Truth in advertising? Sky and DSO

Apogee

Nothing incorrect in the ad as such, but a picture paints a thousand words...

watty

Isn't that the UK Digital Tick logo?

It's despicable as no-one needs UPC or Sky for Irish TV or indeed BBC, ITV, C4 and Five. Or even Sky News.

But NCA or ASAI are useless. They exist not for Consumers but to reduce court cases by Big Businesses.

lawhec

watty wrote: »

Isn't that the UK Digital Tick logo?

No, this is



The one featured in the advertisement in the OP I one I haven't seen before - an arbitrary one made up by Sky?

byte

Presume it to be made up by Sky, though have to say, it looks quite effective. Much better than Saorview's effort of a tick. "Ready for the digital switch" I'm sure sounds more logical to some than "Saorview Approved" with cartoon pets.

EDIT: Just to clarify, I don't agree with Sky's method of advertising, I meant only the little box with the green tick as an attention grabbing icon.

watty

"inspired by" the UK Digital tick then. Chancers all the same implying you need a Sky Sub.
Unless you want Pay TV channels you never need Sky.

RTE1, RTE2, TG4, TV3, 3e are Free on Saorview. Adds Widescreen and sometimes HD on RTE2
BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, Cbeebies, CBBC, ITV1, UTV, C4, C5 and about 40 other useful free channels on Satellite.

But the Stupid Government campaign emphasises Sky & UPC. The Saorview/RTE campaign is as clear as mud. It might sell a new animated series about Tommy & PJ fleeing from the Ana-logues ...

Cesium Clock

byte wrote: »

Presume it to be made up by Sky, though have to say, it looks quite effective. Much better than Saorview's effort of a tick. "Ready for the digital switch" I'm sure sounds more logical to some than "Saorview Approved" with cartoon pets.

Green digital tick has been in use for well over a year, and not made up by sky. I noticed it on sky's website a while back, the similaraty was unreal, and that green tick has been discussed in emails a long time before sky decided to come up with the exact same idea, I acually removed a picture of an aerial with the same green tick from the website because it was being used by 'joke installers' on 'Done Deal',

furthermore the exact green tick was part of the RDI scheme proposal put forward to the minister of communications last year,

STB

Yes a picture does paint a thousand words. I guess this very unlucky punter pictured is the one Sky are targeting.

Bottom line "Hassle free installation"

This is something that has been bugging me for a while. I am surprised it hasn't been the form of complaint with the ASAI or BAI.

I had posted previously about Sky's adverts and propaganda on their website.

In my opinion it is more than just aggressive advertising. It is an attempt at confusing the ASO/DSO campaign.

Sky have already been in the trouble in the UK for similar attempts to confuse digital switchover by aggressive advertising dissing the switchover as being overly complicated.

Signing people up to expensive subscription packages to receive the FREE Saorview stations needs to be separated by a regulator. It is not viable and is in no way comparative. At the very least it is hindering (if not deliberately hi-jacking) a public information campaign. I see it as a deliberate and disgraceful mugging attempt of the ill-informed public.

Certainly must be a source of embarrassment for those in the Department of Communications who are pushing ASO and those within RTE pushing DSO side yet broadcasting these adverts.

Cesium Clock

even on the 'going digital' website there is no mention of 'Freesat' or FTA it seems to be get an aerial for 8 free Irish channels, or pay for FTA UK via SKY, MAGNET , UPC , etc

http://www.goingdigital.ie/How/My+Options/

big business and the old brown ones in action, or pure ignorance

SalteeDog

Certainly the official campaign has been an unfocused mess and has handed the advantage to the Sky. One cannot blame them for capitalizing on the opportunity.

A major part of the problem is that there are two very different communities impacted in different ways by three separate switchovers:-

1. East coast/Border regions impacted by RTENL switchover and by UK switchover separately.

2. The rest of Ireland, for the most part reliant on deflector systems for UK channels - switch off of which has already started. They will also be impacted by the RTENL switchover when that happens.


When campaigns talk to Irish people about about 'favourite Irish channels', many people think RTE, TV3 TG4 plus BBC, UTV and Channel 4 given how these are now practically taken for granted today.

The reality is that any focus on the Saorview / RTENL analogue switchover alone doesn't address the full picture of the changes happening. We are already seeing people being caught unawares by the deflector switch offs.

It will be an interesting few months yet....

