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Child Item

Should I cancel Sky

tombrown

I know - only i can answer this question, but looking for input anyway

The amount I pay Sky TV is now getting ridiculous; for myself the value is the sports packages as my passion is Liverpool FC, but with all the sports channels (no option to subscribe to soccer only, as I would have in UK), HD and multiroom, the price I pay is over €150 per month!

I just called them saying I was thinking of cancelling altogether and was offered a package at €129 (just dropping kids channels) but it required a 12 month contract, and it still is overly expensive in my view. I said I would think about it, but I guess I need to get back to them with a decision one way or the other.

If I push my threat to cancel altogether will I get better pricing or is this really "the best they can do" as I was told? Not sure I can do without Liverpool matches, so if I do make the leap and cancel my subscription I would need some alternative lined up.

Advice always welcome ...

PS - My phone & BB is currently with Eir, I only have TV with Sky at the moment

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blackbox

Have a look into getting the football on Now TV.

MarkR

Have a look at swticher.ie, or bonkers.ie, and see what offers are available. Just note down what channels you actually watch, and what services you need. Always good idea to review your suppliers annually.

Telly

tombrown wrote: »

I know - only i can answer this question, but looking for input anyway

The amount I pay Sky TV is now getting ridiculous; for myself the value is the sports packages as my passion is Liverpool FC, but with all the sports channels (no option to subscribe to soccer only, as I would have in UK), HD and multiroom, the price I pay is over €150 per month!

I just called them saying I was thinking of cancelling altogether and was offered a package at €129 (just dropping kids channels) but it required a 12 month contract, and it still is overly expensive in my view. I said I would think about it, but I guess I need to get back to them with a decision one way or the other.

If I push my threat to cancel altogether will I get better pricing or is this really "the best they can do" as I was told? Not sure I can do without Liverpool matches, so if I do make the leap and cancel my subscription I would need some alternative lined up.

Advice always welcome ...

PS - My phone & BB is currently with Eir, I only have TV with Sky at the moment

€150 for just the TV? We pay €119 for BB, phone, TV, Sports and multi room all with Sky/Sky Q. Cancel the whole lot and within 2 weeks you'll get a better deal from them. I do it each yr when the 12 months is up.

Baymax2020

Just cancel and go with an IPTV subscription instead crowd I currently use is less than 15p/m

Odyssey 2005

€1800 per year for tv

Knocked down to €1560

:)

Absolutely off you're trolley.

There are many alternatives out there for a fraction of those prices

tech

i dumped sky about 6 months ago, never looked back total rip off,

I got a ZGemma h7s combo box, can schedule record, series link and happy out, just use Free to Air uk and saorview

dulpit

Couple of options:

Hope for a better discount from Sky. The best I've seen is 35%, but that's usually only on the base price. You might get offers on the Sports or multiroom is you push them though (i.e. cancel). Don't forget - if you cancel you have 28 or 31 days (can't remember which) to cancel your cancellation, so you can see if they do offer anything in that period.
Cancel Sky. Go with a FTA setup for TV (will need box per TV unless it has built in tuner) and probably a new LNB on dish. You can then use the likes of Now TV for sports (pricey still, €39 per month for Sky Sports, €34 for the sports extra (BT & Premier) pack).
Go with a dodgy setup, which might work out grand, but may also disappear on you in a few weeks/month.

The killer for you is the absolute need for sports. Sports is about the only thing left that is must-see live TV and not fine with a netflix type solution, and the broadcasters know this.

tombrown

dulpit wrote: »

Couple of options:
Hope for a better discount from Sky. The best I've seen is 35%, but that's usually only on the base price. You might get offers on the Sports or multiroom is you push them though (i.e. cancel). Don't forget - if you cancel you have 28 or 31 days (can't remember which) to cancel your cancellation, so you can see if they do offer anything in that period.

Cancel Sky. Go with a FTA setup for TV (will need box per TV unless it has built in tuner) and probably a new LNB on dish. You can then use the likes of Now TV for sports (pricey still, €39 per month for Sky Sports, €34 for the sports extra (BT & Premier) pack).

Go with a dodgy setup, which might work out grand, but may also disappear on you in a few weeks/month.

The killer for you is the absolute need for sports. Sports is about the only thing left that is must-see live TV and not fine with a netflix type solution, and the broadcasters know this.

You're absolutely right on the killer issue for me, and, my concern with "dodgy" setups is exactly as you state - I really need reliability.

