Mantofa Articles Directory

Virgin Media (VM) has taken Sky to court in the latest step in the ongoing public row between the two companies.

Sky and Virgin Media fell out at the beginning of March over the price to be charged for the carriage of the Sky Basic Channels by the cable TV provider. The two sides failed to reach an agreement before the previous contract expired and as a result VM customers lost the Sky Basic Channels, including Sky One, Sky News and Sky Sports News.

The very public fall-out and subsequent channel loss led to customers of Virgin Media both criticising and supporting their own digital TV provider. Some of those who ended up disappointed at losing such channels immediately cancelled their contracts and switched to Sky, whilst others who showed their loyalty to VM were rewarded with discounted contracts and extra services.

However, despite no agreement being reached between the two companies, Virgin Media threatened to take Sky to the High Court to resolve the row and now has done so claiming Sky was abusing its dominant market position. Sky has denied doing so and has said that the action was “without foundation” and called on Virgin to resume negotiations. VM claims that Sky tried to double its prices for the Basic Sky Channels. However, Sky says the increase would have cost VM just 3 pence per customer per day.

It is not just the price of the Sky Channels which is being challenged. Virgin Media is also challenging the rates imposed by Sky for carrying Virgin’s TV channels. It is believed that Sky recently renegotiated the price it would pay for carrying channels such as LivingTV, Challenge and Bravo, before it announced that the price for its own channels to VM would be rising. Virgin Media is hoping that it will be able to get the Sky Channels at a lower price than is being asked for and at the same time increase the price it charges Sky for its own channels to bring them more in line with current market trends.

Virgin Media brought the action under the UK Competition Act 1998 and Article 82 of the EC Treaty.

“Sky, which accounts for almost 70% of the country’s pay TV subscribers, is dominant in the UK Pay TV market and has engaged in a strategy to stifle competition by using its dominance against Virgin Media,” the company said in a statement.

Sky denied the claims and its chief operating officer Mike Darcey said that they had invited VM to return to the negotiating table and that the services Sky was offering for the higher fee would have meant a “bigger and better choice” for customers. Sky say that along with the Sky Basic Channels they had offered to include Sky Three and Sky Arts along with On Demand and High Definition services to VM customers for the increased fee.

“Virgin Media is saving money as a result of this dispute but it hasn’t reduced prices. Millions of customers have lost access to the shows they enjoy and it is clear that many resent paying full prices for fewer channels,” Mr Darcy added.

The case is ongoing.

Guide to TV discusses television options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best option for your home at http://www.guide-to-tv.com

On the surface, the two big satellite television companies, DirecTV and Dish Network look a lot alike. And in many ways they really are similar. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t great reasons for choosing one company over the other.

The biggest factor overall will probably be the package selections. When it comes right down to it, you want to receive the channels you want to watch, and if one company offers them and the other doesn’t that’s the way you should go.

This can be challenging, however. Sometimes each company will have slightly different channels, and what you would want most is a mixture of the two. In that case you will have to decide based on other factors.

For example, if you love sports, can’t get enough, Dish Network has some great sports packages. But DirecTV offers more basic packages, which gives you greater flexibility on the basics you may want.

Equipment and equipment cost can be a big factor too. It’s not that hard to find offers where you get at least some of your satellite television equipment free. But as a general rule, Dish Network offers more free equipment than DirecTV.

One factor that can be hard to figure out without actually checking with the companies is what exactly is offered in your area. Most areas have local channels available, although you may have to pay an additional fee for these. Available sports channels also vary by location.

Both companies of course offer a variety of addons, such as movie channels, the aforementioned sports channels, and HDTV. If these are the packages you want, their exact composition could be the deciding factor for you.

At the time you are searching, it never hurts to check for ongoing offers. This is especially nice when you come to the conclusion that it doesn’t much matter to you which you get, such as when the offers for your needs are much the same. But don’t make a decision you will regret just to save a little at the start. You want to be happy with your decision.

