UPC - Channel Line Up and Package Changes from 4th January 2010 [Merged]

icdg · 05-01-2010 11:32PM

It was all so much simpler when I subscribed originally, the Go Digital pack (as it was then) was the only basic tier digital package. Now there is Value, Select, Select Extra, and Max (which is the original package). Now I understand why Value was introduced (to bring in a pack at a lower price point aimed at analogue customers who wouldn't go digital due to the price difference) but the need for the Select, and indeed, the differential between Select and Select Extra (the only difference apparently being ESPN) is more mysterious. Indeed, would it not have been more fair just to add ESPN to Select and up the price for all Select customers?

This might have avoided a lot of the confusion (which appears to be coming largely from Select customers) but the price increase would probably have annoyed more perhaps.

fulhamfanincork · 05-01-2010 11:37PM

icdg wrote: »

QUOTE]

Are you saying that even though I am on Digital Sports pack, I am not getting Espn for free?

Mental_Legend · 05-01-2010 11:39PM

icdg wrote: »

It was all so much simpler when I subscribed originally, the Go Digital pack (as it was then) was the only basic tier digital package. Now there is Value, Select, Select Extra, and Max (which is the original package). Now I understand why Value was introduced (to bring in a pack at a lower price point aimed at analogue customers who wouldn't go digital due to the price difference) but the need for the Select, and indeed, the differential between Select and Select Extra (the only difference apparently being ESPN) is more mysterious. Indeed, would it not have been more fair just to add ESPN to Select and up the price for all Select customers?

This might have avoided a lot of the confusion (which appears to be coming largely from Select customers) but the price increase would probably have annoyed more perhaps.

When did you originally subscribe to NTL? Do you know when the different packages were first introduced? I have no idea what package I'm on seeing as I'm not the billpayer of the house, but this could really clear a lot of things up that have confused me over the past 2 days.

Elmo · 05-01-2010 11:40PM

http://www.upc.ie/about_us/Price_Changes/

Details on recent price and service changes

You may have already heard about changes to your Chorus ntl services. We’re writing to all customers affected by these changes and you’ll also find more information here.

Good news!

Prices changes aren’t all bad news, ours come with lots of improvements. Our Digital TV service now includes some great new channels including ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and FX. What's more, ESPN and ESPN America are now included in our Select Extra and Max TV packs. That means loads more quality viewing and entertainment for you and your family. Our Digital+ HD box has also come down in price and now costs just €5 a month. We’ve reduced many of our activation fees and in most instances, will connect you for free when you order online.

We’re giving our broadband customers faster speeds for no additional cost. We’ve launched our amazing Fibre Power Broadband 30Mb service. We’ve supported this with improvements to our upload speeds so if you’d like to upgrade your existing Broadband pack simply complete this form.

Our Home Phone customers paying €11 a month will now pay just €6 a month. And even better, customers on our Freetime or Anytime call bundles will be upgraded to our new Freetime World or Anytime World versions giving them free international landline calls to 21 destinations including the UK, Australia, Poland and more.

We hope you like the improvements we’re making to your services. It’s all part of our aim to give you great quality services at great value prices.

New channels vary by pack and geographic region.

Infoanon · 05-01-2010 11:47PM

Just to add to the confusion - if you press the wrong tab on the UPC website you get a different pricing scheme for new customers eg € 68.50 and 104 channels for family sports pack and not € 64 and 140 channels.

If someone from UPC reads this its the tab that gives TV (upc.ie/TV) and not Television (upc.ie/television)

Also noted that the broadband offer has changed on the info channel since last week...

Steviemak · 05-01-2010 11:51PM

UPC are seriously ripping off their current customers
e.g. a customer that is currently on Select and Digital + - 32 euro
Add ESPN - 3 euro
Add Sky Sports - 30 euro

Thats 65 euro

New Customers
Sports Pack with Digital Plus, ESPN and Sky Sports 58 euro

(none of the MAX channels are in the Sports Pack so it is using the Select Channels)

Thats a 7 euro a month difference.

I'll be complaining tomorrow as I feel I have just been ripped off signing up to Select Extra tonight:mad:

fulhamfanincork · 05-01-2010 11:53PM

So let me get this straight.

I pay 58 euro a month for the sports fan pack with digital and do not get espn for free yet the people who pay 32 euro a month for Select Extra with Digital+ get espn for free.

That is not fair in the slightest.

An Tarbh · 06-01-2010 12:02AM

fulhamfanincork wrote: »

So let me get this straight.

I pay 58 euro a month for the sports fan pack with digital and do not get espn for free yet the people who pay 32 euro a month for Select Extra with Digital+ get espn for free.

That is not fair in the slightest.

For the €58 Sports Fan pack, you get ESPN, Sky Sports and are on the Select Extra Digital+.

