Sky drop the Sky+ box.

February 19, 2010

At the start of February Sky took the step all of us were expecting for a long time, they decided to phase out one of it’s boxes. What no one expected is that the box would be the much loved Sky+ box. Since the 1^st of February Sky are no longer selling Sky+ boxes, this doesn’t mean that you cannot get a box with a built in PVR ( Personal Video Recorder ) but that box will be a HD box. You cannot get a standard box as a standalone box, meaning that you can get the standard box as a 2^nd box, i.e. Multiroom, but not as your first box. The end result is that the starting point for Sky is a HD capable box with a built in PVR.

Sky are selling the Sky+HD box either with or without the HD subscription, therefore if you want the Sky+ features but not the HD features, you get the HD box but you do not have access to the HD channels. If you want the HD channels you get the same box with both the Sky+ features and the HD channels enabled. Sky have, for this month anyway, decided to give the box away free and charge €30 for installation…that’s only if you subscribe to the HD channels.

Sky’s charges have always been confusing but this, “with or without HD” option has added further problems to the pricing conundrum. Below is a list of the most popular options with the cost being the full cost of box and installation.

New Customers

Sky with HD channels €30

Sky without HD channels €79

1x HD box with HD channels and 1x Standard box €30

Existing Customers/Upgrade

Sky with HD channels €60

Sky without the HD channels €159

HD as a 2^nd box with HD channels €30

2^nd box without HD channels €79

Sky Plus Box
“Goodbye old friend”

Just remember that for each box you add HD channels to there is an extra charge of €15 per month, and if you add HD as a second box you pay €15 for the HD channels and another €7.50 for the second box.

There’s no doubt that Sky+HD is a fantastic product, the picture and sound quality is second to none, sports take on another dimension and the Discovery and National Geographic Channels are simply amazing to watch in HD. A lot of customers I speak to complain that the extra €15 per month is just a bit too much, I think it’s well worth it but ultimately the customer will decide…don’t forget Sky 3D is coming later this year, just to confuse you even more.

Posted by paul | Filed Under News