Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Isn't BT the only live IPTV service in the UK to offer UHD and that's because it uses its own multicast network to deliver it meaning you must have BT internet and be able to receive a certain speed. Sky may intend to deliver it to customers no matter who's your ISP.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

I'm sure i read somewhere BT are thinking about rolling it's tv service out to all isps.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

www.sky.it lists 5 ISPs that are currently approved. There's also a link for other ISPs to apply for approval, but it includes a list of requirements including a minimum of 2 x 10Gbps links direct to Sky's campus in Milan to be installed at the operator's expense.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

In the longer term, Sky is planning on moving its pay-TV customers away from satellite in favour of IPTV. This is why it seems odd that they are not offering UHD, unless for accounting purposes Sky doesn't want customers to move just yet, thus attracting mainly new customers to IPTV at this stage.

---------- Post added at 12:42 ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 ----------

That is easily overcome by ensuring that only customers with a specified broadband connection are accepted to take UHD. Isn't that what Virgin do now for customers with a V6?

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

It's more likely to be a support issue with users accessing the service over different ISP's they can't guarantee the service the same as say BT who deliver its live UHD over its own multicast service.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

A Sky customer is a Sky customer, regardless of delivery method. In the longer term Sky will have plans, but whether Italian broadband infrastructure is up to it today is unknown.

There’s no rational reason for Sky not to offer UHD if the infrastructure is up to it. The reality is that it’s not, and they don’t want the reputational risk that will go along with deploying an untested product.

100 meg? Yeah they could do that, and see how many potential customers they rule out in the process.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

The customers with less would simply be told that they would only be able to access HD. They don't have to miss out on the service altogether.

I am sure that you may have a point on Italian broadband not being ready yet, which could explain matters.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

A customer who buys an advertised product, with UHD, who hooks it up and finds their ISP isn’t offering consistently high enough speeds isn’t going to be happy at effectively being missold a product. They might cancel, then Sky have associated costs to set it up and no customer through no fault of their own.

If Sky have aspirations to launch two or three UHD channels then again that’s more pressure if people are wanting to record multiple streams.

It’s easier to just admit it’s a second tier product from outset and wait for internet infrastructure to catch up. I’d be interested to know if the hardware is UHD capable. By getting hardware out there they could run real world trials.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

How could they be missold a product when they were told the minimum requirement? Yet again you are being argumentative just for the sake of it.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

I think I made clear that the decision to provide UHD viewing would be made by Sky in the same way that Virgin do for their V6 boxes. It would not be Sky's product that was inadequate, it would be the broadband connection, and that would be made clear at the start of the contract.

So the new customer with poor broadband speed would not lose out on the service whereas the UHD availability might attract many new customers with good broadband who were not allowed a satellite dish, etc, or who wanted to transfer from VM, BT or Talk Talk but did not want a dish.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Nobody has ever complained that their internet provider isn’t offering advertised speeds? Nobody has ever complained it drops at peak times? Weekends?

“I pay for 76 meg I assumed that was what I got, turns out it’s only 30?”.

Add in the variable wireless performance of different ISP routers in the market and it’s simply something that Sky, or any reputable company, wouldn’t want to touch with a barge pole with their flagship premium product.

You are kidding yourself on if you think otherwise. Old Boy even agrees with me on this.

---------- Post added at 16:42 ---------- Previous post was at 16:34 ----------

So what information do Sky rely on? Speed checkers? Actual testing of the equipment on site at installation? And if it drops at peak time? Does the ISP have an obligation to investigate? Openreach? How much time/money/effort goes in before a customer just sends it back (and goes to Virgin, BT or someone who does offer UHD over their own infrastructure).

Virgin can do this for the V6 because it’s Virgin’s broadband product on Virgin’s infrastructure. The DOCSIS network is more than capable.

I have no doubt that Sky will move to IP based delivery in Italy, the UK and everywhere else but there’s many questions to be overcome between now and then. The closure of the Now TV 1080p trial here doesn’t fill me with optimism at present.

Interestingly the UK Government has watered down it’s fibre commitment.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...nd-target.html

Full fibre is now “gigabit capable”.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

What has that got to do with Sky mis-selling a product? Absolutely nothing!

Certainly on Openreach's VDSL offering via BTWholesale instances of peaktime loss of speed have been vastly reduced.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

The end user won’t care for the distinction. It’s Sky selling a product and not delivering.

Why do you think Sky in Italy won’t be offering UHD on the IP product at launch? Irrational fear of IP? You accuse me of being argumentative but even when Old Boy and I broadly agree you come along to argue the toss over nothing.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

You will find that those customers will care when they find out they are tied into contract because they have not been mis-sold a product.

It has noything to do with what Sky is offering in Italy and everything to do with what they decide to offer in the UK.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

And they’ll be angry at Sky! Hence the reputational risk I’ve outlined.

How does internet technology differ in Italy vs the UK? The same principles and challenges exist everywhere. You can’t offer an answer because you know I’m right on this. Stick to the Brexit thread, you’ve nothing insightful to offer this one.