The end of satellite TV and migration to broadband Internet for television services

[Dobber1234]

Hello quick question does anyone here share the same views as me in that? I am really worried about the end of satellite TV from 2028 onwards it's all very well to say that we will migrate to Broadband and use online platforms from 2028 but there are some parts of this country where Internet is very bad with poor signal quality so as a result if we switch from satellite to broadband immediately after 2028 then this means that my TV services will be continually breaking down. I know it's the way of the world and we have to move with the times, et cetera but I don't think this move should be gone through with until there are decent Internet connections throughout this country, especially in rural Ireland and furthermore what about elderly people who are not familiar with Internet technology? How are they supposed to access their television services? I am really really worried about this new move. I know it's not happening for another four years but surely there can be a mix of both broadband and satellite as there is now I don't think the satellite dish should be abolished completely perhaps I am talking nonsense as nobody here can probably help me with this but I'm just telling you of my feelings. I love to watch TV especially sky TV and 2028 if I lose the ability to watch through satellite  I don't know what I will do. Let's have a conversation. Does anyone else feel like me regarding this issue

[Daniel0210]

@Dobber1234 

As the propellant for the satellites in space is running out with no suggestion of the satellites being replaced there's unfortunately no choice. 

[nigea99]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

Hello quick question does anyone here share the same views as me in that? I am really worried about the end of satellite TV from 2028 onwards it's all very well to say that we will migrate to Broadband and use online platforms from 2028 but there are some parts of this country where Internet is very bad with poor signal quality so as a result if we switch from satellite to broadband immediately after 2028 then this means that my TV services will be continually breaking down. I know it's the way of the world and we have to move with the times, et cetera but I don't think this move should be gone through with until there are decent Internet connections throughout this country, especially in rural Ireland and furthermore what about elderly people who are not familiar with Internet technology? How are they supposed to access their television services? I am really really worried about this new move. I know it's not happening for another four years but surely there can be a mix of both broadband and satellite as there is now I don't think the satellite dish should be abolished completely perhaps I am talking nonsense as nobody here can probably help me with this but I'm just telling you of my feelings. I love to watch TV especially sky TV and 2028 if I lose the ability to watch through satellite  I don't know what I will do. Let's have a conversation. Does anyone else feel like me regarding this issue

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@Dobber1234 

The main reason that Satelite TV in the UK is likely to cease by the end of the decade is financial viability - Satellites are extremely expensive so no-one is like to fund replacements for the Satellites at 28.2 which are towards their end of life due to the postioining fuel that will run out.

In reality the UK & Ireland  have a much smaller populaton coverage than those whose beams cover Europe. 

The number of customers who have already moved and will move to Internet based streaming means the remaining customers relying on Satellite delivered TV is growing even smaller fairly rapidly which just makes the cost of provisioning new Satellites even more unviable.

it is different for the European targeted satellites as there is a much larger population coverage and multiple TV companies from many countries using them - so there are newer Satellites launched/planned

We have been fortunate that Satellite TV provided the blanket coverage that terrestrial TV never could 

I suppose someone could possibly try making a business case to have some channels move  to 19.2   (which SKY analogue also used)  assuming the new Satellites have enough capacity but that would involve re-aligning dishes as well - although I can't see anyone doing this

Edit :  Whilst I know it won't reach the population coverage that Satellite Tv can we, also, must take into account that broadband provision is increasing fairly rapidly so this also means the percentage of customers that will be affected when the Satellites run out of fuel will, in reality, be on the small side .

I know that doesn't help those that will be affected but it  all goes into the financial viability pot  

[TimmyBGood]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

 I know it's not happening for another four years but surely there can be a mix of both broadband and satellite as there is now I don't think the satellite dish should be abolished completely 

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Millions of satellite dishes will be adorning walls in the UK and Republic of Ireland for decades to come, but as noted above if there isn't at least one broadcast platform in the bit of the heavens they are pointing at, they really cannot perform a useful function.  With a maximum (and now shrinking) market of about 15 million households there isn't likely to be the private investor interest to fund another orbiter and launch (at about £100,000,000 a time) : SES have just put up a new unit at 19.2E, but that will serve approximately ten times more properties across continental Europe.

[phil19651]

If its anything like everybody having an electric car by such and such a date, I think satellites may be around  for a bit longer.🤔🙄.

[Chodley]

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@phil19651 wrote:

If its anything like everybody having an electric car by such and such a date, I think satellites may be around  for a bit longer.🤔🙄.