The differences between these two companies are slight in many ways, but they can be important when it comes down to your overall satisfaction with your satellite television service. Don’t compromise on your overall satisfaction just to save a few dollars; pick the company that closest meets your needs. There are few frustrations like that of not being able to watch something you love because you don’t get the right channel.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.comparesatellite.info/ to allow people to take a good look at which satellite television is right for them. Visit http://www.comparesatellite.info/compare-satellite.php to compare satellite television services.

You see all the comparisons on TV or online. Cable’s better. Satellite’s better. Which is it?

Some of that depends on what you need. Are you after the best channel selection, the best reception, the best combination of the two? Do you want high speed internet? How fast? Do you want to combine all your services into a single package or is getting bills from multiple companies just fine.

Which one works best for you depends on where you live too. Different areas will get different cable packages. Many channels will be available nationwide, of course, just as your local channels will generally only be available locally. These days you should easily be able to get your local channels on both cable and satellite, so this is rarely a consideration.

Your need for digital reception and/or HDTV also matters. If you want these features, take a look at what you can get with the companies you are considering.

The number of televisions you want to watch shows on makes a difference too. This often increases with satellite television, but may not with cable. However, if you get digital or HDTV service you may need more receivers even with cable.

Your local cable company may or may not offer high speed internet access. However, if it is offered it is likely to be faster than satellite broadband service.

You can even get your telephone service combined into what you order. Combining your services can save you quite a bit of money, so it can be very worthwhile.

Satellite TV can on occasion have reception problems If your satellite dish is set up correctly this problem should be minimal, even in poor weather.

Don’t assume that because you’re renting you can’t have a satellite dish installed. Also don’t assume that your homeowner’s association when you own a home can tell you no satellite dishes. In either case, they are not allowed to tell you that you can’t have a satellite dish. In the particular case of renting, the one requirement is that you have an appropriate, exclusive use area, such as a deck or patio, on which the dish can be installed.

I can’t tell you for certain which is the best solution for you. The best thing you can do is compare the companies and consider your particular needs. The solution will depend on your own preferences. Take the time to do your research, particularly in the matter of how much it will really cost you.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.comparesatellite.info/ and keeps an eye on the differences between the two kinds of service. You can compare them yourself at http://www.comparesatellite.info/satellite-cable.php

Dish Network is the satellite television broadcasting product owned by the company EchoStar Communications Corporation. Founded in 1980, by Mr. Charlie Ergen along with his wife Cantey and friend DeFranco, EchoStar Communications is an international, public company which is currently based in Englewood, Colorado. The current Chairman and CEO of the company is its founder Charlie Ergen.

EchoStar boasts of the conceptualization and introduction of the world’s first Ultra High Frequency (UHF) remote control in the year 1986. The company was granted its Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) license by FCC in 1992 and launched its own private DBS service in 1995. The first Direct Broadcast Satellite of the company was EchoStar I which was launched from Xichang, China that year.

The Dish Network service of the EchoStar Company was soon a hit due to the company’s committed focus on customer service and cutting-edge equipment, resulting in the prolonged growth of EchoStar. It has being ten years and has seen the launching of eight satellites into space and still EchoStar and its Dish Network service enjoys the glory of being above all its competitors. DISH Network’s DISH 500 service which was introduced in 1999 is the world’s first and only 500-channel satellite TV system. After the release of the DISH 500 service, HDTV Satellite TV Receiver was launched in January, 2000 a few months later, which was groundbreaking in its popularity. After a few years, by 2004, DISH Network became the first satellite TV service to offer local channels to all 50 states of USA along with Washington D.C. Topped up by DISH Network’s 1,000 complete high definition television systems offering to the subscribers, EchoStar is the undisputed leader in its field now. Today, DISH Network is the most popular all-digital TV choice in America and most recently, introduced the first multi-room satellite TV receiver that can record in high definition - DISH Player-DVR 942.

Apart from Dish Network’s continuing success, EchoStar has many feathers in its cap, like the prestigious No.1 rank in Customer Satisfaction among Cable/Satellite TV subscribers, given by J.D. Power and Associates. All these years, EchoStar together with DISH Network have reaffirmed their standing by realizing new levels of service and introducing cutting-edge technologies. DISH Network is known to offer greater discounts and quality services in the form of bundled packages, owing to their partnership with communication masters such as SBC and EarthLink. DISH Network reached their 10 millionth customer milestone in 2004 and still continues to provide an impressive satellite network with the capacity to provide uninterrupted broadcast of hundreds of channels of digital video, audio and data services through the robust DISH Network service to homes, businesses and schools throughout the United States. Employing close to 20,000 people, EchoStar and DISH Network are known for their dedication to the quality, delivery and continuing advancement of Direct Broadcast Satellite worldwide.

