Sky -v- UPC -v- A. Another

RonTommy

I'm sure this discussion has been over and over but I'm looking for a distinctive breakdown.

My Current Deal
Eircom phone and broadband
Sky TV - Multiroom, On Demand in one room and regular Sky in the other, Entertainment + Sports Package (Setanta, BT Sport and ESPN but sold separate to Sky)
Cost per month €175 (give or take with phone bill)

Goal
Bundle a package in order to receive lower cost per month - Either with Sky, UPC or whatever else, I believe Eircom are doing TV now

So having made a few phone calls and spoken with customers of both Sky and UPC I have some information but left with a few holes. The following is what I have found along with a questions.

Sky
Broadband + Phone
Television: All stations, Entertainment/Movies/Sports
€139
Add BT Sports, Setanta & ESPN
Final Cost €159

UPC
Broadband + Phone
Television: All stations, Entertainment/Movies/Sports - which already includes Setanta, BT Sports & ESPN
Final Cost €140

Broadband + Phone
The conclusion I have made in a simplistic sense from talking to friends is that UPC offer superior broadband to Sky, which operates on the Eircom system. However, I have learned that Eircom Fibre will be up and running in a matter of weeks so I imagine it will be on a par with the current UPC broadband.
Is this a fair conclusion?
I am no whizz at these things so advice is appreciated.

Television
UPC Pros
Price
Various Apps I can access on my non-Smart TV
Record more at the same time
Multiroom On Demand

UPC Cons
Not Compatible with Smart TVs (should I change TV) - this is open for clarification as I was taken aback when a friend informed me of this
TV Occasionally can freeze

Sky Pros
User friendly system
More TV stations - although not many of the extra ones matter for me anyway

Sky Cons
Poor On Demand service - from my experience anyway
Adding SkyPlus function to my second room will cost €259 for a box

Now what I have written above are my findings. As already stated I am no whizz so there could be a few descrepencies. Those who are in the know or who have experienced anything different/similar to what I have mentioned; I would really appreciate your input.

Regards,
Tom

Sin City

Eircom fiber wont be on a par with upc. Only certain areas will ger the 70mb upc most places can get 200mb.
Its the same old story with eircom. When they say up to 70mb what they really mean is the first house next to the exchange getd it every one else gets substantily less.

Upc

€80 tv phone and bb (top pack)


€44 skymovies and sport
€16 setanta pack

RonTommy

Thanks,

That's interesting alright.
Our internet is fine for browsing, but any sort of downloading can be irritating. Particularly when there's something On Demand which needs downloading - takes about an hour!

LeeroyJones

Hard to imagine that UPC wouldn't work on a Smart TV.
Hazard a guess that isn't accurate

Sin City

RonTommy wrote: »

Thanks,

That's interesting alright.
Our internet is fine for browsing, but any sort of downloading can be irritating. Particularly when there's something On Demand which needs downloading - takes about an hour!

Upc on demand doesn't require Internet so no downloads
also they have unlimited download allowance

Sin City

LeeroyJones wrote: »

Hard to imagine that UPC wouldn't work on a Smart TV.
Hazard a guess that isn't accurate

IHave a smart tv and upc bb works fine
Although in saying that my unlaws have an lg tv and horizon doest work with it. Though upc did say they were working on a fix to be released this month

murpho999

No need to bundle the whole lot in my opinion.

Go for UPC for Broadband and phone, they simply have the best service for that

Go with Sky for TV.

All well and good looking at the price alone but you are ignoring the pleasure you get from the experience of one experience over the frustrations you may have with another.

Sky's system, EPG, user interface is far superior to UPC's. Everything on the box just works.
I know from personal experience that UPC's first PVR was not a patch on Sky's and my understanding is that the new Horizon box does not beat Sky either and is quite buggy.

Other way with 150mb broadband and and phone with UPC and it is fantastic. Great upload and downloads, no download caps and very reliable. I could not go back to a normal phone line service. Never heard of UPC never not working with Smart TVs either.

I pay €50 for Sky basic package with HD and €55 for phone with 6 hours international calls per month and 150mb broadband.

photofinish

Quite right UPC for phone and broadband and Sky for TV.

When you put everything in a bundle part of the bundle will always be hard to swallow.

200Mb from UPC and Sky on Demand works great with it.

RonTommy

Thanks for the advice guys.

I actually assumed that by going with a bundle, either with Sky or UPC, that there would be a price incentive to run everything with them but when it's broken down their prices do just seem to be Phone+BB Price plus TV Package Price. Running separate does look like the way to go then.

Final query then. While UPC Broadband seems to be fantastic, what about their phoneline. The reason I ask is that we did move over a few years ago to another provider and the service, while cheap with all the frills, was terrible. It would cut off, muffled line etc.
We've stuck with Eircom as they are the "devil we know".

B_Rabbit

RonTommy wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys.

I actually assumed that by going with a bundle, either with Sky or UPC, that there would be a price incentive to run everything with them but when it's broken down their prices do just seem to be Phone+BB Price plus TV Package Price. Running separate does look like the way to go then.

Final query then. While UPC Broadband seems to be fantastic, what about their phoneline. The reason I ask is that we did move over a few years ago to another provider and the service, while cheap with all the frills, was terrible. It would cut off, muffled line etc.
We've stuck with Eircom as they are the "devil we know".

it works off the router, it's not tradtional phone line, hence no line rental.

murpho999

The UPC phone line works fine and without issues.

Just go for it. Why pay line rental to Eircom?

RonTommy

Great help guys.
I've ended up with a good saving and better service!
Advice is really appreciated