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Sky Not Doing Deals Anymore?


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Old 07-12-2016, 20:01
anyonefortennis
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Cheers . I think I will wait as I am quite happy to walk away right now ( just don't tell my kids ).

You never know, I might get a decent Sky Q offer
LG are giving free Sky Q for a year if you buy some of their TV's.
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Old 07-12-2016, 20:01
Richard_Cranium
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Ask most football fans if they would be willing to give up their Sky even if the price increased by another £50 a month starting next year. Most will answer no and would find a way to fund the massive price hike.
lol yes they will viewing numbers are going down lol more lies from this fanboy whos scared to respond to me because he knows I would own him lol
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Old 07-12-2016, 20:02
Colin_London
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I don't think their sales operation would ever be able to adapt to a situation where they weren't permitted to discount - they would have no tools to retain customers, and losing customers, with no prospect of bonuses, is not something any sales force would cope with.
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Old 07-12-2016, 22:49
popeye13
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Makes me laugh trotting out the claims of scaling back discounts. Id love to see this claim in the form of a link. It may well be true but im yet to see proof.

And people who actually believe Sky or any other service provider will 'scale back discounting' is living on another planet! It would cost them literally millions in revenue every single year and no company can afford that loss on their books, not even @aurichie's beloved Sky!
He only trots out the claims because he's admitted he hasn't ever had a discount from them and thinks we're all basically scum for taking an offer.

Also, Sky's best offers always come a week before cut off and into being cut off.
It is worth the wait. Being offered 11% off was just insulting.
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Old 07-12-2016, 23:04
Lanky
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Just been on live chat, and have kept on my TV Bundle (Boxsets + Cinema).

Am getting 60% off for 12 months, on a rolling monthly deal, + £50 account credit.

So the TV bundle is £22.40/month with no tie-in.

Happy enough with that - I did mention seeing 75% offers + credits, which is when he offered the £50.

So in 11 months, we do it all again!
I obtained my last deal, which ran out last month, by ringing Sky. I don't like haggling over the phone and so I'm interested that you achieved your deal by live chat. Only problem is that I'm not sure where this chat is. I've tried looking at the forum through my sky and can't see anything. Please can you point me in the right direction? Thanks
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Old 07-12-2016, 23:43
gs1
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Makes me laugh trotting out the claims of scaling back discounts. Id love to see this claim in the form of a link. It may well be true but im yet to see proof. .....
It originates from Sky stating in their Q3 15/16 (1/3/16- 31/3/16) results that:

..... Churn for the quarter was 10.7%, reflecting our decision to limit discounts; we believe this impacts the quarter by around 10,000 additional customers churning. .....
https://corporate.sky.com/documents/...%20release.pdf
(page 3)

In Q4 15/16 (year to 30/6/16) they said:

.... In addition, we continued to limit retention discounts, and we also communicated to customers a TV price rise in the order of 4-5%, which took effect from June. Together these factors contributed to an 11.2% churn rate in the UK and Ireland. ......
https://corporate.sky.com/documents/...%20release.pdf
(page 6)

Note, that the "decision to limit discounts"- as stated by Sky in Q3 & Q4 of 15/16- contributed to rising churn (cancellations):
Q4 14/15 9.8%
Q1 15/16 9.8%
Q2 15/16 10.2%
Q3 15/16 10.7%
Q4 15/16 11.2%


Thus, there are clear signs of customer resistance to limiting of discounts, in my opinion, and that Sky are dependent on discounting to retain its current pay-tv market share of 63%, including Now TV (per Ofcom's 2016 Communications Market Report).

They did try to limit discounts/ discount levels earlier in 2016, but in my view, this was testing customer resolve at the margins, rather than a substantial shift in policy. The reintroduction of 75% discounts further suggests that they've found resistance.

Last edited by gs1 : 07-12-2016 at 23:46. Reason: clarity
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Old 08-12-2016, 00:25
jonmorris
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Many people are seeking to cut expenditures, so unless you're a hard-core sports fan, I think cutting Sky would be one of the first things to go.
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Old 08-12-2016, 08:46
Bigbadbal1!
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Hi

If you go (preferably on a PC) into sky.com, log in and then look under your My Sky/My Package, then scroll down the screen to I'm thinking of changing my subscription, click on Want to change something else? Please contact us. choose (1)topic as Sky Tv, then (2) category cancel Sky TV (3) Chat online with our Sky experts - you then go into a q and when they get around to you that is where to discuss -

