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Sky HD - Worth It? Alternatives?

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  • King_Cnut 4 Oct 2007 14:09:14 615 posts
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    Hi all,

    Just bought an HD TV and I'm waiting for it to arrive. I've already got Sky + and Multiroom at home so I thought I'd enquire about Sky HD. After the nice lady on the phone tried to sell me Sky Talk and broadband she finally got around to saying that, as I'd been with them for 3 years, I could have a Sky HD box for a tiny £199 plus an extra £10 per month.

    I'm right in thinking that's bollocks aren't I?

    Anyway, I said no, and then wondered if there were any other ways I could obtain Sky HD. Any ideas? Is eBay my friend, or should I not bother even trying? She said that once I'd paid my £199 the box was mine, so people might be selling them on I suppose.

    Also, when's the Freeview HD coming out? Soon? 2050?

    Ta

    Stu
  • Deleted user 4 October 2007 14:12:59
    On the website it's £169 if you've been with 'em 3 years, plus £10 a month. Otherwise £200.

  • glaeken 4 Oct 2007 14:13:11 10,366 posts
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    Check the Sky web site as I have a feeling you could probably get the HD box for £99

    Sky have a weird thing going where they charge existing customers more than new customers on some of their deals but I have heard a couple of times of people rasing this when they have phoned Sky and then they got the lower deal.
  • Physically_Insane 4 Oct 2007 14:13:32 6,962 posts
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    Freeview HD! Didn't even know that was in the pipeline.
  • ecureuil 4 Oct 2007 14:14:41 74,151 posts
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    Sky broadcast in 1080p, don't they? I remember reading they have a higher quality service than the US TV networks.
  • Youthist 4 Oct 2007 14:15:29 8,816 posts
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    Sky HD is fantastic if you like sport. And Nature programs. Utterly fantastic.
  • billythekid 4 Oct 2007 14:16:05 10,263 posts
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    Only 1080i broadcasts I believe. Not enough bandwidth or something for 1080p.
  • TheSaint 4 Oct 2007 14:17:10 11,612 posts
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    Always tempted by this myself but if they want me to sign up then either make the box cheaper or scrap the extra £10 a month.
  • nickthegun 4 Oct 2007 14:17:26 44,532 posts
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    They dont go for much less than that on ebay, about £170 and a similar price in those indie satellite shops, I believe.

    I know someone who bought one from a satellite shop and installed it himself to save a bit of cash.

    The box itself puts out 1080i signal which can be set to scale at 720p.

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  • Deleted user 4 October 2007 14:17:50
    Post deleted
  • jimmyjimbob 4 Oct 2007 14:19:10 312 posts
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    For me, at least the picture is a hell of a lot better on all the SD channels compared to my old Sky+ box. That said, I don't think for the current amount of channels it's worth the extra £10 sub fee.

    What content there is very good, but there's just not enough of it
  • Physically_Insane 4 Oct 2007 14:20:26 6,962 posts
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    How many channels are in HD?
  • Physically_Insane 4 Oct 2007 14:23:28 6,962 posts
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    Fruit_Salad wrote:
    Physically_Insane wrote:
    How many channels are in HD?
    12
    Whaaaa!!!
  • istandfreed 4 Oct 2007 14:24:17 2,347 posts
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    ecureuil wrote:
    Sky broadcast in 1080p, don't they? I remember reading they have a higher quality service than the US TV networks.
    Pretty sure i read its 720p they broadcast in at the moment.
  • kalel 4 Oct 2007 14:24:40 76,470 posts
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    People are still gettting conned for being early adopters. It's not a train worth getting on yet imo (unless you can get awat with paying the child's fare).
  • nickthegun 4 Oct 2007 14:28:39 44,532 posts
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    kalel wrote:
    People are still gettting conned for being early adopters. It's not a train worth getting on yet imo (unless you can get awat with paying the child's fare).
    HDTV Rips are, currently the way forward until the service is a bit more comprehensive, yeah.

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  • Amajiro 4 Oct 2007 14:28:55 2,214 posts
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    It's definitely broadcast in 1080i - the box scales to 720p.

