UPC vs Sky as UPC see it

Ranicand

So they admit it Sky TV is better.

UPC is a combo mixed platter with juicy broadband sweet phone and a small slightly burned TV service.


Sky offers a gently cooked large helping TV service on a garnished plate.:D

dunworth1

yet another upc tv is crap thread:rolleyes: getting tired of these

bk

I just posted this over on the other thread, I'll repost it here:

Yes Sky are definitely the premium TV provider in Ireland, but you pay premium prices for that. UPC on the other hand are the premium broadband provider in Ireland and are hands down the leader when it comes to value for money.

If you care most about TV, watch lots of sports and want the best picture quality possible and have money to burn, then Sky is your best option.

However if you care more about quality broadband or care more about value for money (probably the majority of people) then UPC is the better option.

However I do agree that UPC needs to make more effort with TV and that currently the gap is widening between Sky and UPC. I think UPC need to primarily focus on HD. They need to stop selling non HD boxes and go all HD like Sky has. They also need to get all the Sky HD channels (including movies and sports) and it would also be brilliant if they picked up RTE2 HD, C4 HD, UTV HD, Film4 HD. That would be quiet attractive lineup to people.

They also need to work to add red button services, in particular the alternative matches you get via red button on BBC and Sky Sports. Even if they have to just add them as a separate channel, without real interactivity.

This would really allow them to close the quality gap with Sky.

The problem with what I'm suggesting above, is that all these channels (in particular HD) would take up a lot of extra bandwidth space and I'm not sure UPC currently have space for them all. I think this is probably why we haven't seen all the Sky Sports and Movie channels in HD yet, lack of space.

I think UPC probably need to shutdown their analogue TV service first to make space for all these new channels, but that has it's own downsides.

In the long term (well they should really already be doing it) UPC need to play to their strength and differentiate themselves from Sky. That means taking advantage of their broadband network to deliver Video On Demand, IPTV, catch up services, RTE Player, BBC Player, etc.

I really wish they'd forget about the Horizon box and instead work with TiVo like Virgin Media are doing in the UK.

celticbest

dunworth1 wrote: »

yet another upc tv is crap thread:rolleyes: getting tired of these

don't read the thread then.....:rolleyes:

Maybe people complain because there not happy with the service provided by UPC, don't forget not everyone can get SKY as a lot of new developments in recent years were sold with no right for the purchaser to erect a dish either for Sky or free Sat., so in alot of case people are on boards moaning because they don't have any option but to use UPC..

Red Alert

They need to drastically improve the on-box software. I don't really want features like interactivity because to be honest I'd never use them. The only one I'd have any interest in is an RTE Player application.

What I would like, though, is for the box to be as snappy as a sky box. I've the Cisco Digital+HD and it's still appreciably slower than any Sky boxes I've ever played with. The guide screen is the worst in this regard. It also don't show the names of Radio channels on the VFD. And the info channel is annoying.

Then they need to get HD channels. There's absolutely no excuse for not broadcasting the free to air HD channels, for example.

Finally, I think they should be more generous with the channels on the lower packages. There are plenty of channels that are free on freesat but are not available on the Digital Value+ package.

Ranicand

dunworth1 wrote: »

yet another upc tv is crap thread:rolleyes: getting tired of these

I am a customer not a supporter.

Sky messed me about and I don't like them.

I was happy with the UPC TV service when I got it all of the channels I ever watched on Sky were on it.

Bravo closed Channel one closed and Sky Real Lives closed.
Granted these channels are gone on Sky also but they have been replaced by Sky Atlantic.

UPC are falling too far behind Sky for my liking.

I can understand Sky keeping it's content to itself fine.


However what happened to Good Food
Watch
and the rest of the UKTV channels?

How about the CBS channels.

Sci fi HD
Film Four HD
FX HD

If UPC could add on these and run a decent HD movie on Demand service I would be very happy with their TV service again.

UPC have Satanta Ireland HD and ESPN HD as standard and Sky don't.

Also the EPG main guide was better before they changed it.

I only use the Mini Guide now as the main guide is painful.

You will notice all the channels I mentioned are mostly General Entertainment the weak spot in UPCs lineup.

Sky Movies is rubbish a Movie on Demand service even run through our computers that could be streamed to our Xbox or PlayStation through out home networks would do the job.

As it is I have Apple TV that does the same job but having the movies go on my UPC bill would be so much better.

galait

Sky are great ,We have 8 people viewing and paying only 1 sub

podgeandrodge

actually, how is it possible for anyone in upc to let an epg that slow and bad out to customers? Do they look at it and say ahhh that'll do them?

justsomebloke

podgeandrodge wrote: »

actually, how is it possible for anyone in upc to let an epg that slow and bad out to customers? Do they look at it and say ahhh that'll do them?

Have to agree with this. recently moved to SKY purely cause of the fat cheese and €100 back deal and have to say using their box is like a dream compared to UPC. We currently still have the UPC box and going back to using it every so often reminds me how infuriating it is to use and UPC can't blame that on anyone other then themselves.