Dodge · 06-01-2010 12:02AM

Fulhamfan, you've asked for clarification a number of times in this thread. Migt be best for you to contact the company yourself tomorrow

for the record i was on the original go
digital package, which is now called Max, and I subscribe to Sky Sports. My box is one of the original big boxes afaik

ESPN and ESPN America working fine

fulhamfanincork · 06-01-2010 12:04AM

Dodge wrote: »

Fulhamfan, you've asked for clarification a number of times in this thread. Migt be best for you to contact the company yourself tomorrow

for the record i was on the original go
digital package, which is now called Max, and I subscribe to Sky Sports. My box is one of the original big boxes afaik

ESPN and ESPN America working fine

I'm really sorry for being annoying but I hate being ripped off which I believe I am and just get really impatient.

Apologies.

ynotdu · 06-01-2010 12:06AM

We subscribed to the 'Digital Max pack' as it was called.The ITV.s were added on day one.
giving 1908(as described a few pages back has worked for many,not just boardsies,to the point that i do not think it is coincidence)a call may speed things up.

It costs e33.50 a month if you dont have plus,Multiroom,or HD

The new Max cost plan would include a plus box for e32 per month.

as has been said 'existing customers' could cancel en masse{but they wont}

the only thing to do is express your outrage by your chosen method to UPC or contact the media to ridicule the price plans.

The Max package has become very good value{again though,for how long?}

UPC like most companies will take as much money as you will give them if you dont let them know they are pi**ing you off.

icdg · 06-01-2010 12:07AM

Mental_Legend wrote: »

When did you originally subscribe to NTL? Do you know when the different packages were first introduced?

The house has been cabled since it was built practically. However I subscribed originally to NTL Digital in late July 2003. That's 6 1/2 years ago which makes me quite an early adopter...

NTL Go Digital - what is now Digital Max - was first launched way back in September 2001, although you had to be in Tallaght to get it! It only had 50 channels back then.

As for Value and Select, I can't find start dates for these, but they were introduced after the UPC takeover IIRC, possibly as late as early 2008.

Dodge · 06-01-2010 12:08AM

It's no bother to me, but you're obviously getting annoyed by it, and the only people who can confirm anything are UPC

ynotdu · 06-01-2010 12:24AM

Dodge wrote: »

It's no bother to me, but you're obviously getting annoyed by it, and the only people who can confirm anything are UPC

Dont worry about it Dodge,people not answering questions here defeats the whole purpose of boards,also it is up to moderators to do the moderating not other members!:)

CO19 · 06-01-2010 02:57AM

UPC say that they're giving their existing broadband customers a free upgrade,I'm on their 3mb broadband for €22 a month so does this mean ill be upgraded to the new 5mb they're offering for the same price or what way does it work ? Very confusing stuff

dunworth1 · 06-01-2010 03:11AM

CO19 wrote: »

UPC say that they're giving their existing broadband customers a free upgrade,I'm on their 3mb broadband for €22 a month so does this mean ill be upgraded to the new 5mb they're offering for the same price or what way does it work ? Very confusing stuff

yes you can get a free upgrade to 5mb.

but you have to signup to a new 12 month contract

you can either ring them or fill out this form

http://www.upc.ie/about_us/Price_Changes/Speed_Changes/

or you can wait till march and it will upgrade you automatically

BRICKTOP · 06-01-2010 09:14AM

I cannot see FX anywhere, all the ITV channels are there. Anybody confirm channel number for FX?

Thanks

channelsurfer · 06-01-2010 09:24AM

its a pity they wont spend any money on the ex chorus mmds system. the only thing i can get is the tv packages minus the dvr, no phone and no internet and not a hope of ever getting HD on mmds from them either and only itv2 being provided due to lack of channel space. (whatever happened to the pilot project they did a couple of years ago with another company that provided phone?)
so I will be sticking with sky for the sky+function, the interactivity and the likes of five and itv2-4 fta(i know talk of encryption etc). for the mmds customer at least these new innovations are not much good unless you like espn. yes its great for cable customers i agree.

dunworth1 · 06-01-2010 09:37AM

BRICKTOP wrote: »

I cannot see FX anywhere, all the ITV channels are there. Anybody confirm channel number for FX?

Thanks

FX hasn't been added yet will be added later in January

Tarquin1970 · 06-01-2010 11:32AM

ynotdu wrote: »

We subscribed to the 'Digital Max pack' as it was called.The ITV.s were added on day one.
giving 1908(as described a few pages back has worked for many,not just boardsies,to the point that i do not think it is coincidence)a call may speed things up.

It costs e33.50 a month if you dont have plus,Multiroom,or HD

The new Max cost plan would include a plus box for e32 per month.

as has been said 'existing customers' could cancel en masse{but they wont}

the only thing to do is express your outrage by your chosen method to UPC or contact the media to ridicule the price plans.

The Max package has become very good value{again though,for how long?}

UPC like most companies will take as much money as you will give them if you dont let them know they are pi**ing you off.

