Lightbox being removed Spark Plans from 7 July 2020.

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Lightbox being removed Spark Plans from 7 July 2020.

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#2495606 31-May-2020 11:24

tdgeek:

CrashAndBurn:

But they sold the plans with that included so would think it was priced in? No?

They sold the plans for $x. Added a free extra. Removing the free extra. You've had Lightbox for free, no added cost, for quite a while.

Not really sure I agree that it is free given it was marketed as "Entertainment Plans". Imagine if they remove Netflix next.

Not sure when the below was updated so can't confirm which parts have been updated recently. But it clearly says that it is included in the plan rather than free.

https://www.spark.co.nz/help/other/terms/other-terms/lightbox-on-spark-plan-terms.html

Lightbox included until 6 July. Lightbox will be removed from all Spark mobile and broadband plans from 7 July 2020.

Lightbox Standard Plan ($12.99 per month) is included on selected Spark broadband plans and selected Spark Pay Monthly mobile plans, whilst the broadband or mobile plan is made available to you, and while Spark controls and operates the Lightbox service.

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#2495613 31-May-2020 11:40

Communications will be sent out about this, that's about all i can say on the topic though.

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MikeB4

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#2495614 31-May-2020 11:44

@tdgeek your point is irrelevant. These were selling points and advantages as to why customers chose Spark. For me they have chosen to remove those advantages without any communication to me. That is a dick move by a company that clearly does not value existing customers.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#2495618 31-May-2020 11:56

MikeB4: @tdgeek your point is irrelevant. These were selling points and advantages as to why customers chose Spark. For me they have chosen to remove those advantages without any communication to me. That is a dick move by a company that clearly does not value existing customers.

Its not irrelevant to many. How many moved to Spark to get free Lightbox? How many get free Lightbox but don't use it? Its a value added item that is free to the user. You clearly use it a lot so its value to you that you will lose, that's fair enough. It didnt include a price. Lightbox isn't owned by Spark so surely when Sky bought it, it was on the cards it will finish at Spark in the future. Surely you considered that?

Me, I assumed it may stay at Spark but with a discount , as its now a Sky owned product not a Spark owned product.

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#2495619 31-May-2020 11:57

Is it unfair that sometimes, free things come to an end?

antonknee

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#2495622 31-May-2020 12:06

It’s fine that Lightbox is being removed from the plans - things change - but you can hardly fault people for thinking this changes the value proposition. Added value is added value and that value’s no longer there.

Same as any other plan change.

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#2495624 31-May-2020 12:12

tdgeek:
Is it unfair that sometimes, free things come to an end?

Not free, it is factored into the price.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

tdgeek

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#2495625 31-May-2020 12:14

antonknee: It’s fine that Lightbox is being removed from the plans - things change - but you can hardly fault people for thinking this changes the value proposition. Added value is added value and that value’s no longer there.

Same as any other plan change.

100%. If the value changes, reassess, thats not only common sense, its obvious. My gripe is that some see it as taking something away which isnt fair. It was free.

Shop around, its not an evil stitch up job, its business.

CrashAndBurn

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#2495628 31-May-2020 12:20

tdgeek:

antonknee: It’s fine that Lightbox is being removed from the plans - things change - but you can hardly fault people for thinking this changes the value proposition. Added value is added value and that value’s no longer there.

Same as any other plan change.

100%. If the value changes, reassess, thats not only common sense, its obvious. My gripe is that some see it as taking something away which isnt fair. It was free.

Shop around, its not an evil stitch up job, its business.

Not really sure which part of this is not clear?

Lightbox Standard Plan ($12.99 per month) is included on selected Spark broadband plans and selected Spark Pay Monthly mobile plans.

You mentioned there was no price but there is as people can pay for it separately, but they included it as part of the package on certain plans. It is simple really, compare both Sparks Unplan with the Entertainment one. If you insist that it was free, then why the price difference?

The other issue is not being notified about the change.

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#2495629 31-May-2020 12:21

MikeB4:
tdgeek:

Is it unfair that sometimes, free things come to an end?

