Sky Cinema Bonfire Night - Ireland

[ZyloKai]

https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/sky-and-now-launch-pop-up-channel-to-calm-anxious-dogs/

According to RXTV Info, Sky Cinema Bonfire Night will be available from 1 November to 6 November, offering a specially curated selection of films to help calm pets and their owners during the firework season. “Sky has worked with the Dogs Trust to identify suitable movies to show to viewers and their pets.” This effort is commendable - though it seems less advantageous for viewers in Ireland, where the primary bonfire season has already passed by then.

Unfortunately, Sky has again overlooked regional differences.

In Ireland, "Bonfire Night" is observed on Halloween (31 October) night, when bonfires and fireworks are abundant. While the UK can enjoy Sky's Bonfire Night films as local celebrations unfold, Irish customers miss out on this synchronicity.

Sky, this England-centred approach is wearing thin. If you’re going to  rename Sky Cinema channels to the likes of Sky Cinema Bonfire Night, Sky Cinema Bank Holiday, or even hypothetically, Sky Cinema St. Patrick’s Day, it's essential to cater to customers across the UK and Ireland equally. Sky, it’s time to improve. You’re neglecting a portion of your audience. If in doubt, even the Sky Community or a brief online search could provide the necessary guidance.

As a paying Sky Cinema customer, it’s frustrating to miss out simply because I’m outside the UK. How is this fair?

I've previously suggested that Sky reconsider these temporary Sky Cinema channel name. This practice feels outdated. A more sensible solution might be to reserve themed films for the On-Demand section, ensuring accessibility for all viewers.

[oj01]

Aren't all films available On Demand anyway? Does anyone actually watch the movie channels "live" ?

Plus, I'd argue that it's hardly Sky's fault that people in Ireland choose to set off fireworks on the wrong date 

[ZyloKai]

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@oj01 wrote:

Aren't all films available On Demand anyway? Does anyone actually watch the movie channels "live" ?

Plus, I'd argue that it's hardly Sky's fault that people in Ireland choose to set off fireworks on the wrong date 

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Well, if one wants to be pedantic, bonfires on Halloween in Ireland began over 2,000 years ago, while Guy Fawkes Night started in 1605  when the Gunpowder Plot failed. Halloween is just a smidge older than Guy Fawkes Night.

But that is not my point. My point is that if Sky are going to offer live themed channels on Sky Cinema , they need to accommodate all of their customers, in the UK & Ireland, or just scrap the whole themed Sky Cinema channels once and for all.  

[Doc5907]

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@ZyloKai wrote:

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@oj01 wrote:

Aren't all films available On Demand anyway? Does anyone actually watch the movie channels "live" ?

Plus, I'd argue that it's hardly Sky's fault that people in Ireland choose to set off fireworks on the wrong date 

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Well, if one wants to be pedantic, bonfires on Halloween in Ireland began over 2,000 years ago, while Guy Fawkes Night started in 1605  when the Gunpowder Plot failed. Halloween is just a smidge older than Guy Fawkes Night.

But that is not my point. My point is that if Sky are going to offer live themed channels on Sky Cinema , they need to accommodate all of their customers, in the UK & Ireland, or just scrap the whole themed Sky Cinema channels once and for all.  

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Does this minor issue really make you so angry ?? 

Surely there are more important things to worry about. 🤔

[Daniel0210]

@ZyloKai 

Why don't you email the Viewer Relations Team and see it they can sort something more to your liking for next year.

viewerR@sky.uk

[Mr+Ripley]

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@Doc5907 wrote:

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@ZyloKai wrote:

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@oj01 wrote:

Aren't all films available On Demand anyway? Does anyone actually watch the movie channels "live" ?

Plus, I'd argue that it's hardly Sky's fault that people in Ireland choose to set off fireworks on the wrong date 

---

Well, if one wants to be pedantic, bonfires on Halloween in Ireland began over 2,000 years ago, while Guy Fawkes Night started in 1605  when the Gunpowder Plot failed. Halloween is just a smidge older than Guy Fawkes Night.

But that is not my point. My point is that if Sky are going to offer live themed channels on Sky Cinema , they need to accommodate all of their customers, in the UK & Ireland, or just scrap the whole themed Sky Cinema channels once and for all.  

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Does this minor issue really make you so angry ?? 

Surely there are more important things to worry about. 🤔

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  @Doc5907  That's a bit rude. It clearly isn't a minor issue for @ZyloKai or they wouldn't have brought it up on this forum. They have a valid point. Let's not forget the recent debacle whereby Sky customers in Ireland couldn't ( and still can't, ) use the Vue ticket promotion offer from Sky Cinema because they don't have any Vue cinemas there. It's fairly clear that Sky doesn't do its homework.