I will say, i went on there yesterday to see if they could offer me anything above the 60% off showing on my sky box (but did not tell them this) and the best the "advisor" or whatever they cal themselves would offer me was 20% off for 10 months - due to be cut off on 10/12 so will cal them and take up the offer and see if i can get anything else on top, so good luck

I obtained my last deal, which ran out last month, by ringing Sky. I don't like haggling over the phone and so I'm interested that you achieved your deal by live chat. Only problem is that I'm not sure where this chat is. I've tried looking at the forum through my sky and can't see anything. Please can you point me in the right direction? Thanks
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Old 08-12-2016, 09:14
johnson293
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I obtained my last deal, which ran out last month, by ringing Sky. I don't like haggling over the phone and so I'm interested that you achieved your deal by live chat. Only problem is that I'm not sure where this chat is. I've tried looking at the forum through my sky and can't see anything. Please can you point me in the right direction? Thanks
No problems... this is the link I used (found on HDUK)...

https://advisor.sky.com/chat-window....itecatAccounts[0]=bskybskyhc&sitecatAccounts[1]=bskybskyhcincl&sitecatAccounts[2]=bskybnetworkglobal&sitecatAccounts[3]=bskybeexperienceglobal&sitecatAccounts[4]=bskybskyhc&sitecatAccounts[5]=bskybskyhcincl&sitecatAccounts[6]=bskybnetworkglobal&sitecatAccounts[7]=bskybeexperienceglobal

I'm the same, feels easier doing this sort of thing via chat, than over the phone.

The 60% offer was already on my account, but I got them to add the credit and rolling contract via chat.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:05
ianfreeman
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I'm trying to find away to bring down my Sky bill to under £100 a month - I have Sky Talk, fibre broadband and everything on Sky TV HD except Sports, which I cancelled a few months ago.

I'm thinking of getting rid of movies but does anyone know if that also mean no box sets? Any advice much appreciated.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:15
anyonefortennis
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I'm trying to find away to bring down my Sky bill to under £100 a month - I have Sky Talk, fibre broadband and everything on Sky TV HD except Sports, which I cancelled a few months ago.

I'm thinking of getting rid of movies but does anyone know if that also mean no box sets? Any advice much appreciated.
Are you in a 12 month contract or a rolling contract? If you are on a rolling contract just give your 31 days cancellation notice now and wait for the 50 or 60& offers to come in. If you have the Box Sets package then you won't lose your box sets. There is a half price offer on Sky Cinema at the moment for 6 months.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:19
ianfreeman
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Thanks for that. I'll check which contract I'm on but I think it's a rolling one. Do I have to just cancel Movies or Sky itself?
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:22
anyonefortennis
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Thanks for that. I'll check which contract I'm on but I think it's a rolling one. Do I have to just cancel Movies or Sky itself?
Your whole TV service. Then the offers will start rolling in. Usually 50% off at first then 60% off the closer you get to your expiration date. If you are brave enough to wait until after your TV service ends, you might get an offer of 75% but it's not guaranteed as some people said that offer ended on 1st December. But some people said they are still getting it. Plus ask for cashback credit also which is usually from £50 to £100 because they are reluctant to offer that unless you ask for it. You might be able to get free broadband for a year also and no line rental for a year if you cancel your broadband also.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:27
ianfreeman
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OK, thanks for that. I can't tell from 'My Sky' whether I'm on a rolling or 12 month contract - I've been with Sky for donkey's years!
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:29
anyonefortennis
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OK, thanks for that. I can't tell from 'My Sky' whether I'm on a rolling or 12 month contract - I've been with Sky for donkey's years!
Did you have a discussion with them to agree another 12 months contract at any stage or did it just keep rolling on? Just make a quick call and ask them if you are on a rolling contract. Sounds like you are on a rolling contract. Cancel your phone and fibre also and just tell them you are going to BT and you might get half price fibre and free line rental for a year.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:33
ianfreeman
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OK thanks, will do. Much appreciate the advice.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:37
anyonefortennis
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OK thanks, will do. Much appreciate the advice.
Good luck. Let us know how you got on.
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Old 08-12-2016, 11:55
gs1
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Ask most football fans if they would be willing to give up their Sky even if the price increased by another £50 a month starting next year. Most will answer no and would find a way to fund the massive price hike.
I think that you underestimate the willingness of football fans to compromise. Some of the most avid football fans compromise- be it when they decide whether to attend occasional matches, buy a season ticket, or attend away games.

Similarly, many compromises exist in tv viewing by combining Sky Sports and/or BT Sport subscriptions, Now TV passes, with "free" sources.

