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HappyTrucker · 17-02-2007, 15:02

Hi all. First post here, so accept my apologies if you've read any of these points before.

SKY and VM are competitors in the Digital TV market. This is undeniably true. Both are businesses that need to turn a profit, and try (sometimes aggressively) to obtain/retain customers. However, suerly digital TV is supposed to also benefit the consumer with a wider choice of TV. There are, in some cases, logistical reasons why one service needs to be taken in preference to the other: no cable in the area, tenanting rules forbidding the erection of a dish etc. Surely it would benfit both SKY and VM to work in harmony with one another, each realising that to supply all available channels across both platforms is actually in everyone's interest - even their own.

I'll try to explain. There must be people taking either service who wish they could have the other instead, but are prevented by the previously mentioned logistical reasons. It is't their fault they have to take service A instead of service B. It's the way it is. Maybe, due to all the animosity publicly thrown between these two major players, these people have decided to go to freeview instead, foregoing other channels because they don't want to pay for services that could be withdrawn by a supplier if the other says the fees are too high.

Personally I am a SKY One watcher. At the moment there is a lot of content on the channel worth watching. OK, for 6 months of the year that may not be the case, but I like it nonetheless. I'm lucky enough to live in both a cabled and SKY enabled area so I have no issues. I can view these shows easily. But how do I benefit from the current arguments if I live in an area with cable but prohibitions of SKY dishes? I can't choose to change to SKY instead of VM. Their marketing tactics cannot influence me either way.

Surely in can't be beyond the wit and intelligence of the people running these companies to realise that this isn't VHS and Betamax all over again (this was a battle between 2 rival video cassette fromats for those not old enough to remember. Anyone who isn't sure about the term video cassette is making me feel really old). There won't be one overall winner with the loser fading from existence. There is a need in the UK markets for both suppliers. So maybe they need to drop the attitude and come up with a sensible, cost effective way to work together to increase take-up of DTV. As a result of the increasing customer base, development could move on even quicker if time and effort isn't being poughed into extremely irritating and damaging pi**ing contests that benefit no-one.

As I said, I accept that these are businesses with shareholders who (for some reason) need to cream off the top. However, I urge the two companies to sit down and discuss the problem like adults instead of resorting to childish tactics like "phone VM and tell them you're scared of losing channels". I've seen more mature behaviour in schoolyards. Maybe VM don't accurately realise how big a draw SKY One is. However I think SKY need to realise that in this age of increasing markets, it may not be long before they face very stiff competiton from other channels for the rights to the big programs. If SKY One lose the rights to big shows, Sky has no leverage. It's a Catch 22 for everyone.

So, to finish (finally) - Come on VM and SKY. Sit down and talk sensibly. Realise you both have things lose here and work out a reasonalbe solution to this. The DTV market in this country is governed by various restrictions based on geography/planning laws already. Don't add a 'My Dad's bigger than your Dad' attitude to these restrictions. Think of your customers and work together for the benfit and furtherment of Digital TV in the UK

Rant over, and again, apologies for repeating anything you've read already.

PS: For the record I am currently a SKY+ subscriber, considering moving over to the V+ system. I was originally on cable, but left them due to their falling behind SKY developmentally and an issue regarding the phone line. Current developments are making me look again at cable to supply my DTV. In my case, the SKY One issue is a key factor. However, if SKY begin losing broadcasting rights for the bigger shows, then I'll no longer be held back. Once this is all done and dusted, I'll be calling VM Customer Services and seeing what they can add to my current BB at a reasonable rate.

17-02-2007, 15:02	#90
HappyTrucker Inactive Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Sky Channels on NTL Hi all. First post here, so accept my apologies if you've read any of these points before. SKY and VM are competitors in the Digital TV market. This is undeniably true. Both are businesses that need to turn a profit, and try (sometimes aggressively) to obtain/retain customers. However, suerly digital TV is supposed to also benefit the consumer with a wider choice of TV. There are, in some cases, logistical reasons why one service needs to be taken in preference to the other: no cable in the area, tenanting rules forbidding the erection of a dish etc. Surely it would benfit both SKY and VM to work in harmony with one another, each realising that to supply all available channels across both platforms is actually in everyone's interest - even their own. I'll try to explain. There must be people taking either service who wish they could have the other instead, but are prevented by the previously mentioned logistical reasons. It is't their fault they have to take service A instead of service B. It's the way it is. Maybe, due to all the animosity publicly thrown between these two major players, these people have decided to go to freeview instead, foregoing other channels because they don't want to pay for services that could be withdrawn by a supplier if the other says the fees are too high. Personally I am a SKY One watcher. At the moment there is a lot of content on the channel worth watching. OK, for 6 months of the year that may not be the case, but I like it nonetheless. I'm lucky enough to live in both a cabled and SKY enabled area so I have no issues. I can view these shows easily. But how do I benefit from the current arguments if I live in an area with cable but prohibitions of SKY dishes? I can't choose to change to SKY instead of VM. Their marketing tactics cannot influence me either way. Surely in can't be beyond the wit and intelligence of the people running these companies to realise that this isn't VHS and Betamax all over again (this was a battle between 2 rival video cassette fromats for those not old enough to remember. Anyone who isn't sure about the term video cassette is making me feel really old). There won't be one overall winner with the loser fading from existence. There is a need in the UK markets for both suppliers. So maybe they need to drop the attitude and come up with a sensible, cost effective way to work together to increase take-up of DTV. As a result of the increasing customer base, development could move on even quicker if time and effort isn't being poughed into extremely irritating and damaging pi**ing contests that benefit no-one. As I said, I accept that these are businesses with shareholders who (for some reason) need to cream off the top. However, I urge the two companies to sit down and discuss the problem like adults instead of resorting to childish tactics like "phone VM and tell them you're scared of losing channels". I've seen more mature behaviour in schoolyards. Maybe VM don't accurately realise how big a draw SKY One is. However I think SKY need to realise that in this age of increasing markets, it may not be long before they face very stiff competiton from other channels for the rights to the big programs. If SKY One lose the rights to big shows, Sky has no leverage. It's a Catch 22 for everyone. So, to finish (finally) - Come on VM and SKY. Sit down and talk sensibly. Realise you both have things lose here and work out a reasonalbe solution to this. The DTV market in this country is governed by various restrictions based on geography/planning laws already. Don't add a 'My Dad's bigger than your Dad' attitude to these restrictions. Think of your customers and work together for the benfit and furtherment of Digital TV in the UK Rant over, and again, apologies for repeating anything you've read already. PS: For the record I am currently a SKY+ subscriber, considering moving over to the V+ system. I was originally on cable, but left them due to their falling behind SKY developmentally and an issue regarding the phone line. Current developments are making me look again at cable to supply my DTV. In my case, the SKY One issue is a key factor. However, if SKY begin losing broadcasting rights for the bigger shows, then I'll no longer be held back. Once this is all done and dusted, I'll be calling VM Customer Services and seeing what they can add to my current BB at a reasonable rate.