Not free, it is factored into the price.

Its factored into your price. The value that you give it. When Lightbox was added, nettles was added, Spotify was added the plan pricing didnt change. They are freebies.

One has since been sold, so it drops off the list.The value to you has changed. It has for me too, as I have used it. But as I see it, Ive enjoyed a free service for quite some time, with no added price on my plan. Its over, so thanks, enjoyed it. If Spark kept it, at an extra fee, hopefully a discount from RRP, I'd be ok with that too.

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#2495631 31-May-2020 12:31

CrashAndBurn:

Not really sure which part of this is not clear?

Lightbox Standard Plan ($12.99 per month) is included on selected Spark broadband plans and selected Spark Pay Monthly mobile plans.

You mentioned there was no price but there is as people can pay for it separately, but they included it as part of the package on certain plans. It is simple really, compare both Sparks Unplan with the Entertainment one. If you insist that it was free, then why the price difference?

The other issue is not being notified about the change.

It is perfectly clear thanks.

You assume included is not the same as free, two different words. LB and LF are free, and included. They are added value services that do not come with a cost, they are freebies.

Before Unplan how much did your mobile or BB plan increase when Lightbox was added? And Netflix? It didnt.

Unplan is a lower priced flexi plan. Its a lower priced plan. Like any product you buy, if you buy the base product you can't expect freebies as well, surely? You might buy a Deluxe Pizza, as it has free extra cheese and chips. Do you expect the basic pizza to come with all the freebies?

We all like free stuff, but you need to be reasonable. You saved money, the service isnt now owned by Spark, so it will discontinue. The amount that Spark ADDED when they added Lightbox will I assume be refunded, as its zero. Unplan Entertainment has now less freebies, yes thats correct. Assess if its worth it for you.

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#2495642 31-May-2020 12:55

Hmmm.

So from my perspective, the additional charge on my broadband for the entertainment package will now have less entertainment in it. It will be effectively a discount rate on Netflix.

There were a few shows I watched on Lightbox such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Son, Vikings, etc, but hopefully most of those are available on other platforms now. If Sky thinks I’m paying them any more than I already do for some of that content, then as the ad says “Mate, you’re dreaming.”

It does remove the value from Spark plans though and will bear consideration when the current contract runs out.

“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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#2495649 31-May-2020 13:14

Dingbatt:

Hmmm.

So from my perspective, the additional charge on my broadband for the entertainment package will now have less entertainment in it. It will be effectively a discount rate on Netflix.

There were a few shows I watched on Lightbox such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Son, Vikings, etc, but hopefully most of those are available on other platforms now. If Sky thinks I’m paying them any more than I already do for some of that content, then as the ad says “Mate, you’re dreaming.”

It does remove the value from Spark plans though and will bear consideration when the current contract runs out.

Re the Entertainment pack and less value, yes that's correct. Each of the three ones I get, Netflix, Lightbox and Spotify, added no cost to my plans. When I downgraded my full BB plan to Unplan Entertainment, I still retained the freebies and saved $5.

How I see free stuff, is that Im grateful to have been given them. Ive used some services, added to my plan at no extra cost, Ive saved money if any of those I would have bought. Im grateful for that. I don't hold anyone to a lifelong guarantee if circumstances change. As everyone should from time to time, I will assess Lightbox as a seperate purchase if I feel its worth it.

MikeB4

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#2495665 31-May-2020 13:23

As confirmed above there has not been any communication regarding these changes to the plans and that in my book is a very poor way to treat customers and an absolute dick move. Continues the shoddy attitude Telcos in NZ treat their consumer customers and cash flow customers.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

tdgeek

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#2495668 31-May-2020 13:28

MikeB4: As confirmed above there has not been any communication regarding these changes to the plans and that in my book is a very poor way to treat customers and an absolute dick move. Continues the shoddy attitude Telcos in NZ treat their consumer customers and cash flow customers.

The alteration to the apps should have occurred after a comms, I agree

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