I have become increasingly unsettled by the tactics being employed by BSkyB regarding their new Sky Sports channel, Sky Sports 5. Over recent months, the broadcaster has:
- Run a highly intensive campaign suggestion viewers "activate" the channel
- Offered a two year fixed contract broadband deal as inducement
- Intimated that taking the broadband deal and activation of the channel are in some way linked
- Stated in a live broadcast (Arsenal v Besiktas, Sky Sports 5, Weds 27 August) that not activating the channel will lead to encryption - which did not happen.
I am convinced that there has been deliberate obfuscation taking place to "lock" consumers in to a 2 year broadband subscription on the commercial basis that Sky Sports portfolio of rights will be severely weakened when Champions League and Europa League football transfers to its telecommunications competitor BT from next September. By intimating that customers will not be able to receive Sky Sports 5 (when clearly all existing Sky Sports customers CAN and WILL receive the channel) unless they sign up for the two year broadband deal, they are acting in a deliberately anti-competitive manner.
There is a clear agenda here to "lock in" customers to its own broadband offering to prevent migration to BT in September 2015. This would be fine if customers were taking a rational and reasoned decision based on a compelling market offering. Instead, I believe that customers are being misled regarding their ability to receive a channel in order to influence their decision making with regard to their broadband contract.
I will also be submitting a copy of this complaint to the ASA.
I think a major issue is the use of the word "activate" without giving an explanation of what that actually means. The channel is already available to view so what you are doing by "activating" it is unclear.
last night i looked on twitter & there were a few others with the same complain, but not too many.
Seen a few on Twitter myself with the trouble, which led to one of my favourite comments I've seen from any Sky CS employee:
Not all customers want to activate this channel, and that's why we give you the option. If you do activate it and you already have Sky Sports, you will get up to two years free Sky Broadband. Please take a look at this link for further details on this: sky.com/2yearsfree
because, of course, giving you a true choice of whether you want new channels joining your current package or not is what Sky do. ;-)
Well, unless you live in Ireland where you can't get the broadband deal so the channel was actually properly included in the sports pack with no activation silliness.
Asked Sky on Twitter when they're going to get rid of that irritating "Activate SS5" box that pops up after virtually every ad break, whether you've activated the channel or not (we have, weeks ago. It's still here)
They said it would disappear "in due course" and when I enquired as to what date that would be they said they didn't know. So it looks like we have to put up with that for a while longer yet as well.
Amazing how poorly this has been, and continues to be, handled by Sky.
Asked Sky on Twitter when they're going to get rid of that irritating "Activate SS5" box that pops up after virtually every ad break, whether you've activated the channel or not (we have, weeks ago. It's still here)
They said it would disappear "in due course" and when I enquired as to what date that would be they said they didn't know. So it looks like we have to put up with that for a while longer yet as well.
Amazing how poorly this has been, and continues to be, handled by Sky.
Went to watch the Wales game tonight, only to be greeted with the you need to activate screen.
6 mins on the phone and now we're activated even though we currently pay for the full sky package.
Very interested to note that Sky have elected to show the Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord games all on tape delay on Sunday morning.
Typically one would expect Sky to concentrate on these teams but they all play during Saturday late afternoon and evening which clashes with the La Liga coverage. So instead of just showing what has been selected as the games for Sunday in Holland - which aren't the sort of fixtures that the average Dutch viewer is interested in let alone the casual English one - they have opted to go with Vitesse-Excelsior live and the rest delayed. Sensible decision in my view but rather atypical of Sky to show complete fixtures on tape delay
Very interested to note that Sky have elected to show the Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord games all on tape delay on Sunday morning.
Typically one would expect Sky to concentrate on these teams but they all play during Saturday late afternoon and evening which clashes with the La Liga coverage. So instead of just showing what has been selected as the games for Sunday in Holland - which aren't the sort of fixtures that the average Dutch viewer is interested in let alone the casual English one - they have opted to go with Vitesse-Excelsior live and the rest delayed. Sensible decision in my view but rather atypical of Sky to show complete fixtures on tape delay
And if anyone has been won over by the Eredivisie, they might be interested to know that there now a podcast available via the BeNeFoot website.
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And an excellent read it is too! Created by a regular DS forum contributor to boot!
Hadn't realised they would have these games behind the red button
Haven't checked yet but hopefully the Dutch games are being repeated again on Monday as they have been.
On the whole the coverage has been very good. I've liked the comms especially Simon Connelly and Phil Blacker. I have quite a high standard of what I would deem a proficent commentary (knowledge, technical level, interest, pronunciation) and so far they've been pretty decent in all regards
It's also good that Sky haven't just shown games from the big 3 (PEC-Vitesse and now Ecelsior-Vitesse) and I hope that continues as the Dutch league isn't just about the big 3.
sky always amaze me how they keep coming up with new ideas how to charge you more to get what you once had.
they have been doing it since 1990 when i first got sky
Sorry I haven't been following all the thread, but to clarify with the '2 years free broadband' thing - does this actually tie the customer into some sort of contract for the 2 year period? I'm assuming that they're not committed to take out Sky Sports for 2 years?
