Sky has started to phase out its SD boxes, with the company now offering its standard Sky+HD box to new customers as standard, regardless of whether they take the HD service.
Sky is keen to get as many people as possible onto the Sky+HD boxes, which is capable not only of the HD service that the satellite broadcaster is keen to push out to its user base, but also forthcoming technologies including 3D and IPTV services.
So it's hardly a surprise that even new customers who do not want to take on an HD subscription (at around £10 a month) will get an HD box, although Sky is offering a sweetener for those who are prepared to pay for the premium service.
Pricing
New customers who don't subscribe to the HD Pack will pay £49 for the box plus £30 installation, while existing customers will be hit with a £99 fee if they want the new box and £60 installation.
For new customers who want HD, the box is free and installation £30, and for existing SD customers who take on the HD package, the box is free but installation is £60.
The announcement comes along with the latest figures, showing Sky has 9.7 million subscribers, with an impressive 2 million Sky+HD households.
Your comments (3) Click to add a new comment
tom558
January 29th 2010
3. I have been a Sky customer since 1989 but I will never pay extra for HD content.
I took the same view when they were charging about ten pounds a month,just for the use of a PVR,that is why I now have a Freeview PVR.
Drop the ten pounds a month extra and I would upgrade to HD, keep it,and they risk losing a long time customer,to Freeview HD when it gets going.
I only take a basic package anyway,plus the broadband.
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amit290
January 28th 2010
2. Hopefully with the launch of 3D they'll start charging for that instead of HD. I got to say its still a big con having to £50 more than a new customer if you want to upgrade your box. They should certainly look after their loyal customers.
Its also worth mentioning that when friend ordered the HD box as a new customer in December, they said he would have to wait until February until it arrived - 2 months.
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mattdoc30
January 28th 2010
1. I think to charge extra for HD content is madness now. Initially, for the early adopters, yes, but its been around a while now. It's not like it's amazing additional content either, it's just a better picture of content available without the premium. When its just a case of connecting your laptop to your TV (via HDMI or VGA) and downloading the HD content from BBC (which seems to be the only thing worth downloading frankly) - it's a hard sell.
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