The satellite industry is expanding very fast and creates a horizon of new opportunities and exciting, innovative cutting-edge technologies. DISH Network has evolved tremendously with the potential in satellite broadcasting and continues to explore new services like high definition television and digital video recording. There is still more to come in the field of distant high definition TV network channels over the next few years with the passage of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA). The future for Dish Network and EchoStar looks promising enough to revolutionize the world of satellite broadcasting.

For more information about dish network visit
http://www.satellitedishpros.com

The dispute between Virgin Media and Sky over the rights to a number of non-premium Sky channels has dragged on over the weekend and now enters a crucial stage with the channels set to go off air for Virgin Media customers this Thursday (March 1).

The row regards the renegotiation between Virgin Media and Sky for the non-premium Sky channels, including Sky One, Two and Three, as well as Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Travel. The current deal is set to expire on Thursday and so far no agreement has been reached onto how much Virgin Media should pay to carry the channels for their customers.

Talks broke down last Friday morning with Virgin Media issuing a press release accusing Sky of “bullying” and “arrogance”. They claim that Sky has doubled the asking price for these channels in a deliberate attempt to end negotiations. They also claim that this was premeditated as the company has broadcast several advertisements telling Virgin Media customers to contact the company pleading with them to keep the basic Sky channels. Virgin Media have therefore accused Sky of trying to poach its customers and by forcing them to switch provider in order to keep the basic Sky channels.

However, Sky has responded to the Virgin Media accusations by saying that it was surprised and disappointed” by the comments, and that it stood for “choice and competition”. It went on to say that it wanted its basic channels to remain available to Virgin Media customers. It said in a statement: “Sky has negotiated with NTL/Virgin in good faith and has shown flexibility on price,” the broadcaster said in a statement. We categorically reject their claims that we have broken off negotiations or that we are seeking to more than double the price of these channels.”

Sky has today said that it is in its best interests to reach an agreement with Virgin Media as the loss of a potential 3.3 million customers could hit its operating profits by up to twenty million pounds. It has said that it is disappointed that Virgin Media has broken off the negotiations and that the increase in price for the channels was to reflect its heavily increased investment in them. Sky has said that the loss of up to twenty million pounds was down to the possibility of lower carriage fees and weaker advertising revenues.

The two companies only have until Wednesday to reach an agreement and the reaction to the news so far from Virgin Media customers has been mixed. Some have praised Virgin Media’s stance against Sky whilst others have criticised the company and signalled their intention to join Sky if an agreement cannot be made.

Many in this second category has highlighted the years they have had as customers of NTL and Telewest with no problems before Virgin has joined and suddenly the problems have starteed. Also many customers are disappointed to be losing Sky One for programmes such as Lost and 24 which are currently mid-season. The same customers will not be pleased by the news that Virgin Media has no plans to reduce the price of its tariffs if it does not secure the Sky channels as it plans to invest this money in addition content and improved services. However many customers have said they see this as more investment in repeats and programmes which do not interest them.

Guide to TV discusses television options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best option for your home at http://www.guide-to-tv.com

Virgin Media customers look set to lose a number of Sky channels after talks broke down between the two companies.

Virgin Media look set to drop the Sky Basics package, which includes such channels as Sky One, Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Travel, after Sky raised the fees it charges the cable company to carry them. Premimum channels such as Sky Sports and Sky Movies are unaffected.

The news comes after weeks of negotiations and a hardline marketing campaign by the two companies. Virgin Media, which formed just weeks ago when the cable companies ntl:Telewest merged with Virgin Mobile, have accused Sky of “bullying” and “arrogance” by asking “nearly double” the price it had previously charged for the channels. It has said that although it increased its offer to keep the channels, if it had matched the Sky estimation it would have had no choice but to absorbing the significant costs and passing the price increase onto its customers which it was keen to do.

