Sky anytime+ explain please?

VLT

Hi, i'm looking to transfer to sky from virgin but am confused about the broadband options regarding anytime plus?
Broadband lite( i think thats whats its called says can only download 3 x 30 min progs per month) does that mean for watching or recording, i dont really understand downloading, also computer usage is usually a couple of hours a day, either on the site, ebay, hotmail or banking would i need unlimited which is an extra £7.50 trying to keeps the costs down but dont want a huge bill because we have gone over our limits,
any info/advice would be much appreciated
regards VLT

Tropez

Anytime+ is an extension of Sky's existing on-demand service (Sky Anytime). With Sky Anytime programmes are recorded to the hard drive and made available on-demand to viewers. However, with Anytime+ the programmes that are part of this service are streamed via the Internet to the box and consequently are subject to the limitations of a user's broadband package. If you intend to make use of Sky Anytime+ then you will need to subscribe to an unlimited Sky broadband package or you will likely find that your usage limit is filled extremely quickly by your viewing.

aldredd

Just to add to Tropez's very good post..

General watching / recording / viewing of standard SKY TV doesn't utilise your broadband connection, so will not have any impact.
Same applies to standard Anytime.

It's purely the Anytime+ which is dependant on your broadband connection. And any usage allowed within your package will include anytime+ usage as well as and regular internet usage eg/ on your PC/Laptop. So if you plan on using anytime+, I would strongly recommend the unlimited package.

Heinz

Tropez wrote: »

Anytime+ is an extension of Sky's existing on-demand service (Sky Anytime). With Sky Anytime programmes are recorded to the hard drive and made available on-demand to viewers. However, with Anytime+ the programmes that are part of this service are streamed via the Internet to the box and consequently are subject to the limitations of a user's broadband package. If you intend to make use of Sky Anytime+ then you will need to subscribe to an unlimited Sky broadband package or you will likely find that your usage limit is filled extremely quickly by your viewing.

BT exempt BT Vision data from broadband consumption calculations.

Sky obviously saw the chance of extra income ......

12bdebt3

Heinz wrote: »

BT exempt BT Vision data from broadband consumption calculations.

Sky obviously saw the chance of extra income ......

Because Heinz never overcharge for their products? :rotfl:

Fifer

Tropez wrote: »

Anytime+ is an extension of Sky's existing on-demand service (Sky Anytime). With Sky Anytime programmes are recorded to the hard drive and made available on-demand to viewers. However, with Anytime+ the programmes that are part of this service are streamed via the Internet to the box and consequently are subject to the limitations of a user's broadband package. If you intend to make use of Sky Anytime+ then you will need to subscribe to an unlimited Sky broadband package or you will likely find that your usage limit is filled extremely quickly by your viewing.

Currently, you have to live in a Sky broadband network area and subscribe to a specified Sky broadband package or you cannot get the service. It's not currently available from any other ISP, or even via Sky Broadband unless you are on their own network.

Tropez

Fifer wrote: »

Currently, you have to live in a Sky broadband network area and subscribe to a specified Sky broadband package or you cannot get the service. It's not currently available from any other ISP, or even via Sky Broadband unless you are on their own network.

To be fair, the OP stated specifically they were looking at Sky broadband packages therefore there was no need to discuss other providers and the inability to use Anytime+ with them. I also stated that it would be best to look at an unlimited Sky broadband package. If Sky do not have their equipment in the local exchange, the prices discussed in this thread will not be on offer (I believe the price is around £17 per month for non-Sky enabled exchanges) so given the OP is looking at inexpensive options, it is safe to assume that he will not proceed with an order for Sky broadband if he is required to pay such a large monthly sub. While your information is indeed correct, it wasn't really necessary to correct me on what I had said.

Fifer

I didn't mean to appear to be correcting you, I was just providing a little more info. The OP didn't say he was in a Sky BB area and not knowing their BB fee structure, didn't divine that from the info provided.

I wonder if Sky count Anytime+ usage as included or excluded from download limits? I know BT don't with BT Vision.

VLT

Thank you all for your responses, they have made the fog a little clearer I think. It would seem we will have to go down the unlimited route any way as it only allows for approx 2 hours browsing per day across the month and between my partner and I we probably spend more than that.

Thanks once again
VLT

Tropez

Fifer wrote: »

I didn't mean to appear to be correcting you, I was just providing a little more info. The OP didn't say he was in a Sky BB area and not knowing their BB fee structure, didn't divine that from the info provided.

I wonder if Sky count Anytime+ usage as included or excluded from download limits? I know BT don't with BT Vision.

Fair enough, I apologise for the misunderstanding.

I believe that Sky Anytime+ usage does count towards download limits based on information I have read on Sky's site in the past. However, Sky aren't always as clear as they should be about such things so I would urge anyone in doubt to contact Customer Services and get a definite answer.

If it does count towards usage I would imagine it is because Sky see it as a bonus service, rather than part of the Sky subscription (although Sky's reasoning for not offering it to users of other broadband providers does lend itself to the idea it is a way of scoring a few extra broadband subs). Whereas the selling point of services such as BT Vision means that a broadband subscription is a necessity due to the method in which content is delivered, Sky's delivery system is primarily via satellite with web services generally offered as an "added extra" (although no doubt a suitable argument could be made that the cost of running such services are accounted for in the subcription fees).

I know, for example, there are still people using bog-standard Sky boxes with no hard drive, hence no Sky+ capabilities, and as a result do not have access to even the regular Sky Anytime service. In my home there are currently three active Sky boxes, two of which are of the Sky+HD variety and both receive Anytime, whereas my original, decade-old Panasonic box that predates the release of Sky+ obviously doesn't have any such service - it is just one of those things that if you have the tech you can get the service, but as far as Sky are concerned it is a bonus or additional service and not part of their subscription.

More as an FYI to anybody interested than really related to the discussion but some installers neglect to mention that the standard Anytime service can take up to two weeks to really intialise (for want of a better word) on a users box, due to the way in which programmes are transmitted to the box and recorded for it so anyone taking out a Sky sub and expecting Anytime shouldn't be too alarmed if after three days or so they only have one or two programmes available.

Fifer

Tropez wrote: »

(although Sky's reasoning for not offering it to users of other broadband providers does lend itself to the idea it is a way of scoring a few extra broadband subs).

I agree, I think that is their reasoning. Shame, it's convinced me to ditch my Sky HD+ subscription and buy a YouView recorder when they launch.