Sky, TVNZ to launch new pay TV service

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#549722 25-Nov-2011 02:41

exportgoldman: I didn't realise TVNZ7 and the other channel's were not free to air (is it channel 6?)

TVNZ 6 (Which included Kidzone) got canned around March if I remember correctly and got replaced with "U" (The Teens-25 channel) on Freeview/SKY and added the Kidzone24 channel as a Sky Basic channel (like Heartland).

TVNZ 7 is still FTA at the moment from what I can tell - I recorded a show the other day on my Mythbox, but it's Govt funding (originating from iirc the Labour Government, but canned by the National Govt) is running out (sometime soon), and if I understand correctly will then disappear off the face of the earth.

To be honest, TVNZ 7 is no giant loss to me, the hourly news updates were a great idea, so was an 8pm news hour, but other than that, I've watched about 2-3 episodes of one TVNZ7 show (can't recall the name of it off the top of my head), one episode of Backbenchers (which I don't know why I didn't keep watching), and one episode of the UK How Do They Do It series which was a fluke.

My honest opinion is that TVNZ didn't use TVNZ 7 the right way, they could have turned it into a world class channel, by simply breaking the scheduled programming when breaking news that wasn't important enough to break TV ONE/etc (both local, and international events), as a sign of patriotism I always switched to TVNZ 7 first, before going to Sky News/CNN/FOX/BBC (In that order), but was solely disappointed each and every time. Sky News on the other hand, pretty much always does a great job, even when covering New Zealand events.

I really do find it unpatriotic though that TVNZ have made both NZ-made children's content and old shows/footage (that I'd imagine a fair proportion were funded by NZ On Air/Broadcasting Fees) effectively Pay TV.

NonprayingMantis

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#549731 25-Nov-2011 07:11

DonGould:
freitasm: Somehow I think TVNZ will be shafted in a couple years. And somehow I think taking down TVNZ6 and TVNZ7 was a bad thing for free to air (Freeview|HD) and the public in general.

I think TV is on the rocks full stop.

I'm just waiting to get a YouTube feed into my TV and I'd say it will be all over.

well, others have alreayd pointed out that the content on youtube is not the same, but I would also like to add that practically every connected TV now has a youtube'app'. Mine does. I watch it quite a bit (normal TV tends to not have much in the way of Starcraft 2 commentary)..... But I still have sky

old3eyes

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#549774 25-Nov-2011 09:19

I used to like the science and tech shows on TVNZ7 but they seemed to have all gone. Nova Science was quite good but dated by the time it was shown here.. If TVNZ7 was to die tomorrow I would not miss it..

Regards,

Old3eyes

pompeynz

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#549787 25-Nov-2011 09:33

So where does this leave the people who own a TIVO? And what about the way the channels on Tivo are now broadcast?

TinyTim

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#549791 25-Nov-2011 09:39

There was a brilliant show on TVNZ7 that my 7-yo just loved; can't remember its name but it was an American show that went inside factories and showed you how all sorts of stuff was made: cars, Lear Jets, air bags, frozen pizzas, bread, hand guns, crossbows, Leatherman tools, carbon fibre bikes, knitwear...

There are so few decent programmes left on free-to-air; there's certainly nothing on at prime time. We never watch anything live any more - it's all recorded at times we're not around (*). I really fear we're going to lose the remaining decent free-to-air programmes with this new service.

But I really don't want to start paying for something that we don't spend much time doing.

And another factor, I spent a ton of money on a nice PVR/Blu-ray player, all in one, can drive it and the TV with one remote. There's no way I'm going to turn around and replace it with a new Sky decoder and separate Blu-Ray!

Does this cut-down Sky service mean we're going to have to now pay for the privilege of watching ad-ridden programmes? (like Sky now?)

(*) That said, my wife did watch Downton Abbey live this week!

TinyTim

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#549792 25-Nov-2011 09:41

TinyTim:
And another factor, I spent a ton of money on a nice PVR/Blu-ray player, all in one, can drive it and the TV with one remote. There's no way I'm going to turn around and replace it with a new Sky decoder and separate Blu-Ray!

And presumably a MySky-type recorder will be extra.

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toyonut

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#549800 25-Nov-2011 09:48

I guess it would all come down to the content for me. I find standard sky to be a ripoff, paying a lot of money for low bitrate, crap looking content. Freeview has been a great service with good quality great looking programming and, with a pvr, enough to record through a week that I have never been at a loss for something to watch.

If this service is going to go downhill in the future due to poor management of assets, then alternatives must come about.

What would I want from a sky/tvnz deal?
Good quality, mostly HD- freeview has set the bar here and they need to maintain or advance it.
Some solid channels- There needs to be a provocative reason to switch.
Reasonable cost- $25-30 a month including HD seems fair, but fair has never been in the same sentence as sky, unless we are talking about sailing.
Access to a good PVR- looks promising
On Demand into the TV- looking good if they can leverage the set top box and tvnz/sky existing services. No mucking around with laptops or multiple boxes into the tv.

If something similar to this comes about, I would probably switch. Just a pity freeview didnt offer a similar service on launch to the BBC with a licencing fee so that programming was funded and money could be available for good quality NZ programming. http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/licencefee/

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

TinyTim

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#549814 25-Nov-2011 09:56

paulmilbank:
If something similar to this comes about, I would probably switch. Just a pity freeview didnt offer a similar service on launch to the BBC with a licencing fee so that programming was funded and money could be available for good quality NZ programming. http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/licencefee/

After NZers fighting for so long to scrap our TV licence fee, I don't think anyone would be in much of a hurry to see it come back!

crackrdbycracku

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#549847 25-Nov-2011 11:07

The more I read of this the less I see myself paying for it.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6033606/Venture-promises-cheaper-mini-pay-TV-service
It is expected to provide all Freeview channels and initially up to 12 Sky entertainment channels, but not premium sports.

