Sony partners with Sky to kick-start HDTV in UK ... and broadband required for SkyHD?

[StooMonster]

According to reports in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, BSkyB and Sony are due to unveil a joint initiative today to sell high definition flat screen TV sets alongside Sky HD set top boxes.

They will be offering deals so that "consumers will be offered savings when they buy Sony's Bravia flat screen HDTV sets as a package with BSkyB's new HDTV-enabled Sky+ set-top box."

"In addition to offering four HD channels, BSkyB will also offer pay-per-view, video-on -demand content to the HD Sky+ boxes, which will come with a broadband connection."

and most interestingly ... "Almost a third of all flat screen TVs sold in the UK in September were "HD ready", according to research by GFK Marketing Services, and BSkyB forecasts that 700,000 HDTV sets will have been sold by the end of this year, rising to 2 million by the end of 2006."

So 2/3 of all flat screen TVs sold in the UK in September were not 'HD ready' ... hopefully BSkyB will note this and still include component output on (at least) first generation of Sky HD stb.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1671928,00.html

StooMonster

[StooMonster]

According to the Daily Telegraph podcast today, if you buy a Sony Bravia now you'll get a discount off price of Sky HD when it's launched.

StooMonster

[neilmcl]

You've been beaten to it: http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278577

[StooMonster]

...that thread (#278577) is not appearing in my
AV Forums > Video Components > High Definition TV

Wonder what is going on? Perhaps system updates again?

StooMonster

[StooMonster]

Missed that thread (#278577)!
:oops:

StooMonster

[Tony Hoyle]

"In addition to offering four HD channels, BSkyB will also offer pay-per-view, video-on -demand content to the HD Sky+ boxes, which will come with a broadband connection."


I read that as meaing that they'll be bundling Sky Broadband with it (which in the past has been a relabeled BT Broadband).

I really hope it's not mandatory, or requires a BT line or something stupid like that...

[steve36]

I went to a Sony shop today and saw the new Bravia and spoke to a sales person who knew more that most I've come across.
He stated he'd read a press release from Sky regarding HD and they will not be 'subsidising' it in any way unlike the current system is their statement. I think that the price I paid for my Sky+ box was more that it should have been but that's another argument, and as for the £10 a month to rent the software or whatever it's for........ (sorry wrong sub-forum!!).

He went on to state a figure for the subscription cost for Sky-HD and I can not believe it, it is ridiculously high and even mugs, (early adopters), like me will not pay that much.
Rather that risk possibly unnecessary worry I thought I'd ask has anyone else heard of really high Sky-HD subscriptions prices.:god:

Steve

[Starburst]

I read that as meaing that they'll be bundling Sky Broadband with it (which in the past has been a relabeled BT Broadband).

I really hope it's not mandatory, or requires a BT line or something stupid like that...




Of course we are assuming the article is accurate:)
For a start there will be two HD movie channels so that's five channels not 4 (nit pickingh I know but hey it's supposed to be accurate) and NG have announced a HD channel, simple facts that they should be aware of.

The SKY+ HD may indeed come with USB and even an ethernet port but I don't believe for one second the platform will be ready to receive broadband content at launch. The Easynet purchase hasn't been ratified yet and SKY have not asked for fast track approval and the idea of forcing an additional broadband package onto the HD subscriber is just a non starter.

[StooMonster]

Oh, AVForums working again ... can you tell I was having problems today? Sorry for duplicate post and multiple posts above, it was all going Pete Tong this afternoon. :suicide:

Good points Starburst, when is BSkyB / Easynet transaction due to be completed anyway?

StooMonster

[Starburst]

Good points Starburst, when is BSkyB / Easynet transaction due to be completed anyway?

StooMonster



All the required paperwork has been completed and the price and conditions set down now it's just a matter of any issues that may arise from within the OFT and even the competition commision. Last article I saw mentioned that SKY have not requested their purchase to be fast tracked through the system which would make sense if the mid to late 2006 roll out of products under the SKY Broadband Services division is the target.

