Sky Backchat - New Channels for ROI

Krusty_Clown

An interesting article on 'Backchat' on the Sky customer channel:

Subject: New Channels for ROI
Q: When will ITV1 and ITV2 be made available in the Republic of Ireland? Also, when will Channel 4 be available?
From Jonathan Nixon

A: Sky currently have no imminent plans to distribute either ITV1, ITV2 or Channel 4 in the Republic of Ireland.
___________________________________________________
I know this isn't exactly 'news' to anyone on this board, but in this brief comment, aren't Sky pretty much admitting to the fact that these and other chanels are unavailable specifically because of 'Sky'?

And doesn't their reluctance to make an excuse, or provide justification demonstrate their absolute disregard for Irish customers?

I am new to Sky digital (customer for only three weeks now) and am quite happy with the digital service. I am not however, impressed with Sky's treatment of Irish customers. I have read all of the threads in this group, and am beginning to think we need to take a slightly different attitude in order to change the current situation. Instead of e-mailing Sky/BBC/Ch4 etc. we should hit them where it hurts, i.e. making potential Irish Sky customers aware of Sky's disregard for us, through the media.
i.e. writing to the Irish Times, RTE guide, Radio stations etc..

Some possible addresses:
editor@irish-times.ie
theview@rte.ie
mail.ed@iol.ie (Eamon Dunphy)
gerryryan@2fm.ie

What do u think?

ShaneOC

Hi Krusty,

Not sure if RTE could care less about the UK terrestrials not being available here. Even some of the newspapers have vested interests so they might not care, but I suppose a well written letter would not hurt.

Krusty_Clown

Hi Shane,

I'm not suggesting writing to RTE to complain, but writing to those staunch public defenders! e.g. Gerry Ryan, Eamonn Dunphy, Irish Times opinions pages, etc..

Let's also not forget that RTE and SKY are getting into bed together next April. Sky will benefit from a potentially larger customer base, and RTE get a quick and dirty launch into the digital era (which will keep their license-holders happier, and make their inroads into an increased license fee next year)..

Would RTE (our national carrier) be as quick to hop into bed with SKY, if they new that most of Sky's current Irish customers were dissatisfied with their service(speculation!), and were not being treated in an equitable and fair manner to our English Sky customer counterparts?

potoole

Not sure if RTE could care less about the UK terrestrials not being available here.

Probably true, but Today FM's "The Last word" might be a possibility for further publicising the cause. I might pop off an e-mail to Eamo.

Genghis

The Last Word regularly features prizes sponsored by Sky, and I think Sky have a deal with Today FM for advertising - you don't think that Bertie 'Because I got Sky' thing was just for humour!!

On the other hand Dunphy is afaik a Sky Subscriber himself (for the football), and he is also absolutely committed to objective journalism - I have heard him bash sponsors of the show before when their behaviour has annoyed them.

On a final note, the Last Word are not all that good at responding to e-mails (I've asked them questions before). However, I reckon if enough well worded e-mails go to them, they will take note - we could even simply refer them to these boards - research complete.

I will fire off an e-mail now ....

DMC

Krusty, as was said before on the other thread, Sky wont take kindly to a full-on campaign.

At the risk of repeating myself, I mentioned on this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38468

"BSkyB is a different animal to a telecoms or Internet provider, and Sky are known to crack down on that sort of thing, and I wouldn't like any of ye to be on the receiving end of a writ for Rupert Murdoch's lawyers!

i.e. broadcasters could shy away from reading an e-mail from a disgruntled Sky customer.

...I think this is the case where the individual can achieve more than the group, so personal mails and phone calls to Sky would register quicker with them rather than any petition or other stunt could.

The e-mail campaign may not be progressing fast enough for some folk, I feel, but I'm in this for the long run....

After all, it's not a Snickers.....