Jeremy Darroch recently pointed to a changing trend in how sport was being watched- particularly by younger viewers:

...... “The commitment to watch the whole game is lower,” he said, with some watching on their mobiles for shorter bursts. ......
https://www.ft.com/content/d4fa6a30-...3-bb8207902122

A handful of the "big" first pick matches, live, remain a factor for some, but in the event of your imaginary £50 per month Sky Sports price rise, I've little doubt that the majority of Sky Sports subscribers would cancel and that BT would be the largest beneficiary.

The current level of discounting by Sky- as noted in this thread- is a reflection of the resistance amongst a proportion of Sky's customer base, that already exists at current pricing levels.
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Old 08-12-2016, 13:38
aurichie
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I think that you underestimate the willingness of football fans to compromise. Some of the most avid football fans compromise- be it when they decide whether to attend occasional matches, buy a season ticket, or attend away games.

Similarly, many compromises exist in tv viewing by combining Sky Sports and/or BT Sport subscriptions, Now TV passes, with "free" sources.

Jeremy Darroch recently pointed to a changing trend in how sport was being watched- particularly by younger viewers:


https://www.ft.com/content/d4fa6a30-...3-bb8207902122

A handful of the "big" first pick matches, live, remain a factor for some, but in the event of your imaginary £50 per month Sky Sports price rise, I've little doubt that the majority of Sky Sports subscribers would cancel and that BT would be the largest beneficiary.

The current level of discounting by Sky- as noted in this thread- is a reflection of the resistance amongst a proportion of Sky's customer base, that already exists at current pricing levels.
I'm really only going on the modest research I've done when asking football fans about Sky, how much they pay, etc. Most grumble that it is already too much admittedly, but then I ask how much would it have to rise in order for you to cancel? I couldn't get one footie fan to say they would definitely cancel even if their Sky bill went from £100 to £200 a month. Admittedly this barely qualifies as research but I think it is an indicator of the room there is for price growth to offset the costs of rights.

Both BT and Sky continue to focus most on live sports in their war. It's an area of the business that doesn't translate well to time-shifting viewing habits, on demand, people don't want delayed coverage - they want it live. And football fans especially are addicted to the drug.
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Old 08-12-2016, 13:41
ianfreeman
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What about the Android box solution? Kodi + an app like Sportsmania will, I understand, do the trick as far as Premier League is concerned.
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Old 08-12-2016, 13:48
aurichie
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What about the Android box solution? Kodi + an app like Sportsmania will, I understand, do the trick as far as Premier League is concerned.
How many normal people are going to be able to set that up and make that work? Most won't even know it exists. And given all the snoopers charter stuff I wouldn't want to be illegally stealing content now more than ever, not that I've ever been interested in the dodgy streams people use.
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Old 08-12-2016, 14:06
ianfreeman
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I know quite a few people who have got it. My brother-in-law showed it to me and I reckon I could easily set it up if I felt so inclined - and I'm 66, so it should be a doddle for younger people. But I agree with you about dodgy streams, although it's seems a bit of a grey area.http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/feature/p...legal-3640854/
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Old 08-12-2016, 14:17
Super_Steve
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The thing with these Kodi boxes is that they're so unreliable. I go to my friends house occasionally on a Saturday afternoon and he'll try and find a stream for the match. Often spend quite a while trying to find a decent stream and even then you get the occasional buffering. I suppose it's that vs paying whatever ludicrous amount Sky feel like charging.
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Old 08-12-2016, 14:23
ianfreeman
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My pal tells me Sportsmania is £50 a year and has very reliable streams from BPL themselves, as well as NBC etc.
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Old 08-12-2016, 14:45
gs1
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Both BT and Sky continue to focus most on live sports in their war. .......
BT is a good example of the willingness of consumers- including football fans- to compromise. Their tv division is growing strongly with a broad but more limited quantity of entertainment & sport, including a smaller volume of the "biggest" events. The market is fragmenting and "non-contract"/transactional sales, such as Now TV & Sky Store are becoming more important to Sky, as they adapt to changes in the market.

Sky's traditional tv subscription base is widely considered to be falling (in the absence of separate reporting by Sky). Limiting of discounts has contributed to additional churn (cancellations) when tested. Sky hold 63% of the pay-tv market, but only through heavy discounting of the least loyal proportion and via flexible purchases through Now TV. So, all the evidence exists in current customer behaviour, in my opinion, that a price increase of £50 per month would be resisted by a significant proportion of the traditional subscription customer base.

The room for price growth of £50 per month, as you suggested, no doubt exists, but only for a minority of subscribers, in my opinion. Sky Q could have been an opportunity to segment the customer base to cater for those customers. However, it appears that Sky have decided that the existing "mass market" approach is what works best for them.
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