Ad Skipping - How does it work?

[Davidwt87]

Hello

I'm sure this has been asked countless times, but honestly, I can't be bothered sifting through everything to try and find out the answer.

I am a current Sky Q customer, but my contract is coming up, so in the process of trying to sort out my package, and I've found that basically, if you want to update, you now need to have Sky Stream.

One of the add-on options is 'Ad Skipping'. I've tried to work out what this is, but I'm a bit confused.

If I am watching live TV, but have paused it for 10 minutes or so, when I come back to watch, would I be forced to watch the adverts without having Ad Skipping? Obviously atm, I would just fast forward through the ad breaks to eventually catch up to live.

Similarly, if watched a recorded show - am I forced to watch the adverts if I don't take up the Ad-Skipping option?

Thanks

[SKY1992bf]

@Davidwt87  see if this article helps 

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/ad-skipping

[Davidwt87 · Accepted solution]

This was the article that prompted my confusion. As I read it, I need to have Ad Skipping if I want to fast forward ads on Live TV that I have paused, or on any recorded programmes, so I just wanted to try and clarify how it worked

[Padam_Padam]

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@Davidwt87 wrote:

I am a current Sky Q customer, but my contract is coming up, so in the process of trying to sort out my package, and I've found that basically, if you want to update, you now need to have Sky Stream.

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Nobody needs to have Sky Stream. Just because it's newer, it doesn't necessarily mean it's better than Q, it's just different and Q will be around for several years yet so you don't have to switch. 

Sky are presently making Stream the more attractive option for new customers with various cheaper deals but existing Q customers aren't necessarily given the same options. 

If you've fully researched Stream and are happy to switch to a fully streamed service with no local recording then make sure your broadband is capable enough to cope with it. 

Sky may offer some incentive to switch but many customers are still happily re-contracting on Q for 24 months so don't feel like you are being forced to switch if you feel the streaming service isn't right for you. 

[Davidwt87]

Yes understand what you're saying thanks. I kind of worded that section rather clumsily.

Have been speaking to them and can get a new Q contract. What's annoying atm is I am currently paying £80 a month, but have been quoted £105 to stick with Q/£115 for Stream. Yet as a new customer I can get the equivalent of what I have now with Stream, and only pay £83, and they seem unwilling or unable to match that price for me. Seems utterly wild that my reward for being a customer for 10+ years is I have to pay another 30quid+ a month for the priviledge!

[Padam_Padam]

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@Davidwt87 wrote:

Yes understand what you're saying thanks. I kind of worded that section rather clumsily.

Have been speaking to them and can get a new Q contract. What's annoying atm is I am currently paying £80 a month, but have been quoted £105 to stick with Q/£115 for Stream. Yet as a new customer I can get the equivalent of what I have now with Stream, and only pay £83, and they seem unwilling or unable to match that price for me. Seems utterly wild that my reward for being a customer for 10+ years is I have to pay another 30quid+ a month for the priviledge!

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Indeed. Customers do seem to be finding it harder to get a decent deal these days, but it seems to be the way of the industry at the moment. 

The best deals do still seem to come if you cancel. The retentions department (who can offer the best deals) then often get in touch during your 31 day notice period to try and get you to stay, but there's no guarantee.  

When I left Stream I didn't get any contact for 6 months, but was then offered half price for 12 months via email if I came back to Sky. £15.50pm for Entertainment & Netflix (Standard with ads) on a 31 day rolling contract. So it shows that deals are available - you just have to wait for them. 

You really have to weigh up how much you're willing to pay for a TV service. Sky Q is unrivalled in many respects - it's a bedded in product which works well. Sky Stream still has issues but is generally functional for most people. 

[Davidwt87]

I've had mixed information from them so far when threatening to leave. Obviously been using tactic of saying I can get it x amount cheaper if I cancel and then sign up again as a new customer, so why can't you save a lot of bother and offer me the same price now.

First guy said our household wouldn't qualify as a new customer in this regard so this wouldn't work. Asked to be trasnsferred to someone more senior who just stuck to her guns that the offers she had (better than guy 1 but still way more than new customer prices) were the best she could do, but also didn't say I couldn't cancel and then resign up as a new customer straight away.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Davidwt87 wrote:

As I read it, I need to have Ad Skipping if I want to fast forward ads on Live TV that I have paused, or on any recorded programmes

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For Sky content (EPG and on-demand) that's essentially correct.  Remember that Glass/Stream doesn't really 'record' anything.  FF during in-app delivery can vary depending on the app owners policy.

Typically it's not possible to cancel and rapidly become a new user to get incentive pricing, and Sky has had several decades of experience in spotting such things.

[Exiled-in-HH]

If you are not a Sky BB customer ... taking Sky BB+TV is way to make yourself a new customer😉

[Bryan+made]

 even if you've recorded a show with adverts you will need to watch them unless you have add skip I've even noticed if you've added a sky cinema film to your play list there is adverts at the start. Just another way for sky to get another five quid a month off customers . I personally got rid of it after my free trial but got it back as adverts were adding half an hour to some movies

[Brido7760]

How do I add ad skipping?

[TimmyBGood]

@Brido7760 

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/ad-skipping-sky-glass