Sky price increases
 

Looks like we're in for price increases:

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcas...512490,00.html

Sky pins hopes on flexible package

BSkyB yesterday raised prices by an average of 5% and offered customers more
choice and flexibility to try to reach its target of 10 million subscribers
by 2010.
The new pricing structure comes as the satellite television company faces
increased competition from Freeview and cable for basic subscribers. The
changes offer a greater selection of basic channels as well as broadband and
mobile services for higher paying subscribers. They form part of chief
executive James Murdoch's strategy of emphasising Sky's appeal to a broad
range of subscribers.

One executive at a rival firm said yesterday: "They want to overcome the
perception that Sky is about paying £40 a month for sports and movies."

A BSkyB spokesman said: "Rather than one-size-fits-all, it's more of an à la
carte range of choices. Sky is not just about sports and movies but about a
whole range of entertainment options."

From September Sky is to introduce six genre-based "mixes" of basic channels
under the headings variety, kids, knowledge, style and culture, music, news
and events. Subscribers can then select any two, four or all six.

In doing so, Sky has raised the entry level from £13.50 to £15 a month for
two basic mixes and £21.50 a month for all six, a 7.7% increase on the
£19.50 monthly charge for its "Family Value pack".

Although more expensive than rivals, Sky hopes customers will be attracted
to the pick 'n' mix nature of the changes.

The inclusion of arts channel Artsworld and enhanced parental control
features in its basic packages are designed to drive growth.

The price of Sky's top-tier package, which includes pre mium sports and
movie channels and is taken by half its 7.7 million subscribers, is to
increase by 4% to £42.50 a month.

Analysts welcomed the changes yesterday after greeting the new strategy with
a mixed response last August. BSkyB's shares rose 8p to 521p yesterday, but
they have fallen 13% in the past 10 months amid fears that margins will
suffer in the drive for volume.

In a note to investors yesterday, Mike Hilton, analyst at investment bank
UBS, wrote that the price increases would help Sky maintain its margins and
arpu, the average revenue it receives per subscriber, over the next 12
months in spite of other discounts.

"The pricing structure will also discourage basic subscribers from spinning
down to cheaper packages since the savings to be made are modest."

Rival executives believe Mr Murdoch and his father, the BSkyB chairman
Rupert Murdoch, are both keen to attract basic-rate subscribers in order to
hit the 10 million target. However, cheap packages could have the adverse
effect of encouraging existing subscribers to give up their premium
channels.

Several analysts believe this has stopped Sky advertising its Freesat
offering, where customers pay about £150 for the satellite box and a basic
service with no monthly charge.

One rival executive said: "If they were really going after Freeview they
would be offering £10-a-month packages."

Sky is on course to meet its target of eight million subscribers by the end
of this year.

In a statement, Mr Murdoch said: "Enhancing the flexibility and simplicity
of the Sky proposition for current customers and future customers is at the
centre of what we do. We will broaden the appeal of pay television still
further."

Bob wrote:
: Looks like we're in for price increases:

Enclosed with the Sky Magazine today!!

Has anyone found a list of the channels which are in the 6 new
groupings yet????

"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
Bob wrote:
: Looks like we're in for price increases:

Enclosed with the Sky Magazine today!!

Has anyone found a list of the channels which are in the 6 new
groupings yet????


Its on the last page of this press release

http://tinyurl.co.uk/4du1

"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
In , "gav425"
wrote:
"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
Bob wrote:
: Looks like we're in for price increases:

Enclosed with the Sky Magazine today!!

Has anyone found a list of the channels which are in the 6 new
groupings yet????


Its on the last page of this press release

http://tinyurl.co.uk/4du1

Thankyou VERY much for posting that!

For me I can save £1.50 by switching from the so-called "Family" pack
(at last that name dies!) to the "4 mix" pack, dumping "Kids" and Music.
In all the other chances I've had both with Sky and cable before that,
they have always managed to put at least 1 channel I wanted in each
option so I was never able to dump anything.

I'll have just the Variety and Music packs, when I drop the Movies as well
(which I'm doing tomorrow), I'll save £10.00 per month (I've got Sky+ so
I'll be paying £25 instead of £35 as I do now)

In uk.media.tv.sky on Thu, 23 Jun 2005, Brian McIlwrath wrote :
Bob wrote:
: Looks like we're in for price increases:

Enclosed with the Sky Magazine today!!

Damn - now I'll have to dig around in the dustbin... :)
--
Paul 'US Sitcom Fan' Hyett

Brian Wescombe wrote:
"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
[=2E..]
For me I can save =A31.50 by switching from the so-called "Family" pack
(at last that name dies!) to the "4 mix" pack, dumping "Kids" and Music.
In all the other chances I've had both with Sky and cable before that,
they have always managed to put at least 1 channel I wanted in each
option so I was never able to dump anything.

I'll have just the Variety and Music packs, when I drop the Movies as well
(which I'm doing tomorrow), I'll save =A310.00 per month (I've got Sky+ so
I'll be paying =A325 instead of =A335 as I do now)

I *only* want Sky Sports 1,2 & 3. I was paying them =A333 p/m, in the
latest
magazine they say I will now have to pay =A336 p/m!! And they imply
this is
somehow better value than before!!! Is there any way I can reduce the
cost
by dropping some of the other channels? The press release is totally
confusing IMO.

A BSkyB spokesman said: "Rather than one-size-fits-all, it's more of an à
la carte range of choices. Sky is not just about sports and movies but
about a whole range of entertainment options."

Isn't that just how it used to be before they decided to get rid of the
choice? I recall when Sky digital first started there was a huge grid with
about 90 different combinations of options. Is this Sky actually admitting
they were wrong or is it just a mask to put the price up.

I predict a Jan 2007 press release "Sky simplifies packages - all customers
to pay £60 and they get Disney Channel+1 free"

JohnW wrote:

: Isn't that just how it used to be before they decided to get rid of the
: choice? I recall when Sky digital first started there was a huge grid with
: about 90 different combinations of options. Is this Sky actually admitting
: they were wrong or is it just a mask to put the price up.

You are correct that Sky did indeed have a "huge grid" but there was very
little real choice in it! They did have some half-hearted channel groupings
less than the "Family Package" (or whatever it was called) but the channel
selection was such as to make almost everybody take the FP (the huge grid
was just all the almost useless options x n Premium channels).

What is now *NEW* is that the channel "mixes" actually *DO* look to
be sufficiently good as to make taking less than the full 6 of them very viable
for many people!

"Brian McIlwrath" .......

What is now *NEW* is that the channel "mixes" actually *DO* look to
be sufficiently good as to make taking less than the full 6 of them very
viable
for many people!

Shame you can't just have sports... STILL.

Plus if you have movies and/or sports, removing all redundant 4 mix packs
saves you a massive £2. Whoopee doo. Especially when the prices have gone
up an average of £2.