I was on the Go Digital max plan @ €33.50, I rang yesterday to enquire about/get ESPN for an extra 50c.....all fine so far, was told the + option would cost me €5 extra per month so skipped on this. Got home yesterday evening, turned on the digital box, no ESPN so I did a reboot.....lost all channels except, RTE1, ETWN, City, and the Euronews channels, put a call in to 1908 explained the situation to a very helpful lady, who flashed the digital box remotely and hey presto all channels appeared. I also explained the situation about the digital +, and I will be receiving the new box this weekend at no extra monthly charge....there is however a one-off activation fee of €20 for this. Overall I think UPC did pretty well on this one.....

Cupart · 06-01-2010 11:54AM

To be honest with you all I'm getting a bit confused now.

As some may know (I've said it like 1000 times before) I have the old MAX pack with digital+ at EUR 38.49 pr month. This was when the VAT rate still was at 21.5%.

So now there seems to be some discrepancies between the new New MAX+ and yes the new MAX+ packs.

Some say it is EUR 34.00 pr month including Digital+
Other say it is EUR 34.00 + EUR 5.00 pr month (EUR 39.00 total pr month) for the pack and the recording facility.

If the later then this means an increase of EUR 0.50 if not then a decrease of EUR 4.49 (i.e. no extra Digital+ cost).

Still clear as mud to me

Could someone please clarify?

The channel line up would still be the same for each pack I believe as before...

kco3d · 06-01-2010 12:16PM

If you have broadband only, does anyone know if you request the upgrade from 10 to 15mb will the standalone charge also go up from 6 to 8 euro?

campo · 06-01-2010 12:18PM

Hey Cupart,
It is 34e for new customers going to max + pack and 39e for existing customers hope this clears it up

Cupart · 06-01-2010 12:19PM

Cupart wrote: »

To be honest with you all I'm getting a bit confused now.

As some may know (I've said it like 1000 times before) I have the old MAX pack with digital+ at EUR 38.49 pr month. This was when the VAT rate still was at 21.5%.

So now there seems to be some discrepancies between the new New MAX+ and yes the new MAX+ packs.

Some say it is EUR 34.00 pr month including Digital+
Other say it is EUR 34.00 + EUR 5.00 pr month (EUR 39.00 total pr month) for the pack and the recording facility.

If the later then this means an increase of EUR 0.50 if not then a decrease of EUR 4.49 (i.e. no extra Digital+ cost).

Still clear as mud to me

Could someone please clarify?

The channel line up would still be the same for each pack I believe as before...

OK, the new MAX pack includes Digital+ at EUR 34.00 pr month. This means that I pay EUR 5.00 extra for the same service that new subscribers get.

Very very unfair IMHO. Shouldn't changes be for everyone?

Tarquin1970 · 06-01-2010 12:29PM

Cupart wrote: »

OK, the new MAX pack includes Digital+ at EUR 34.00 pr month. This means that I pay EUR 5.00 extra for the same service that new subscribers get.

Very very unfair IMHO. Shouldn't changes be for everyone?

Make the call to 1908, it worked for me. I was told yesterday that it would cost an extra €5pm, I made the call and now it's all in @€;34.

Darando · 06-01-2010 12:39PM

So not going over old ground but quick question, maybe sounds brain dead:P

I understand customers on Select pack will not get ESPN free, they will have to upgrade to Select + pack now on offer.

Do existing customers on Select pack but with Digital+ get ESPN free???

All confusing as we do not have ESPN yet but it does say we have Select and Select + packs when I log into our UPC account

We signed up 5 months on Select pack with Digital+. (€40.50 pm)

Cupart · 06-01-2010 12:40PM

Tarquin1970 wrote: »

Make the call to 1908, it worked for me. I was told yesterday that it would cost an extra €5pm, I made the call and now it's all in @€;34.

Hi Tarquin1970,

I guess you were also on the old MAX pack and Digital+ subscription then? What exactly did you tell them when you called to get it at EUR 34.00 pr month instead of EUR 38.49?

I can't make any threats of pulling as I'm still in the 12 month (on month 10) contract agreement...

Thanks for all your tips by the way

Ginny · 06-01-2010 02:45PM

Just been onto UPC no bother at all
Select packages will be getting FX when its rolled out, We have Select and DVR, was upgraded to Select Extra + and added a multiroom with no problems at all.

elnino2010 · 06-01-2010 02:51PM

the digital select users.......will get a letter in the post over the next few weeks re digital select extra with the option of upgrading...not sur if the select package will be continued after this

i rang and got upgrade from digital select and multiroom
to digital select extra and multiroom and bill bill is down by 50cent...wohoo!!

Chopper Dave · 06-01-2010 03:18PM

Ginny wrote: »

Just been onto UPC no bother at all
Select packages will be getting FX when its rolled out, We have Select and DVR, was upgraded to Select Extra + and added a multiroom with no problems at all.

I'm in the same boat and as far as I can see there's no difference in price between the current Select plus DVR (€27+€5=€32) and the Select Extra plus DVR (€30+€2=€32). If you do have the DVR, however, then it's only an extra €2 to move onto Max (€34 but the DVR comes free)

UPC - Channel Line Up and Package Changes from 4th January 2010 [Merged]

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