Renewing Sky Q - advice

[Fourmidable]

I've had SKY TV for 20+ years - VIP Diamond level.

I'm out of contract, so paying as below for Sky Q Signature with Multiroom and Netflix. I've realised I don;t use multiroom, and also rarely watch channels outside of BBC and ITV. I do watch Netflix regularly.

I've found out Sky won't offer Essentials - so is my only realistic choice to haggle on reducing the cost for Signature, same time asking to remove multiroom ? If so, any view on what a decent deal for Signature would be ?

[PandJ2020]

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@Fourmidable wrote:

I've found out Sky won't offer Essentials

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Why do you say that?  Essentials for Q is still available afaik.

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haggle on reducing the cost for Signature, same time asking to remove multiroom ? If so, any view on what a decent deal for Signature would be ?

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Looks like you're on a legacy NetFlix - so any negotiation will require you to switch to the current billing.  (HD/UHD does not raise the NetFlix tier any more)

Personally, I negotiated a £16 discount on Signature but my package is larger than yours (which can be a factor).  Discounts are harder to get nowadays.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Fourmidable wrote:

I've found out Sky won't offer Essentials - so is my only realistic choice to haggle on reducing the cost for Signature, same time asking to remove multiroom ? 

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That may be a misunderstanding.

'Television Essentials' should be available on Q (it has been long-term but not widely advertised)

'Essential TV' is not on Q: that's exclusive to Glass & Stream.

There's been widespread confusion caused by the product names, including amongst Sky staff.

[Willseke]

Did you get anywhere with this? I was previously offered essentials on Sky Q. By the time I called back a few days later they said it's been discounted and now only offer the more expensive signature option which I do t really need. 

[NickNewark]

I'd be thinking of leaving. Save yourself the money and get a streaming stick for Netflix and freeview. 

[Laing1]

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@Willseke wrote:

Did you get anywhere with this? I was previously offered essentials on Sky Q. By the time I called back a few days later they said it's been discounted and now only offer the more expensive signature option which I do t really need. 

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@Willseke you could try speaking to a different advisor as we have not heard of anything that says Sky have discontinued Television Essentials 

[Willseke]

I've been cut off for 3 weeks and everyone from the win back team have confirmed it's not possible as it's been discontinued. I have spoken to at least 6 different advisers and the best they can offer is Signature. I'm getting the boxes ready to send back as I can't afford signature. 

[xenon81]

I've read a few reports now that the Essentials service on Sky Q has been withdrawn. 

[DaveDrizen]

I have a full package and multiroom, Which I pay £157 a month like you I hardly watch the  entainment channels though at the moment I am on a two year minimum term on signatures and sports and get a small discount of £5 on each which will expire at the end of next  year. I mainly whatch Netflix and prime video and some of the entainment app. Irearly watch Sky movies for which I pay £13 a month at present but though I could cancel that I get Paramount + include in that subscription so I would be no better off if I cancelled and went to a cheaper option which I will describe next. Yes we watch the sports channels both Sky  and TNT. So this being the case I have been expressing with other cheaper options as I don't expect Sky to offer much more of a discount when  my minium term expires at the end of next year. So I have bought my self a cheap Firestick for only £20  on there I can get all streaming service I now watch via Sky Q it has a live tv guide that connects to all free terrestrial channels like BBC& ITV  yes it use the app to stream them but that not much of the problem. It also has now tv which give me access to Sky Sports without having to subscribe to the entainment channels I don't watch a saving of £42 a start. For TNT sport there is discovery+ app that shows live stems of all TNT sport programming so I think I am very much covered. If I didwa to watch a Sky movies I can but it only £9 a month on there , though I have to subscribe to paramount + separately  for a bout £5 a month  though won't be much saving there with now tv you are not locked in to minimum term contract so just pay for one month at a time you can cancel any time in that month and you don't may any more. Unlike Sky there is giving a months notice. In couple of years we are all going have change  to streaming service any way  south think to change now and also  save a lot of money

[stereohaven]

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@xenon81 wrote:

I've read a few reports now that the Essentials service on Sky Q has been withdrawn. 

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Haven't seen anything official personally, but it wouldn't surprise me.

I suspect the slow drip of changes to the Sky+ and Q satellite based services over the last few years will turn into a flood over the next 24 months.

No new features, further channel loses as linear channels continue to shutdown, buying or retention options continuing to be ended or made even less attractive etc.

[DaveDrizen]

I missed the "no"  out my post should red there no giving a months contract with now

[TimmyBGood]

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@xenon81 wrote:

I've read a few reports now that the Essentials service on Sky Q has been withdrawn. 

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Given Essential TV on Stream has the same list price as Television Essentials on Q (but delivers considerably more content) that's reasonably plausible: there's still the issue of households without the broadband bandwidth or WiFi coverage for Stream though.

Free to air satellite remains an option in place of Television Essentials but requires investment in a box unless the TV has a built-in satellite tuner (which typically cannot work through a Q LNB)