Sky moving to IP TV

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#1989069 5-Apr-2018 21:24

sdav:
Interesting and while I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, Sky has totally screwed these efforts in the past. Having said that, we are soon to be in the post-Fellet era so that could make a difference.

My gut tells me they are going to go aggressively after the entertainment (fully sewing up HBO content and offering Netflix and Lightbox plug ins) and sport will still be horribly overpriced and not attractive to the casual market (the market they claim they are targeting). They will continue with overpriced bundling and may offer OD sporting matches but they will be super expensive. I would really love and hope to be surprised but I doubt I will and the cynic in me thinks there is pressure from sports such as cricket and rugby to get the future viewers onboard with online offerings. Those sports will be at a crises point in the future if this is not addressed. If anyone has used the MLB At Bat app you will know how much more could be done for the major NZ sports...

The other disappointing thing about this is that they want to offer their own box. IMO the initially harder but ultimately better route is to build apps for the devices people already have in their homes. Rokus, Chromecasts, Shields, Apple TVs, game consoles etc. and maybe sell one of those devices direct if you have to rather than adding a new device to the mix. Successful apps are available on all popular devices which makes it easy for people to get on board.

The problem with apps is supporting of them. iOS, web, android, samsung TV, Sony TV etc. There are so many different platforms and versions of platforms that it would take a lot of man power to create one for everything. Then you have the content license that might let you stream to your phone but not to chromecast or apple play, can stream at home but not on 3/4g etc.

rugrat

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#1989074 5-Apr-2018 21:37

Good article and Presentation. At least they know have to change ways.

They're keeping Satellite services, they'll need to recoup those costs that their competitors don't have, so it still may be hard for them to complete.

Neon is getting a lot more content, but no mention if it'll get 5.1, so still in the past there.

Be interested to see what new Skygo is like, starts Monday.

Dingbatt

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#1989075 5-Apr-2018 21:42

Did I read right that it is going to take a year to deploy?
If so, that's perfect timing because it coincides with fibre finally making it to our street.
What I really don't need is yet another box to try and plug in, in the av cupboard. If they do use one the size of an ATV, for goodness sake make it Bluetooth and/or WiFi controlled and not just IR. But better still, as above, make an app on ATV, Chromecast, smart TVs, etc.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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#1989077 5-Apr-2018 21:44

No one complains that Apple TV is a proprietary box? The nice thing about your own hardware is your control it, you control the UX Experience, you can have stock of additional ones if they fail etc. Your support staff are fully trained on it which helps the end user.

I think it's the right move.

Apsattv

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#1989079 5-Apr-2018 21:46

I've read the whole presentation there is very little new or unexpected in it. Just a natural straight forward well thought out progression. I even think they have the timing right. Some people will be jumping up and down saying this should of been done ages ago. I don't agree they havn't lost much by delaying it until now.

Of note for those who keep mentioning the satellite, this was written (yes as spelt) note the reduction in capacity as i've posted previously

SATELITE
▶
D1 SIGNED 2003, LAUNCHED 2006, EOL 2021
▶
WE INTEND TO SECURE CAPACITY BEYOND 2021;
-
4 v 7 TRANSPONDERS
-
SHORT TERM LEASE
-
100K RURAL + 200-300K HAPPY MYSKY
CUSTOMERS
-
100% NZ COVERAGE (STRATEGIC)
▶
TARGET IS 50% COST
▶
WILL HAVE PARTIAL OFFSET FROM IP DELIVERY COSTS

rugrat

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#1989080 5-Apr-2018 21:53

I just hope you can buy the box and it's not a monthly rental.

Have warranty period, then have to buy another box when breaks down.

More convenient for consumer to be able to run on smart TV's etc, but can see that it'll be a lot easier and cheaper to only have to write applic for only one device.

People are not objecting to buying Apple TV's.

sdav

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#1989081 5-Apr-2018 22:07

tripp:

The problem with apps is supporting of them. iOS, web, android, samsung TV, Sony TV etc. There are so many different platforms and versions of platforms that it would take a lot of man power to create one for everything. Then you have the content license that might let you stream to your phone but not to chromecast or apple play, can stream at home but not on 3/4g etc.

Totally. But it doesn't mean it isn't the better solution. Think about where Sky should (should want to be) in 10 years time. I don't know how long satellite will be around for but it's not the long term future, some would argue it's not even now. With the interactivity on demand applications [can] offer fewer people will opt for a dedicated satellite service. How long this takes to happen is anyones guess.

