Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Millions of Sky customers to see bills rise in April.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...-a8223721.html

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Yeah my overall package is going up by £2 per month. Still it's £28 per month less than what new customers are paying for the same package so I can't complain. Can't get a cheaper deal elsewhere either.

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Media giant Comcast makes bid for Sky.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43209100

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Some interesting developments for Sky subscribers who have Sky Q, including more UHD content.

http://www.a516digital.com/2018/02/s...y-and-hdr.html

Rupert Murdoch's Sky bid challenged by Comcast
 

Cat and pigeons come to mind ;)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43209100

Am I right or am I wrong?

Re: Rupert Murdoch's Sky bid challenged by Comcast
 

:D

However Rupert won't let go without a fight.

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Wow

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

I like the sound of this

https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/...ore-4k-content

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

I got my letter today, Bundle going up by £1.50, Sports by £0.50 (both per month).

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

One suspects the other providers will follow.

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

that's a certainty Den

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Only while sheep will pay.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Football sheep will pay any amount of money to watch 22 grown men kick an inflated bladder around for 90 minutes without getting it in the goal. :D

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

You better get a bigger letterbox old bean as l can see several million letters of ire arriving at your abode in these coming weeks.;)

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

Sky seem to be making all the right moves for consumers just lately. I am impressed.

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

l thought your analysis was that TV companies were dead in the water and will die and be replaced by the streaming giants in these coming years?.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Are SKY not gearing up to become a streaming company?

https://www.techradar.com/news/sky-p...ing-takes-over

Fits totally to OB's analysis.

Re: General Sky TV Discussion
 

No, I said the owners of broadcast and pay tv channels had to embrace the changes in the viewing habits of the nation or die.

Sky have clearly recognised this, as have even the BBC, and as long as they move with the times they should both survive.

In the future, instead of having hundreds of TV channels set out on the EPG, both Sky and Virgin will have a library of on demand services available to their customers. This will comprise existing VOD/catch-up services (although they would no longer be called 'catch up'), subscription services including Sky's own content under their own name, together with a range of other on demand/streaming services from Netflix, Amazon, Curzon, Filmstruck, etc. We can expect many more of these to spring up before long, such as Disney, HBO, etc.

These are truly exciting times as we move to this new era of TV, which will give us access to far more choice, so we can decide for ourselves whether to watch quality programming rather than junk.

In my view, there is a spoiler in the woods. What if the controllers of the cloud made all programmes available from all sources via subscription or on demand? I don't think that will happen, and it would require legislation to achieve it except on a voluntary basis, but unless the broadcasters adapt, their hands might be forced in order to give the population what they want.

---------- Post added at 13:10 ---------- Previous post was at 13:09 ----------

Absolutely, pip.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Out of the frying pan into the fire perhaps?

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...any-in-america

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Well they do say better the devil you know....!

Will this be a case of "Come back, Rupert, all is forgiven"?

Protesters will be kicking themselves that they have contributed to the delay in the Sky/Fox deal which then leads Comcast to barge in unannounced. That law of unintended consequences strikes again!

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

If Disney completes 100% ownership of Sky would ESPN switch over to the Sky Sports Channels from BT Sport?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

No as BT Sport have a contract with ESPN.

https://advanced-television.com/2015...osts-bt-sport/

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Disney offers to buy Sky News to push through Rupert Murdoch's £11.7bn takeover of Sky.

https://www.ft.com/content/680a1800-...e-e06bde01c544

https://www.theguardian.com/business...117bn-takeover

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

21st Century Fox's London office raided in market abuse inquiry

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...ropean-offices

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Obviously looking for concrete tangible evidence.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Comcast has made a firm bid for Sky.

https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2018...h-bid-for-sky/

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Interesting times ahead..

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Indeed. I think there are more synergies between Sky and Comcast who can learn a lot from Sky in terms of customer service and technology. Will be interesting to see how this ends.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

My worries is as you and another poster pointed out is Comcast's shocking customer service because Sky customers certainly won't tolerate that and will up sticks if they get poor customer service consistently.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

The market is more competitive in the UK for broadband. In the US, it's slow ADSL or rip-off cable. This is one reason why I think Sky will provide good service whoever owns them.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Well we shall see Andrew as insincere cheap soundbites are often not the reality when it comes down to the real nitty gritty of things.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Exactly. Different markets have different expectations. I'm amazed at the lack of customer support in some other parts of Liberty Global, but apparently it's standard in those countries.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Eleven Sports swoops for La Liga rights in UK and Ireland.

http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/l...rts-uk-ireland

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Culture secretary rules on Sky takeover.

https://www.theguardian.com/business...-business-live
Sky takeover

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

It was always going to happen , the question is who'll takeover now.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yes we could still see higher bids yet MM.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

At least Sky News will be out of the equation..Happy with that.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Hope so, in fact I'm betting on there being a feeding frenzy for Sky! I've got a "few" shares.

