Where is iSky???

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Master Geek
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#73699 20-Dec-2010 10:24

Is this possibly the most poorly managed product (re)launch of the year?

In all seriousness, this reads like a Dilbert Comic

Firstly, with great fanfare, there is the big 'reveal', with firm launch date.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4174470/Orcon-to-support-Skys-online-TV-service
iSky will let Sky customers view programmes on computers and is due to be unveiled on 15 November.

Followed up with a "launch" that is actually the start of Beta testing...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4382064/Sky-teases-out-iSky-details
Sky Television's new iSky online portal came a step closer to reality today with a launch in Auckland, but subscribers will have to wait a few more weeks before they can log on to the service.

Then, woops! It seems that the product is not actually ready and we're starting to loose track of what we've told the press!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10689914
25 November 2010: Sky Television has made its next push in expanding its dominance of TV content with a new online service. ...Yesterday it started its iSky service that delivers Sky subscribers five live streaming channels (two news and three sports) online and 375 catch-up TV episodes on 20 channels.

It seems that Sky's delivery partners are a little more pessimistic in their assessment of the state of play:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10676691
The service would allow subscribers to access Sky content from their computers and was set to go live before Christmas, Orcon said.

Sky continue with the hype... and promise to meet a new deadline.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10676792
The service will be available before the end of the year, Sky says.

But then again, perhaps not!

http://www.nzx.com/news/markets/4427001/Stocks-to-watch-December-6
The pay television operator said its internet television service, iSky, may only launch in the New Year, as it continues to conduct testing, but denied that there had been a delays.

So now, as we all wind down for 2010 and look forward to heading off to the family batch for a well deserved break, I'm wondering if Sponge Bob will really be there when we arrive? Christmas is indeed coming - but I'm not so sure about iSky.

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536 posts

Ultimate Geek

#419337 20-Dec-2010 10:41

From what BETA testers have said it's not what it is cracked up to be. Nothing revolutionary.

langi27

675 posts

Ultimate Geek

#419351 20-Dec-2010 11:20

isky has got nothing on Telstra T-Box, the public waited for 2 years. delays after delays after delays.

nigelj

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Ultimate Geek

#419381 20-Dec-2010 12:26

I agree w/ the OP as well, except would add in:

TechDay: iSky Launch date to be confirmed on Friday (Dec 1)
http://www.techday.co.nz/netguide/news/isky-date-to-be-confirmed-on-friday/18853/

I don't know what sources they had for such an article, but it's obviously turned out as FUD.

Plus, it's a little bemusing to me that SKY went through and updated all their iSKY related FAQs (http://skytv.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/kw/isky/search/1) on the 16th which includes "The plan is to launch iSKY by the end of the year."

But the story on their Facebook page seems to me that they are still doing full-on Beta... "We are rolling it out the Beta to more subscribers next week." (Friday). Unless they are inviting a large number of customers to the Beta It doesn't feel like there is enough time between now and the end of the year to launch something.

Ragnor

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#419392 20-Dec-2010 12:48

So anyone in the beta? What quality is the video, SD or HD? What about audio, just stereo or DTS/Dolby 5.1?

Edit: So not HD?
http://skytv.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1101/~/isky-what-about-broadband-speeds-and-picture-quality%3F

/yawn

maverick

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WorldxChange

#419399 20-Dec-2010 13:05

It's just SD at this point, been testing it a bit at home & watched the Ashes on PC over the weekend whilst using the PS3 on the TV... it was okay , definition wise don't expect great quality at this point.... I have some opinions on it and the actual delivery method but fair to say it's not how we like to see it deployed,

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

NonprayingMantis

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#419409 20-Dec-2010 13:19

bieng forced to have multiroom to get live streaming is going to put me off.

I was all set to downgrade to freeview until I heard about isky coming - streaming the cricket in the garden on a summer's day was just too tempting, but now I will be forced to buy multiroom to do that sky can kiss my ~$80/month goodbye come the new year.

maverick

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WorldxChange

#419413 20-Dec-2010 13:24

I am guessing the reason is that unless you have multiroom you would use isky instead for a second service to see live sport,

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

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Zeon

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#419415 20-Dec-2010 13:28

maverick: It's just SD at this point, been testing it a bit at home & watched the Ashes on PC over the weekend whilst using the PS3 on the TV... it was okay , definition wise don't expect great quality at this point.... I have some opinions on it and the actual delivery method but fair to say it's not how we like to see it deployed,

Can you elaborate on your misgivings?

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maverick

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WorldxChange

#419417 20-Dec-2010 13:29

Not really at this point sorry

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Spyware

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#419475 20-Dec-2010 15:34

Can someone please confirm that bitrates exceeded 368 kbps. This was my prediction of the (poor) quality that Sky would think their customers were worth.

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BigMal

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#422217 28-Dec-2010 20:31

Sky just sent me an email to "test" isky. Had a quick look, it's ok I suppose but can't imagine I'll ever use it. The quality seemed ok but nowhere near HD, barely SD on some stuff. Soccer highlights looked ok.

Zeon

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#422244 28-Dec-2010 21:53

Yea got the same email. TBH I think Isky is pretty sh!t. The only thing I may use it for is to put up a tv in my office and stream CNN (I wanted BBC too FFS).

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tdgeek

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#422260 28-Dec-2010 22:28

I got the email yesterday too, I had a small play. Quality is not great at all. Most of the 5 or 6 streams I tried were out of sync and missing frames every few secs. The Nigella cooking program stayed in sync, but missed a few frames every few secs.

I am on a good DSL connect, but streaming on my wifi laptop. However, I can download on this laptop at over 1000KBytes/sec and stream HD rips from my WDTV Live via wifi, so no reason why it cannot work well on iSky. TVNZ OnDemand is sweet in full screen at 1500 kbit

Cheers

insane

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#422270 28-Dec-2010 22:54

I'm pretty sure some of the delays have come down to the time other ISPs have taken to zero rate iSKY data. I believe they pulled it last time after Xtra customers were stung by massive bills once they went over their data caps.

What bitrate is required for 'HD' content? Makes me wonder if all ISPs would even be able to sustain their users watching iSKY in HD. Could potentially cause a MASSIVE increase in traffic given the constant streaming.

I was also hoping that SKY would release a isky only product without the need for a standard subscription for those who want to watch decent content, just not all the time.

tdgeek

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#422294 29-Dec-2010 00:30

Insane

Valid points.

Yes, throughput may be an issue, and while I assume it is all local traffic, throughput may exist but I am sure the numbers using it will be relatively low, as are the other many On Demand options that already exist.

Re the subscription, you are probably suggesting to stop paying the sub and pay for what you watch? If that reduces Skys revenue then ultimately they woud not go that way. Businesses cannot invest in a new service that is free, and as well as that reduces revenue. Sky is PayTV and iSky is a free added value for existing subscribers to be able to access content in another room or in another part of the country. Handy

You can now get TV One and 3 On Demand for free, and now some Sky content. Those of us with other media players such as WDTV can also get other internet feeds for free. And you can get delivery to a PC, wifi laptop, PS3, XBox, and even on iPads iPhones and other capable smartphones

Many options

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