kingandy: (Default)
kingandy ([personal profile] kingandy) wrote2006-12-19 01:12 pm

Market share counts for a lot

Got Sky?

Considering switching to Freeview?

Sky will give you 200 channels for a one-off £20 fee. (£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)

The channel selection basically amounts to Freeview plus a bunch of public access, special interest and home shopping channels - all the dross that you never wanted to begin with. Oh, and Sky 1/2/3/News. Whether or that's a factor in your decision-making process, it's still cheaper than Freeview...

ETA: Oh, not Sky 1 or Sky 2. Just 3 and News.

Still.

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-19 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
You see, I'm very much of the belief that eventually, everything I WILL want to watch will come to Freeview. There is some evidence to back this up - I've already gained More 4 and Film 4 since June.

The channel range expands all the time, and a cheap ass box is only around £30.

"(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-19 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
So, if you don't have a dish and box already, it is more expensive. If you do have a dish and box already you have either had to pay to have them installed, or pay to buy them, or pay a subscriptoion for at least 12 months before you went down to the free channels only. So dearer, IMHO

Re: "(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] stsquad.livejournal.com 2006-12-19 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
But an option for me should I get bored of watching Futurama on Sky. Sky One is about the only channel I'd miss (and maybe a bit of Sci-Fi and Discovery...)

Re: "(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-19 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Episodes of Futurama screen on Sky 3, which I get on my Freeview. Have I pointed out how w@nkingly fantastic my PVR box is?

Re: "(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] stsquad.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
It's a running joke that we watch Futurama on Sky despite Andy owning every single episode on DVD.

Re: "(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
Ah yes, I can hear the laugh track in the background now......


You know, one day, Andy might move out!!!!!

Re: "(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] stsquad.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 10:53 am (UTC)(link)
"You know, one day, Andy might move out!!!!!"

That will involve saving some money for that house he wants to buy.

You can turn off the laughter track now :-)

Re: "(£150 if you don't have a dish and box already.)"

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-19 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah. I had not implied that inference. But my cohesion is currently screwed, as I am getting through this week on the combined artificial stimulants of tea and Red Bull.

[identity profile] marcushill.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
£30 for freeview? That's so six months ago! You can get a box for under £20 in Asda now, and you're not lining Murdoch's pockets by doing so ('cause, y'know, WalMart is a much less evil international conglomerate than News Corp).

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
There are degrees of evilness. Murdoch v Walmart is a close run thing, but I think Murdoch just has it on the 'stealing all the sports coverage from our TVs'.

[identity profile] arwel.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
As much as I hate giving my money over to Murdoch, I used to be adamant that we'd never get Sky, Sky+ means I get to watch TV instead of cursing myself for forgetting what day and time stuff that I want to see is on. Giving money to NTL may not be as moraly objectionable, but it's like paying to get kicked in the nuts.

[identity profile] stsquad.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 10:52 am (UTC)(link)
You'll have to force Sky+ into my cold dead fingers. I'd rather have an open PVR platform where I control the hardware and not media company. How much of a premium is Sky+ these days anyway?

Until I build/buy such a PVR there are always torrents ;-)

[identity profile] anne-l-davies.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 01:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Sky+ is HUGELY expensive if you are an existing customer. For those of us like myself, who haven't got their heads round torrenting etc, the PVR box is a godsend.

I don't watch adverts any more. I watch what I want to, when I want to, and it's just fantastic.

Apparently people can 'do stuff' to and with my model of PVR box, and you seem to be able to download stuff from it as well? Paul's still working on that bit though!

[identity profile] arwel.livejournal.com 2006-12-20 01:46 pm (UTC)(link)
£10 a month or so, which for me is well worth it.