Sky to upgrade MySky to HD for free?

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spazz

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Topic # 13109 23-Apr-2007 08:58

I read in a Herald article yesterday that Sky are looking to release their new set of MySky boxes in March next year, and that existing subscribers will get upgraded for free..? The new boxes will include more tuners, bigger hard drive space, and HD-capable.. if this is true I can't wait! It's been a long time coming, admittedly, but I always figured Sky would make people pay through the nose for access to HD content..

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sbiddle

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Reply # 68118 23-Apr-2007 09:19

spazz: I read in a Herald article yesterday that Sky are looking to release their new set of MySky boxes in March next year, and that existing subscribers will get upgraded for free..? The new boxes will include more tuners, bigger hard drive space, and HD-capable.. if this is true I can't wait! It's been a long time coming, admittedly, but I always figured Sky would make people pay through the nose for access to HD content..

You will need to upgrade your existing box to receive HD content.

As to the technical specs of such a box I guess you'll really have to wait until they appear. Next March is still a long way off.

spazz

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Reply # 68119 23-Apr-2007 09:24

Isn't it just.

And whilst I realise that the existing box will need to be upgraded, I figured Sky would make us pay some ridiculous amount to do so.. Any 'free upgrade' is good in my books!

Does anyone know if content providers such as BSkyB charge subscription services for HD content? Or will it be like the introduction of widescreen content; a gradual movement away from the norm?

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sbiddle

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Reply # 68121 23-Apr-2007 09:31

I think Sky will struggle to charge a premium for HD content. With this announcement Freeview are going to beat Sky to launch HD services in NZ (Feb 2008 launch) and will then offer terrestrial HD programming for free.

cyril7

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Reply # 68127 23-Apr-2007 10:06

SkyUK charges £10/month additional to your normal subscription to recieve the 13HD channels in addition to all the SD ones that your package offers. SkyUKs basic package is £15/month but if you add movies and sports it goes through to £43/month, there are 3-4levels of movies and sports you can take inbetween these two fiqures. So to recieve HD in UK on SKy you have a monthly sub ranging from £25-£58.

The HD box has a one off £300 fee, SkyUK never offered a free upgrade like SkyNZ appear to offer, however the MySky in NZ has a 2x one off cost, the Sky+ (same as our SD MYSKY) has a one off cost of £100.

Cyril

Americancars

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Reply # 68872 29-Apr-2007 22:07

If it is a free upgrade, that would be great. Becuase to pay another $500 to get another MySky would be ridiculous.

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ZollyMonsta

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Reply # 68882 29-Apr-2007 22:39

Americancars: If it is a free upgrade, that would be great. Becuase to pay another $500 to get another MySky would be ridiculous.

It would be crazy to think they'd offer a free upgrade to a new HD box. There would be some sort of charge I would guess.
The cost of 'swapping' out a set top box for nothing would cause too much of a dent to the books.

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Americancars

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Reply # 69149 1-May-2007 21:15

ZollyMonsta:
Americancars: If it is a free upgrade, that would be great. Becuase to pay another $500 to get another MySky would be ridiculous.

It would be crazy to think they'd offer a free upgrade to a new HD box. There would be some sort of charge I would guess.
The cost of 'swapping' out a set top box for nothing would cause too much of a dent to the books.

Cheers,
ZollyMonsta

Yea, I see what you mean. It would be good though if they would only charge a fee for the trip out to your house, and you didn't have to pay another $500 or whatever to get a new box.

Can't beat the burble of that American V8. Ohh yea!

ZollyMonsta

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Reply # 69154 1-May-2007 21:42

Well I guess there's always that option. There could be some merit in the box being swapped for the new version (even if there was a small 'upgrade' fee). Sky could always on-sell the original MySky as a re-conditioned unit.

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lchiu7

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Reply # 69155 1-May-2007 21:44

sbiddle: I think Sky will struggle to charge a premium for HD content. With this announcement Freeview are going to beat Sky to launch HD services in NZ (Feb 2008 launch) and will then offer terrestrial HD programming for free.

If TV1, TV2 and TV3 really do offer HD content for free, what compelling reason is there to pay for HD stuff on Sky unless they deliver HD movies on Sky Movies which would save having to rent/buy HD movies on BluRay or HD DVD or perhaps Sport. Most of the popular shows that are produced in HD are already on the FTA channels and Sky1 for example tends to show them a season or two after they air on FTA.

If Sky really did send HD movies down from new transfers, then that might be a compelling reason to sign up.

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cyril7

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Reply # 69180 2-May-2007 08:23

Even if a FTA broadcaster transmitted movies fully uncompressed in 1080 or even 4k to my home there is absolutely no whey I will bother watching them if interupted with adverts every 15mins.

Hence for the above reason and sport Sky will always have a certain market.

Cyril

Americancars

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Reply # 69277 2-May-2007 19:37

cyril7: Even if a FTA broadcaster transmitted movies fully uncompressed in 1080 or even 4k to my home there is absolutely no whey I will bother watching them if interupted with adverts every 15mins.

Hence for the above reason and sport Sky will always have a certain market.

Cyril

That is a good point. The FTA movies have a lot of ads which is annoying.

Can't beat the burble of that American V8. Ohh yea!