Genghis

I take your point Damo, but I don't think Sky have any choice but to respond to media investigation. Surely consumers have the right to be represented, and providers to Sky should be answerable. In particular, Sky's reluctance to deal seriously with individual e-mails suggests to me that our efforts as individuals may be futile.

Also, the media doing it's job would hardly be a stunt, and I can't see how Sky could have any case for complaint or legal action - any argument I have read here is justified and true. In fact most people are probably favourably disposed towards Sky, but just feel they get a raw deal.

Anyway, I sent my e-mail to Dunphy. I also asked the Consumers Association of Ireland to investigate (I subscribe to their magazine, and they are excellent at investigating consumer injustice).

David C

Radio 1's Liveline might be a good idea if someone had the guts to ring in....
I often hear complaints about services on it and it has quite a large listenership. On quiet days they'll put anyone on... might get some extra people into the campaign if they mentioned boards.ie too!!

DMC

Originally posted by Genghis

I take your point Damo, but I don't think Sky have any choice but to respond to media investigation. Surely consumers have the right to be represented, and providers to Sky should be answerable. In particular, Sky's reluctance to deal seriously with individual e-mails suggests to me that our efforts as individuals may be futile.

Good point, possibly so. I think that the weight of mails going so far might not amount to a hill of beans, in Sky's eyes, to change the status quo. A mail campaign might take months for it to come to fruition. Thats why I would keep going on with mailing them.
I espically want to get an answer from BBC Worldwide.

Also, the media doing it's job would hardly be a stunt, and I can't see how Sky could have any case for complaint or legal action - any argument I have read here is justified and true. In fact most people are probably favourably disposed towards Sky, but just feel they get a raw deal.

But how many lawyers are on the list reading our comments? I'm sure that our complaints are justified and true, I'm with you on that one. But I'm not sure if there is enough weight in our argument to merit a change in Sky's attitude, and that our arguments would stand up in court.

Bear in mind, Sky is a lot better that what went before. A lot of folk are happy with that. I remember Skys campaign of the mid-ninties, "No turning back..."

Anyway, I sent my e-mail to Dunphy. I also asked the Consumers Association of Ireland to investigate (I subscribe to their magazine, and they are excellent at investigating consumer injustice).

Now, that is a interesting angle to turn to! Give us more info on that on the Consumer's Association, Genghis, please! They would be able to tell us if we have a case! Good work!

Lennoxschips

potoole, while you are popping off that e-mail to Dunphy, could you mention the fact that UK license fee payers are allowed to watch their channels on satellite at no extra cost, while Irish license fee payers are forced to subscribe to a Sky package if they want to receive RTE on satellite.

byte

Originally posted by Lennoxschips
potoole, while you are popping off that e-mail to Dunphy, could you mention the fact that UK license fee payers are allowed to watch their channels on satellite at no extra cost, while Irish license fee payers are forced to subscribe to a Sky package if they want to receive RTE on satellite.

This is because the UK channels pay Sky to be on the platform whereas RTE will have to pay nothing. Which means Sky want money from somewhere.

potoole

potoole, while you are popping off that e-mail to Dunphy, could you mention the fact that UK license fee payers are allowed to watch their channels on satellite at no extra cost, while Irish license fee payers are forced to subscribe to a Sky package if they want to receive RTE on satellite.

I'll try to include all the comments and arguments that are discussed in this forum.

Our man in Havana

It seems that they at sky have a standard reply which they just throw back whenever a person mentions ROI.

Genghis

Damo,

The address for the Consumers Association is

cai@consumerassociation.ie

I hope this address works - the first ime I used it it bounced.

In my e-mail I covered most of the points on the boards, too - including the FTA situation, Lennoxchips. Regardless of the possible reason for this (I tend to agree with irishbyte myself), there is still a perceived advantage vs. the UK which Sky have not explained.

Is there anybody who might be willing to go on air as a disgruntled consumer? Gerry Ryan and Joe Duffy often 'cry out' for stories / cases to pursue, but they do require you to go live on air ...