Johnboy1951

2. The rest of Ireland, for the most part reliant on deflector systems for UK channels

That is news to me ..... as I wasn't aware that the rest of Ireland had such coverage

The ASO concerns only the Irish channels.
So, when issuing advise about how to receive those channels the options are listed ...... aerial, Sky, UPC and now Saorsat for special situations.

The ASO is not concerned with other channels originating outside the jurisdiction, so why expect advice on receiving them?

I agree it would be very useful to all if such information about 'outside' channels was made available in clear and concise form to all.

I don't expect the notifications about ASO to do it. Those 'outside' channels are not part of the ASO.

channelsurfer2

heres a laugh for you. my complaint to the ASAI about skys use of the words "terresterial channels available without subscription" in a tv ad that promotes all your favourite channels such as rte1 2 tv 3 etc was rejected.

" Dear Mr XXXX"

thank you for your recent complaint.....on contacting sky they informed us that their statement is true because
" they can access the irish channels in analogue format through their aerial or in digital format through a saorview set top box......they can access the satellite channels through the purchase of a satellite box and dish capable of receiving the signals. there are also combined boxes that allow consumers receive both signals. In addition they inform me previous sky customers who have terminated their montly subscriptions can continue to use their equipment to receive the free to air terresterial channels featured in the advertisement without paying a subscription"

This matter is now closed in view of the response from sky as we consider there is not a case.

they completly missed the point that rte, tv3 and tg4 ie the terresterial channels advertised are not available to ex sky subscribers or at the time of my complaint available free on satellite and that their advert is misleading.

SalteeDog

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

The ASO concerns only the Irish channels.
So, when issuing advise about how to receive those channels the options are listed ...... aerial, Sky, UPC and now Saorsat for special situations.

The ASO is not concerned with other channels originating outside the jurisdiction, so why expect advice on receiving them?

I agree it would be very useful to all if such information about 'outside' channels was made available in clear and concise form to all.

I don't expect the notifications about ASO to do it. Those 'outside' channels are not part of the ASO.

I absolutely agree with you. The state bodies have no responsibilities or obligations in relation to communication about changes happening outside Ireland or in relation to the private sector. My point though is that the distinction will be lost to the man in the street.

Also re. deflector systems, perhaps the numbers of household on them isn't so great but for those not using Satellite or UPC/MMDS, in much of Ireland it was the only alternative for UK channels (and in other places there was no alternative to satellite/upc).. Those using UPC or Sky aren't really impacted by the ASO.

Johnboy1951

In addition they inform me previous sky customers who have terminated their montly subscriptions can continue to use their equipment to receive the free to air terresterial channels featured in the advertisement without paying a subscription"

This on the surface appears to be a deliberate lie ..... which the ASAI chose to believe.

Of course it depends on the exact wording from Sky, and not an interpretation of that wording as written by the ASAI respondent.

"their equipment" in the above implies the Sky receiver ... but may not have been written that way by Sky ... in fact I am inclined to believe they made sure not to lie in their response to the ASAI.

channelsurfer2

I double checked the wording.. it actually states on the letter to me " in addition they said.....use their sky equipment" so yes they chose to believe skys version of how one can still receive those channels after termination of their sky subscription and wont allow me to take it any further despite it being a fact that you cannot receive rte1 rte 2 tv3 and tg4 on a ex sky box having terminated your subscription.

Johnboy1951

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

I double checked the wording.. it actually states on the letter to me " in addition they said.....use their sky equipment" so yes they chose to believe skys version of how one can still receive those channels after termination of their sky subscription and wont allow me to take it any further despite it being a fact that you cannot receive rte1 rte 2 tv3 and tg4 on a ex sky box having terminated your subscription.

Maybe ask them to whom we have to apply to get this free service from our Sky boxes?
Tell them there are hundreds of us on Boards who would like to know .... and likely thousands around the country

Let them make it public for us all to benefit!

STB

The ASAI are a self regulating boys club. They still cannot ignore their own guidelines.

Regardless of that, the BAI also have responsibilities. I for one think that Sky's adverts as regards the use of the word digital for which they seem to think they own its use and using ASO/DSO as a bandwagon to muddy the waters needs to be tackled. In this world of platform friendly gone mad, the shoe also needs to be on the other foot. Sky needs to tag their adverts with - you do not need to subscribe to Sky in order to receive Saorview, there are alternative free methods.

Certainly the BAI needs to look at their own objectives as regards protecting members of the public (ie legal, honest, truthful, decent and protect the interests of the audience).