Sky TV
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There is no doubt that Sky will have to change their business model to meet the viewer demands of today, but I enjoy the convenience of MySky as I tend to record the few FTA TV shows I am interested in and watch at a later time fast-forwarding the ads. Even on the sports channels the repeats tend to be edited for time so being able to record the live match is better. The new pricing announced by Sky a few days ago is aimed at the sports fan as the price is now $25 cheaper if you don't want those entertainment channels.
Did anyone watch the PPV Maori games? If so, what was the stream like?
The only competition I expect Sky to have for the rugby broadcasting rights in 2020 is from off-shore (e.g. Amazon). If Amazon did win the rights, it might not be as cheap as many think because you might end up paying to watch rugby, RL, cricket etc separately from different companies.
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I've got a Vodafone TV box, aka the old T-Box for those of us who had Telstra back in the day. However, the new Vodafone TV is online-based, including the ability to watch TV ondemand through it. I'm looking forward to being able to switch since that looks much more like the future of TV to me.
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If you look at the UK products they all offer set top boxes like MySky but better. All have access to other apps to access product from one unit like Netflix.
Lots of cross-company offers as well. Eg I am on Virgin but can add sky sports.
Just about anything you want you can add individually.
I'm only with Virgin as they have the only decent broadband where we are but if I had access to a naked b/b option I could just go with Amazon plus add ons for sport or NowTV where you just pay for what you want to watch at the time.
I can see Sky being absorbed by Voda as a one stop product and offering sports as an app to other providers. The key is fast internet take up and a way to maintain satellite product as a standalone option. If Voda could find a cost effective way to provide b/b over the sat network that would be awesome for those in weak areas. -
If you look at the UK products they all offer set top boxes like MySky but better. All have access to other apps to access product from one unit like Netflix.
Lots of cross-company offers as well. Eg I am on Virgin but can add sky sports.
Just about anything you want you can add individually.
I'm only with Virgin as they have the only decent broadband where we are but if I had access to a naked b/b option I could just go with Amazon plus add ons for sport or NowTV where you just pay for what you want to watch at the time.
I can see Sky being absorbed by Voda as a one stop product and offering sports as an app to other providers. The key is fast internet take up and a way to maintain satellite product as a standalone option. If Voda could find a cost effective way to provide b/b over the sat network that would be awesome for those in weak areas.I think that was Vodafone's plan, but the merger was blocked by the Commerce Commission.
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They have Strike Back on Soho so things are not all bad with Sky @taniwharugby @mariner4life @Catogrande Im not sure when season six is our.but they are going over season 5 and Alin Sumarwata is very talented.
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Sky Television has announced that it is not the preferred bidder to broadcast the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Spark and Television New Zealand are understood to have agreed to put in a joint bid for the broadcasting rights, however it is not known if they are the front runner. If they are successful it is expected Spark would be likely to stream matches over the internet, with TVNZ providing free-to-air coverage.Sky was also vulnerable to being outbid for end-of-year All Blacks tours -
Sky TV will actually save money if this happens. As the article says, games from the QFs onwards have to be shown FTA (Sky used Prime for that purpose) so there isn't really a great financial benefit to them. Remember TV3 had the broadcasting rights for the 2007 RWC. The devil is in the details as they say. If, for example, TVNZ only shows the AB games, and you need Lightbox to watch other RWC games a large number of rugby fans like myself will be just as disappointed as those who don't have Sky.
I'd much rather Sky focus on SANZAAR (Super rugby, All Black tests) as well as NPC and 1st XV rugby because that is where the significant cost is with the OBUs and number of staff required to broadcast matches live. I doubt TVNZ, TV3 or the telcos could afford that investment and still provide FTA coverage.
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@bovidae Maybe I misunderstand you, but if a lot of people want to watch the RWC and opt for a Lightbox subscription, there may be a big risk that they'll drop Sky. In that case, it won't save Sky money, but cost them. Overall, I think it may push people towards illegal streaming.
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@bovidae or will they push some onto their other channel, is it Duke or whatever they show the NFL on?
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A lot of people just pay for a short-term Sky subscription to cover marquee events like a RWC and then dump Sky anyway. If Sky needs to install a dish for these new subscribers then they must be spending more in start-up costs for little return.
My main point is that Sky will make more money from SANZAAR rugby rights (via advertising and subscriptions) than a tournament held every 4 years. If TVNZ or another player put in competitive bids for the SANZAAR rights then Sky should be worried. Rugby, cricket, RL etc is their bread and butter.
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Possibly, Duke does have plenty of sport. But if they bombarde us with ads.
TVNZ will have to provide app and on demand options too.
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@bovidae I guess the issue here is Sky losing the RWC, we know NZR are looking at their options for their other 'products' so is this the beginning of the end for Sky, or putting them on notice that they will need to up their game?
I guess the main problem is, Sky is only about 2 or 3 years too slow into reacting with all their other issues, competition etc, so they will need to act quickly to get a plan in place going forward, problem is, they have still got their dinosaur blame everyone else at the helm until a new CEO is found.
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Sky also pack in shitloads of their own ads under the guise of 'telling us about their other great content'. Bullshit. Not to mention paying extra for HD.
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I'm referring to ads during games. That's what Ch.9 does with the RL with Warren's "welcome back" spiel. Remember the outcry with the Sky TV ad immediately after the haka?
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I'm not going to defend Sky as they have been really slow with their uptake of new technology but the avid sports fan might get quite a shock if the situation eventuates where we have to pay different companies (Sky, Amazon, etc) to watch different sports. That will be more expensive than a single source of sport with one account.
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Just some random thoughts on this associated issue.
In Oz, so Foxtel instead of Sky, but I much prefer watching sport broadcast via satellite on my TV then via the internet as the motion always seems a bit weird to me.
We always whinge about pay tv in these threads but I think we're forgetting how crap things were in the old days of one delayed televised game a week. I think the NZR should keep this in mind too.
They may be a dinosaur but until the other options start buying and providing all the content they're a necessary evil.
I really don't want to get to the point where I have to get 4 different internet subscriptions just to get my rugby fix.
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@nepia I echo those sentiments. Sky costs me over $100 a month with multi room, etc but it has everything sports wise and I can record on my own decoders.
The real problem comes when they lose content (sports mostly). I won't be interested and will be forced into the multi subscription thing. I already have netflix and lightbox but how many more? And when is it going to become PPV? All of that is a pain in the bum. I don't like Sky as a monopoly, or a company, but the alternative doesn't look good.