Sky needs to position itself with the skills to build and maintain these apps and I would say it's certainly in their ability to do this. They have Fan Pass (which other than the horrendous pricing I really like ) on a website, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Android phones/tablets, Chromecasts, Samsung TV's (supporting only one TV brand is so lame...) and the PS3/4 consoles. It's a shame with all this effort the end result is an overpriced, unsupported service but that's because the final part of the service misses the mark.

Sky could even aim become a company that revolutionises sports/live broadcasting like ARL did with the America's Cup graphics which they could offer the rest of the world.

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sdav

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#1989087 5-Apr-2018 22:12

networkn:

No one complains that Apple TV is a proprietary box?

Without derailing the thread, what do you mean by this? In terms of apps I have Fan Pass, TVNZ OD, 3NOW, iPlayer, Netflix, plus a ton of others on it. It doesn't feel proprietary to me.

Dingbatt

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#1989089 5-Apr-2018 22:20

networkn:
No one complains that Apple TV is a proprietary box? The nice thing about your own hardware is your control it, you control the UX Experience, you can have stock of additional ones if they fail etc. Your support staff are fully trained on it which helps the end user.

I think it's the right move.

Imagine the infrastructure savings for Sky by not having to support another box though. Customers being able to buy a $60 Chromecast instead of paying $25/month to rent a decoder. And even a $300 ATV is equivalent to one year's rental. Full disclosure though, we paid the one off fee for our Mysky, so have been saving the $25 for a long time now.
Maintaining a few apps has got to be cheaper than dishes, boxes, cabling, etc. I know there will still be server costs, but at least they are in one place.

Is the proprietary bit the part where you can watch HD movies with 7.1 audio for the same price as Sky Box Office?

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

ockel

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#1989095 5-Apr-2018 22:29

sdav:

tripp:

The problem with apps is supporting of them. iOS, web, android, samsung TV, Sony TV etc. There are so many different platforms and versions of platforms that it would take a lot of man power to create one for everything. Then you have the content license that might let you stream to your phone but not to chromecast or apple play, can stream at home but not on 3/4g etc.

Totally. But it doesn't mean it isn't the better solution. Think about where Sky should (should want to be) in 10 years time. I don't know how long satellite will be around for but it's not the long term future, some would argue it's not even now. With the interactivity on demand applications [can] offer fewer people will opt for a dedicated satellite service. How long this takes to happen is anyones guess.

Sky needs to position itself with the skills to build and maintain these apps and I would say it's certainly in their ability to do this. They have Fan Pass (which other than the horrendous pricing I really like ) on a website, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Android phones/tablets, Chromecasts, Samsung TV's (supporting only one TV brand is so lame...) and the PS3/4 consoles. It's a shame with all this effort the end result is an overpriced, unsupported service but that's because the final part of the service misses the mark.

Sky could even aim become a company that revolutionises sports/live broadcasting like ARL did with the America's Cup graphics which they could offer the rest of the world.

You do realise that Samsung pays to have exclusivity for a period for its smarttvs? Every other broadcaster has been down the Samsung-first path. Imagine having a tv manufacturer pay for development in return for 12/24/36 months exclusivity. Its called smart business by Samsung not "supporting only one TV brand is so lame".

Similarly you should understand that satellite will be around for a long long time. Its a smart way to multicast. Cost effective with high risk at launch but multi year payback. Understanding some basics of business will save you face in the long term.

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sdav

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#1989157 6-Apr-2018 00:19

ockel:

You do realise that Samsung pays to have exclusivity for a period for its smarttvs? Every other broadcaster has been down the Samsung-first path. Imagine having a tv manufacturer pay for development in return for 12/24/36 months exclusivity. Its called smart business by Samsung not "supporting only one TV brand is so lame".

Similarly you should understand that satellite will be around for a long long time. Its a smart way to multicast. Cost effective with high risk at launch but multi year payback. Understanding some basics of business will save you face in the long term.

Haha I don't have to worry about saving face, no-one is overly concerned with my opinion. There has always been a gap between what makes business sense and what is actually good for a consumer. A business must consider both but won't do anything without the former and I however prefer the later.

