Can Sky Legally Restrict Access to my Recorded Content?

Simbad

After being a Sky subscriber for many years I'm starting to seriously look into cancelling my package (TV and broadband), as my broadband offer has just ended and the monthly cost is now £63. (Didn't remember it was ending and got a surprise! ) As I feel the cost is pretty extortionate compared to others things out there.

Looking into cancellation on the Sky website and forum I found that after your 30 day cancellation period you no longer have access to your recordings on your Sky box.

Now this has really annoyed me. When you join Sky you essentially 'buy' your Sky box and it becomes your property, so when anything goes wrong you have to pay for repairs yourself and when you leave them you keep the box. Which is the opposite of Virgin where you 'rent' the box, repairs are free of charge and when you leave you give your box back to Virgin.

So I really don't see why you shouldn't be able to watch your old recordings when your contract has ended. Yes you should lose access to subscription channels, the ability to record and pause live TV when your subscription ends. But I really feel that you shouldn't lose access to recordings you made while you were paying your subscription fee.

I know the recordings aren't your property etc, but you still make them while you're a full paying customers.

Should they really be able to do this?

Peter999_2

Just a couple of things, with Sky Q you do not own the box, merely renting it like Virgin. Also the losing recordings bit has been the case since 2002 and I've never heard of anyone winning a case against Sky on this basis.



It is bad that you can't access your recordings I agree, but then you only record the encrypted stream - you de-code them when you play them and it confirms your subscription status. Annoyingly, if you still subscribe but your dish etc. is faulty you can't watch the record shows either.


If you really hate this, un-subscribe to Sky and use alternatives - I did a couple of years ago and to be honest I don't really miss it.

Neil_Jones

Sky's box, Sky's rules. You don't "buy" the Sky+HD box, its given to you. Its part of the T&Cs that you lose the Sky+ functionality if you stop paying.

[Deleted User]

Simbad wrote: »

I know the recordings aren't your property etc, but you still make them while you're a full paying customers.

Should they really be able to do this?

You answered your own question there. They're not yours and you would no longer be a paying customer.