tdgeek: Spronkey The problem is that SKY is the only way to legally get certain content, e.g. Formula 1 or some rugby.


You need to ask other TV providers to provide that content. Sly is not a monopoly, not all providers have identical content.

tdgeek: My bubble is not burst

Sky is not a monopoly. You can choose Sky, or free to air, there are many free channels that provide news, dramas, kids stuff, movies, and sport. You can get movies on FTA, Sky, Sky PPV, Caspa PPV. You can get HD on FTA, you can get a MySkyHDi competitor on FTA, this is a TIVO box.

To acquire programs, all providers pay for them. Yes, Suy has a greater range and number of channels, as they pay for the content, and thus the Sky subscribers pay a fee. You can choose the fee from Basic plus whatever you wish to add on.

tdgeek: Bar Tender - but for live TV sports events, 99% of that is with sky.

Well, the other providers need to buy the rights then, Sky is not be default exclusive provider. Sky bid for them and other providers had that option too. There have been other major sports that were only on TV One in the past. Naturally, FTA TV can only cover these purchases by advertising. To remove/reduce advertising and to acquire more programs the costs are high, so those who choose to watch these have to pay a fee.

If FTA was to provide a similar content to Sky, the advertising in the programs would be extensive, and possibly they would have to find a way to charge a PPV.

You cannot get something for nothing, that s the reality.

Zippity: Remember the good old days when free-to-air TV (the channels all those whinging about Sky love so much) brought us "live" Formula One motor racing?

Remember how they always went over to the "ads" when the racing was just about to get exciting or when one of the leading protagonists veered off the racetrack into the tyre wall?

Well guess what?

You get none of that krap from Sky

tdgeek: --In this way Sky is the monopoly, much like Telecom and the copper wire in the ground.

I dont agree, it is thr majority infratrstructure provider, not the only one by far.

---I think it would be a tough argument to say that Sky isn't a monopoly in this way IMHO.

I disagree, IMHO, there are choices. When rugger was on TV1 that was the way it was then. F1 used to be on One also. The issue is not of monopoly, it is of choice and at the moment, the content some of you want is only on Sky. What about the content that is not on Sky? You can pay by $ or you can pay be heavy advertising, 4 mins every 10 mins.

NonprayingMantis: hah,  other than the premium channels (movies and sports)  Sky has just as much advertising as FTA channels.

try watching the Box, discovery, MTV etc etc - even though you paid Sky $50 for all these chanels (plus a few dozen you don't even want) you still get bombarded with adverts.

clevedon:

NonprayingMantis: hah,  other than the premium channels (movies and sports)  Sky has just as much advertising as FTA channels.

try watching the Box, discovery, MTV etc etc - even though you paid Sky $50 for all these chanels (plus a few dozen you don't even want) you still get bombarded with adverts.

Not if you have MySky and use it right.