The AT&T Time Warner merger was cleared by the American judge last night which will now set off the next wave off consolidation in the media and telecoms world. And it is expected that later today or tomorrow, Comcast is expected to make its full bid for Fox.

---------- Post added at 17:07 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------

Depends on what happens and what the government announce in the next week.

If Murdoch is told to get rid of Sky News as part of his bid for full control of Sky, then I expect he will simply back off and allow Disney to bid for Sky directly. Either way, Sky will ultimately either by owned Disney or Comcast unless a new bidder comes in.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I imagine Liberty Global are happy with this outcome - VM will now be worth more and will be attractive to Comcast if it fails to acquire Fox and Sky.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Comcast launches $65bn bid to steal Murdoch's Fox away from Disney.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...ch-sale-disney

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Disney has upped it's bid for Fox:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44544802

And Disney's boss is in London today talking to Murdoch. Expect a direct bid Disney bid for Sky any day now since the government cleared the way.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

No surprise at another bid coming in for Sky.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

We can reveal that Media Boy HQ and Virgin Media are making an joint bid for Sky

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

...:)

I'm not sure if VM and Sky would ever be allowed to join up, but if Comcast fail in their bid to grab Murdoch's companies, they'll be looking for others to buy. Comcast are desperate for international exposure, so, perhaps they might make a bid for VM in the future.

And, as the AT&T/Time Warner merger has now completed, with AT&T renaming Time Warner to WarnerMedia, who's to say that AT&T might not join the bidding party now??

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Maybe so but all Time Warner channels are still called Turner Broadcasting System Europe here in UK and Ireland.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

And that will remain so I'd imagine. Turner is a business unit of Warner which in itself is now a business unit of AT&T.

AT&T have said they are not going to change Time Warner, except for the "Time" name itself being dropped as Time Magazine was sold off years ago.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Fox-Disney merger cleared, but sports networks must be sold

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44633483

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Comcast parries Rupert Murdoch's Sky bid with £26bn offer.

https://www.theguardian.com/business...rt-murdoch-bid

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

There's a lot of speculation that more bids could arrive with the share price pushing up towards £18.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

That would not surprise me MM.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Both companies (Disney and Comcast) want Sky with its 20+ million customers. And of course, someone else could come along and bid for it too.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Well, this bidding war for Sky may be over, but first some context.

CNBC (owned by Comcast..) reported citing "sources" that Comcast is highly unlikely to put in another bid for Fox. The Fox shareholder vote to decide the bid is next week and if Comcast were to put in a higher bid than Disney's for Fox, it needs to do it this week. As Murdoch has clearly stated that he wants to sell to Disney, it looks like Comcast has decided to pull out.

On Friday, Disney filed a financial statement that said if Fox wanted to put in a higher bid for Sky, it would need its permission and that permission may not be given.

What is appears, is that either Comcast and Disney has spoken to each other, or at least made signals to each other, that they don't want to tear themselves apart bidding for Murdoch's assets. They would have to take on too much debt, which neither company wants to do.

So, it looks like Murdoch's companies will be split between the two of them with Disney getting the Fox film studio and Comcast getting Sky.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/16/comc...y-sources.html

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Wouldn't that then result in Comcast owning 61% of Sky with Disney's purchase of Fox they would then own 39% of Sky ?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yep, but it is highly unlikely Disney will want to be a minority shareholder of Sky once Comcast owns the majority share and so will sell their stake to Comcast.

Vis a vis Hulu. Once Disney gets hold of Fox's stake of Hulu, giving it majority control, I expect Comcast and Warner (AT&T) to sell their stakes to Disney.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Disney gets Fox - confirmed.

I already posted the CNBC story on Tuesday, but Comcast today confirms that it is pulling out of the race for Fox and concentrating on Sky.

As I said before, I believe Comcast and Disney have spoken with each and agreed that Murdoch's assets will be split between them with Comcast getting Sky. We just need to hear whether Murdoch and Disney will pull out of the bidding race for Sky now. I believe they will.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/19/med...ney/index.html

https://www.cmcsa.com/static-files/1...3-34fc2229ebec

---------- Post added at 14:39 ---------- Previous post was at 14:21 ----------

CNBC is reporting that Disney and Comcast will do some kind of deal that will include Murdoch's share of Sky and Comcast's share of Hulu. Possibly some kind of exchange, thus giving Disney full control of Hulu and giving Comcast full control of Sky.

