Sky TV

[Rileybobs]

I have the full Sky package and also use Kodi on a fire stick. I subscribe to Sportsmania which is great for the away games that I don't go to. I negotiated what I feel is a fair price - I also have phone line and broadband with Sky. Kodi is very good but I wouldn't trade in my Sky subscription for it yet. The quality, whilst very close to HD isn't as smooth as when watching through satellite. This might not bother some people but when watching on a large TV, the football especially is a far substandard quality to Sky. Sky also has the advantage of series link, ability to record and of course watch live TV. Not to mention that Kodi's interface is dreadful and not in the slightest bit user friendly unlike Sky's interface.

For the sake of £35 (or whatever the current price of an Amazon stick is) I'd definitely recommend that anybody tries it but I wouldn't flippantly suggest cancelling your Sky subscription before trying it out for yourself.

[wilks_bfc]

Not to mention that Kodi's interface is dreadful and not in the slightest bit user friendly unlike Sky's interface.

Not if you install the Sky skin

[Rileybobs]

Not if you install the Sky skin

Never heard of that. I'll give it a go.

[aggi]

Just read an article about all the major ISP are sending out letters to people watching pirated films and streaming Premier league football .....looks like that will be a lot of work for our postman,can't understand anyone with a Internet connection subscribing to Sky.

There's nothing illegal about watching streaming content (although that may not be the case post-brexit). However, a number of the add-ons work by using bit-torrent technology whereby you're also uploading what you're watching. That is illegal.

[Steve1956]

There's nothing illegal about watching streaming content (although that may not be the case post-brexit). However, a number of the add-ons work by using bit-torrent technology whereby you're also uploading what you're watching. That is illegal.

I'm not to worried about it mate...Sky and the likes of them must be running scared of streaming and the like..after all they have sunk into Premier League football ..I can see it going tits up for them.....hope so as well their greed is obscene in the extreme...although they have made our club very very very rich!

[burnmark]

Does anyone use a VPN with their Kodi? Is one needed or am I being paranoid?

[bob-the-scutter]

Out of curiosity, how does Plex does do that? It's normally used for accessing your own media, is it some kind of add-on?

It`s installed on the NowTV box. They bloke who sets it all up is pretty local to the East lancs area and keeps in touch with all users on Facebook.
Not a fly by night merchant, i`ve had my box since last July (got it mainly to watch the away games) and it`s working great. Kind of like the Firestick but lots more stable and as easy to navigate as Netflix.

[Mayoclaret]

Does anyone use a VPN with their Kodi? Is one needed or am I being paranoid?

I tend to use a free VPN, Hola - in the main so I can, when required, access BBC Iplayer from over here.
I guess it is one of those where you check out all the pros and cons and decide. Reading up about it shows that folk don't tend to think much about the free VPNs in terms of protecting your security and the fact that your broadband speeds tend to be slowed down when going via another server in another country etc.
Costs for a paid VPN aren't that high (similar to the cost of Sportsmania) and many claim that there is no speed loss. Some also offer a cheap, short term offer so you can try out and then decide whether to comit.
As to whether you "need" one? Opinions will be massively divided.

[beddie]

Just spotted that my subscription has gone up. Presumably if I cancel Sky the box becomes redundant, can anyone confirm please. Also will I lose the ability to record and watch other channels, is the answer a free view type of box, any recommendations appreciated. Thanks in advance, we're not very techy minded in this household.

[wilks_bfc]

Just spotted that my subscription has gone up. Presumably if I cancel Sky the box becomes redundant, can anyone confirm please. Also will I lose the ability to record and watch other channels, is the answer a free view type of box, any recommendations appreciated. Thanks in advance, we're not very techy minded in this household.

You should still be able to receive the freeview channels via the dish/box with out subscription.

Way to test this is to remove the viewing card and ch ck BBC/ITV etc

Not sure about the recording function though

[beddie]

Thanks wilks_bfc. Thank you for that, my wife intends to try that this weekend.

[minnieclaret]

Thanks wilks_bfc. Thank you for that, my wife intends to try that this weekend.

This is what I'm doing. Loads of free channels, inc Movies. All you lose is record, rewind, etc.,
As suggested just take your card out and work your way through them.
F*!k Sky.

