it’s catch up, films and sport.

When I read this thread it makes me want to get off the Sky drug..!

[bad company]

bhstewie said:

I know I sound a bit broken record here but Apple TV is a really nice solution to this IMHO.

The apps integrate pretty nicely and multi-tasking is about as good as it gets for a streamer.

How much are you paying for that?

I have Sky ‘Ultimate TV Entertainment & Netflix’ using the Stream puck for £22 a month.

[bitchstewie]

bad company said:

How much are you paying for that?

I have Sky ‘Ultimate TV Entertainment & Netflix’ using the Stream puck for £22 a month.

Nothing for the actual Apple TV unit except the cost of buying it.

So then it's which streaming services which for me is Apple TV, Netflix, Paramount, Disney and Prime (which I already have for "free" delivery).

Let's just say I don't plan on giving Sky another penny ever and some of the antics on this thread have cemented that view.

[Defcon5]

That must be pushing 50 quid a month for all those though, plus 150 per TV for the box

[bad company]

bhstewie said:

bad company said:

How much are you paying for that?

I have Sky ‘Ultimate TV Entertainment & Netflix’ using the Stream puck for £22 a month.

Nothing for the actual Apple TV unit except the cost of buying it.

So then it's which streaming services which for me is Apple TV, Netflix, Paramount, Disney and Prime (which I already have for "free" delivery).

Let's just say I don't plan on giving Sky another penny ever and some of the antics on this thread have cemented that view.

Can you get the normal terrestrial tv channels like BBC & ITV?

[bitchstewie]

bad company said:

Can you get the normal terrestrial tv channels like BBC & ITV?

Yes through iPlayer and ITVX.

Don't get me wrong they aren't as seamless as just hopping channels on a "normal" TV but it's the best I know for any streamer so I found between Freeview/Freesat and the apps I've not missed Sky one little bit.

Totally get that if some of the Sky specific stuff like sports is a must that may be different.

[Riff Raff]

bhstewie said:

bad company said:

Can you get the normal terrestrial tv channels like BBC & ITV?

Yes through iPlayer and ITVX.

Don't get me wrong they aren't as seamless as just hopping channels on a "normal" TV but it's the best I know for any streamer so I found between Freeview/Freesat and the apps I've not missed Sky one little bit.

Totally get that if some of the Sky specific stuff like sports is a must that may be different.

There is an app called TVLauncher, which gives you an EPG and which will punt you into channels listed on it via the broadcaster apps like player and ITV X etc. It’s about a fiver I think.

That said, I don’t use it as we signed up to the EE ecosystem, which on an Apple box works to all intents and purposes like a very basic version of Sky Stream.

Edited by Riff Raff on Wednesday 27th March 16:50

[Scabutz]

My Sky stopped working due to some trees, engineer couldn't come for a few weeks, phoned Sky for a deal on Stream, that came out as more expensive so I said no.

After a couple of days I realised I really wasnt missing it at all. Was watching the IPL via Sky Go but other than that. I watch a few things on BBC all of which can be easily accessed via iPlayer

So phoned today and cancelled it. Now TV do Sky Sports at £26/month for 6 months so will get that towards end of May and that will cover me for the Cricket over the summer

[hmg]

Scabutz said:

My Sky stopped working due to some trees, engineer couldn't come for a few weeks, phoned Sky for a deal on Stream, that came out as more expensive so I said no.

After a couple of days I realised I really wasnt missing it at all. Was watching the IPL via Sky Go but other than that. I watch a few things on BBC all of which can be easily accessed via iPlayer

So phoned today and cancelled it. Now TV do Sky Sports at £26/month for 6 months so will get that towards end of May and that will cover me for the Cricket over the summer

Exactly what I’ve just done.

Peeeeed me off having to pay for all the filler fluff when all I wanted was the Sport.

[2172cc]

hmg said:

Scabutz said:

My Sky stopped working due to some trees, engineer couldn't come for a few weeks, phoned Sky for a deal on Stream, that came out as more expensive so I said no.

