Sky Snooze?

Now Virgin is about to take Sky to court about the loss of TV channels and the price Sky is charging Virgin to show its channels, its worth noting that this wasn't a problem until Sir Brnason took over. I've had years of trouble free viewing and high speed broadband with Telewest. Within weeks of Branson taking over I've lost TV channels and had the price put up on Broadband. Nice. The Virgin support desk (when my broadband connection failed for the first time in months and months) redirected me round the same department!

One has to suspect that its Bransons over brash and casual approach ('Can I call you Ian?' instead of the old 'Hello Mr Brandshaw') in both support and mailings that have caused the problems.

Icidientally, Virgin are using the fact that 70% of subscription viewers are with Sky as a reason for the challenge, I suspect the problem is more the amount of cable coverage in the UK rather than Sky being better.

Someone is bound to point out that London is cabled and use that to say that 50% (or whatever it is) of the country is cabled by head of population or something, but having lived in London most people are 'transient' (i.e. moving around the capital rather than living in one place) and the vast majority are in rented accommodation (where the landlords won't let you have cable).

I think the problem is more the new owners rather than Sky changing is policies.

A New Digital Age?

...not if Ofcom can help it. BBC News article here.

The BBC, usually a slow lumbering hulk encumbassing all the usual big company traits of doing things last, doing things slower and at a high cost is trying to push the boundaries of television.

The BBC plans to offer TV programs on-demand, via broadband. This would be a revolutionary service, available nowhere else, that must have taken some balls to push through an organisation the size of the BBC; let alone changing attitudes and cultures within such a large organisation - problems which, should be noted, are encumbant in any large organisation, and usually prevent any progress.

The licence fee payer is about to get what it pays for. Innovation, open broadcasting, high availability, and new programs.

Sounds brilliant. Just what you want for your cash. Not only does this increase the BBCs availability, it will increase the takeup of Broadband network connections, and in the long run can lead to more diversity, as programs could be made on a download only basis.

You'd think there would be widespread support for innovation.

Not from Ofcom. There too woried about the other, non innovating companies producing DVDs et. al. Welcome to the 21st Century. Stop holding us back just when one organisation is striving for change.

There are also bound to be people complaining living in rural areas. Well, no-one forces you to be there. You want loss making services as though there your right. Well, there not. You want a high quality public service, live in the city. No-one forces you into isolation, you choose isolation and the rest of us shouldn't have to pay for it. Period.

Welcome to the 21st Centruy people. Catch up with the rest of us.