[Tony Hoyle]

He went on to state a figure for the subscription cost for Sky-HD and I can not believe it, it is ridiculously high and even mugs, (early adopters), like me will not pay that much.

Sky aren't stupid - something completely ridiculous would kill the launch stone dead. Few people are going to pay £400 (ish) for a box then stupid amounts extra on their subscription for a couple of poxy movie channels.

OTOH they *will* push it as high as they think they can get away with. £10/month extra + mandatory family pack sounds quite possible.

[blakey1]

Sky aren't stupid - something completely ridiculous would kill the launch stone dead. Few people are going to pay £400 (ish) for a box then stupid amounts extra on their subscription for a couple of poxy movie channels.

OTOH they *will* push it as high as they think they can get away with. £10/month extra + mandatory family pack sounds quite possible.

SKY+ was £299 when it first came out and is still £199 plus fitting for existing customers and therefore I think £400 for Sky HD is possible. It will really depend on how good it is. If it amazing as some think it will be then I think Sky will have no problem shifting boxes at the price stated and some will feel another £10 on top of the £42 top price is not unreasonable.

[BIGMAX]

Sky+ was and still is totally revolutionary so £300 at launch was a bargain for the kit, £10/month sub was a bit painful but they soon done away with it. Would anyone in their right mind spend more money again on something which is just giving a marginally better picture to the average viewer and only on some channels ???

[datsunman]

SKY+ was £299 when it first came out and is still £199 plus fitting for existing customers and therefore I think £400 for Sky HD is possible. It will really depend on how good it is. If it amazing as some think it will be then I think Sky will have no problem shifting boxes at the price stated and some will feel another £10 on top of the £42 top price is not unreasonable.

On the other hand, Sky+ covers *all* channels and made the whole Sky experience better. I personally think £400 for the box and an extra tenner a month is too much to pay for what is essentially five channels.

[rowlandhills]

Sky+ was and still is totally revolutionary...

Not quite. Sky+ was and still is a poor copy of TiVo! :)

I just wish that I could buy a high-definition TiVo rather than being forced to use Sky's version in order to get HiDef. :(

[blakey1]

Sky+ was and still is totally revolutionary so £300 at launch was a bargain for the kit, £10/month sub was a bit painful but they soon done away with it. Would anyone in their right mind spend more money again on something which is just giving a marginally better picture to the average viewer and only on some channels ???

I agree with you but there are many people on here who think that HD will have the same impact as when we went from Black and White to Colour. If they are correct then many will see £400 as not alot. There are many on here who have suggested that they will be happy to pay between £300-£400 for HD. These people will help pay for the cost of HD to start off with. I assume though that the costs will come down after a year or so. Also will Sky at some stage start showing films on their HD channels before SD? What about football? There could be the odd premiership match exclusive to HD. This could encourge people to join HD.

[Nick_UK]

On the other hand, Sky+ covers *all* channels and made the whole Sky experience better. I personally think £400 for the box and an extra tenner a month is too much to pay for what is essentially five channels.

Try telling that to the people on here queueing up with their cheque books at the ready (not me, I might add !) :)

[Starburst]

Also will Sky at some stage start showing films on their HD channels before SD? What about football? There could be the odd premiership match exclusive to HD. This could encourge people to join HD.





I don't think SKY would be willing to pay more for the ability to bypass the PPV window and that would be the only way to put a movie on a HD sub channel ahead of a SD channel.
The same with football unless of course there is a dedicated HD footy subscription, if the HD premium is a sports sub then again SKY would get too much flak by restricting some content to HD and well from 2007 who knows how much footy they will have:)

[Starburst]

Try telling that to the people on here queueing up with their cheque books at the ready (not me, I might add !) :)



Yeah you'll never convince those who are already "lost" in the HD world that the money spent will not be worth it and that does include me:)

Not worried about the inevitable drop in hardware prices nor the fact that there will more content in 12 months. The announced channel lineup is the core of PAY telly, not that much different to the early days of SKY really and of course we still have all the existing SD content.