After a couple of days I realised I really wasnt missing it at all. Was watching the IPL via Sky Go but other than that. I watch a few things on BBC all of which can be easily accessed via iPlayer

So phoned today and cancelled it. Now TV do Sky Sports at £26/month for 6 months so will get that towards end of May and that will cover me for the Cricket over the summer

Exactly what I’ve just done.

Peeeeed me off having to pay for all the filler fluff when all I wanted was the Sport.

Good man, I've cancelled also a few weeks back and don't miss it either. I also had BT Sport/ TNT on the Sky platform for free as a staff discount but as I've now retired cancelled that alsol when they were asked £50+ for that. I can make do nowadays without watching the live sport anyway.

[335dTot]

Just finished on the phone to Sky, currently paying £48 for basic package, multi room, HD & Netflix, it was due to go up to £72 a month, spoke to someone who said best they can do is £64 a month & he’ll give me sky cinema for “free”, I turned that great offer down & said I’d go ahead & cancel.

Get put through to retentions, no nonsense with the price, £42 a month for same package, I accepted.

[Scabutz]

335dTot said:

Just finished on the phone to Sky, currently paying £48 for basic package, multi room, HD & Netflix, it was due to go up to £72 a month, spoke to someone who said best they can do is £64 a month & he’ll give me sky cinema for “free”, I turned that great offer down & said I’d go ahead & cancel.

Get put through to retentions, no nonsense with the price, £42 a month for same package, I accepted.

I dont get this. How come some people can get a good and myself and others are getting nothing. I had been with then for 19 years

[335dTot]

Scabutz said:

I dont get this. How come some people can get a good and myself and others are getting nothing. I had been with then for 19 years

I was very surprised, I would have been happy to stay at the same price I’d been paying, am very happy to get it £6 pm cheaper.

He did say I’d called at the best time for my circumstances, having a month left on current deal.

I’m quite relieved as I’ve had a media wall installed & had the Q box placed behind the tv, wasn’t too sure how things would go with a new supplier with placement & cables.

[MattS5]

Scabutz said:

I dont get this. How come some people can get a good and myself and others are getting nothing. I had been with then for 19 years

I'm sure Martin Lewis mentioned that a lot of these firms have a certain amount of "deals" they can offer in a day to hit a certain retention target.
That makes sense as if you call up and all the discounts have been given, then the prices would vary wildly.

Maybe trying calling a different time/day.

It's a ridiculous situation when new business and renewing/existing customers don't get offered the same prices for telcoms/TV etc,

The rules had to change for Car and Home insurance companies offering different prices, why arent the same rules applied for TV/Broadband etc as it likely affects many more households

[Scabutz]

MattS5 said:

I'm sure Martin Lewis mentioned that a lot of these firms have a certain amount of "deals" they can offer in a day to hit a certain retention target.
That makes sense as if you call up and all the discounts have been given, then the prices would vary wildly.

Maybe trying calling a different time/day.

It's a ridiculous situation when new business and renewing/existing customers don't get offered the same prices for telcoms/TV etc,

The rules had to change for Car and Home insurance companies offering different prices, why arent the same rules applied for TV/Broadband etc as it likely affects many more households

Makes sense. It's too late for me now as I binned then off.

[irc]

Scabutz said:

I dont get this. How come some people can get a good and myself and others are getting nothing. I had been with then for 19 years

I suspect because you have been there so long they don't believe you if you threaten to cancel. I was with Virgin for around 20 years. It was up to £70 a month for basic TV, phone, and broadband. They wouldn't budge when I phoned. No call from retentions when I cancelled.

Now with Vodaphone for broadband and phone. Freeview for TV. A couple of years on it is up to £30 a month. The broadband while slower than Virgin is fine for our needs. Also more reliable than Virgin was.

[Scabutz]

Charming. Before I cancelled I was offered basically this pack for 78quid.

[slk 32]

Just cancelled mine after 16 years.

At last renewal was paying £89.50 which had gone up to £99.50 and now £109.50.

[Downward]

Time is nearly up £109 is too much now.

Any alternatives ?

Like most i’ve had Sky for a long time but always had Virgin broadband.
Wonder if maybe moving to Virgin is the answer ?

Big issue is my son uses Sky Go all of the time for football.