Sky announces video on-demand service

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#1068206 18-Jun-2014 10:24

If there weren't already enough nails in the coffin of the DVD rental industry, this will certainly add another one.

tripp

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#1068212 18-Jun-2014 10:29

sen8or: If there weren't already enough nails in the coffin of the DVD rental industry, this will certainly add another one.

Is that still a thing?
:P

Stu

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#1068215 18-Jun-2014 10:31

I mentioned in another thread a few days ago that our preferred rental shop is closing down. I'm sure it will become a more regular sight in the near future.

trig42

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#1068216 18-Jun-2014 10:31

networkn:

Fellet said Sky aimed to be profitable on the new service within three years.

Fellet declined to comment on speculation that Sky intended to buy the internet service provider Orcon.

Read: Sky intends to increase the price of this product annually so it can be profitable within 3 years.
Read: Will not be free for mysky customers after 3 years.

networkn

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#1068233 18-Jun-2014 10:33

trig42:
networkn:

Fellet said Sky aimed to be profitable on the new service within three years.

Fellet declined to comment on speculation that Sky intended to buy the internet service provider Orcon.

Read: Sky intends to increase the price of this product annually so it can be profitable within 3 years.
Read: Will not be free for mysky customers after 3 years.

Also Read: Sky is buying Orcon

I don't think they are. It was a rumor.

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#1068260 18-Jun-2014 10:48

Will consider buying if similarly price to NetFlix .. I expect however they will want MUCH more for it.

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#1068265 18-Jun-2014 10:51

networkn:
trig42:
networkn:

Fellet said Sky aimed to be profitable on the new service within three years.

Fellet declined to comment on speculation that Sky intended to buy the internet service provider Orcon.

Read: Sky intends to increase the price of this product annually so it can be profitable within 3 years.
Read: Will not be free for mysky customers after 3 years.

Also Read: Sky is buying Orcon

I don't think they are. It was a rumor.

If they weren't, they say "no". But instead, they say "no comment", which means they're at least thinking about it.

trig42

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#1068269 18-Jun-2014 10:55

Their official line is that they don't comment on speculation.

Why they just wouldn't say 'no' I'm not sure though.

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#1068280 18-Jun-2014 11:00

trig42: Their official line is that they don't comment on speculation.

Why they just wouldn't say 'no' I'm not sure though.

We need a journo to test them, ask a few questions that are obviously and blatantly not happening "Is it true that Sky is being bought out by Netflix?" "Is it true that the Commerce Commission has recommended breaking Sky into two companies, one for transmission and one for supply?"
If they say 'no', then the Orcon thing is a 'maybe'

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#1068286 18-Jun-2014 11:08

macuser: 'Illegal' my ass,

Sky trying to tell the press that not respecting its exclusive right to display media in NZ is illegal. I have no relationship with Sky, I have not entered a contract with Sky and Sky has no grounds to call anything I do illegal. If people are viewing Sky exclusive content from somewhere else...that's Sky's problem, and they need to talk to their suppliers.

As another user has said, I'm parallel importing my content from America. I am breaking Netflix's terms of service, but breaking a contract is not illegal...

Which will be why the Herald changed it's story. It's not specifically legislated against so it's not illegal. Breaking the TOS of Netflix/Hulu/whoever could in theory lead to a civil action by them but that's as far as it stretches, and it's not something I'd be losing any sleep worrying about. That hasn't stopped industry pundits in this country calling people who circumvent geo-blocking "pirates", as if the term can be redefined on their whim.

trig42: [Conspiracy]Sky will want to make a pigs breakfast of it, the online rights will be locked away so no-one else can play with them[/conspiracy]

Don't agree with the first part of your conspiracy theory but I believe the second part is spot on. They want to lock up those rights because the back of their pants are turning brown with the thought of Netflix arriving in NZ. Probably the only way they can tie up the rights now is by assuring content makers their product will actually get displayed, unlike the current situation where it's gimped (tied up and thrown in the dungeon). The only way they would be able to assure access, and thus tie up the rights, would be via a VOD service.