In terms of sport, Sky's plan seems relatively clear. It's to make little change to it's current setup but try and generate $$$ with a new box, Netflix and exclusive rights to other material. I think it can work but "Neon will soon have a separate, cheaper TV entertainment pack as well as the current offering which provides TV and movies. Fan Pass, Skys sport-only option, will have a lower priced mobile phone-only offer. Both options will be available mid-year.” tells me not much is going to change in the sports area. If you want sport, Sky want you on satellite at $80 p/m for the exact reason you mentioned, it's cost effective for them and there's no one in New Zealand that can challenge them. It's unlikely there ever will be.

tripp

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#1989198 6-Apr-2018 08:21

Dingbatt:
networkn:

No one complains that Apple TV is a proprietary box? The nice thing about your own hardware is your control it, you control the UX Experience, you can have stock of additional ones if they fail etc. Your support staff are fully trained on it which helps the end user.

I think it's the right move.

Imagine the infrastructure savings for Sky by not having to support another box though. Customers being able to buy a $60 Chromecast instead of paying $25/month to rent a decoder. And even a $300 ATV is equivalent to one year's rental. Full disclosure though, we paid the one off fee for our Mysky, so have been saving the $25 for a long time now.
Maintaining a few apps has got to be cheaper than dishes, boxes, cabling, etc. I know there will still be server costs, but at least they are in one place.

Is the proprietary bit the part where you can watch HD movies with 7.1 audio for the same price as Sky Box Office?

You need to remember that "some" people just want to plug something in and have it work, no company can say "it will work like that" from a 3rd party device. Satellite service also needs to stay around for a while yet as it's 1 of the only ways to transmit to everyone in NZ. If that is pulled then there will be a lot of upset people as it maybe the only way for them to get TV.

tripp

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#1989199 6-Apr-2018 08:23

sdav:

ockel:

You do realise that Samsung pays to have exclusivity for a period for its smarttvs? Every other broadcaster has been down the Samsung-first path. Imagine having a tv manufacturer pay for development in return for 12/24/36 months exclusivity. Its called smart business by Samsung not "supporting only one TV brand is so lame".

Similarly you should understand that satellite will be around for a long long time. Its a smart way to multicast. Cost effective with high risk at launch but multi year payback. Understanding some basics of business will save you face in the long term.

Haha I don't have to worry about saving face, no-one is overly concerned with my opinion. There has always been a gap between what makes business sense and what is actually good for a consumer. A business must consider both but won't do anything without the former and I however prefer the later.

In terms of sport, Sky's plan seems relatively clear. It's to make little change to it's current setup but try and generate $$$ with a new box, Netflix and exclusive rights to other material. I think it can work but "Neon will soon have a separate, cheaper TV entertainment pack as well as the current offering which provides TV and movies. Fan Pass, Skys sport-only option, will have a lower priced mobile phone-only offer. Both options will be available mid-year.” tells me not much is going to change in the sports area. If you want sport, Sky want you on satellite at $80 p/m for the exact reason you mentioned, it's cost effective for them and there's no one in New Zealand that can challenge them. It's unlikely there ever will be.

It's not $80 a month for sports, it's around $55 now (sky starter + sports).

Linuxluver

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#1989201 6-Apr-2018 08:30

DjShadow:

Found this interesting story, the way I read it is Sky admits defeat and needs to evolve.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/05-04-2018/the-online-revolution-is-finally-coming-to-sky/

Will be great to see most of those dishes gone in a few years.

When I buy a new house, one of the first things I do is remove the Sky dish. No use for it.

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tdgeek

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#1989212 6-Apr-2018 08:43

As stated above, this is old news, I dont quite follow the hoopla about it. Months ago he mentioned this, the 12 month upgrade, a Sky app. This announcement is just more detail. Will it give you all a $15 sub to get everything? No. Mentions about a Sky box, why not an app? That's what its says, an app as well. If they are keeping satellite I can only assume that they may negotiate a per user fee, so that it wont matter if there are 800,000 or 80 on satellite. As to the rural people, well that's hard luck if satellite goes, thats an issue for FTA to sort out.

Many have sport, so buying sport will still cost. It seems they may compete with Netflix etc (TV and Movies but not sport) so that will be interesting. Netflix, Lightbox, $20 Sky app, thats probably too much cost.

IMO they were constrained by the satelite cost and the many costs that go with that. Dish, STB, installation, and the many brick and mortar stores, none of which they can ditch while still on the Optus contract. I think that ends 2019, so this is the overlap transition.

If you wnat sport, and doco channels, I doubt it will be a big price saving. But it should pickup a few cheapies who dont want to pay much, but they arent going to given the world either, content wise

Me, I'd like a cost saving, and Sky in every room that will do me.

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