Enquiries to Sky regarding UK channels on EPG.

200motels

These are the replys I got from Sky and my questions to them.
Thank you for your further email concerning channels not supported in the EPG.
As advised previously, due to licensing agreements it is not possible to include these channels within the TV Guide therefore you will not be able to set the recording via Sky+ only via a VCR.

I am sorry that I am unable to provide a more positive response however the decision is not Sky but the independent channels concerned.

Regards

Sheila
Viewer Relations


Original Message Follows:

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Hi Sina,

Thanks for the reply, while I can understand the reasons why we can't record ITV etc, it doesn't make it right.
How is it that UPC cable can put these channels on their EPG in the ROI? Surely if UPC can do it then Sky can do it, or are they not bothered about the customers in the ROI, with a little bit of common sense and fortitude I'm sure Sky could do something about it if they wanted, but alas they don't seem to be bothered.




From: Sky Help Centre <help@skycustomersupport.com>



Dear Paul

Thank you for your further email regarding the channels listed under Other Channels.

As a bonus service to ROI customers BBC 1, BBC2, Channel 4, Channel 4+1, E4, E4+1, More 4, RTE One, RTE Two, TG4 and TV3 are all supported under the Electronic Programme Guide.

BBC services are funded by the UK Licence fee and regional ITV services are supported under UK post code regions. In the UK services available to ROI viewers such as RTE are not support on the main EPG. These services are also bound with broadcasting and geographical licence agreements.

Although you can tune to Other Channels such as UTV these programmes are not supported with the EPG for Sky+ recordings.

I hope this information addresses your enquiry and once more thank you for getting in touch.

Kind regards

Sina
Viewer Relations
Original Message Follows:

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Hi Salim,
Thanks for the reply, your answer doesn't answer my question properly, I know I can record RTE, but what I want to know is why can't I record BBC3,4, BBCHD, and ITV1,2,3,4,? If I had UPC cable with a +box I could record RTE and all of the above. I think it's unfair that we in the R.O.I can't record the British channels with our Sky plus and HD boxes. I'm given serious consideration of moving to UPC, I really don't want to do that as I like SKY, but if I can't record those channels I might have to move.




From: Sky Help Centre <help@skycustomersupport.com>


Hi Paul


Thank you for your email about not being able to record BBC 3 and ITV channels.

I’m sorry this issue has caused you concern and hope my reply below clarifies the position for you. As you're in the ROI, you should be able to receive and record RTE channels. If you're receiving the BBC and ITV channel, please reply to me of the message you get that doesn't let you record these channels and I'll be glad to resolve this for you.
I hope this information has helped with your enquiry. If you require any further assistance, you can respond to my email. You can also contact our Customer Service team on 08442 41 41 41, where one of our advisors will be happy to help.
Thanks
Salim

Sky Help Centre
http://www.sky.com




Original Message Follows:

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Enquiry Type:

• Programme Information
• Programme queries

Description:
Why can't I record BBC 3, 4, and BBCHD, and ITV,1,2,3,4, on my HD BOX? I can access these channels on the extra channels yet I can't record them. I think it's unfair to subscribers in the R.O.I as subscribers to UPC cable have this facility.

200motels

You should read the above from bottom to top.
Everyone should E-MAIL sky regarding this issue and torment them.

lord lucan

200motels wrote: »

Everyone should E-MAIL sky regarding this issue and torment them.

I doubt it would do any good tbh. All SKY understand is numbers,if a large number of people started cancelling their contracts with Sky citing the lack of UK channels on the EPG then you might see a change of position.

200motels

lord lucan wrote: »

I doubt it would do any good tbh. All SKY understand is numbers,if a large number of people started cancelling their contracts with Sky citing the lack of UK channels on the EPG then you might see a change of position.

Probably not, but as you say if we all threatened to cancel it might make them do something. On another thread someone said that in 4 weeks we'll be getting CH4HD and BBCHD on the EPG, I'll believe it when it happens.

zagmund

Erm, I never understand this. If you are unhappy with Sky, just cancel.

The EPG thing doesn't cause me any loss of sleep, however I did cancel Sky and have ITV & all the other channels available. I can edit my EPG and put the channels in the order I want. I can record the channels I want. I don't have big gaps in my channel listing or channel 121, 122, 123, 124, etc . . . displaying a message that I can get them for another €10 a month or whatever). In other words I don't have any of the downsides of the Sky 'service' *and* I don't have to pay them for an incomplete service.

If UPC give you what you and and Sky doesn't then . . . I don't see the issue, just cancel.

Imagine going to Easons and being told that they can sell you the newspaper but they've taken out some of the pages. You can get the missing pages but you have to go to the 3rd floor to get them but you can't take them away with you. It's not a full service. If you're not happy don't pay the money.

I got Sky in last year with the decidedly mercenary approach of dumping them after the contract was up. In the meantime I got my dish mounted and my cables run. If I had been in a position to mount the dish myself I would never have gone with them at all.

z

Minstrel27

zagmund wrote: »

Erm, I never understand this. If you are unhappy with Sky, just cancel.

The EPG thing doesn't cause me any loss of sleep, however I did cancel Sky and have ITV & all the other channels available. I can edit my EPG and put the channels in the order I want. I can record the channels I want. I don't have big gaps in my channel listing or channel 121, 122, 123, 124, etc . . . displaying a message that I can get them for another €10 a month or whatever). In other words I don't have any of the downsides of the Sky 'service' *and* I don't have to pay them for an incomplete service.

If UPC give you what you and and Sky doesn't then . . . I don't see the issue, just cancel.

Imagine going to Easons and being told that they can sell you the newspaper but they've taken out some of the pages. You can get the missing pages but you have to go to the 3rd floor to get them but you can't take them away with you. It's not a full service. If you're not happy don't pay the money.

I got Sky in last year with the decidedly mercenary approach of dumping them after the contract was up. In the meantime I got my dish mounted and my cables run. If I had been in a position to mount the dish myself I would never have gone with them at all.

z

That Humax Freesat PVR will be a definate purchase for me as soon as this Sky contract is up. I am sick of them and their overpriced service.

200motels

Minstrel27 wrote: »

That Humax Freesat PVR will be a definate purchase for me as soon as this Sky contract is up. I am sick of them and their overpriced service.

I think your right.

Liam Byrne

200motels wrote: »

due to licensing agreements it is not possible to include these channels within the TV Guide therefore you will not be able to set the recording via Sky+ only via a VCR.

I am sorry that I am unable to provide a more positive response however the decision is not Sky but the independent channels concerned.

"Licensing agreements" - i.e. those channels won't pay us so we're more interested in allowing you to record rubbish like Wedding TV, Crap Essex Slappers, Ads-masquerading-as-a-channel, Baby TV, etc.