Coming Soon: Channel 4, 5 & ITV ????????

LegacyUser

The postman delivered a flyer in my letter box yesterday.

It was an add from SKY Conway in Balbriggan Business Park about Sky digital.

It said : Coming Soon: Channel 4, 5 & ITV

Do they know something or are they chancing their arm??

Max

LegacyUser

Did you try calling them?

LegacyUser

Believe me they are chancing their arms unless "soon" means anythime in the next year. The advertising standards authority for Ireland may be interested in this ad.

Regards Tony

LegacyUser

Agreed - there is nothing whatsoever to suggest that C4, C5 and ITV will be available in ROI anytime in the next few months. "Soon" could mean as long as the start of 2002. However, it is true that C4 and C5 are in talks with Sky, as are the BBC over Choice, News 24 and Knowledge, so while we are likely to get them at some point, I certainly don't think it will be "soon" in the sense that soon generally means the next few weeks or months.

The ITV position is still unclear in relation to the UK - no date, no region details beyond the basics - and this agent is certainly chancing his arm if he thinks this will increase subscribers. The ASA will certainly be interested in false or untrue rumours. In the case of BBC ONE and TWO NI, the retailers were about two months out when they started promoting their arrival in January, but I still believe they were too early in promoting what they couldn't prove would be a certainty, even if they were lucky enough to be right in that case.

LegacyUser

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by JC:
In the case of BBC ONE and TWO NI, the retailers were about two months out when they started promoting their arrival in January, but I still believe they were too early in promoting what they couldn't prove would be a certainty, even if they were lucky enough to be right in that case.</font>

I fully agree, we made a concious decision not to advertise BBC until we were certain it would happen. It probably cost us business but I believed it was the right thing to do. Some retailers benefitted more through luck than good judgement.

Regards Tony

LegacyUser

Has any other company started advertising these channels yet?

LegacyUser

Aerial and Satellite Centre had a Two Page advertisement in Saturdays(2/6/01) people section in the Irish Examiner, where they state that ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will be shortly be available. is there any truth in this?

LegacyUser

At this stage I'd have to say that it depends on how you define "shortly". I'm sure it's a matter of time but just how long, nobody seems to know (apart maybe from the interested parties and they're not telling). Maybe not weeks. Most likely months. Hopefully not years.

Having said that, in the lead up to BBCs 1 and 2 coming on there were a lot rumours of their imminent arrival. Maybe if enough people believe something enough, it just might come true.

LegacyUser

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Charles Slane:
Maybe if enough people believe something enough, it just might come true.</font>

I believe, I believe !

LegacyUser

Don't forget to click your heels three times. It will come true (fingers and everything else crossed).

LegacyUser

Regarding the article on Saturday's Examiner on the Aerial & Satellite Centre, here is an extract:

'The old issue of terrestrial channels not being available on digital has gone. In April this year, Sky Digital introduced BBC1 and BBC2, and ITV1 and ITV2, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will be following shortly'.

It also mentioned that when Sky subsidised the set-top-boxes that 'people were given an alternative to cable for the first time at a realistic price'.

It also mentions the the TiVo system will be available from them in the Autumn, as well as offering connection to Sly Digital for £25 for the month of June.

There is also a few colour photos of the owners of the Aerial & Satellite Centre, pictures with two Sky Digital representatives (Patrick Ewers and Jerry McMonagle). Maybe they know something we don't???

Anyway, we'll have to wait and see.

If anyone is interested in contacting the Aerial & Satellite Centre with any queries, their number is (021) 432-2162 or 1850 33 33 21.

LegacyUser

It has to be said that they're pretty sure of themselves! I for one hope they're right! Surprising that the Sky "reps" have disclosed this information or did the A&S Centre just take the liberty of disclosing it if indeed there was anything to disclose or was it just made up?

---

WILL D