[Nick_UK]

If/when the BBC join the Sky HD platform, I will consider it, but not until then. About 70% of my viewing is BBC content.

[steve36]

I agree there are people on this forum, me included waiting cheque books in hand for Sky HD, even at £300+ for the box.
But the monthly subscription figure I was told yesterday puts this box into the realm of a relatively small minority,.

I'll pay £10 a month on top of current high priced subs but there are limits, and this figure really was way beyond those limits.

Maybe the figure being stated was the average value per customer including PPV+football season tickets, which as you state appears to be even more prevalent on HD.

Steve

[Starburst]

If/when the BBC join the Sky HD platform, I will consider it, but not until then. About 70% of my viewing is BBC content.





You could of course consider a standard FTA HD reciever (HDD integrated or not) at that time since the EU market should bring those prices down far faster than SKY's kit will and we can hope at least one other FTA broadcaster sees some value in HD.

[Starburst]

But the monthly subscription figure I was told yesterday puts this box into the realm of a relatively small minority,.

I'll pay £10 a month on top of current high priced subs but there are limits, and this figure really was way beyond those limits.

Maybe the figure being stated was the average value per customer including PPV+football season tickets, which as you state appears to be even more prevalent on HD.

Steve



Come on then no one else has been shy with revealing what figure they have been told by a SKY rep, SKY agent, reporter, industry insider etc etc:)

Interesting to hear why this person does not think the rumoured £10(ish) premium is not going to be the case for SKY.

[Tony B]

You could of course consider a standard FTA HD reciever (HDD integrated or not).

Where, where? I need an HDD one and I need it now...

[Starburst]

Where, where? I need an HDD one and I need it now...





Humax, Pace and Philips all have standard mpeg4/dvbs-2 units for the HD services in Germany/Austria and ultimiately the EU, while most will go directly to Premiere for distribution directly to their customers they will enter the retail chain as well. The more expensive HDD integrated units (DVR's in other words) will roll out as the market grows, at this time only seen the Pace twin tuner DVR.

Bayards has one on order (Pace single tuner I believe) but due to short supply retail outlets are looking at jan/feb for dispatch.

[Trev S-J]

Although everybody on this thread seems to be concerned about the price hike involved when Sky H-D comes to us all,but surely the problem facing many of us subscribers is that not only will we be out laying approx. £300-£500(depending who you glean info from)for the box but another £1000-£2000for a decent sized LCD/Plasma to watch the material on.I`m afraid I will be one of many sky+ subscribers who will find this more dramatic outlay of funds too much.(probably due to me paying out £1200 2yrs ago for a Loewe Planus 32"and therefore not quite ready for the changeover to the LCD/Plasma sets yet)

Just my humble (and poorly funded at the moment!!)opinion.
Trev S-J

[StooMonster]

Do all the rumours of price hike simply come from James Murdoch's recent comment that SkyHD will a premium service and will be priced as such, or something more tangible I've missed?

StooMonster

[Starburst]

Although everybody on this thread seems to be concerned about the price hike involved when Sky H-D comes to us all,but surely the problem facing many of us subscribers is that not only will we be out laying approx. £300-£500(depending who you glean info from)for the box but another £1000-£2000for a decent sized LCD/Plasma to watch the material on.







I think SKY believe (and TW as well) that there are plenty of people who already have HD capable displays and the recent boom in HD Ready TV's would back that up although many may have been bought for other reasons than HD:)
Starting from scratch the cost would be daunting but the intitial target consumer will be half way to HD already.

[Starburst]

Do all the rumours of price hike simply come from James Murdoch's recent comment that SkyHD will a premium service and will be priced as such, or something more tangible I've missed?

StooMonster




I assume it's just a reference to the HD premium which is speculated to be ontop of the SD subscription, there have been ridiculous rumours of the HD subscription prices which we've seen repeated elsewhere as if they were gospel.
Even I would dissmiss SKY HD if some of the more outlandish prices had a basis in fact:)