Why do Sky charge us for Multiroom?

[Parm]

Simple question really, if you've already paid for two Sky boxes (normal, Sky+ or HD boxes) and you already pay your monthly subscription for your channel packages, why do they have to charge us extra to view what we already pay for in another room?

I'm sure there's a simple explanation, but I just don't get it.

Sure in the past it might have made sense, but now the majority of people have more than one TV.

I find Sky's method of viewing in other rooms really limited. The TV Link is the alternative option, but you don't even get stereo sound that way which is appaling.

Even with a Multiroom subscription for £10 per month, that only entitles you to viewing via a Sky box in one other room. My understanding is that to have a third room with Sky is another £10 per month.

With Sky HD now upon us, I really think that HD subscribers should be entitled to free Multiroom. Especially those who are upgrading to HD, they will already have a Sky or Sky+ box which they should then be able to use in another room.

All the Sky channels = £42
HD Subscription = £10
Multiroom = £10
Total = £62

Does anybody else feel as though Multiroom isn't a good deal?

[Norky]

I think it's because you're receiving two independant Sky signals. It's the same with Sky+, we had to get a new dish on our house which has two outputs.

[MSIC]

Simple answer, and it's not technological.
It's because they can.
What company, when given the choice of making extra money, would offer a service for free? (The answer is actually a nice company that everyone likes, but does that sound like Rupert Murdoch to you?)

[Parm]

Norky, I think that Sky+ dishes come with 4 outputs so the hardware is already there. I think the Sky HD dishes come with 8 outputs?

Originally Posted by MSIC

Simple answer, and it's not technological.
It's because they can.
What company, when given the choice of making extra money, would offer a service for free? (The answer is actually a nice company that everyone likes, but does that sound like Rupert Murdoch to you?)

I was afraid that would be the case!

[Funkstar]

Hardware wise you could get it set up yourself, it's just standard satalite parts Sky use, but you would still need a second subscription card, so they are going to charge you for that.

I guess you are lucky they charge a flat £10/month for multiroom as opposed to haveing to buy a second subscription all over again....or at least, thats probably the way they look at it.

[Bluecube]

The simple answer is that Sky want to screw you for as much cash as they possibly can. End of discussion really

[Funkstar]

and so would most companies. You are getting an additional service, so you pay for it. I don't see the problem with it to be honest.

[Bluecube]

Originally Posted by Funkstar

and so would most companies. You are getting an additional service, so you pay for it. I don't see the problem with it to be honest.

How is it an additional service? A cable connecting two boxes is hardly an additional service. It's not as if you get charged two TV licences for having two TVs in the house so I don't see why Sky feel the need to charge £120 a year for you to watch Sky channels on another TV in your house. Apart from money of course!

[Funkstar]

It's an additional service becuase without it you can only watch one channel at a time on one TV (ignoring the use of video senders etc.). Sure Sky could have made that free and just charged an installation fee but they are a profit making organisation, so why are they going to give you something extra for nothing?

Is multiroom a new thing? if it is, then before it started did you need a completely seperate subscription to have this same facility? If so then £10/month is a great deal, much better than a completely new subscription at £42/month. Perhaps they have always done this and one recently started advertisig it more. i don't know.

[Bluecube]

AFAIK it's not a new thing and has been around for a good few years.

[Parm]

That's the thing, it's been around for ages now.

Sky boxes are now free, Sky+ has come down in price a lot, Sky HD will inevitably come down in price.
Sky Multiroom is still the same.

[Azza]

They just want the money. Its like when you ring them up for assistance you have to sell a arm and a leg for a 2min conversation and when its over the problem still isnt fixed.

[5lab]

thinking about it...

if a mate had sky, and ordered multiroom, could i nick the 2nd box, and card, hook up my own dish, and get sky for just a tenner a month (plus a payment to him)?

[Parm]

Originally Posted by 5lab

thinking about it...

if a mate had sky, and ordered multiroom, could i nick the 2nd box, and card, hook up my own dish, and get sky for just a tenner a month (plus a payment to him)?

Unfortunately not, BOTH boxes have to be connected to the phone line of the registered user. Good idea though!

[Spud1]

Theres nothing wrong with the multiroom - your paying for the extra feed, and getting it at a reduced rate.

You cant really compare it to a normal TV licence as it's a different method of broadcasting, with different cost levels. 10 quid is reasonable considering you get rental of a box, plus effectivly a second subscription at a reduced rate..

[5lab]

Originally Posted by Parm

Unfortunately not, BOTH boxes have to be connected to the phone line of the registered user. Good idea though!

swap the cards monthly, make sure the 2nd box isnt connected to any phone??