Sky have responded by saying that it feels Virgin Media should keep the their channels for its customers’ sake and that “it would be sad if they failed to provide their customers with their best-loved shows”.

Virgin Media have accused Sky of dirty tactics after advertising the fact that their customers may lose the Sky channels and it published a phone number for its customers to ring to ask the company not to lose these channels.

Virgin Media’s chief executive Steve Burch has said: “We frankly believe they never had an intent to reach an agreement with us. All their actions - advertising, bullying tactics claiming we didn’t care about Sky’s basic package - and the price they asked was just so far out of reality, we just believe it was engineered so we wouldn’t reach an agreement.

“We sat down and negotiated with them in good faith. Last night we made a final offer. They not only rejected it but indicated they were not going to go further with negotiations even though the contract didn’t expire until next week. And they indicated to us that they had planned a PR campaign for this weekend to show we wouldn’t be carrying Sky Basics any more.”

Virgin Media have responded to the debacle with a message on their website to its customers. They have said that despite them continuing to offer its channels, including Living, Bravo and Challenge, to Sky customers, Sky seems insistent on withdrawing is channels from their customers.

They said that although they were willing to increase the price they paid to carry the channels in question, the price they was asking for beared no relation to the channels true market value and therefore “Sky have picked up their ball and gone home”.

However, Virgin Media have said that they are confident that they can still compete with Sky even without such channels as Sky One and that they are “full of fresh entertainment and communication possibilities”. In fact they end their statement by saying: “We’re not scared of competition, we welcome it”.

The bad blood between Virgin Media and Sky relates not only to the Virgin re-branding of the cable company earlier this month, but also to an incident last year when their biggest shareholder, Sir Richard Branson, was left infuriated by Sky’s decision to buy more than one billion pounds worth of shares in ITV after Virgin Media had declared an interest in buying it. The Sky shareholding effectively blocked Virgin Media’s takeover plans.

Guide to TV discusses television options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best option for your home at http://www.guide-to-tv.com

This is one of those hard questions to answer. It is not as straightforward as it may seem. Which option is best for you depends on what is offered in your area as well as your own needs.

Cable television certainly has a lot of advantages, especially now that digital options are available. Lots of channels and a wonderful range of packages to choose from. Many companies will give you the option to have service on multiple televisions as well.

Cable television is also available in most areas now. Not all, certainly, but it is extremely widely available. However, in many areas you will still only have one company to choose from. If you don’t like the service you are receiving it’s not so easy to just go over to the competition, unless you switch to satellite.

There aren’t a lot of satellite companies to choose from either, but you do at least have a choice. And the channel selection is simply wonderful. Many people get marvelous reception, although some do complain of weather related issues.

Choosing based on cost may not be as easy at it first appears. Most cable companies don’t particularly care how many televisions you hook up, although if you get digital cable you will need a box or card for each so that your television can understand the signal.

Similarly with satellite you will need a receiver for each television. Unlike cable, the costs may go up when you add more televisions.

You will also want to consider who is offering the best options for what you watch. Sports lovers will want to consider which sports channels they can order and the costs associated with that. It will be similar for movie lovers.

Many cable customers suffer from regular price increases. This is one of the biggest problems with the lack of competition. But on the other side of things, most satellite providers insist on a contract, so you have to be prepared to stick with it for a time.

Equipment can be something of an issue. Depending on your cable provider, you may have to pay rent for the digital receiver if you go with digital cable. On the other hand, many satellite providers offer at least some equipment for free, then have you purchase anything above and beyond what they offer for free. In both cases you may well need equipment for every television you hook up.

As you can see, there is no definitive way to declare one is better than the other for every home. It depends on your own needs and preferences. Don’t be afraid to contact both a cable provider and a satellite television company to get the numbers for your situation. It will help you make the right choice.

Stephanie Foster helps you compare satellite and cable television at http://www.comparesatellite.info/satellite-cable.php . She finds that each has advantages and disadvantages, and hopes to provide a good resource for you to make the right choice at http://www.comparesatellite.info/