There is speculation it will cost about half as much as Sky's basic satellite service, which costs $45

OK, so we are talking about paying about $20 a month to watch the 'other' stuff on Sky; eg Living, Food TV, Discovery etc. You get Freeview but they named that right the first time around and it's free anyway so that isn't exactly a selling point.

Yeah, I'm not that desperate to see Bobby Flay, another shark or more WW2 file footage. I'd rather cook on my own barbecue, go for a dive or read a Richard J. Evans book.

Set-top boxes will also be able to connect to the ultrafast broadband network in the future, so customers could access programmes and potentially other services over broadband.

This sounds interesting, sort of. If Sky made this an NZ version of NetFlix that would be awesome. Pay the monthly sub and stream what you want. If Sky made this 'Content A La Cart' that would be alright, pay per view streaming.

I can't see Sky doing the first as it would eat into the existing base of people who pay the monthly sub for the Basic Package + Sport or Movies + MySky and then only watch the UK Premier League or the odd film. I can only see them doing the second if the pay per view was set at a rate high enough to keep people on packages.

Basically I can't see myself paying what I think Sky is going to be asking.

To be honest I can't see a mad rush of people looking to sign up for this.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

jonherries

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#549857 25-Nov-2011 11:26

I would consider this as long as they drop the two most annoying things about sky:

I am "happy" with the freeview channels, I just want some sport, with this new service it appears not to be on offer.

I also don't want to sign a 24 month term contract, doesn't indicate that this is going away.

I would love sky to do ppv on sports here other than boxing, even over the internet I would be tempted.

Jon

crackrdbycracku

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#549880 25-Nov-2011 11:46

jonherries: I just want some sport, with this new service it appears not to be on offer.

I also don't want to sign a 24 month term contract, doesn't indicate that this is going away.

I would love sky to do ppv on sports here other than boxing, even over the internet I would be tempted.

Jon

I think you get right to the heart of the matter.

I would say sport, most particularly live sport, is Sky's most precious possession. This is because the broadcast model actually works. For sport time-shifting, or delayed coverage, just isn't the same. You want to watch the AB as they are playing.

But Sky knows if they actually make it transparent you, and I, won't pay. To pay $60 per month for 4 Super 14 (let's say you support one team) games works out to $15 per game, sounds expensive. However, $60 per month for "All this ... and more..." sounds reasonable even when you only want to watch sport only some of that. Even worse for Sky if it is PPV if you don't watch, you don't pay. Under the current system you are paying $15 per game whether you watch it or not.

The term contract is even more central to the business model. If once you figure you could go the pub to watch the NZ games and watch delayed coverage for free of the foreign games, which you would do anyway with MySky, you still have 18 months on the contract.

I can't see Sky doing anything to seriously mess with this as it is working very well for them at present.

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robbyp

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#549978 25-Nov-2011 13:47

TinyTim:
paulmilbank:
If something similar to this comes about, I would probably switch. Just a pity freeview didnt offer a similar service on launch to the BBC with a licencing fee so that programming was funded and money could be available for good quality NZ programming. http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/licencefee/

After NZers fighting for so long to scrap our TV licence fee, I don't think anyone would be in much of a hurry to see it come back!

There is still a licensing fee of sorts that provides funding for nz on air, but it comes out of everyones taxes, rather than a separately billed for,

sleemanj

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#549986 25-Nov-2011 13:53

Clearly this is TVNZ largely driving here, SKY only days ago said they didn't see a business case for it - http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5976762/Sky-still-mulling-pared-down-TV-service

Clearly it has been TVNZ that has waved considerable money and content under Sky's nose to do this or they wouldn't be doing it, either way, I think TVNZ has really lost their way lately, somebody needs to step in and remind them who exactly owns them - you, me, and every other tax payer in the country.

Progressively moving more content to pay tv, to the great detriment of Freeview in my opinion, is not a very good thing for a Government owned Television network IMHO.

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crackrdbycracku

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#549997 25-Nov-2011 14:05

sleemanj: Clearly this is TVNZ largely driving here, SKY only days ago said they didn't see a business case for it - http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5976762/Sky-still-mulling-pared-down-TV-service

Clearly it has been TVNZ that has waved considerable money and content under Sky's nose to do this or they wouldn't be doing it, either way, I think TVNZ has really lost their way lately, somebody needs to step in and remind them who exactly owns them - you, me, and every other tax payer in the country.

Progressively moving more content to pay tv, to the great detriment of Freeview in my opinion, is not a very good thing for a Government owned Television network IMHO.

Are they moving the content to pay TV or duplicating it on pay TV? My understanding is the stuff from Freeview will still be broadcast on Freeview, and therefore free.

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old3eyes

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#550017 25-Nov-2011 14:42

crackrdbycracku:
sleemanj: Clearly this is TVNZ largely driving here, SKY only days ago said they didn't see a business case for it -?http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5976762/Sky-still-mulling-pared-down-TV-service?

Clearly it has been TVNZ that has waved considerable money and content under Sky's nose to do this or they wouldn't be doing it, either way, I think TVNZ has really lost their way lately, somebody needs to step in and remind them who exactly owns them - you, me, and every other tax payer in the country. ?

Progressively moving more content to pay tv, to the great detriment of Freeview in my opinion, is not a very good thing for a Government owned Television network IMHO.

Are they moving the content to pay TV or duplicating it on pay TV? My understanding is the stuff from Freeview will still be broadcast on Freeview, and therefore free. ?

Why would you want to duplicate free stuff on pay TV// No one would buy it. I suspect that the only stuff on TVNZ Freeview channels will be the stuff that the new PayTV network doesn't want.

Regards,

Old3eyes

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