BBC FTA on Irish EPG

georgekildare

What are the chances of Sky putting all the BBC FTA channels (e.g. BBC4, BBC24, BBC5Radio) on the regular Irish Sky EPG? I would have thought that doing this would not cost them anything, but would help them attract new customers in Ireland.

They don't need to, the new customers are coming anyway in their droves.

Plus they charge the Irish EPG as a separate unit so they won't give extra places on it to the BBC for free.

mm

donhughberto

We can get all the channels anyway, it doesn't matter that much EPG does it?

ShaneOC

Originally posted by donhughberto
We can get all the channels anyway, it doesn't matter that much EPG does it?

It does if you use the planner. Especially if you have Sky+ as you cannot record from Other Channels.

watty

Sky will only add EPG channels if:
A) They are Sky package (BBC arnet apart fron 213 and 124)
Or the provider pays.

Yes it cost Sky nearly nothing.

Encryption costs Sky less, since the cards are or where separately paid for (Sub paid or FTV card paid £12 by BBC etc). Encryption is VERY expensive yet cost Sky nothing.

So you won't see the Other BBCs as BBC is committed to NOT marketing itself in Ireland. BBC1 NI and BBC2 NI are a special case. BBC payes for the EPG and Sky pays BBC a small % of each Irish sub.

georgekildare

Watty, I believe you.

However, it is still surprising to me. If Sky can enhance their product with FTA channels at virtually no cost and thereby provide an excuse for raising the subscription, why would they not do it? They have ambitious targets for increasing their subsciber base.

Particularly if ITV goes FTA, there is a good argument for buying a good FTA PVR (receiver + hard disc) and cancelling the subscription to SKY. Then one would not have to mess around with "Other Channels".