Is Sky untouchable...?

CAHA

I am getting increasingly concerned at how Sky is doing it's own thing and no-one seems to mind.

Being a sports lover I have little option but to subscribe. Technically their coverage is brilliant.

But...it is an expensive subscription service that also broadcasts a higher than average % of adverts. A large percentage of its progamming is repeats with long advertising breaks. I have'nt timed it but suspect that a 30 minute BBC comedy repeat show has around 28 minutes content and half that again in adverts - hence the 40 minutes slot. I also have some questions marks about the quality of some of the products that seem to be unique to Sky but you never see on main stream TV.

If you want to buy, amend, adjust any of their products/services you have to call a premium rate income generating 0870 number and you can be kept on hold for many minutes. Dialling the number supplied by https://www.saynoto0870.com website does not work because they leave you hanging on for 15 minutes and then disconnect it.

Then to crown it all if, after paying your annual charges of around £500 to £600, you wish to see something more up to date you have to pay a hefty premium and then are subjected to even more lengthy advertising. The football on Premier Plus for instance...

OfCom, who I have found to be a total waste of time, have not done anything to help the public understand about the hidden charges with 0845 and 0870 numbers, are not interested. Does anyone know what subjects they are interested in...?

Please tell me that I am not the only one really bothered about this...please, please someone tell me that they do not like being treated like this as well.

LincsLad_3

While I have some sympathy with what you say, this would be better placed on the Vent Board.

daveboy

I agree and stopped having Sky last November. Saving £41 a month as I had the full package.

I am still alive, haven't watched a game on Sky since, just the odd FA Cup tie on the BBC. I have saved quite a bit of money in getting rid of something I don't need - there are plenty of things out there where the money would be better spent.

Sky is too big and whilst we have a Labour government I expect legislation to be weakened to make it even easier for them to get even bigger still.

Adamskii_2

I like football but couldn't be bothered watching 3+ games a week so don't bother with Sky Sports. Personally I'd get rid of Sky altogether for all the reasons given by the OP, but the girlfriend wouldn't be without her CSI, Desparate Housewives, and any number of other worse US shows. What really annoys me though is that subscribers who don't have the Sports channels are forced to subsidise those with it, as I'm sure that if Sky weren't paying the ridiculous sums of money for football coverage rights, then the basic subscription would be much lower.

And a quick tip - don't bother with the useless Movie channels, just subscribe to all the free online DVD rental trials that are out there.

Phonix

Sky is too big and whilst we have a Labour government I expect legislation to be weakened to make it even easier for them to get even bigger still.

A Labour government being in power can be a good thing with regards to this. If the Torys were in I assure you sky would be running completel rampant. the lib dems are just too far to the left, Labour is a good comprimise.

Talon_Karrde

i inherited a box and dish when i moved in. I have never subscribed. last year, when the BBC's free to air channels changed frequency and satellite, sky started scrambling itv 1 & 2 and channels 4 & 5.
I just phoned them, payed 20 quid and now get the same as freeview for half the price of a cheap freeview box.
If you want all the choice then cable is an option in certain areas.

Remember though, they seem like the only nationwide choice because they've been around so long.....soon enough tv's will be sold at reasonable prices with digital twin tuners and dvd recorders with their own digi tuner or a hard drive recorder, again with it's own digi tuner......
Then it REALLY will be down to do you REALLY watch all that stuff you're paying 20-40 quid a month for? Personally i am quite happy with the 8-10 broadcast channels on freeview (discounting shopping etc etc)

zcaprd7

CAHA wrote:

But...it is an expensive subscription service that also broadcasts a higher than average % of adverts. A large percentage of its progamming is repeats with long advertising breaks. I have'nt timed it but suspect that a 30 minute BBC comedy repeat show has around 28 minutes content and half that again in adverts - hence the 40 minutes slot. I also have some questions marks about the quality of some of the products that seem to be unique to Sky but you never see on main stream TV.

This is very tightly monitored by OFCOM - if you have a greater advertising to content ratio than is allowed you can lose your OFCOM license...

If you don't like it, don't pay for it? At least you have a choice (if you don't like the BBC what can you do?).

CAHA

zcaprd7 wrote:

This is very tightly monitored by OFCOM - if you have a greater advertising to content ratio than is allowed you can lose your OFCOM license...

If you don't like it, don't pay for it? At least you have a choice (if you don't like the BBC what can you do?).

Thanks for comments. Quick clarification. The point I was making was that we are being charged a subscription to watch adverts, and in some instances being asked to pay a premium on top of that. I actually think the BBC (apart from the news division which is far too political correct and has lost its way) is tremendous value for money.

If I want to watch a top sporting event live what choice do I have? There is no choice as it is a monopoly. Sky are doing what they want, when they want and most importantly (and the one major point that I was trying to make) there is nothing anyone can do about it.

1jim

you do have adverts on the bbc as well, they are just for their own products, bbc radio, radio times, etc etc

Phonix

This is very tightly monitored by OFCOM - if you have a greater advertising to content ratio than is allowed you can lose your OFCOM license...

If you don't like it, don't pay for it? At least you have a choice (if you don't like the BBC what can you do?).

I think what z is tryign to say is, "if you don't like it, lobby ofcom"

I actually think the BBC (apart from the news division which is far too political correct and has lost its way)

Well that, and being incredibaly biased against Israel and America and having the gual to call themselves independent.

Isn't it the BBC that has shares in Algezeera?

beachbeth

Adamskii wrote:

And a quick tip - don't bother with the useless Movie channels, just subscribe to all the free online DVD rental trials that are out there.

This is what we do. We subscribe to the family package which I think is now £19.50 per month but don't bother with sports and certainly not the rubbish movie channels! I love movies and years ago the thought of having all those movie channels would have put me in seventh heaven! However, I frequently look at the Sky menu at the movie choice and it is the same rubbish repeated and repeated. The sort of movies you would love to see repeated they hardly show.

I use the free dvd rental trials and even pay to hire the odd dvd from my local shop - much cheaper!