BlueShift: If they weren't, they say "no". But instead, they say "no comment", which means they're at least thinking about it.

Not necessarily, they may be deriving humour from fueling speculation.

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#1068294 18-Jun-2014 11:20

The sad thing is Hybrid TV (TiVo) was here several years back now with one of the best PVR/set top box on the market and made a complete hash of it.

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

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#1068295 18-Jun-2014 11:22

If you can access it this is well worth a read.

http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/sky-tv-launch-netflix-style-service-ck

Sport is not a part of it and pricing to be revealed in 30 to 40 days. Seems its movie and Soho content will be featured.

They are looking to use multiple devices as well as a software upgrade to existing Sky boxes and an Android/IOS app.

Clearly they are aiming squarely at Telecom and Netflix et al especially before the latter formerly launches here which they will eventually.

trig42

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#1068297 18-Jun-2014 11:25

Dratsab:
macuser: 'Illegal' my ass,

Sky trying to tell the press that not respecting its exclusive right to display media in NZ is illegal. I have no relationship with Sky, I have not entered a contract with Sky and Sky has no grounds to call anything I do illegal. If people are viewing Sky exclusive content from somewhere else...that's Sky's problem, and they need to talk to their suppliers.

As another user has said, I'm parallel importing my content from America. I am breaking Netflix's terms of service, but breaking a contract is not illegal...

Which will be why the Herald changed it's story. It's not specifically legislated against so it's not illegal. Breaking the TOS of Netflix/Hulu/whoever could in theory lead to a civil action by them but that's as far as it stretches, and it's not something I'd be losing any sleep worrying about. That hasn't stopped industry pundits in this country calling people who circumvent geo-blocking "pirates", as if the term can be redefined on their whim.

trig42: [Conspiracy]Sky will want to make a pigs breakfast of it, the online rights will be locked away so no-one else can play with them[/conspiracy]

Don't agree with the first part of your conspiracy theory but I believe the second part is spot on They want to lock up those rights because the back of their pants are turning brown with the thought of Netflix arriving in NZ. Probably the only way they can tie up the rights now is by assuring content makers their product will actually get displayed, unlike the current situation where it's gimped (tied up and thrown in the dungeon). The only way they would be able to assure access, and thus tie up the rights, would be via a VOD service.

BlueShift: If they weren't, they say "no". But instead, they say "no comment", which means they're at least thinking about it.

Not necessarily, they may be deriving humour from fueling speculation.

I do not actually think Sky wants to make a balls-up of it, but I think their marketing people will override their technical people, and that's what it will end up as.

I saw in the NZH story that Sky was reacting to rumours, and those rumours will not be Telecom/Spark starting up a service, but the impending arrival of Netflix rumour.

NonprayingMantis

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#1068299 18-Jun-2014 11:27

There is no way Sky are dumb enough to make this service too good.

Think of the incentives at play here for each party

Telecom/Netflix: Need to grow customers on their TV service quickly to pay back the investment in content. Therefore, there is a very strong incentive to make it as appealing as possible at as good a price as possible to get the maximum number of people on board. There is no downside to getting more customer.

Sky: Free for MySky subscribers - which is where most of their subscribers will come from. So there is virtually no incentive to make it really good by buying additional content as there is very limited new revenue opportunities to offset that extra expense.
Making it available to non-sky subscribers is good, but then there is a danger that if they make the service too appealing on a standalone basis, people will move off Sky (~$80+/month) and just buy this (~$20/month). Sky won't want that, so they will need to restrict heavily what is available if you aren't a sky subscriber.

Classic "Incumbent's dilemma." situation.

For more evidence of this strategy in play see:

Igloo.
Sky Go

sen8or

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#1068300 18-Jun-2014 11:29

BigHammer: I mentioned in another thread a few days ago that our preferred rental shop is closing down. I'm sure it will become a more regular sight in the near future.

I think there is a limited future for physical rentals, but stores will be few and far between. In Dunedin for example, there used to be about 13 stores, now there are about 1/2, and from what I understand, there will still be a few drop off in the next 12-18 months. That will leave 3-4 "good" stores rather than a few ok ones and many "less than average" stores.

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