Michael Kimb Jones

Recently I discovered that I would have to move from a Cable TV/Broadband solution towards Satellite TV and ADSL. So the past few weeks I have been researching the different options available to me.

There is really only ONE satellite TV provider in the UK - Sky.

It seems the package that will suit my needs best will cost around £36 a month. For this price I finally get access to the sports package which will save endless trips to the pub during football-laden weekends (maybe). I’m happy to pay this, but there is a problem. You see recently they have announced a HD service “Sky HD“.

The box is ready:

The channels are ready:

• Sky Movies 9 HD
• Sky Movies 10 HD
• Ch 405 - Sky Sports HD
• Ch 756 - Sky Box Office HD 1
• National Geographic HD
• Ch 291 - Sky One HD
• Ch 757 - Sky Box Office HD 2
• Ch 158 - Artsworld HD
• Ch 557 -Discovery HD

But the price is a mystery? Rumours are:

• £200 for the box and no extra a month.
• £300 for the box and £10 extra a month.
• £700 (!!) for the box and £15 extra a month.
• FREE box and £25 extra a month.

Along with many others.

The release date is as ambiguous as the PS3s “Spring 2006″ date. For example:

• January 2006 (Obviusly not)
• March 3rd 2006
• April 1st 2006
• April 10th 2006
• Early May 2006

And someone said it would be June, I will choose to ignore this as they have clamied the service will be ready for the World Cup.

AV-Forums is the best and worst place to look for this kind of info. Users claim to be “Sky Engineers” and know “For a fact” that this is the correct information. Others claim to work in “Sky Marketing” and also know “For a fact” that what they say is correct.