BSkyB ups prices despite challenge from rivals - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

BGonaSTICK · 13-08-07, 10:33 AM

Pay-TV Operator BSkyB has raised the price of several of its most popular subscription packages as it faces increasing competition from rivals including BT, Virgin Media and Freeview.

The cost of Sky's most expensive service, which includes all its film and sports channels, has gone up from £43.50 to £45 a month. Some of its less expensive offerings, including its basic package, have also risen: the cheapest will go up from £15 to £17.

Most of its mid-price offerings have seen similar increases. The cheapest sports package has gone up from £34 to £35, for example, and the equivalent film channel deal has gone up by the same amount. The increases are small, but some industry observers have expressed surprise at the timing of the move, which coincides with the start of the Premier League football season this weekend. Many households sign up to multi-channel TV or switch providers around the time a new season starts and football has become the main battleground in an increasingly aggressive fight for subscribers.

This is the first season that Sky will not be showing all live televised games, after losing its monopoly on TV coverage. Sports fans now face a bewildering array of packages to choose from, after Irish sports channel Setanta won the rights to 46 games.

Setanta has negotiated deals with BT, Virgin and free-to-air platform Freeview which, it claims, undercut Sky. BT's new TV service is also showing 'nearly live' games several hours after they have been played.

Source: Guardian

13-08-07, 10:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	BSkyB ups prices despite challenge from rivals Pay-TV Operator BSkyB has raised the price of several of its most popular subscription packages as it faces increasing competition from rivals including BT, Virgin Media and Freeview. The cost of Sky's most expensive service, which includes all its film and sports channels, has gone up from £43.50 to £45 a month. Some of its less expensive offerings, including its basic package, have also risen: the cheapest will go up from £15 to £17. Most of its mid-price offerings have seen similar increases. The cheapest sports package has gone up from £34 to £35, for example, and the equivalent film channel deal has gone up by the same amount. The increases are small, but some industry observers have expressed surprise at the timing of the move, which coincides with the start of the Premier League football season this weekend. Many households sign up to multi-channel TV or switch providers around the time a new season starts and football has become the main battleground in an increasingly aggressive fight for subscribers. This is the first season that Sky will not be showing all live televised games, after losing its monopoly on TV coverage. Sports fans now face a bewildering array of packages to choose from, after Irish sports channel Setanta won the rights to 46 games. Setanta has negotiated deals with BT, Virgin and free-to-air platform Freeview which, it claims, undercut Sky. BT's new TV service is also showing 'nearly live' games several hours after they have been played. Source: Guardian __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W