    I have Sky HD and it is GREAT on my 42" plasma. Nearly all the domestic sports are Hi Def, and they have two HD movie channels. Plus you get BBC HD which is pretty much worth the asking price alone.

    I'd recommend it to anyone.
  • Deleted user 4 October 2007 14:29:02
    Lol. My brother has Sky HD so I just sent him a text to ask if he thought £169 was worth it for what you got. His reply reads as follows:

    "Is it fuck."

    Still, now I've got a woman-type-person moving in soon, I might get it, as that usually means watching more telly....
  • GreasyWeasel 4 Oct 2007 14:29:32 455 posts
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    istandfreed wrote:
    ecureuil wrote:
    Sky broadcast in 1080p, don't they? I remember reading they have a higher quality service than the US TV networks.
    Pretty sure i read its 720p they broadcast in at the moment.
    Nope it's definitely 1080i and I only end up watching the footy in HD, which does look a lot better though. I agree with Jimmyjimbob though, the box gives a better picture for the standard SD channels but that probably just because you aren't forced into using crappy RGB scart since you can output via component or hdmi.

    I've been considering cancelling my £10 sub because it just doesn't get enough use.

    It's worth noting that you don't have to pay the £10 sub for BBC HD but then you will be forced to pay the full price for the box which is £399 I think.
  • King_Cnut 4 Oct 2007 14:32:36 615 posts
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    Had a good old rummage on the Sky site, and you can get the box for £169 if you've been with them for 3 years, but then there's that one-off £30 charge for installation.

    As I've already got Sky+ and multiroom I guess that means they've have to put another cable through the wall for the HD box. What a cock-up that was last time: wanted them to put the dish on the chimney (house has two storeys) so booked the "high installation team". They came round and said "Sorry mate, that's too high"! WTF! The "not-very-high installation team" more like.

    Anyway, for 12 channels it's not worth £10. If the box was £99 and HD was free then maybe, but now?

    Nah.
  • Deleted user 4 October 2007 14:35:01
    DaveE wrote:
    its pretty pointless owning a HD telly without HD channels isnt it?
    Er, not if you play 360 or PS3 a lot and don't watch much telly...
  • FooAtari 4 Oct 2007 14:46:38 3,957 posts
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    No way.

    Sky+ is great. Especially since the wrote off the ten quid extra I paid for it.

    but SkyHD is not. Pay an extra tenner for channels you already pay for. And the list of channels is HD is small and includes crap like Arts World...

    Nope I'm waiting on this one.
  • FooAtari 4 Oct 2007 14:49:13 3,957 posts
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    I know. Was just saying :)
  • billythekid 4 Oct 2007 14:51:02 10,263 posts
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    Fruit_Salad wrote:
    Sky HD is rubbish. ITV isn't HD so Coronation Street HD is out. So what's the point.
    Who the fuck would want to see that Blanche woman or Hayleyman in HD?
  • moggsy 4 Oct 2007 14:59:10 3,860 posts
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    There was some interesting news on the Freeview HD front recently, which could mean that that a Freeview HD channel is launched by the BBC as early as next year.

    But you'll need a new box. And that box could be out of date in a year or two. And the channel will only broadcast in the middle of the night by using bandwidth taken up by other channels during the day.

    :-(
  • nickthegun 4 Oct 2007 14:59:47 44,532 posts
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    Could be worse. Eastenders in HD isnt even worth thinking about.

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  • steellam 4 Oct 2007 15:00:39 1,045 posts
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    If you are looking at it from a total value for money aspect then i would say it isnt really worth it as yet, however I use the TV all the time and my sky+ box broke so I went for it and have never regreted it.

    Footie is a million times better and there is alot of good stuff on bbc hd including a few films.

    Discovery and History channel are excellent content and quality but only any good if you like that kind of program.

    The box itself has hdmi, component and optical connections so i could put all my sources through my hdmi switching av amp with ease.
  • nickthegun 4 Oct 2007 15:07:57 44,532 posts
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    Is that the middle aged Samantha J. Anus or the pre-operative transsexual?

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