General : Underhand devious Sky

Originally Posted by martyh

and how is that underhand ,devious or even wrong ?

They are exploiting the fact that they operate both a set of channels and a content delivery platform. Given that the regulator can, and has, acted in the past to rule on the pricing and availability of Sky's channels on other platforms I think it is reasonable to expect Sky to behave in a non-discriminatory way towards the other platforms that carry its content. Shifting series from Sky One, which is available on all broadcast platforms, to Sky Atlantic, which is exclusive to Sky's own broadcasting platform only, contravenes the spirit of the regulator's past rulings in this area even if it does not offend against the letter.

[passingbat]

Slightly off topic, but Why did Sky put Awake on Atlantic anyway? It's from NBC, a network broadcaster, not from the likes of HBO.

It's of concern, because the networks have just anounced the new shows for the 2012/2013 season at the yearly Upfronts and it's possible that any of these shows that Sky buy may get put on Atlantic. You expect it for HBO shows, but if Sky are putting network shows on Atlantic, it's a different ball game; not one favouring non Sky users.

See my post above. Sky Atlantic is just another ploy to get round past rulings regarding availability of Sky channels on other platforms. There was plenty of room among the endless re-runs of The Simpsons for all the HBO stuff to go on Sky One. It would have cost them less to do it that way. They didn't do it that way, because Sky Atlantic is all about maintaining a level of exclusivity for the Sky platform that the regulator has previously attempted to curb. The HBO deal was IMO just a convenient fig-leaf to allow them to launch the channel without it being quite so blatant an attempt to put one over the folks at Ofcom.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Slightly off topic, but Why did Sky put Awake on Atlantic anyway? It's from NBC, a network broadcaster, not from the likes of HBO.

Blue Bloods is from CBS
ER is NBC
Friday Night lights is NBC

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Chris

They are exploiting the fact that they operate both a set of channels and a content delivery platform. Given that the regulator can, and has, acted in the past to rule on the pricing and availability of Sky's channels on other platforms I think it is reasonable to expect Sky to behave in a non-discriminatory way towards the other platforms that carry its content. Shifting series from Sky One, which is available on all broadcast platforms, to Sky Atlantic, which is exclusive to Sky's own broadcasting platform only, contravenes the spirit of the regulator's past rulings in this area even if it does not offend against the letter.

I wonder how this stacks up against Virgin & a free channel to L subscribers for month Its called a free sample,or taster is it not ?

Sky ( as are Virgin ) are out to make as much money as they can. You never HAVE to watch SKY so I fail to see how it is monopolistic.I am sure it would like to be, So SKY would have to buy Freeview & own every satellite/channel beaming to UK before that would even start to happen.


If you are really not happy with them, then NEVER watch any of their channels If the viewing figure went way down ,so would their income. Personally I NEVER use Tesco for anything It makes me feel good at least. Always try to shop local ( Yes I can afford it,& its called putting my money were my mouth is)

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Chris

They are exploiting the fact that they operate both a set of channels and a content delivery platform. Given that the regulator can, and has, acted in the past to rule on the pricing and availability of Sky's channels on other platforms I think it is reasonable to expect Sky to behave in a non-discriminatory way towards the other platforms that carry its content. Shifting series from Sky One, which is available on all broadcast platforms, to Sky Atlantic, which is exclusive to Sky's own broadcasting platform only, contravenes the spirit of the regulator's past rulings in this area even if it does not offend against the letter.

Agreed.

I'm surprised that when VM sold their channels to Sky, they didn't see this coming and make it part of the agreement to automatically have any newly launched Sky channel at a fair price.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Slightly off topic, but Why did Sky put Awake on Atlantic anyway? It's from NBC, a network broadcaster, not from the likes of HBO.

It's of concern, because the networks have just anounced the new shows for the 2012/2013 season at the yearly Upfronts and it's possible that any of these shows that Sky buy may get put on Atlantic. You expect it for HBO shows, but if Sky are putting network shows on Atlantic, it's a different ball game; not one favouring non Sky users.

Sorry tried & failed to put this into my post above

[denphone]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Agreed.

I'm surprised that when VM sold their channels to Sky, they didn't see this coming and make it part of the agreement to automatically have any newly launched Sky channel at a fair price.

Maybe they did try to get it included in any agreement but Sky l suspect played hardball.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Agreed.

