Just Cancelled Sky & Setanta!

RogerThis

I just cancelled Sky and Setanta today.
Sky offered 6 months with 2 mixes for €10.50 or a 20% reduction for the year.
Setanta offered 3 months at €5.

Both will be switched off after 30 days.

€28.75 for Sky+ 4 Mix per month and €16.99 for Setanta, at total saving of €45.74 per month or €548.88 for the year.

I have spent €400 on a linux satellite receiver to have the same functionality as the Sky+ box (time shifting, watching a channel while recording a second, 8 day epg), but the linux box has HD. I also spent €250 on a motorised 1.1m dish, so I'll be able to get all foreign FTA channels as well. I wont see the return on investment for 14 months.

But from then on happy days:D

steveon

I too am happy with FTA, although sky is good value for money in the beginning, there is far too many repeats for my liking....time some channels were closed down and new programs brought in instead...best of luck with your system.

RogerThis

I love the Sky+ system, and it's so wife friendly but:

I feel completely ripped off by Sky. We pay the UK tax rate, so there is no reason why we should be paying more. We get our 4 extra channels and lose about 6 channels.

Sky charge €22 in the Republic v's the UK & NI it's £18 (€20.72, 6% more) for the basic variety set. Then it's €2 v's £1 (€1.15, 74% more) per extra set afterwards.
So if you went for 4 sets it's €28 v's £21 (€24.17, 16% more)
Or 6 sets its €32 v's £23 (€26.47, 21% more)
Then Sky Sports it'ss €32 v's £18 (€20.72, 54% more)
Sky Movies it's €28 v's £16 (€18.42, 52% more)
Everything it's €73 v's £48.50 (€55.83, 31% more)
HD it's €15 v's £10 (€11.51, 30% more)
Multiroom €15 v's £10 (€11.51, 30% more)

I couldn't find the price for Setanta in Northern Ireland.

For me it's the Sky Sports that really takes the biscuit, 54% for what? it's not like they even support the most popular Irish sports, the GAA.

Johnny Storm

I did the same a few weeks ago. After the Setanta guy offered me me 5 euros a month and I said I still wanted to cancel he then offered me 2.99 a month with no committment. I accepted that as I figure its cheaper than paying my final monthly payment of (AKAICR) 17.99

Fiskar

Completely agree with RogerThis, I only want the sports but feel completey ripped off by Sky every time I want to get it put on. Also cancelled, got a Freesat HD Tv a few weeks ago and its happy days, do miss the sky sports and eurosport but can get RTE online so not missing out on much.
My system is 9 years old so will be looking for the new dish, twin cable and HD box later in the year. Technology has moved on but Sky have let down existing customers by not offering free upgrades.
Some how they will have to face up to the prices differentials for their services here versus the UK.

RogerThis

I wonder could we do anything about it, using the power of the internet.
Setup a online petition or facebook page, and treating to disconnect from Sky at a certain date, over the summer while there isn't much sport on.

Sky will be selling Sky Sports rights for the Irish DTT soon. If we got enough of people behind it, it could save everyone a few euros. The Irish are meant to be good at all these online votes and stuff, so it might work.

Just throwing it out! What do you think?

goat2

steveon wrote: »

I too am happy with FTA, although sky is good value for money in the beginning, there is far too many repeats for my liking....time some channels were closed down and new programs brought in instead...best of luck with your system.

why do i have to programme in the free to air channels every time i switch on the box, i always unplug everything at night and when not in use

Tony

goat2 wrote: »

why do i have to programme in the free to air channels every time i switch on the box,

Because you unplugged it and the box defaults to factory settings.

BenEadir

Hi all,

I'm having the Sagem DTR 94500 box (see https://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=930&Mode=0&productid=1046&Results=true&keys=sagem) installed along with a dish and quad LNB next week to use the UK Freesat service and plan to get rid of my NTL subscription.

One question I have is if I buy a used Sky box is there some sort of free Sky package which includes RTE, TV3 etc that I can pick up? It seems weird even asking if there is a "free" Sky anything but I'm sure I read somewhere that if you cease your Sky subscription after 1 year you get to keep the box and you can continue viewing a very basic service.

