Will UPC innovations benefit Sky Satellite Subscribers?

Widescreen

As UPC seem to be making major strides these days I am wondering if it could benefit us poor old Sky satellite subscribers.

e.g. Now that ITV2,ITV3 and ITV 4 have joined the UPC line up to go with BBC3,BBC 4,BBC HD and of course our old friends UTV and the possible imminent encryption on satellite of ITV2,3 and 4 will Sky eventually be forced to put all those channels on the Irish EPG?

I know a few people who watch very little apart from ITV3 (all the old Morse's etc). They have said that if it is encrypted they will go back to UPC.

Multiply that situation a few times and it could get interesting for Sky.

If there business suffers do people expect them to do as I say. Obviously the 3 itv's would have to go in one of the entertainment packs.

Ranicand

Widescreen wrote: »

As UPC seem to be making major strides these days I am wondering if it could benefit us poor old Sky satellite subscribers.

e.g. Now that ITV2,ITV3 and ITV 4 have joined the UPC line up to go with BBC3,BBC 4,BBC HD and of course our old friends UTV and the possible imminent encryption on satellite of ITV2,3 and 4 will Sky eventually be forced to put all those channels on the Irish EPG?

I know a few people who watch very little apart from ITV3 (all the old Morse's etc). They have said that if it is encrypted they will go back to UPC.

Multiply that situation a few times and it could get interesting for Sky.

If there business suffers do people expect them to do as I say. Obviously the 3 itv's would have to go in one of the entertainment packs.

UPC adding these channels can only be good for SKY viewers.
The mine is better then yours war is childish but on the other hand real competition can only improve things for us all.

I am sure Sky is watching this.

steveon

Personally I dont see why, as you can receive them using a Sky dish but cannot record them, all UPC seem to be doing lately is adding channels that are FTA to their lineup, although I do agree that the ITV channels are a worthwhile addition, but I feel UPC should add premium channels to their abismal lineup.

Ranicand

steveon wrote: »

Personally I dont see why, as you can receive them using a Sky dish but cannot record them, all UPC seem to be doing lately is adding channels that are FTA to their lineup, although I do agree that the ITV channels are a worthwhile addition, but I feel UPC should add premium channels to their abismal lineup.

Itv 2 3 and 4 could be set to become part of the Sky pack in the UK to try and get a bit of money back for them.

So unless Sky add them to the Irish pack the days watching them in the other channels option may be near an end.

ESPN for free for basic subscribers and FX Watch Good Food and Yesterday will be added this month.


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a188167/itvs-norman-considers-pay-tv-move.html




Incoming ITV chairman Archie Norman is reportedly evaluating plans to start charging viewers to access ITV's digital channels under a major new commercial strategy.

According to The Sunday Times, Norman will seriously consider a shift to a pay-TV model when he takes over from Michael Grade in early 2010.

The former Conservative MP further wants to introduce a shakeup in the ITV boardroom to ensure that the broadcaster does not endure another leadership crisis in the future, following the months of unrest after Grade announced his departure earlier in the year.

Along with leading the search for a suitable candidate to take on the vacant chief executive position, Norman will also reduce the size of the board going forward.

However, his most radical move would be to shift ITV's main digital channels - ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 - from free-to-air to subscription-only platforms.

The strategy would be squarely aimed at boosting ITV's struggling revenues, with the broadcaster recently reporting a £105m loss for the first half of 2009. ITV group revenues also fell 11% to £1.3 billion during the first three quarters of this year.

Norman is fully supportive of retaining ITV Productions for the positive impact that in-house produced shows such as Coronation Street and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! can have on ITV's revenues and reputation.

However, he wants to develop greater international appeal of ITV-produced programming in order to further capitalise on recent positive growth in global rights deals.

Mossy Monk

Unless Sky see a drop in subscribers then I don't see why they would be bothered. I couldn't care less for the ITV channels anyway for I never watch them but the extra BBC channels would be nice and Channel 4 HD.

