Do we get value for money?

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ianajmes

130 posts

Master Geek

#56638 19-Jan-2010 19:19

Ok I know that we can't compare New Zealand with the Uk due to population and demand etc..but do you think we are paying over the odds for sky and indeed freeview..(i guess thats one for their forum)
if you look at a basic uk sky package you can pay around 40 pounds a month ($90)for a entertainment and sports package which gets you hundreds of channels, (i think around 200) maybe more. I know that we will never get that here due to demand but whats a realistic amount that Sky could work with over here? 10 more 20?
As for freeview, as i said this isnt the place but still only 12 channels, yes i know only 1 outlay but costly never the less. (the Uk recieve over 50tv channels and 20 radio)
I should add i am a sky subscriber and the service i receive is fine, just interested in peoples thoughts.

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#291282 19-Jan-2010 19:24

At this stage freeview can be seen as expensive, but you do not HAVE to use freeview. Analogue is still around. For those buying a new TV, a lot have a digita tuner built in now, and there are plenty of non-approved boxes that work just as well, if not better than the freeview approved ones.

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SepticSceptic

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#291447 20-Jan-2010 12:00

How people find the time to watch 200 channels always amazes me :-) Then again, unless I know what I'm missing, how can I know what I'm missing ? ... I'd imagine there are dedicated gardening channels ( like the food channel), home arts ( pottery, painting, sculpture, etc), and also few community / local channels.
Despite an occasional grumbling about Sky TV, I find that their mix is just about right. I don't have Sky Movies - FTA movies, rentals, borrows and D/L's keep that side busy enough. Sky Sports - generally subscribe halfway through the year, and drop it at the end of the rugby season.
Having an older S1 Tivo hooked up to the Sky box allows me to have a great variety of pre-recorded TV to watch - I am never short of something to watch. It takes a couple of months for the Tivo to initially understand your viewing habits, but after that, hardly any dross. I would imagine that the MySkyHD would have much the same functionality. Ditto with any HTPC DVR-style recorder.

I would like a dedicated Sci-Fi (SyFy ?) channel - but that can wait - otherwise I would have to upgrade the Tivo's HDD ! :-)

For general interest, I think a Tourism channel would be good value - for both overseas and locals - showcasing various destinations, walks, boat trips - but not with overactive glee-enhanced voice overs. Just good quality voice, and also incorporating approx costs, etc.

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

Ragnor

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#291505 20-Jan-2010 13:58

The only semi objective way to decide if you are getting value for money is to roughly record how many hours of sky you watch per month and divide the monthly cost by the number of hours to give you a $ per hour amount.

So lets say you're paying $50 / month and watch about 50 hours per month that makes it $1 per hour of entertainment.

Compare to Tivo, $30 per month but you only watch about 15 hours (just an example) that would make it $1.50 per hour of entertainment.

Going to the cinema on cheap tueseday is $10 for say 3 hours or $3 per hour.

You get the idea...

I don't think the number of channels is that relevant to "value for money", if there's not something on sky then you're not watching.. hence your hours per month are going down... thus the "value" you're getting is lower and vice versa.

wellygary

7378 posts

Uber Geek

#291512 20-Jan-2010 14:12

As for freeview, as i said this isnt the place but still only 12 channels, yes i know only 1 outlay but costly never the less. (the Uk recieve over 50tv channels and 20 radio)
I should add i am a sky subscriber and the service i receive is fine, just interested in peoples thoughts.

But to enjoy freeview in the UK you are required to pay Auntie 140 quid a year and that pays for 9 of the TV channels and almost half the radio channels. SO it not really fair to compare that to Freeview In NZ which requires no annual fee.

NzKaizer

130 posts

Master Geek

#291670 20-Jan-2010 22:48

The biggest problem with sky's pricing is the lack of choice.

I dont ever watch the cartoon/kiddy channels, nor do I watch the womens channels like cooking channel, living channel.

yet sky force me to pay for something I never use.

bcourtney

652 posts

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#291679 20-Jan-2010 23:17

NzKaizer: ... nor do I watch the womens channels like cooking channel, living channel.

Sounds like NZKaizer has spent the last week stuck in a Mad Med marathon. This isn't the 50's/60's. I'd have thought we'd all moved beyond assumptions like this??

Personally, I love Food TV. And yes, I'm male.

ockel

1949 posts

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#291693 21-Jan-2010 05:11

Overseas is not much better - plenty of channels but lots of series repeats and movie repeats.
The quantity of new fresh content is very limited. HBO and Starz have only been producing drama for a few years (examples Sopranos, Dexter, Spartacus).
But if you like the option of watching recent movies (in all genres) or the prospect of many channels covering the sports you like (NBA, NFL, NHL, golf, etc) then you're in luck.