Sorry I haven't been following all the thread, but to clarify with the '2 years free broadband' thing - does this actually tie the customer into some sort of contract for the 2 year period? I'm assuming that they're not committed to take out Sky Sports for 2 years?
Dont think so no, if they cancel Sky Sports they then get charged for broadband, think there is an 18 month minimum term on the broadband (chargable or not)
Sorry I haven't been following all the thread, but to clarify with the '2 years free broadband' thing - does this actually tie the customer into some sort of contract for the 2 year period? I'm assuming that they're not committed to take out Sky Sports for 2 years?
I thought for the deal you need to keep a Sky Sports subscription in place. There is definitely a new contract in place.
I took the fibre BB deal but will need to check with my brother in law on the standard BB terms, unless someone posts here first.
The fibre BB deal requires you to sign up to a new contract which means you must keep Sky line rental, Sky fibre BB and Sky package with a Sky Sports for
If new customer : 12 months
If existing customer (like me) : 18 months
Discount is only £10pm off fibre for 12 months so existing customers locked into final 6 months at £20pm.
It very clearly says if you terminate early you must buy out the remainder of the phone and fibre BB contracts. Not sure if you can ditch the standard Sky and or Sky Sports add on without penalty though. However if you ditch those it voids the discount.
Edit : Beaten by Ginger Daddy, plus my brother in law just messaged back. If you ditch Sky Sports on standard Sky BB deal you lose the free offer but are still contracted to Sky BB and line rental for 2 years, so would have to pay the £7.50pm standard Sky BB subscriber price or £10pm if you ditch Sky totally for the remainder of the contract.
Went to watch the Wales game tonight, only to be greeted with the you need to activate screen.
6 mins on the phone and now we're activated even though we currently pay for the full sky package.
Thanks for this - very interesting info.
It appears that ariusuk was right at post 493 - it looks as if they are encrypting a very small number of people at a time.
They can't encrypt many people (as per my post 491) - I would think they are literally only encrypting maybe approx 1% of people at a time - ie a small enough number for them to be able to handle call volumes.
If it is correct that Sky are encrypting people on an extremely slow, gradual basis then the whole thing could be going on for quite some time.
It is now just over 4 weeks since SS5 launched - I don't think anyone could have imagined they would still now be continuing with the "activation campaign". But who knows - it may go on for quite a lot longer.
If it is correct that Sky are encrypting people on an extremely slow, gradual basis then the whole thing could be going on for quite some time.
It is now just over 4 weeks since SS5 launched - I don't think anyone could have imagined they would still now be continuing with the "activation campaign". But who knows - it may go on for quite a lot longer.
We'll I still get the onscreen icon press red after every advert break for a few seconds until it times out.
If your box is connected to the web you can activate online via the box just press the red button and say you don't want the BB offer if uninterested.
As said above it does sound as if they are trying to force all subscribers to respond to this to make them the BB offer.
If it is correct that Sky are encrypting people on an extremely slow, gradual basis then the whole thing could be going on for quite some time.
It is now just over 4 weeks since SS5 launched - I don't think anyone could have imagined they would still now be continuing with the "activation campaign". But who knows - it may go on for quite a lot longer.
Other than the initial holding response, no, nothing yet.
I suspect they will keep doing it for as long as it is working - the drawn out nature of the whole debacle suggests to me that the smokescreen has actually fooled a fair number of consumers.
If it is correct that Sky are encrypting people on an extremely slow, gradual basis then the whole thing could be going on for quite some time.
It is now just over 4 weeks since SS5 launched - I don't think anyone could have imagined they would still now be continuing with the "activation campaign". But who knows - it may go on for quite a lot longer.
Its a complete and utter shambles and I keep asking myself do they really need another channel......off course they don't.
I would really like to know some viewing figures since the channel was launched and in particular the Dutch league.
Showing repeats after repeats for long periods speaks for itself in really helping make it a dull channel for most of the time.
I just cant even imagine next season how they will fill the loss of the Champion's League.
Strange but rather funny observation (or not) regarding the Sky One Champions League game next week. I was flicking through the epg and it certainly looks as if Sky want to make sure people notice it. It's written on the epg in HUGE capital letters:
If you do this I suspect the odds are that Sky won't get into trouble - however I also suspect there is a good chance that OFCOM will say that Sky now has to clarify the position - ie set date by which channel must be activated and if it isn't then encrypt - or of course just drop the whole "campaign".
Plus (if campaign is to continue) make it clearer that activation of SS5 and broadband are not "linked".
Is there a case for the Advertising Standards Authority to get involved here?
Comments
Seen a few on Twitter myself with the trouble, which led to one of my favourite comments I've seen from any Sky CS employee:
https://sky.response.lithium.com/portal/conversation/2119508
because, of course, giving you a true choice of whether you want new channels joining your current package or not is what Sky do. ;-)
Well, unless you live in Ireland where you can't get the broadband deal so the channel was actually properly included in the sports pack with no activation silliness.