Gonzo

my parents spend alot of time watching ITV1, ITV2 and ITV3 on sky, they will be really annoyed if they go and we live out in the middle of nowhere so no upc cable for us. If we lived in the city we would get upc straight away if Sky lose's all the ITVs on Irish viewers, it'll be like the bad old days with the '08 - The Programme is Blocked' message

redout

Will the ITV channels be gone freom Freesat also ?

Mossy Monk

redout wrote: »

Will the ITV channels be gone freom Freesat also ?

If they encrypt yes.

redout

Mossy Monk wrote: »

If they encrypt yes.

Seems unlikely then.

Surely that would be a nail in the coffin for freesat if they did it and doesnt seem to make sense if ITV are half owners.

Mossy Monk

redout wrote: »

Seems unlikely then.

Surely that would be a nail in the coffin for freesat if they did it and doesnt seem to make sense if ITV are half owners.

ITV are the ones talking about possibly encrypting. Nobody else.

bugfreebob

Widescreen wrote: »

As UPC seem to be making major strides these days I am wondering if it could benefit us poor old Sky satellite subscribers.

e.g. Now that ITV2,ITV3 and ITV 4 have joined the UPC line up to go with BBC3,BBC 4,BBC HD and of course our old friends UTV and the possible imminent encryption on satellite of ITV2,3 and 4 will Sky eventually be forced to put all those channels on the Irish EPG?

If you go Free-to-air satellite instead of Sky, you won't have to pay either UPC or Sky any monthly rental, and you will get all ITV, BBC channels, C4, C5, Film4 etc. If you get a Free-to-air receiver with Hard Disk/USB, you can also record all channels.

Sky are still gaining huge numbers of customers in Ireland, despite the limitations, as NTL/UPC continue to haemorrhage users due to the superior quality, price, and customer service of Satellite vs cable. In the UK it is different, as Sky have lost huge numbers of customers to Freeview & Freesat.

Widescreen

bugfreebob wrote: »

If you go Free-to-air satellite instead of Sky, you won't have to pay either UPC or Sky any monthly rental, and you will get all ITV, BBC channels, C4, C5, Film4 etc. If you get a Free-to-air receiver with Hard Disk/USB, you can also record all channels.

Sky are still gaining huge numbers of customers in Ireland, despite the limitations, as NTL/UPC continue to haemorrhage users due to the superior quality, price, and customer service of Satellite vs cable. In the UK it is different, as Sky have lost huge numbers of customers to Freeview & Freesat.

I still think that the current UPC offerings are threatening for the first time to get Sky customers to sit up and take notice and the UK channels are a big factor.If the Itv's go encrypted on satellite I think many Sky subscribers(ie people who want more than FTA stuff)will consider UPC unless Sky react.

I hear loads of comments from people who say ITV2 , 3 4 are not a big deal.Its easy say that when you can switch on the telly and watch 'em.

Kensington

Can't see sky being too worried by a couple of FTA channels being added. After all, they're all channels already available to sky subscribers, and anyone who wants to watch them bad enough will have added them. It's certainly not going to cause a sudden rush of subscribers over to UPC from sky.

What UPC need to do though is get in on Video on Demand which I imagine would be a very big selling point. Its the one thing sky simply cannot do with their system yet the vast majority of UPCs upgraded cable network is ready for VoD tomorrow morning if they put their minds to it.

Widescreen

Kensington wrote: »

Can't see sky being too worried by a couple of FTA channels being added. After all, they're all channels already available to sky subscribers, and anyone who wants to watch them bad enough will have added them. It's certainly not going to cause a sudden rush of subscribers over to UPC from sky.


What UPC need to do though is get in on Video on Demand which I imagine would be a very big selling point. Its the one thing sky simply cannot do with their system yet the vast majority of UPCs upgraded cable network is ready for VoD tomorrow morning if they put their minds to it.

My point relates to those channels(ITV's) rumoured imminent encryption.