I want the Freesat box for the main family TV but would like to continue to receive a basic set of channels (RTE, BBC, Sky News Etc) on a few other tellys around the house and was wondering if I bought some used Sky boxes would that do the trick? Will the feed from the dish serving the Freesat service also pick up and feed the basic Sky service (if it even exists!!) to other TV's at the same time or will I have to get some basic Freesat boxes for the other Telly's and just live without RTE and TV3 until the whole DTT situation is finally resolved?

I'd really appreciate some good advice on this.

Regards,

Ben

John mac

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm having the Sagem DTR 94500 box (see https://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=930&Mode=0&productid=1046&Results=true&keys=sagem) installed along with a dish and quad LNB next week to use the UK Freesat service and plan to get rid of my NTL subscription.

One question I have is if I buy a used Sky box is there some sort of free Sky package which includes RTE, TV3 etc that I can pick up? It seems weird even asking if there is a "free" Sky anything but I'm sure I read somewhere that if you cease your Sky subscription after 1 year you get to keep the box and you can continue viewing a very basic service.

I want the Freesat box for the main family TV but would like to continue to receive a basic set of channels (RTE, BBC, Sky News Etc) on a few other tellys around the house and was wondering if I bought some used Sky boxes would that do the trick? Will the feed from the dish serving the Freesat service also pick up and feed the basic Sky service (if it even exists!!) to other TV's at the same time or will I have to get some basic Freesat boxes for the other Telly's and just live without RTE and TV3 until the whole DTT situation is finally resolved?

Ben

You can use old sky box to watch bbcs' and itv stations along with others

RTE and tv3 are not available without Subscription on Satellite.

BenEadir

Cheers John Mac, now I'm depressed!!

John mac

what about an aerial for rte's ?

do you live close to a main transmitter?

Mits

I agree RogerThis Sky is a complete rip off.

I have the movies and kids package but the amount of repeats is annoying. I went to cancel it last year when they decided to add an extra charge to customers that pay by credit card.

But the sales guy convinced me to stay by giving me a discount.

What type of Linux box did you get??

scout353

RogerThis wrote: »

I wonder could we do anything about it, using the power of the internet.
Setup a online petition or facebook page, and treating to disconnect from Sky at a certain date, over the summer while there isn't much sport on.

Sky will be selling Sky Sports rights for the Irish DTT soon. If we got enough of people behind it, it could save everyone a few euros. The Irish are meant to be good at all these online votes and stuff, so it might work.

Just throwing it out! What do you think?

+1

RogerThis

Mits wrote: »

I agree RogerThis Sky is a complete rip off.

I have the movies and kids package but the amount of repeats is annoying. I went to cancel it last year when they decided to add an extra charge to customers that pay by credit card.

But the sales guy convinced me to stay by giving me a discount.

What type of Linux box did you get??

The linux box I got is a Vu+ duo, there is another thread about it on the foreign satellite section. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055816677

RogerThis

Does anybody want to setup a petition?

Petition Name: Sky Ireland Rip Off

Patition: We, the people of Ireland, are sick of been ripped off by Sky. We have been paying more than 50% extra for Sky Sports than our British counterparts for over 3 years. And for this 50% we get nothing extra. This just isn't on and it's going to stop. If something isn't done about by the 12th of July, we will cancel our full sky package and buy a freesat & DTT box instead. POWER TO THE IRISH PEOPLE!!!

Anybody want to add anything else?

John mac

why july 12 ? DTT isnt launched until Oct, and even then it wont have 100% coverage.
so some will still not get RTE via Terrestrial.

You can try but i would think loads of people have sky for football/ sports, If they dont have sky they have no access to them.

RogerThis

@John mac
July 12th is roughly 6 weeks away, so it gives a chance for the petition to take off. It's also during the summer when there isn't a lot of sports or good telly on any ways. So this is the only time that you could get people to do this. You can also resubscribe to sky if you want in September for the football. If Sky get enough cancellation, they'll do something about it.
btw your location says -9.1w = 9.1e which is near Hamburg in Germany

elnino35

scout353 wrote: »

+1

make that +2...were off and running already!!:D

BenEadir

Hi Roger,

please forgive what is possibly a stupid question but whats so special about a VU+ Duo? Is it similar to a Sagem DTR 94500 (http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/digital-tv-recorders/sagem-dtr-94500-659411/review) or does it do something completely different?