I wasnt aware of the month in which I can uncancel, so that helps me play chicken a bit longer

dxhound2005

How much of the viewing in your house would be Free to Air channels like BBC?

tombrown

Not much, TBH, I've been watching RTE & BBC news during COVID but ordinarily wouldn't particularly

redoctober

tombrown wrote: »

You're absolutely right on the killer issue for me, and, my concern with "dodgy" setups is exactly as you state - I really need reliability.

I wasnt aware of the month in which I can uncancel, so that helps me play chicken a bit longer

Hi Tom. I recently cancelled my sky. Was just on basic setup but trying to cut bills!. Sky offered me basic package for 22 a month final offer. I went through with cancellation but had a month to change my mind.

There's a helpful site called cordbustersuk which explains the options quite well. As per other posters it depends on what you want. I find I can live without sports other than match of the day. Just go to the pub for the big games or listen on bbc 5 live. Hard to live with that sometimes but can't justify paying a packet for sports.

As per above, Now Tv have a pay monthly option for sports but it's not overly cheap. The advantage is you can drop it anytime which I think is nice. I may well get that at some stage for a month to quell cravings for live footie. I got a Now TV stick in Aldi recently for 20 quid which gave free cinema for two months so basically 10 quid a month for all the movies. Normal price is 15. Not too bad and again you can drop it anytime.

Last year I got an amazon stick with Prime for a month. I think the 4K stick was about 40 quid. Prime isn't great. There are some decent films but the interface is poor - hard to find stuff. The stick itself is good and is quite open so you can install lots of apps yourself which will open up more viewing options. I had netflix for a few months which was good. I'll probably get it again soon. Basic plan is very cheap.

Another piece of the puzzle is to get a Freesat box or something like it. There is lots of info about them on these forums. I got a second hand one some years ago. While you don't have as much as you have on Sky, it's not bad to keep you going. There are all the English standard channels and some others like Dmax, Dave, PBS, Film 4. I'm going to be using a combination of the Freesat and the smart sticks. So will see how that goes. At the moment, monthly cost is: tv licence.

Odyssey 2005

tombrown wrote: »

You're absolutely right on the killer issue for me, and, my concern with "dodgy" setups is exactly as you state - I really need reliability.

I wasnt aware of the month in which I can uncancel, so that helps me play chicken a bit longer

I e been using a dodgy box now for about 4 years. Hasn't gone down once. All sports/movies/tv/box sets etc. I buy 3 month subscription at a time just in case,a friend buys 6 months at a time. Haven't been let down yet

Edit ; what part of the country are you in OP

icdg

There is no discussion of illegal providers here. Paying a sub /= legal

baymax2020 and Oddessey 2005 all take warnings and it is an automatic 48 hour ban for even a mention from here on in.

(Blackbox warned in error).

dam099

dulpit wrote: »

You can then use the likes of Now TV for sports (pricey still, €39 per month for Sky Sports, €34 for the sports extra (BT & Premier) pack).

If you time it right you might also be able to get a 50% off offer on the 2 Sports passes for a few months (or even longer as sometimes if you go to cancel they offer to extend it again).

micks_address

We cancelled sky recently. Was paying 52 euro a month for basically free to air channels and recording. Replaced with a Linux combination box that pulls in saorview and free to air Satelite channels. Some setup required and box needs an internet connection for seven day epg. Series link isn't as good as sky but you can do timers and auto timers. Advantages is you can record off the likes of channel 4hd, channel 5hd, ITV hd. Downsides is you only get virgin media and tg4 channels is SD from Saorview.

Sport is the obvious loss. We just couldn't justify the outlay each month. Up to a few months ago was paying 134 a month to sky for uhd sub with all sports etc. We have Netflix, Amazon prime and Disney plus so not short on content

Qprmeath

I’m in a similar position, paying €130 plus a month. Dont live in an area with an option for cable and only have mobile broadband which limits me on alternatives. We do watch some films but sport is the real deal breaker. Have spoken to Sky couple of times but offered no deals. Was going to cancel to see would I get an offer??

micks_address

Qprmeath wrote: »

I’m in a similar position, paying €130 plus a month. Dont live in an area with an option for cable and only have mobile broadband which limits me on alternatives. We do watch some films but sport is the real deal breaker. Have spoken to Sky couple of times but offered no deals. Was going to cancel to see would I get an offer??