[FulledgeClaret]

Its looking increasingly likely Sky and now tv customers will lose at least 12 channels on the 1st of Feb, Eurosport and the discovery channels will disappear, its some dispute over the amount discovery want and the amount SKY are willing to pay for their programming. I got rid of SKY years ago so it doesnt really bother me but anybody who does have a sky sub should be straight on the phone for a decent discount.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/chang ... el_changes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

forgot to add virgin customers still get these channels so maybe a threat to switch will get you something out of sky.

[Firthy]

How can I watch Eurosport now. I watch everything through my Skybox. My dad watches all the free channels including Eurosport through a Sky box without a card, will he still be able to watch Eurosport ?? I'm confused.

[FulledgeClaret]

No anything that receives the sky signal for its channels eg your slybox won't get the channels from 1st feb if they go. it is still just an if but its looking likely now.

HBO content is the next contract up for renewal by sky so they could lose a lot of their programmes soon also. This could be the start of the end for sky

[IndigoLake]

Not sure about Sky but the equivalent in Spain is Movistar TV which I got recently. Absolutely loving having choice after years of nothing but dross. Got loads of films, series and sports to choose from. If anything there's too many options! Nice problem to have though.

Whether it's becoming less attractive due to the options available online, I guess it's possible. Personally, I can't be bothered messing around trying to find things to stream or download and I'm enjoying having pretty much everything I want in one place. I can see why that's attractive for younger people though, particularly if Sky (or whichever company) packages are seen as too expensive.

[conyoviejo]

Rumours are the discovery channels are going to ditch sky at the end of this month ..

[Jimmymaccer]

Usual thing....we rang Sky 'cos too expensive...they spend 30 minutes talking guff about the channels....then agree a lower price for 12 months but fail to say it's an agreed discount on their standard price rather than a fixed price......2 weeks later we get an email saying they,re increasing their "standard price".......

[cloughyclaret]

Cancelled Sky yesterday when I got the email about Discovery package being taken off and the price increase in March. I've been wanting to for ages but didnt have the patience for firestick and Kodi.

Nephew came last week and fully set it up for me. I've been mucking about with it all day and found Paradox. Best picture on everything and easiest to navigate by far. Now I'll buy a proper streaming box.

I used to pay £126 a month. I've kept the fibre optic/skytalk and freeview for £30 and will buy SportsNation 6 months.

Btw - there was no problem at all about cancelling - just a half-hearted "can I do anything to reduce the cost?" They must be snowed under and will rely on later deals through the post.

[Bin Ont Turf]

I used to pay £126 a month.

No wonder you and your fella haven't been able to get on t' Turf as much.

[cloughyclaret]

I know Bint. and I feel like a prize mug to be honest. I used to pay a ridiculous amount for mobile too.
Well. no more :/

[Bin Ont Turf]

You're probably like me and my lot and don't like phoning folk to complain or try and talk money/get a better deal.

How you diddling anyway Cloughy?

[cloughyclaret]

One of the reasons I didnt cancel as Im the same. Then I get to a snapping point and just get it over with.

I'm good. New job since September thats kept me busy with a massive challenge and is loads of fun.

Hows you? Still in the background and quiet?

[Morgan]

I'm with Virgin.
I have been for 6 yrs.
In September I was paying £84 pm for multiroom (2 Tivo boxes) plus all the Sky Sports, with BT Sports thrown in. High-speed 200m broadband and weekend and evening calls plus line rental. No Sky movies - I'm not interested.
I rang customer services and asked for their retentions dept. After being on hold for 20 mins, I got it reduced to £72.
I rang again in October and got it down to £60.
I rang again first week in January and it was reduced to £57.
I rang yesterday to complain that my (erroneously added) HD Sports had defaulted to normal.
They said if I wanted HD I would have to pay £9 extra (I didn't).
"Oh,and by the way, I'm looking to pay a little bit less."
On hold for a good 5 mins.
"Yes Sir, we can knock another £7 pm off."
So - £50 per month. I'm well happy with that.

[Bin Ont Turf]

One of the reasons I didnt cancel as Im the same. Then I get to a snapping point and just get it over with.

I'm good. New job since September thats kept me busy with a massive challenge and is loads of fun.

Hows you? Still in the background and quiet?

Aye lass, I'm fine and dandy.

Yes I still see the internet as 70% entertainment, 15% Burnley talk and 15% general knowledge.

I'm still waiting for the half a dozen Russian women that I ordered two weeks ago though.

[cloughyclaret]

Thats going to reduce your 70% online entertainment when they finally arrive. Pending trade deals

[Bin Ont Turf]

You mucky minded beggar.

[cloughyclaret]

Mucky? Thought you hired them for the kitchen extension?