Ben

blueser

I cancelled my Sky subscription as well. I had the sports and the HD package, and it was too bloody dear. I'm going to get one of those Edision combi receivers for the world cup.

STB

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi Roger,

please forgive what is possibly a stupid question but whats so special about a VU+ Duo? Is it similar to a Sagem DTR 94500 (http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/digital-tv-recorders/sagem-dtr-94500-659411/review) or does it do something completely different?

Ben

The Sagem is Freesat based and takes all its EPG data from a dedicated Freesat transponder - but ultimately is aimed at those who want the freesat service off 28.2.

The VU is a more powerful FTA HD Sat receiver with twin tuners but relies on pulling down the EPG data either via a PC or OTA with Linux programmes. It also does other satelites and because its linux based has nifty little programmes like media playing etc.

Neither do DTT as they do not have a plug and play DVB-T tuners for them.

However keep an eye out for the Duolabs QBox HD Mini which is due out the end of June (a Linux based Combo) but at half the price of the existing Linux combos like the Azbox and big brother Qbox itself.

BenEadir

Thanks STB.

FTA is probably beyond my capability so a combo Freeview and DTT box like this Edison (http://www.saortv.com/shop/digital-tv-receivers/combo/edision-argus-mini-2-in-1-ip-combo-hd-satellite/dtt-receiver/prod_72.html) would probably fit the bill for me.

Pity the Sagem I just purchased doesn't have a built in DTT tuner!!

Ben

STB

BenEadir wrote: »

Thanks STB.

FTA is probably beyond my capability so a combo Freeview and DTT box like this Edison (http://www.saortv.com/shop/digital-tv-receivers/combo/edision-argus-mini-2-in-1-ip-combo-hd-satellite/dtt-receiver/prod_72.html) would probably fit the bill for me.

Pity the Sagem I just purchased doesn't have a built in DTT tuner!!

Ben

Why not just buy the [url=http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/4258890/art/sigmatek/dvbr-520-hd-digital-tv-re.html
]Sigmatek dvb-r 520 for DTT[/url] if you have a freesat receiver already ? Its €60. And it plays MKV/AVI from the USB. and you can record to a memory stick/usb drive.

Reviews on this site of it.

_Kaiser_

I have Sky for years and I think it's only worthwhile if you subscribe to Sports.
Everything else that's on can be seen on FTA channels, or gotten from US cousins at this stage.

There's 2 main problems...

- Ignorance among the general public about what alternatives there are (FTA) and what they give you. I'd wager most people are happy with the "standard" channels (RTE, TV3, BBC, ITV, C4 etc) but don't know that you can get all of these with an aerial and a FTA satellite setup.

- Convenience of things like Sky+. Yes there's now similar FTA boxes, but do any of them offer the simplicity of Sky's version? (Genuine question actually. I work in IT myself but I know nothing about linux etc)

In my house for example, I'd imagine we'd be happy with the standard channels as above, and the FTA ones on satellite plus the 7-day EPG and record functionality of Sky+ (simplicity is a must though)

Any recommendations on a box? HD would be nice too...

Sky will have to start looking at their package offerings once/if DTV gets going properly here. What I'd like is the ability to subscribe to say the Irish mix and "the Premiership package" that gives me all the matches but ONLY that, regardless of what channel they're on, for a fixed amount.
Can't see that happening anytime soon though!

Oh and sorry to be a killjoy, but internet petitions are as worthless as the paper they're not written on I'm afraid!

MarkR

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Oh and sorry to be a killjoy, but internet petitions are as worthless as the paper they're not written on I'm afraid!

One word. Wispa.

Really though, online petitions are about as useful as a one legged man at an arse kicking contest.

Zardoz

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I have Sky for years and I think it's only worthwhile if you subscribe to Sports.
Everything else that's on can be seen on FTA channels, or gotten from US cousins at this stage.

There's 2 main problems...

- Ignorance among the general public about what alternatives there are (FTA) and what they give you. I'd wager most people are happy with the "standard" channels (RTE, TV3, BBC, ITV, C4 etc) but don't know that you can get all of these with an aerial and a FTA satellite setup.

