SKY DIGITAL- is it worth it (Sky Digital)

Member Name: thehulk

Product:	Sky Digital
Date:	22/09/01 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: choice of programms

Disadvantages: prices

With Sky you have to pay on a monthly basis, unlike ITV's pre-paid system. This could perhaps be better if you could not afford a years worth of subscription in one go. If you are thinking of getting this service then make sure you have been recommended by an existing subscriber, because both you and they will get £40 of M+S vouchers. (see sky's monthly publication for more details.)

Having Sky as your supplier means you have access to a much wider choice of channels than ITV Digital. With the lowest package starting at £10/month, you get the usual free channels plus Sky 1, the news channels and a few others.
The next package costs £16, here you get a lot of channels, including many kids, news, technology, music and even digital radio.

Sky is also losing quite a few channels as well, a few months a go simply money- (financial advice for consumers) went bust and on September 2nd we see the cut off of my favourite channel [.tv] on channel 567. Check it out for the latest news on technology and computer games, for the last few weeks of its life.

Apart from the programs you can request box office movies for around £3.25 each, and with over 25 different films, you'll be spoilt for choice. With ITV there are only five channels dedicated to box office viewing.

Sky's interactive service is called 'Open', here you can do your weekly shopping and banking from such companies as Egg.com, HSBC, Thorntons, Domino's, Dixons and many more. You can even play classic games with most being free. (Tetris costs 50p per play).

But this Digital service isn't flawless, every now and then it randomly freezes, and the picture turns blocky. Sky cannot seem to sort the problem out and tell customers to simply unplug, then switch back on. I have also noticed that the digital picture and sound are of inferior quality compared to normal terrestrial television. If you disagree please let me know.

This
company seems to have a rather poor quality customer service. During our first month's viewing we noticed that they had charged us £60 for having a 'tv link' installed, but we hadn't. Getting this money refunded took 7 phone calls, 1 letter and 6 months.
Customer service- 4/10

This service has has a new feature to it, so that you do not miss your favourite episode of Neighbours or The Bill.
Overall I'd give Sky- 8/10

Summary: