Freesat: Worst launch ever?

[Sandman]

Well is it the 6th May and I can still not find any freesat digiboxes for sale! Is today not launch day? And are channel 4 and FIVE going to be on freesat from the beginning. Why has nobody I have spoken to heard about freesat? Where is the tv advertising for it. I have not even seen a press advert.
I am not even sure it is launching today.
Why is it that a new digital tv service from the 2 biggest tv companies is not being pushed more and why is the official websute so bad.
Rant over!

[munkeectr]

Thats because the press launch is at 12:30pm today - After that the products go on sale... The website www.freesat.co.uk will be updated, etc, etc...

You will know about it and what it is from watching the TV this evening...

(Thats what has been promised)

Radio One had a quick bit on it this morning, in their news section.

[Stephen Neal]

The BBC News website and BBC News Channel have both been covering it this morning. No different, so far, to the original low-key Freeview launch. That too was a very low-key launch. Making a big splash on day one isn't always the best marketing strategy.

[barongreenback]

Because most people here are AV obsessives and therefore are far more impatient than your average consumer, who will most likely learn about this product by osmosis rather than refreshing the Argos page every 15 minutes to see when they have stock. There's no requirement to trail the product so I don't understand how this can be the worst launch ever when they haven't actually launched the product yet? :rotfl:

[Shaun666]

There's an ad in today's free Metro. Tells you absolutely nothing about it though, surprise, surprise !

[KevinPedrick]

Making a big splash on day one isn't always the best marketing strategy.

Amen to that, remember terminal 5 :rotfl:

[whitwori]

Think the Titanic was worst launch ever;)

[romeara]

I think from a purely marketing POV it has been a crap launch. Remember that there are manufacturers and retailers risking $$$ by supplying and stocking receivers. No-one I know has even heard about it.

- Rob

[barongreenback]

I think from a purely marketing POV it has been a crap launch. Remember that there are manufacturers and retailers risking $$$ by supplying and stocking receivers. No-one I know has even heard about it.

- Rob

Clearly the one message that's not getting through to some on this threat is that IT'S NOT BEING LAUNCHED UNTIL 12:30pm TODAY! (apologies for caps :suicide:).

[Mr-Bananas]

I like to think that I am pretty much up to speed with most AV stuff but I had not even heard of HD Free-Sat until I stumbled upon this thread last week.

Very strange how low key this whole thing is.

[MadScientist]

I don't know about worst but it's certainly p**s poor!

E.g. the Freesat website has hardly changed and any information with substance on content, HD coverage etc. isn't easy to find.

MS

[Fistynuts]

The Freesat website isn't even working for me at the moment. I suppose it might be busy after being linked to by this BBC news article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7384928.stm

[barongreenback]

It's quite clear that this is a soft launch - problems get ironed out and listener feedback is incorporated so that as the wider market gets to hear about it, there are less problems. Seems eminently sensible to me.

[MunichMag]

Must agree, the lack of information has been poor. I signed up their e-mail anouncment service via their website, and I've had nothing at all, not even to say it was being launched today.

[mrbleu]

I'm frankly amazed by some of the comments here...

freesat haven't even offically launched their service, and they are being criticised for not providing enough information. Lot's of stuff will have been embargoed and will flood out once the green light is given. By this time tomorrow you will have more information than you can shake a stick at :)

[Sandman]

I'm frankly amazed by some of the comments here...

freesat haven't even offically launched their service, and they are being criticised for not providing enough information. Lot's of stuff will have been embargoed and will flood out once the green light is given. By this time tomorrow you will have more information than you can shake a stick at :)

Yeah, we probably will but will the general public (who dont surf the net looking for the info.)?

[barongreenback]

Yeah, we probably will but will the general public (who dont surf the net looking for the info.)?

We don't know as they haven't formally launched yet!!!!! (can you wait another 38 minutes?)

mrbleu - you talk a lot of sense.

[munkeectr]

Yeah, we probably will but will the general public (who dont surf the net looking for the info.)?

I for one couldn't really care about the general public - If they are none the wiser, so what - The service cant fail like ITV digital, it has to exist to take the BBC/ITV forward into the HD age

[mrbleu]

Yeah, we probably will but will the general public (who dont surf the net looking for the info.)?

Yes, that is why they are launching to the press... How else do you propose they get their message across to the general public?

freesat is a not-for-profit organisation, and do not have a pot of gold to spend on a massive launch with tv adverts, press, mailshots etc... They have a modest target of a couple of million users within 2 years, and the core reason for launching it is to allow the 27% of UK housholds that cannot get freeview an opportunity to continue watching TV when the analogue lights go out - without having to sign up with Sky.

[ArtfulOwl]

Think the Titanic was worst launch ever;)


Think the Wasa was even worse, she sank in the dock!

[cooperda]

I like to think that I am pretty much up to speed with most AV stuff but I had not even heard of HD Free-Sat until I stumbled upon this thread last week.

Very strange how low key this whole thing is.

Well whilst there was no equipment to sell - that was probably best - no point getting people all excited and then saying 'You can't have it'

Cheers, cooperda

[romeara]

I appreciate both sides of the argument but I'm still veering towards the cr*p communications team angle. It doesn't cost $$$ to send out informative teaser emails and to build up some viral interest in the technology. Meanwhile magazines like "What Plasma & LCDTV" (issue 50- May) are saying "High-definition TV channels are only available in the UK on satellite from Sky or via cable from Virgin Media". So they're not even pre-briefing the hacks.

[barongreenback]

I appreciate both sides of the argument but I'm still veering towards the cr*p communications team angle. It doesn't cost $$$ to send out informative teaser emails and to build up some viral interest in the technology. Meanwhile magazines like "What Plasma & LCDTV" (issue 50- May) are saying "High-definition TV channels are only available in the UK on satellite from Sky or via cable from Virgin Media". So they're not even pre-briefing the hacks.

But they don't necessarily want to hard launch a brand new product. This isn't a new chocolate bar they're launching.

Anyway, for the impatient among you the site is now up.

[romeara]

But they don't necessarily want to hard launch a brand new product. This isn't a new chocolate bar they're launching.


John Lewis Solihull: "no sir, we don't yet have any deliveries of the boxes. We haven't yet been advised when they'll be available"

... what a great f***ing launch.

[barongreenback]

John Lewis Solihull: "no sir, we don't yet have any deliveries of the boxes. We haven't yet been advised when they'll be available"

... what a great f***ing launch.

Either you're being deliberately obtuse or you've totally missed the point.