- Convenience of things like Sky+. Yes there's now similar FTA boxes, but do any of them offer the simplicity of Sky's version? (Genuine question actually. I work in IT myself but I know nothing about linux etc)

In my house for example, I'd imagine we'd be happy with the standard channels as above, and the FTA ones on satellite plus the 7-day EPG and record functionality of Sky+ (simplicity is a must though)

Any recommendations on a box? HD would be nice too...

Sky will have to start looking at their package offerings once/if DTV gets going properly here. What I'd like is the ability to subscribe to say the Irish mix and "the Premiership package" that gives me all the matches but ONLY that, regardless of what channel they're on, for a fixed amount.
Can't see that happening anytime soon though!

Oh and sorry to be a killjoy, but internet petitions are as worthless as the paper they're not written on I'm afraid!

Thats a very good post .
I had Sky World inc Sports for 10 years but in the last few years I was becoming completely disillusioned with it.
The standard of programming has completely deteriorated and the range of programming has diminished.
I'm a big sports fan and the main reason I watch Sky is for sports ,however I have reduced my sub now to a 2 mix pack which I have for 10.50 for 6 months.
I also bought a Dreambox 600 satellite receiver and a Toroidal dish .
I can set up the channel listings on the Dreambox in whatever order I want ,meaning I dont have to wade through all the dross in the Sky EPG.
I have a pvr ,timeshifting capabilities and a 7 day epg via the Rytec plugin.
I can also watch lots of sport fta on European satellites .
I have even converted the missus who is happy as a pig in dirt now that she can watch American Idol on ITV 2 without having to go into other channels on the Sky box.
She can use the box easily now ,in fact too easily I fear ,I may not get a lookin.
I wont be going back to a higher priced package as its a waste of money in my mind.
The vast majority of tv I watch apart from sport is on fta channels RTE,BBC,ITV,CH4,E4 etc.
I have seen the light.

RogerThis

MarkR wrote: »

One word. Wispa.

Really though, online petitions are about as useful as a one legged man at an arse kicking contest.

The problem as I see it is: Irish DTT will be arranging the price with Sky Sports sometime next year, and will start broadcasting on Irish DTT in 2012. The price will be based on what they are currently charging us on their Sky satellite package. They are not going to majorly undercut themselves, when selling to Irish DTT. So if we don't do something about it now, we are going to be screwed for the next few years. If an online petition won't work, what will? a twitter campaign???

_Kaiser_

RogerThis wrote: »

The problem as I see it is: Irish DTT will be arranging the price with Sky Sports sometime next year, and will start broadcasting on Irish DTT in 2012. The price will be based on what they are currently charging us on their Sky satellite package. They are not going to majorly undercut themselves, when selling to Irish DTT. So if we don't do something about it now, we are going to be screwed for the next few years. If an online petition won't work, what will? a twitter campaign???

Don't get me wrong, I agree with the points you're making, but Sky have shown themselves time and time again to be utterly unconcerned with the opinions of their viewers most of the time, especially the Irish ones.

As you pointed out, look at how much more we pay for less channels - unlike the UK we don't get all the BBCs or ITVs on the EPG for example - yet we pay a fair bit more over and above the exchange rate.

Unfortunately even alternatives like UPC (if you can get it!) don't really count seeing as they (and therefore their customers) pay a carriage fee to Sky anyway.

The only thing that would make any real difference is if subscriber figures to the premium channels (sports, movies) were to fall significantly, and unfortunately most Irish people are great at complaining about things, but rarely follow though (hey it's kept FF in power for years!!)

Mr McBoatface

RogerThis wrote: »

The problem as I see it is: Irish DTT will be arranging the price with Sky Sports sometime next year, and will start broadcasting on Irish DTT in 2012. The price will be based on what they are currently charging us on their Sky satellite package. They are not going to majorly undercut themselves, when selling to Irish DTT.

Where did you get that info from ? To the best of my knowledge and according to most on Terrestrial forum the pay Irish DTT idea/platform is dead and is not likely to happen any-time soon if at all. All 3 of the original bidders for Pay DTT have either pulled out of negotiations or declared themselves no longer interested.

There is actually questions due in the Dáil today about DTT and collapses of the commercial DTT negotiations - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=66166860&postcount=1634