Sky killing the pub trade on prices

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I read with great interest, On page 33, of the Daily Mirror, the soaring prices of Sky Sports is killing the pub tade, that some pubs are axing the service due to the cost's. A great mate of mine who used to run a pub, was charged 3.500 pounds per month, for Sky, and when he didn't pay, they cut him off, and threaten to sue him.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I read with great interest, On page 33, of the Daily Mirror, the soaring prices of Sky Sports is killing the pub tade, that some pubs are axing the service due to the cost's. A great mate of mine who used to run a pub, was charged 3.500 pounds per month, for Sky, and when he didn't pay, they cut him off, and threaten to sue him.

Sky are in dire straits it would seem, suffering along with everyone else due to the downturn in advertising spend but also by being saddled with some of the very expensive shows they bought when they thought they could recoup the costs by screwing a few more quid out of VM. And of course the fact VM declined to pay for their party, leaving Sky with no payment whatsoever, and reduced audiences meaning further reduced ad income ... not a rosy picture at all. I wonder whether they've been forced to up their bids for Premiersihp footy as well, now Setanta are firmly on the scene?

On the other hand, your friend may not like the cost of the service, but that doesn't entitle him to keep receiving it if he stops paying. Presumably they threatened to sue to recover subscription arrears?

[Mick Fisher]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I read with great interest, On page 33, of the Daily Mirror, the soaring prices of Sky Sports is killing the pub tade,.

I think you will find the inevitable decline of the pub is a lot more to do with the rediculous prices charged for a pint. Customers are just voting with their feet is all.

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

that some pubs are axing the service due to the cost's. A great mate of mine who used to run a pub, was charged 3.500 pounds per month, for Sky, and when he didn't pay, they cut him off, and threaten to sue him.

Seems like standard procedure to me?

[Rob]

Moved to Other Digital TV since this isn't about Virgin Media RTV

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Hi Mick, l couldn't agree more with you, l was recently made redundant from a beer delivery company, and l can assure you, that a keg of beer that they buy, for example, costs £60, they can sell about 300 pints. but l think the major problem is, that it is the customers, who actually pay for Sky, on the price of a pint, it is cheaper to buy four cans of lage out of Tescos, than a pub.

[AndyCambs]

Personally - I go into a bar for a drink and chat with mates, not to watch the television. To be honest, the sight of a large screen puts me off.

[WHISTLED]

Ditto - i wouldnt drink in a pub with the football on

[Hugh]

Agreed.

[LondonRoad]

I know of at least 2 golf clubs that have ditched the $ky subscription in the last 2 years. I only have limited oppochancity to play golf so I presume that this must be fairly widespread.

Puts on smug superior smilecan't say it's a big shock to me, it's surely one of the first things to go if any licensed establishment is struggling financially.

As other have alluded to, I don't think pubs are what they used to be. They seem to need to force you to be entertained rather than accept that people want to chat/gossip/jest/ call it what you will. If ain't karaoke, quiz nights then the the live $ky show is on at full volume ( got to justify the extortionate fees even if it's mediocre ute V unworthy city).

I'm not naive, I love football, I love music (well maybe not agadoo genre) I don't want it ALL the time at my local, I just wonder what effect it would have on many pubs takings if they had ditched the noise and had conversations only nights. There's probably a phd for somebody out there.

[m419]

Well pubs should just switch to Virgin Media, where Setanta is free and where they can get channels such as Arsenal TV free on XL package and also get Sky sports channels cheaper than with Sky! The only thing is, is that you dont get the full red button service on Virgin with Sky sports, on the other hand, I have never seen anyone especially in pubs use the red button feature! So they might as well use Virgin.Furthermore, with Virgin TV XL package, you get unlimited music too, and in Virgin TV music is a kareoke section, if a pub had Virgin TV and an o.h.p, they could use this for kareoke nights, providing great entertainment at no extra cost!XL TV: £22 per monthSky Sports and Sky Movies Collections: £25 per monthSetanta: £0XL phone: £19 per month (Unlimited UK calls)Talk Anywhere 200: £20 per month (For living quarters)2MB Broadband: £18 per monthAdditional set top box for living quarters: £5 per monthTotal: £109 per monthIsnt that much better than £3,500!!!!!!

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by AndyCambs

Personally - I go into a bar for a drink and chat with mates, not to watch the television. To be honest, the sight of a large screen puts me off.

I agree with you, I avoid going to pubs that have tv.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by m419

Well pubs should just switch to Virgin Media, where Setanta is free and where they can get channels such as Arsenal TV free on XL package and also get Sky sports channels cheaper than with Sky! The only thing is, is that you dont get the full red button service on Virgin with Sky sports, on the other hand, I have never seen anyone especially in pubs use the red button feature! So they might as well use Virgin.Furthermore, with Virgin TV XL package, you get unlimited music too, and in Virgin TV music is a kareoke section, if a pub had Virgin TV and an o.h.p, they could use this for kareoke nights, providing great entertainment at no extra cost!XL TV: £22 per monthSky Sports and Sky Movies Collections: £25 per monthSetanta: £0XL phone: £19 per month (Unlimited UK calls)Talk Anywhere 200: £20 per month (For living quarters)2MB Broadband: £18 per monthAdditional set top box for living quarters: £5 per monthTotal: £109 per monthIsnt that much better than £3,500!!!!!!

I would imagine the commercial rate to be slightly different from the residential one just as it is in the case of Sky. I'm not even sure that VM have a commercial deal.

[Angua]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Hi Mick, l couldn't agree more with you, l was recently made redundant from a beer delivery company, and l can assure you, that a keg of beer that they buy, for example, costs £60, they can sell about 300 pints. but l think the major problem is, that it is the customers, who actually pay for Sky, on the price of a pint, it is cheaper to buy four cans of lage out of Tescos, than a pub.

According to my source (former publican with a daughter & granddaughter still in the trade) Free houses pay around £80-£95 per barrel (80 pints) and tenants have to pay over £130 for the same stuff. Free houses will pay far more for the pub in the first place & no rent where tenants have paid a lease fee and weekly rent of £750 plus and have to sell minimum 2 barrels a week so cost wise Sky is no longer worth the potential income with more relying on promotional hours and food or traditional pub games instead.

[Kymmy]

I wonder what the commercial rates are for VM, or in that case Setanta on freeview???

[Ignitionnet]

Unless Sky have massively ramped their prices up it's tricky to say that they are killing the pub trade on prices though, pubs make the decision to pay Sky the going rate for their services just as consumers do and if the pubs can't afford it or it's not economical surely that's a bad decision on the part of the pubs?