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I've got 4 of them so I'm covering for some of you 😉

[Martin+S]

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@TimmyBGood wrote:

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

 I know it's not happening for another four years but surely there can be a mix of both broadband and satellite as there is now I don't think the satellite dish should be abolished completely 

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Millions of satellite dishes will be adorning walls in the UK and Republic of Ireland for decades to come, but as noted above if there isn't at least one broadcast platform in the bit of the heavens they are pointing at, they really cannot perform a useful function.  With a maximum (and now shrinking) market of about 15 million households there isn't likely to be the private investor interest to fund another orbiter and launch (at about £100,000,000 a time) : SES have just put up a new unit at 19.2E, but that will serve approximately ten times more properties across continental Europe.

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It's not just Sky that uses 28 east, there is an African service too, SES will have satellites there for the foreseable future, they won't neccecarilly launch new satellites but move excistiing ones there from other positions.

[Chodley]

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@Martin+S wrote:

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@TimmyBGood wrote:

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

 I know it's not happening for another four years but surely there can be a mix of both broadband and satellite as there is now I don't think the satellite dish should be abolished completely 

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Millions of satellite dishes will be adorning walls in the UK and Republic of Ireland for decades to come, but as noted above if there isn't at least one broadcast platform in the bit of the heavens they are pointing at, they really cannot perform a useful function.  With a maximum (and now shrinking) market of about 15 million households there isn't likely to be the private investor interest to fund another orbiter and launch (at about £100,000,000 a time) : SES have just put up a new unit at 19.2E, but that will serve approximately ten times more properties across continental Europe.

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It's not just Sky that uses 28 east, there is an African service too, SES will have satellites there for the foreseable future, they won't neccecarilly launch new satellites but move excistiing ones there from other positions.

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Is it like in 24 when they just move satellites at will to a new location to get a better look at the baddies?

[Dobber1234]

I hope you are right phill

[Dobber1234]

There might be a logical reason for it but I still don't agree with it fine if everyone has stable and fast Internet connections but not everyone does and furthermore what about elderly people? Sure the majority of old age pensioners, et cetera we're not be able to afford to get broadband exclusively for TV services, et cetera. I know my late father who loved his TV would not have been able to manage that so there are lots of things that need to be trashed out properly before any change takes place in my opinion anyway I have been doing some research and when it does happen, I will be changing to virgin media television Ireland because they are solely a cable service and don't rely on satellite dish options

[Raider999]

@Dobber1234 hopefully  satellite tv will be available for a lot longer - streaming doesn't work for me as I watch a lot of sport 99% of which is time-switched.

As sky's streaming channel has shown:-

1) streaming unreliable - freezes numerous times during a match

2) if you aren't in when the match is on there are no full match replays, only 3-4 minute highlights.

I won't pay their extortionate fees for that sort of service - will return to Virgin Media (assuming they can still offer a decent recordable service.

[Chodley]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

There might be a logical reason for it but I still don't agree with it fine if everyone has stable and fast Internet connections but not everyone does and furthermore what about elderly people? Sure the majority of old age pensioners, et cetera we're not be able to afford to get broadband exclusively for TV services, et cetera. I know my late father who loved his TV would not have been able to manage that so there are lots of things that need to be trashed out properly before any change takes place in my opinion anyway I have been doing some research and when it does happen, I will be changing to virgin media television Ireland because they are solely a cable service and don't rely on satellite dish options

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Well

To be fair, your father was a different generation. I grew up programming at the age of 12 and was using internet email at 18.  When these satellites likely go out of service I will be old enough to retire. My in-laws use streaming services.

We do need more public investment in getting fibre to every single property though. We managed it with copper.

[stereohaven]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

Does anyone else feel like me regarding this issue

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I understand your concerns and suspect plenty will, but I don't share them personally.

A lot will change over the next 4 years and I suspect (as overs have said), that some core services will continue for longer than planned, but the direction of travel has been clear for a while.

Ways to deliver broadband to remote areas will continue to improve, as will encoding  to deliver more over lower bandwidth. Recording is toast though.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Martin+S wrote:

SES will have satellites there for the foreseable future, they won't neccecarilly launch new satellites but move excistiing ones there from other positions.

If they think the market will support it, perhaps: they've no obligation to do so.  As I've mentioned in other threads on this topic, it intrigues me that television services which numerous governments consider to be really important are effectively under the control of a famously secretive commercial organisation operating behind a brass plate in Luxembourg ; )

I also wonder if UK/RoI, which really are very small numbers in global terms, are effectively the designated testbed for scheduled (as opposed to on-demand) streaming.

[PandJ2020]

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@stereohaven wrote

Recording is toast though.

Yup - streamers love it as gives total control of distribution rights.