Take a quick browse to Sky in the UK and look at whats offered on the chennel guide. Similarly Comcast, Directv, or U-verse. Quantity does not equal quality.

And equipment in NZ is reasonably cutting edge. AT&T offer a 4 tuner PVR but Comcast only offer a 2 tuner (record 2 channels and watch prerecorded being your maximum). Add to that a smaller hard-drive than Sky offer and plenty of errors (partially recorded programs etc) in recording and you realise that being overseas is no different than being in NZ.

I can tell you that most of what I watch is on the local affiliates (read FTA) plus the content I'd watch on a Sky basic package (CNBC, food, history, etc).

You want a Comcast starter package - US$58/mth gets you:

Over 80 digital cable channels.

Access to thousands of movies and shows each month–most free–ready to play as you please with On Demand.

45 commercial-free music channels, from Top 40 to classical to hip-hop.

Local programming and all the popular cable channels.

Easy parental controls that help keep your family safe.

On-screen program guide.

That doesnt inlcude the premium entertainment (HBO and Starz) which you'd want if you were a Sky Movies subscriber. Nor the full range of sports. Nor HD. Nor a PVR. Yep thats the basic package.

Want the same from AT&T using their fibre (U-verse)? Thats US$54/mth for a fairly similar lineup.
The grass is always greener.

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

Brunzy

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#291698 21-Jan-2010 07:48

NzKaizer: The biggest problem with sky's pricing is the lack of choice.

I dont ever watch the cartoon/kiddy channels, nor do I watch the womens channels like cooking channel, living channel.

yet sky force me to pay for something I never use.

Easy answer to that..........called unsubscribe

old3eyes

8995 posts

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#291707 21-Jan-2010 08:31

ockel: Overseas is not much better - plenty of channels but lots of series repeats and movie repeats.

The quantity of new fresh content is very limited. HBO and Starz have only been producing drama for a few years (examples Sopranos, Dexter, Spartacus).

Spartacus remains to to be seen as it was shot in Auckland.. It bears very little relation to historical events..

Regards,

Old3eyes

tstone

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#291710 21-Jan-2010 08:46

I don't think that value for money, especially relating to a subsciption service is easily defined and it can't be determined by a formula. Some of the comments here already indicate this, with one person saying they like the food programmes/channel and another insulting people who like those sort of programmes. Like they say 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. One could say 'value for money is an individual's choice'.

Personally, the only reason I originally got Sky is to watch Formula 1 racing because I am a motorsport fan.

ockel

1949 posts

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#291712 21-Jan-2010 08:48

old3eyes: Spartacus remains to to be seen as it was shot in Auckland.. It bears very little relation to historical events..

Heavy promotion in US theatres, newspaper inserts and on television. Starts 22-Jan.

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

Byrned

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#291737 21-Jan-2010 09:31

I subscribe to Sky and feel the money I pay provides value for money - I can typically always find something to watch, if I'm wanting to watch TV.

In the UK, I found that yes, I could chose from a plethora of channels, but quite often found myself not wanting to watch anything as the vast majority of those 200 channels you talk about were repeats of shows ranging over the last 50 years! That might be an exaggeration, but it certainly felt that way...

So I guess that could mean that value for money is perception?

SepticSceptic

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#291745 21-Jan-2010 09:38

ockel:
old3eyes: Spartacus remains to to be seen as it was shot in Auckland.. It bears very little relation to historical events..

Heavy promotion in US theatres, newspaper inserts and on television. Starts 22-Jan.

I assume that's USA release, not NZ ?

The NZ film set was in the same warehouse building complex where my employers training centre / warehouse is located. Fully secure film set - couldn't even get a look-see !

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

ockel

1949 posts

Uber Geek

#291761 21-Jan-2010 09:59

SepticSceptic:
ockel:
old3eyes: Spartacus remains to to be seen as it was shot in Auckland.. It bears very little relation to historical events..

Heavy promotion in US theatres, newspaper inserts and on television. Starts 22-Jan.

I assume that's USA release, not NZ ?

The NZ film set was in the same warehouse building complex where my employers training centre / warehouse is located. Fully secure film set - couldn't even get a look-see !

Yes - a US release. I think Hulu has Ep1 up already for US consumers that want to see it before Friday (or arent Starz subscribers).

@Byrned - its the same in the US. Plenty of repeats on additional channels.

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

cws82us

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#292031 21-Jan-2010 21:43

It be nice and sky will make alot of money if they have USA movies channel so when they come in USA we can see it

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