---------- Post added at 15:00 ---------- Previous post was at 14:39 ----------

Comcast has very good relations with John Malone. If Comcast do gain control of Sky, as seems likely now, could Sky and VM merge?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Not a chance of Sky and VM merging IMO.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be allowed anyway.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44893625

I'm sure everyone knows about this now, but I just post the story for any who've not seen it. We're just waiting for the official announcement from Murdoch and Disney that they're pulling out of the race for Sky.

The UK now has two cable companies, except one is a satellite company. Try explaining that to some! :)

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Two ancilliary points:
- Now that Sky has been sold, Liberty Global is in a strong position to argue for a better price for VM from Vodafone.
- Comcast's next logical purchase would be the loss-making French satellite TV company CanalPlus from owners Vivendi. Vivendi and Comcast are linked in that they both own bits of Universal - Comcast owns Universal Pictures and Vivendi owns Universal Music. Both Universals are doing rather well out of Abba at the moment!

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I'm not sure VM will get together with Vodafone now.

When someone on here said that Vodafone has axed their soon-to-launch tv service, I thought that was a prelude to a merger with VM, but since then, LG sold most of their European cable assets to Vodafone except VM.

As for a Comcast purchase of Canal+, I'm not so sure. Sky is the second largest broadband company in the UK, so it's obvious why Comcast is interested in that purchase, but a failing French satellite tv company is less attractive.

I didn't know the French retained the Universal Music company, so that's interesting. On that specific item, Comcast might do a deal with Vivendi, but I don't think they'll be interested in Canal+ though.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Disney and Fox have had their shareholder vote today and their merger has been approved. Disney will now swallow up the 20th Century film and tv studios, FX Networks, National Geographic channels and a host of other stuff. The merger will be completed by the first half of next year.

We wait to see whether Fox (or Disney) comes back with a higher bid for Sky now. If they do, they need to get the bid in by the 9th August.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44987650

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Whether it’s Disney or Comcast who end up acquiring the whole of Sky do people on here think both corporations will invest heavily in Sky in terms of Sports rights and Drama?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yes, I don't know whether I would describe such a decision as brave or foolhardy! In my book, it would be an extremely risky decision in view of growing competition from bigger players.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Both Disney and Comcast are huge companies , add Sky's reach in Europe and they become even bigger.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yes, there is no doubt that this will put them in a better position to compete. However, they will be in competition with other very big guys. I think a lot will be at stake in future years with Premiership rights.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Just like a politician repeat so many times and someone might just believe you.:D

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

As per my above comments, Fox had to say what it was going to do in regards to its bid for Sky by this Thursday. On Tuesday, it formalised its existing bid for Sky which basically gives Fox and Disney additional time to decide whether they will put in a higher bid and they have until the end of September to decide now.

I thought as Disney submitted papers last month stating that Fox needed Disney's permission for a higher bid and the CNBC report on this, it was all over and done with and Comcast had won Sky. I've now completely changed my mind on this for this reason:

Tonight, Disney released its latest earnings report and Bob Iger (Disney's boss) at the beginning of his webcast gushed about Fox's assets he was buying including Sky. The best bit, though, came at the end of the webcast, when in reply to a question about whether Iger was going to pursue Sky or not, he said, "since it's a fluid situation and open matter, we're really not going to comment any further about it. "

Open and fluid, does not mean closed and given up. Expect either a higher Fox offer for Sky in the next six weeks, or a direct bid from Disney.

A few months ago, Iger remarked abut Sky calling it the "crown jewel" in Murdoch's empire.

I don't know who will ultimately get Sky, but if Sky is a crown jewel, it will be fought over viscously by these companies bidding for it. This ain't over yet by a long shot, in my opinion.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Access to millions of customers in Europe and a well run business what’s not to like.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Sky bid tussle to be settled by auction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45587233

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Customers will just end up getting screwed. Price rises to pay for the final purchase price and other providers will just follow suit.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

That's always the case with these kind of things sadly.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

On the contrary this could be excellent news for everyone. Divorcing Sky from News International could reduce it’s political influence and increase the amount of regulation across the industry, which would only be good news for the consumer considering Sky, BT and Virgin have significant market power.

One of very few weak defences of Sky is that pension providers hold shares in them - nonsense I know in terms of how we should view an industry - but this gives a good opportunity for them to cash out.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

It will just replace one media mogul with another.

Look at the quality of ABC News (Disney) or NBC/CNBC/MSNBC (Comcast) to see the likely future...

