Sky agree new deal with satalite company

[telegramsam]

I see Sky have agreed a deal with satalite owners to continue providing signal until at least 2039 meaning for now Sky Q will continue. Good news for people like me who like to have a box to record on as I hate having to search for programs on demand or catch up

Originally Posted by telegramsam

I see Sky have agreed a deal with satalite owners to continue providing signal until at least 2039 meaning for now Sky Q will continue. Good news for people like me who like to have a box to record on as I hate having to search for programs on demand or catch up

Almost like Sky doesn’t think linear broadcast TV is going away any time soon …

Have they confirmed 2039 ?
Reports the other day just mentioned 2030's

[Richardr]

I'd expect it to be closer to 2031 under this deal. The previous deal was signed a couple of years ago and was a five year deal. It wouldn't be in Sky's interest to sign for much longer, but they are likely to roll it over in a year or two's time.

I have seen notes (probably speculation) that it was extended to 2032, this seems more likely than 2039.

I suspect Sky are worried that once they stop Satellite (and recording) peolpe will have no reason to stick with them.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Paul

I have seen notes (probably speculation) that it was extended to 2032, this seems more likely than 2039.

I suspect Sky are worried that once they stop Satellite (and recording) peolpe will have no reason to stick with them.

Ditto virgin , not that I think I will need to worry , long gone I suspect

[nodrogd]

The continuation of the service is reliant on the current satellites remaining serviceable. The positioning systems have a finite life, so once the fuel runs out they can no longer stay in the correct location. SES have obviously determined that the current cluster has enough fuel to continue operating into the next decade. They certainly have made no announcements about new satellites, so going to 2039 is probably too optimistic.

[gunner45]

The previous deal with SES was to 2029. Although the three Astra satellites are ageing, SES can keep them going for a few more years. I'm expecting Sky to complete its migration from Sky Q to Sky Glass/Stream by mid-2030s. When this happens, Freesat will also die as it piggybacks on the same satellites used by Sky.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by telegramsam

I see Sky have agreed a deal with satalite owners to continue providing signal until at least 2039 meaning for now Sky Q will continue. Good news for people like me who like to have a box to record on as I hate having to search for programs on demand or catch up

That was Germany’s public broadcaster ARD. Sky has not provided any public information on the extended duration of their contract, but it is most likely to be 2034.

[jfman]

All the way to 2039 if you ask me.

No way this government abandons linear in 2034. The altnet industry is on the verge of collapse, Openreach will get the rest of the market at glacial pace in the absence of any incentives.

It seems unlikely to be 2039, that would require the satellites to keep going almost 10 years past their EOL date.

Even 2034 (5 years) seems to be pushing it. Of course SES have a better idea of what condition they are in, and if the're likely to last.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

All the way to 2039 if you ask me.

No way this government abandons linear in 2034. The altnet industry is on the verge of collapse, Openreach will get the rest of the market at glacial pace in the absence of any incentives.

I’m not sure where you get these ideas from, jfman, but good luck with that prediction!

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by nodrogd

The continuation of the service is reliant on the current satellites remaining serviceable. The positioning systems have a finite life, so once the fuel runs out they can no longer stay in the correct location. SES have obviously determined that the current cluster has enough fuel to continue operating into the next decade. They certainly have made no announcements about new satellites, so going to 2039 is probably too optimistic.

But hasn't there been initiatives to keep expensive satellites in service? Off the top of my head refuelling in space, creating devices to launch to keep pushing them back into their orbital position etc??

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

But hasn't there been initiatives to keep expensive satellites in service? Off the top of my head refuelling in space, creating devices to launch to keep pushing them back into their orbital position etc??

Plausible for a satellite in low earth orbit (LEO), but really not so much for a communications satellite. These things are the size of a double decker bus and they orbit at 22,000 miles altitude (LEO is 100 to 1,000 miles). There is no rocket yet built that could get there*, and in any case the Astra satellites are not designed for in-orbit refuelling. The assumption is that once the fuel has run out, their technology is obsolete and would be replaced by launching a replacement satellite anyway.

* SpaceX’s Starship could conceivably, in time, be built in a variant that could do this task

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I’m not sure where you get these ideas from, jfman, but good luck with that prediction!

SES have already committed to Astra 1 well into the 2040s and there’s no reason not to do similar with Astra 2. The only question for replacing the satellites and a customer base is it is a bit chicken and egg. Sky have made the first move, lack of a firm end date suggests it’s qualified in some way.

The increasingly precarious cybersecurity situation will inevitably rule out a vital part of communications infrastructure - the terrestrial television network - being closed down as per your fantasies. A lack of commitment to push BBC and ITV online only will mean satellite stays for longer.