You can cancel and have 30 days notice. You can change your mind last few days if they don't offer anything. I'm guessing they will offer

tscul32

Nowtv here too. Usually can get movies and entertainment for about €9 a month each. Don't use the sports but the beauty is that you just get it for the months you want it. And there are often offers on. With the movies or entertainment any time I go to cancel it gives me a deal for the next 3 months or whatever. You just have to be on top of your rollover dates so that if you're getting an offer you don't roll over to full price.

batistuta9

yeah definitely do it, you've nothing to lose. the way it use to work was that you needed to cancel & go through with it to get the best offers, the winback/loyalty team will ring you up about it. might mean a few weeks without it but you've nowtv as a replacement.

them people you're chatting to now can't give anywhere near as good a deal, they actually didn't even offer you one just were going to reduce your content & drop the price. you don't give a junkie free drugs :pac:

there's a thread in one of the bargain alerts suborums on the sky deals. i've no idea what they offer now but they did half price or x free months in the past when you cancelled & weren't subbing anymore.

Qprmeath

https://www.sky.com/help/canceltvroi
Used this link yesterday morning and they rang me yesterday evening. My next bill was actually going to be €150. Explained my situation, got a load of different offers applied and my bill keeping everything will now be just over €100 a month now for the next 12 months.

Brock Turnpike

Baymax2020 wrote: »

Just cancel and go with an IPTV subscription instead crowd I currently use is less than 15p/m

How good does the broadband connection need to be?

John mac

i cancelled after 18 years, back in June , was paying 42 a month ,
they rang me yesterday and offered a free install of Sky Q ,
and a monthly fee of 21.60 for 12 months .

joebloggs32

I'm with NowTV for a few years now.

I have never paid ore than 60% of the asking price for any package. Currently have both sports, movies, entertainment and kids all at half price.
Each time my deal is ending click to cancel. It will always come back to you with 40/50% off for 2,3 or even six months. Sometimes moonpig do offers.

Also you can have two screens going at once, so buy two sticks and now you have multi room for free. You can actually register six devices so you can also put it on tablets, and phones .

tmabr

tech wrote: »

i dumped sky about 6 months ago, never looked back total rip off,

I got a ZGemma h7s combo box, can schedule record, series link and happy out, just use Free to Air uk and saorview

Got rid of sky too,save about €100 a month.

Can I ask you how u find this combo box?
I use the Ferguson ariva and the recording is terrible.
Ty

niallb

John mac wrote: »

... they rang me yesterday and offered a free install of Sky Q ...

If you take that free install, your dish will no longer be compatible with FreeSat options if you decide to drop Sky in future.
You'd have to get the LNB replaced again to return to standard services.

Irish_peppa

I had sky for a decade before getting rid. Dont notice it gone in the slightest . Saorview for my news and freesat/fta box for music channels or BBC / sky.
(in fairness wasnt a big sports fan)
Most people in my home dont even watch tv now. Its all youtube on their android phones or they stream their phone to the tv with the chromecast. Jasus im surprised sky is still around at those prices

DD1518

Yes I'd definitely recommend cancelling I cancelled mine during the week after paying 177 a month for the past year or so it's crazy money. Have got myself another source at 12 euro a month and has every channel you could ever ask for.

Ten Pin

If you take that free install, your dish will no longer be compatible with FreeSat options if you decide to drop Sky in future.
You'd have to get the LNB replaced again to return to standard services.

Couple of options to workaround that...
1. Keep the LNB currently in use as a spare.
2. Insist on a hybrid LNB and ensure that it works with Freesat/FTA/Sky legacy boxes.

Masala

Ten Pin wrote: »

Couple of options to workaround that...
1. Keep the LNB currently in use as a spare.
2. Insist on a hybrid LNB and ensure that it works with Freesat/FTA/Sky legacy boxes.

Ya.... that’s what I got done.

1. I have Sky Q to sitting room
2. Sky Mini Bix running on WIFI from sitting room to kitchen
3. A SAB Freeview box in bedroom running back to dish on same cable that was installed 20 years ago

I am paying €88 for SKY + Movies+ sport + Sky Q + mini box. Dropped Kids and why ever the Discovery channel was on

Davexirl

My 12 month contract ends today, thinking of cancelling it. I have Sky Q, so I'll need to get the LNB changed on the dish for a combo box. Also I don't have an antenna for saorview at the moment.

Don't know which combo box to go for I see Tiviar Alpha+ Plus and Zgemma h7s combo box getting good reviews on boards.