I'm surprised that when VM sold their channels to Sky, they didn't see this coming and make it part of the agreement to automatically have any newly launched Sky channel at a fair price.

First of all do we know that do not try ( & failed?).

Sorry I cannot understand why you ( anyone that is ) thinks that Sky or anyone else for that matter has to ensure that Virgin gets all there material. Come on Tesco put your value range in every corner shop

Originally Posted by passingbat

Agreed.

I'm surprised that when VM sold their channels to Sky, they didn't see this coming and make it part of the agreement to automatically have any newly launched Sky channel at a fair price.

Because Virgin Media is inept when it comes to these sorts of negotiations. A lot of people forget that when the whole 'Sky Basics' debacle kicked off a couple of years ago, that was round two of the battle. Round One was Sky's negotiators massively knocking down the price they paid for access to the channels Virgin then owned, on the basis of falling ratings - Sky said 'Less!' and VM just rolled over and took it.

Of course, it ultimately came back to bite Sky on the bum when they demanded a massive increase in the price they wanted to charge for access to their channels, on the basis of increased investment, never mind that those channels, like VM's, were suffering from falling ratings. This allowed VM to dig its heels in, cease carrying Sky One etc for a few weeks, and eventually get them back, complete with a renegotiated price for their own channels that more or less made the whole deal a cash-neutral swap.

Notwithstanding any of the above, VM's initial failure to secure a decent price for its channels was a disgrace and IMO offers some insight into the relative skill of their negotiators compared with Sky's. The world and his wife could see that VM was on a hiding to nothing if it didn't do anything to future-proof access to all the most popular linear content in Sky's stable. VM seems to have bet the farm on a future of on-demand access rather than linear broadcast TV - but do those same negotiators have the skill to ensure Sky does not simply hoover up all the on-demand rights as well?

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Blue Bloods is from CBS
ER is NBC
Friday Night lights is NBC

Friday night Lights was partially shown on ITV4 and wasn't ER shown elsewhere initially?

So they have a sort of excuse for those going on to Atlantic as the are re runs and in the case of FNL, minority viewing even though critically acclaimed and a great series (bought the DVDs from the states as they were released).

I still think it's wrong to put new networked shows on Atlantic though.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Friday night Lights was partially shown on ITV4 and wasn't ER shown elsewhere initially?

So they have a sort of excuse for those going on to Atlantic as the are re runs and in the case of FNL, minority viewing even though critically acclaimed and a great series (bought the DVDs from the states as they were released).

I still think it's wrong to put new networked shows on Atlantic though.

As much as I understand your point. I think its good marketing, If you really want it, move to SKY,& the plan works. If you really do like it & you are not happy about it but will not move to SKY . I would say - say nothing if they do not feel its is a draw then it fails

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by denphone

Maybe they did try to get it included in any agreement but Sky l suspect played hardball.

I said 'surprised' they didn't put it in; I really meant 'totally amazed' they didn't put it in.

If VM negotiating team weren't aware of how Sky operates, and didn't know that they would pull a stunt like Atlantic, then they must have been stupid and incompetent; everyone else who has an interest in these sorts of things, knew it was likely to happen.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Friday night Lights was partially shown on ITV4 and wasn't ER shown elsewhere initially?

So they have a sort of excuse for those going on to Atlantic as the are re runs and in the case of FNL, minority viewing even though critically acclaimed and a great series (bought the DVDs from the states as they were released).

I still think it's wrong to put new networked shows on Atlantic though.

Missed 'Smash' out also I believe that's NBC.

Originally Posted by Chris

See my post above. Sky Atlantic is just another ploy to get round past rulings regarding availability of Sky channels on other platforms. There was plenty of room among the endless re-runs of The Simpsons for all the HBO stuff to go on Sky One. It would have cost them less to do it that way. They didn't do it that way, because Sky Atlantic is all about maintaining a level of exclusivity for the Sky platform that the regulator has previously attempted to curb. The HBO deal was IMO just a convenient fig-leaf to allow them to launch the channel without it being quite so blatant an attempt to put one over the folks at Ofcom.

What's wrong with wanting to be exclusive ?Any company will try to have it's own exclusive product it's usually good business sense .Sky's red button features are the same .Like i said in a earlier post they operate on different models .