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

That is the way l see it as well.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

The result of the auction should be announced around 7.30 tonight.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

l expect Rupert Murdoch's Fox to win.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Comcast wins.

http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/w...nouncement.pdf

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Never listen to my predictions then.:D

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Oh dear den. Disappointed?

Comcast were always the front runners IMHO even though Fox had Disney's backing.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I didn't think the House of Mouse would lose either, but as they bid so much for Fox, they couldn't go mad on Sky.

Now the UK has two cable companies... I wonder what John Malone's reaction will be especially as Liberty has indicated it now wants to return cash to shareholders.

Could the unthinkable happen and Sky and VM merge?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yes l am disappointed as l believe Fox would do a better job then Comcast to put it simply.

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 20:13 ----------

Not sure that would ever be allowed as it would basically be a monopoly if that was allowed to happen.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Doesn't VM have a cable monopoly now? I don't know of any SKY cabled areas.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

sky board recommend to accept comcast bid breaking news on sky news

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Sorry my fault as what l meant pip is Sky and Virgin would have over 90% of the Pay TV market and there is no chance of the two companies merging IMO as it won't even get off the ground.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Surely they agreed to the auction to begin with and the acceptance is merely procedural. Why have an auction otherwise?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

yes it be accepted as they won

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Like it or not Pay TV is the future. You could say it already exists with the TVL on linear.

VM's biggest revenue is from internet supply not Pay TV, Sky's is both (though I suggest Pay TV is the largest part) as they also supply VM with their channels.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

But with Netflix and other streamers encroaching on their pay tv profits, it may not be as crazy as it sounds.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Hurray!

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

It's certainly not crazy.

VM is the only cable company in the UK, it's main profits come from internet provision with Pay TV as secondary with the majority of that revenue made up of reselling SKY channels.

Comcast is a cable company who now owns SKY so their best bet moving forward is a merge or takeover of VM.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Virgin and Sky in the UK are only part of wider operations.

By that logic would Comcast/Liberty seek to merge their operations all over Europe? Is that a serious prospect that regulators will entertain? Highly doubtful in my view, although I do accept the point that in the UK market at least (from the consumer point of view) Virgin/Sky essentially offer the same service at similar prices and the “competition” doesn’t do anything to keep prices down.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out longer term.

Sky Cinema currently shows Disney films , once Disney looks to move all it's content onto it's own global streaming service it's possible this could end although to be fair I guess Sky could still strike a deal to include the Disney streaming service on it's Sky Q platform.

Will we see Comcast set up a global streaming service using originally produced Sky content and content from it's NBC Universal division ?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

As Comcast has just paid £30bn for three letters, not only do I think its a safe bet that Comcast will set up a global streaming app, but its pretty obvious what that app will be called: Sky.

---------- Post added at 12:46 ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 ----------

I only floated the idea of a merger due to the close relationship that John Malone has with Comcast and the American cable industry.

I think a merger is unlikely, but the media world is changing and soon it will all be about the likes of Apple, Amazon etc and the old media/telcos will get left behind if they don't change and consolidate.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Apple/Amazon etc won't effect telcos. The telcos are still needed for internet connection.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I agree, but as far as the UK goes, the pay tv element is a large part of Sky's, VM's and BT's profits which may be eroded away by the streamers.

Remember what a former cable boss said from 15-20 years ago said, "we don't just want to be the pipe, a utility."

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

The thing is for a cable co, unless it gains ownership of the content (at production level) rather than a distributor, then it is far more profitable for them to be the pipe and leave everyone else in a bidding war.

The best thing to happen to Virgin was BT/Sky in a bidding war for Premiership rights. The squeeze on broadband/line rental ended, allowing Virgin to raise their prices in line with the rest of the market. Yes, in turn Virgin have a wholesale deal with BT, but it will be small beer when you think line rental and broadband have creeped up for the entire customer base.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I've just been looking at the shows on Netflix and there's a fair amount of content even some labelled as Netflix Originals that are either NBC Universal , Disney or Fox shows.

With these companies expanding their distribution footprints I can see these kind of things ending.

NBC Universal for instance can easily distribute it's shows in Europe using Sky after takeover and with a OTT service can look even further afield thus not needing Netflix.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Are shows popular because they are on Netflix, or is Netflix popular because of the content they have?

If it’s popularity is that it is a low price alternative to mainstream pay-tv then the answer is to push its own content through Now TV.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Anything is possible and between Sky and Comcast they certainly have enough content behind them to put a pretty decent offering together although I still think Disney will have a much greater content offering especially when it gains full control of Fox.