Sky falling behind... again

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allstarnz

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Topic # 66402 18-Aug-2010 15:02

I know it is slightly comparing apples with pears, but still. Foxtel are rolling out yet more HD channels. While once again, Sky are sitting on their laurels giving us the occasional low cost re-run channel.

from knowfirst.info

The following is from multiple sources - I try to confirm with at least 2 people before posting something, as accuracy is paramount.

This is current, but things can obviously change.

NOVEMBER 2010

*BBC Knowledge HD
*Nat Geo Wild HD
*MTV Live HD
*Speed HD
*3D Channel (for events like ESPN X Games etc - this is already on D206)

*MTV Hits SD (this was The Music Factory on Optus)
*MTV Live SD (down-converted from MTV Live HD)
*Speed SD (down-converted from Speed HD)
*Fox Sports SD (X-Box only)

*Nat Geo +2
*Nat Geo Wild +2
*Animal Planet +2
*13th Street +2

*16 Foxtel Box Office channels will be taken down for the Commonwealth Games channels, but only 8 or so will go back up.

There will also be channels added in the first half of next year (more than likely first quarter), multiple sources confirm.

Surely it's about time they did something about this, and get their gear up and running to have more HD capacity? Foxtel are up to 15 (soon to be 19), while Sky have a miserable 4 channels.

Dumping some of the Box Office channels is a great idea, and should be done here too. With My Sky HDi becoming more prevalent, surely they are just taking up space now.

neoprint

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Reply # 369356 18-Aug-2010 15:09

I agree. I'm finding it harder and harder to justify shelling out for sky each month.

For the amount I pay I expect a hell of a lot more than I'm getting. Ricky Gervais had it right when he described pay tv as reruns of sharks and nazis.

mattRSK

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Reply # 369359 18-Aug-2010 15:12

If you could have just the sport channels I would get sky. Not interested in any of the other channels they have.

Handsomedan

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Reply # 369360 18-Aug-2010 15:12

neoprint: Ricky Gervais had it right when he described pay tv as reruns of sharks and nazis.

I beg to differ...just last night I watched a new episode of River monsters..that had Sharks, but no Nazis...and wasn't a rerun.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.

James Bond

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Reply # 369374 18-Aug-2010 15:31

Is Sky TV our very own AT&T?

timbosan

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Reply # 369384 18-Aug-2010 15:44

I don't agree with Sky's channel line-up either; it is far to focused on meeting the needs of the general populous rather than catering to distinct groups. There is no technical reason Sky couldn't create more packages such as SiFi (or a Geek group!), kids etc, as well as the existing sports and movies channels, and paring down the crap they offer on the 'basic' package.

In fact I have voted with my wallet, and cancelled Sky (along with Vodafone's landline and broadband connection) and now just use my HTPC for FTA television, including SBS which can you cannot get on Sky, and I am far happier for it.

I also agree with the comment about the Box Office channels, it would be interested to know how much space (bandwidth) they are taking up, and how much this is impacting making other channels, specifically HD channels, available.

If I need/want to watch something no on TV, I can just use my US based iTunes account, there is FAR more content available from there than Sky will ever have, and I can watch whenever it I like, plus get to keep it for latter watching.

Also a comment on the Sky failing to open up more functionality on the HDI box; they never will because they are driven by profit, nothing else. They are a business trying to make a dollar, and the percentage of users who want to have LAN or USB access would be less than 1% (my personal guess) and what financial gain do they get? Plus they are driven by the studios insistance on copyright protection and anything that allows moving content off the box wouldn't go down well with the studios.

Mind you I read something interesting the other day about copyright protection in NZ - how can the studios prosecute for infringement when the presecution is based around a loss, if the content you have downloaded/copied is not available in NZ for sale? Where is the loss then?

[end of rant]

l43a2

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Reply # 369434 18-Aug-2010 17:16

bring on discovery HD with "NEW" content an ESPN HD, Foxtel has it, wouldnt take much for NZ to have it!

cheap secure seedboxes

cws82us

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Reply # 369603 18-Aug-2010 23:05

Sky is bit like telecom in a way.

The Biggest and the Best.

dougierydal

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Reply # 370328 20-Aug-2010 13:36

l43a2: bring on discovery HD with "NEW" content an ESPN HD, Foxtel has it, wouldnt take much for NZ to have it!

I guess it is a start, but pity it is Discovery, as has been stated on these boards elsewhere, Discovery has really gone downhill since it started playing shows involving motorbikes and the like and now seems to consist entirely of shows like American Chopper - rubbish!

Would much prefer the CI channel to be in HD.

Personal preference of course...

hairy1

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Reply # 370345 20-Aug-2010 14:53

With 25% of subscribers now on HDi the platform should really have some more resources thrown at it. I would like to see more storage and the opportunity to use the ethernet port as it is a big fail with VOIP....

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

old3eyes

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Reply # 370449 20-Aug-2010 19:25

dougierydal:
l43a2: bring on discovery HD with "NEW" content an ESPN HD, Foxtel has it, wouldnt take much for NZ to have it!

I guess it is a start, but pity it is Discovery, as has been stated on these boards elsewhere, Discovery has really gone downhill since it started playing shows involving motorbikes and the like and now seems to consist entirely of shows like American Chopper - rubbish!

Would much prefer the CI channel to be in HD.

Personal preference of course...

You mean there's not enough crime on the evening news and in the papers these day to satisfy you let alone a whole TV channel devoted to it??

Regards,

Old3eyes