They said it would disappear "in due course" and when I enquired as to what date that would be they said they didn't know. So it looks like we have to put up with that for a while longer yet as well.
Amazing how poorly this has been, and continues to be, handled by Sky.
Went to watch the Wales game tonight, only to be greeted with the you need to activate screen.
6 mins on the phone and now we're activated even though we currently pay for the full sky package.
It really does ask the question though, if Sky do lose La Liga next season what will they be showing to fill the numerous hours up?
Surely they will not show any Spanish gold or Champion League Gold? Maybe they will show European Qualifiers from this season throughout?
Or maybe they just hope they will keep La Liga.
Typically one would expect Sky to concentrate on these teams but they all play during Saturday late afternoon and evening which clashes with the La Liga coverage. So instead of just showing what has been selected as the games for Sunday in Holland - which aren't the sort of fixtures that the average Dutch viewer is interested in let alone the casual English one - they have opted to go with Vitesse-Excelsior live and the rest delayed. Sensible decision in my view but rather atypical of Sky to show complete fixtures on tape delay
http://www.live-footballontv.com/ indicates Dutch matches will be available via red button.
And if anyone has been won over by the Eredivisie, they might be interested to know that there now a podcast available via the BeNeFoot website.
(Non-promotional message)
So why was I able to watch SS5 without activation up until yesterday ?
And an excellent read it is too! Created by a regular DS forum contributor to boot!
Hadn't realised they would have these games behind the red button
Haven't checked yet but hopefully the Dutch games are being repeated again on Monday as they have been.
On the whole the coverage has been very good. I've liked the comms especially Simon Connelly and Phil Blacker. I have quite a high standard of what I would deem a proficent commentary (knowledge, technical level, interest, pronunciation) and so far they've been pretty decent in all regards
It's also good that Sky haven't just shown games from the big 3 (PEC-Vitesse and now Ecelsior-Vitesse) and I hope that continues as the Dutch league isn't just about the big 3.
they have been doing it since 1990 when i first got sky
Dont think so no, if they cancel Sky Sports they then get charged for broadband, think there is an 18 month minimum term on the broadband (chargable or not)
I thought for the deal you need to keep a Sky Sports subscription in place. There is definitely a new contract in place.
I took the fibre BB deal but will need to check with my brother in law on the standard BB terms, unless someone posts here first.
The fibre BB deal requires you to sign up to a new contract which means you must keep Sky line rental, Sky fibre BB and Sky package with a Sky Sports for
If new customer : 12 months
If existing customer (like me) : 18 months
Discount is only £10pm off fibre for 12 months so existing customers locked into final 6 months at £20pm.
It very clearly says if you terminate early you must buy out the remainder of the phone and fibre BB contracts. Not sure if you can ditch the standard Sky and or Sky Sports add on without penalty though. However if you ditch those it voids the discount.
Edit : Beaten by Ginger Daddy, plus my brother in law just messaged back. If you ditch Sky Sports on standard Sky BB deal you lose the free offer but are still contracted to Sky BB and line rental for 2 years, so would have to pay the £7.50pm standard Sky BB subscriber price or £10pm if you ditch Sky totally for the remainder of the contract.
Thanks for this - very interesting info.
It appears that ariusuk was right at post 493 - it looks as if they are encrypting a very small number of people at a time.
They can't encrypt many people (as per my post 491) - I would think they are literally only encrypting maybe approx 1% of people at a time - ie a small enough number for them to be able to handle call volumes.
Have you heard anything back from OFCOM yet?
If it is correct that Sky are encrypting people on an extremely slow, gradual basis then the whole thing could be going on for quite some time.
It is now just over 4 weeks since SS5 launched - I don't think anyone could have imagined they would still now be continuing with the "activation campaign". But who knows - it may go on for quite a lot longer.
We'll I still get the onscreen icon press red after every advert break for a few seconds until it times out.
If your box is connected to the web you can activate online via the box just press the red button and say you don't want the BB offer if uninterested.
As said above it does sound as if they are trying to force all subscribers to respond to this to make them the BB offer.
Other than the initial holding response, no, nothing yet.
I suspect they will keep doing it for as long as it is working - the drawn out nature of the whole debacle suggests to me that the smokescreen has actually fooled a fair number of consumers.
Its a complete and utter shambles and I keep asking myself do they really need another channel......off course they don't.
I would really like to know some viewing figures since the channel was launched and in particular the Dutch league.
Showing repeats after repeats for long periods speaks for itself in really helping make it a dull channel for most of the time.
I just cant even imagine next season how they will fill the loss of the Champion's League.
Up until September 2nd the highest Dutch rating was 30k for Zwolle vs Vitesse.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: CHELSEA V S
Is there a case for the Advertising Standards Authority to get involved here?