Sky Sports 5

[Deleted User]

Anyone else suspicious of the motive behind Sky insisting that customers "activate" this new channel due to launch in August?

It's supposedly already part of an existing Sky Sports subscription, so why isn't Sky just adding it to the channel choice as normal? I hope it doesn't start a new minimum term?

The channel is itself nothing special or new and the "New Home Of European Football" will be without any Champions League next Summer because BT have bought the rights.

There is a two year offer on Sky Broadband linked to the "activation", but surely Sky can promote this elsewhere?

VisionMan

Well as I've said elsewhere on the BB board...

The La Liga deal runs out after next season (new winner tba), as does Skys Champions League coverage.

This is a panic move by Sky, that has received much derision by city analysts. And to get the 2 year free BB deal one needs to take their line rental as well.

I've been doing some digging on this and found out the following - Sky Broadband is not required to receive SS5.

Sky line rental is required to receive the free two year BB offer.

The BB lock in contract is 12 mths for existing customers, 18 mths for new.

Registration is not required either. Existing SS users will get it anyway. So why they either require or request registration of said interest is opaque, to say the least. On the surface it looks like a panic attack. Time will tell I suppose.

pen1

VisionMan wrote: »

The BB lock in contract is 12 mths for existing customers, 18 mths for new. ...

It's the other way round! 12 months for new and 18 months for existing Sky Broadband customers.

Offer available to Sky TV customers with Sky Sports. Sky Network areas only. £6.95 router delivery charge applies. New minimum term required for Sky Broadband Unlimited, calls and line rental - 12 months for new and 18 months for existing Sky Broadband customers. 12 month minimum Sky TV subscriptions apply.

http://www.sky.com/shop/offers/2yearsfreebroadband?DCMP=dmc-skycom:na_2_years_free

It's a broadband (& telephone) marketing campaign, in my view, using the introduction of Sky Sports 5 (marginal additional value to Sky Sports subscribers) and an activation process against the backdrop of the World Cup, to generate interest in the broadband offer.

It preempts any BT offers next summer in the lead-up to their Champions League (& Europa League) rights from 2015/16 and discourages switching broadband (& telephone) during BT's first season of Champions League (2015/16), as customers who take the deal from Sky will still be receiving a discount, and in many instances will be inhibited for part of the season in any event, by still being in a minimum term.

VisionMan

Thanks for the correction. And I agree it a BB and phone sign-up campaign. I believe the registration process to be an attempt to get Skys sales people stuck into non-bb or non-line rental TV users.

pen1

I think it's equally about re-contracting existing Sky Broadband customers who take Sky Sports, for a long period- 18 months- so that they are in a minimum term next summer, when BT might be expected to be very busy promoting Broadband/Fibre/telephone offers around their Champions League rights.

VisionMan

pen1 wrote: »

I think it's equally about re-contracting existing Sky Broadband customers who take Sky Sports, for a long period- 18 months- so that they are in a minimum term next summer, when BT might be expected to be very busy promoting Broadband/Fibre/telephone offers around their Champions League rights.

Agreed. And they know they may also lose more Premier League football to BT come Dec.

[Deleted User]

VisionMan wrote: »

Registration is not required either. Existing SS users will get it anyway. So why they either require or request registration of said interest is opaque, to say the least.

As long as it's just an attempt to promote their broadband offer, that's fine.

I certainly won't be changing to Sky for internet and as long as Sky Sports 5 appears without "activation" I'm content.

I don't intend to be tied into any new minimum term...

pen1

There's no reference to a minimum term for Sky Sports 5 in the offers section ("Here's the legal bit") at the bottom of the page:

Sky Sports 5: Sky TV with Sky Sports currently from £43.50pm. Existing Sky Sports customers must activate Sky Sports 5. Box and set up costs may apply for new customers.

As far as the necessity of activating Sky Sports 5 goes, then you're missing nothing in the meantime by waiting until Sky Sports 5 launches (12th August) to see what happens!

VisionMan

pen1 wrote: »

As far as the necessity of activating Sky Sports 5 goes, then you're missing nothing in the meantime by waiting until Sky Sports 5 launches (12th August) to see what happens!

Again I agree. At the end of the day, Sky are a business just like everyone else. But in my opinion they should have just promoted it as Sky Sports 5 is coming and if you want it we'll give you two years BB for free (plus line rental). They are not alone either. BT are infamous for their obscure offers as well.

secondtoughest

Hmm. I'm already in a 12 month contract with Sky Sports and free broadband. I've raised a help request with Sky to see if activating Sky Sports 5 affects my current terms or changes my contract end date so will report back here what they say.

It does seem to be a move to mitigate the affect of losing Champions League in 15/16.

VisionMan

secondtoughest wrote: »

Hmm. I'm already in a 12 month contract with Sky Sports and free broadband. I've raised a help request with Sky to see if activating Sky Sports 5 affects my current terms or changes my contract end date so will report back here what they say.

It does seem to be a move to mitigate the affect of losing Champions League in 15/16.

You don't need to register, secondtoughest. Do nothing and you'll get it anyway. Oh, and BT want Gary Neville as well. Haha.