[nolte]

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@Mr+Ripley wrote:

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. Let's not forget the recent debacle whereby Sky customers in Ireland couldn't ( and still can't, ) use the Vue ticket promotion offer from Sky Cinema because they don't have any Vue cinemas there. It's fairly clear that Sky doesn't do its homework.

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Republic of Ireland has 3 vue cinemas - limerick, Dublin, and Ashbourne.

It is Northern Ireland that has none

[ZyloKai]

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@ZyloKai wrote:

https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/sky-and-now-launch-pop-up-channel-to-calm-anxious-dogs/

According to RXTV Info, Sky Cinema Bonfire Night will be available from 1 November to 6 November, offering a specially curated selection of films to help calm pets and their owners during the firework season. “Sky has worked with the Dogs Trust to identify suitable movies to show to viewers and their pets.” This effort is commendable - though it seems less advantageous for viewers in Ireland, where the primary bonfire season has already passed by then.

Unfortunately, Sky has again overlooked regional differences.

In Ireland, "Bonfire Night" is observed on Halloween (31 October) night, when bonfires and fireworks are abundant. While the UK can enjoy Sky's Bonfire Night films as local celebrations unfold, Irish customers miss out on this synchronicity.

Sky, this England-centred approach is wearing thin. If you’re going to  rename Sky Cinema channels to the likes of Sky Cinema Bonfire Night, Sky Cinema Bank Holiday, or even hypothetically, Sky Cinema St. Patrick’s Day, it's essential to cater to customers across the UK and Ireland equally. Sky, it’s time to improve. You’re neglecting a portion of your audience. If in doubt, even the Sky Community or a brief online search could provide the necessary guidance.

As a paying Sky Cinema customer, it’s frustrating to miss out simply because I’m outside the UK. How is this fair?

I've previously suggested that Sky reconsider these temporary Sky Cinema channel name. This practice feels outdated. A more sensible solution might be to reserve themed films for the On-Demand section, ensuring accessibility for all viewers.

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Again, I reiterate: 

It's not even about the Sky Cinema channel itself. It's the fact Sky seemingly don't give a hoot about anyone outside of England. At least not from an equality point of view. That's how I see it. 

From having "Sky Cinema Bank Holiday" solely on England and Wales' Bank Holiday weekends. (Where is it this weekend for Ireland?), to Sky Cinema Bonfire Night being for UK only,  to redeeming Vue tickets, but only for the Great Britain and Ireland. To launching Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Mobile in the UK only and Ireland's launch were much later. Why not launch it for everywhere at once? The Sky Mobile one, though, I understand why it wasn't launched at the same time.

The simplest way I can think of it is: I want equality across the board for the entire UK and Ireland (well for things Sky controls). That's it. 

[TimmyBGood]

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@ZyloKai wrote:

To launching Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Mobile in the UK only and Ireland's launch were much later. Why not launch it for everywhere at once? 

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Arbitrary temporary renaming of broadcast channels which fall across different countries is very different to a physical product launch with all the management, regulatory, logistics, financial, support and other concerns involved.

I'd suggest sticking to the winnable campaign; )

[nolte]

Moat companies operating in more than 1 market will lag product releases over time, not do it all at once.

It is not an equality issue.

The renaming of channels is annoying (in general) though I also don't think it is an equality issue.

[TimmyBGood]

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@nolte wrote:

The renaming of channels is annoying (in general) though I also don't think it is an equality issue.

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Things like the August Bank Holiday renaming not applying in Scotland does indicate a degree of geographical illiteracy though, which could be easily avoided.

It's particularly unfortunate given Sky still has a strong infrastructure and staff presence north of the wall.

[Mr+Ripley]

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@nolte wrote:

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@Mr+Ripley wrote:

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. Let's not forget the recent debacle whereby Sky customers in Ireland couldn't ( and still can't, ) use the Vue ticket promotion offer from Sky Cinema because they don't have any Vue cinemas there. It's fairly clear that Sky doesn't do its homework.

---

Republic of Ireland has 3 vue cinemas - limerick, Dublin, and Ashbourne.

It is Northern Ireland that has none

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  @nolte  I think you know what I meant.

[nolte]

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@Mr+Ripley wrote:

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@nolte wrote:

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@Mr+Ripley wrote:

---

. Let's not forget the recent debacle whereby Sky customers in Ireland couldn't ( and still can't, ) use the Vue ticket promotion offer from Sky Cinema because they don't have any Vue cinemas there. It's fairly clear that Sky doesn't do its homework.

---

Republic of Ireland has 3 vue cinemas - limerick, Dublin, and Ashbourne.

It is Northern Ireland that has none

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  @nolte  I think you know what I meant.

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????

I am genuinely confused by this post

I just pointed out there were a couple of vue cinemas in ROI (still an inconvenience if you live outside their catchment areas)

[Daniel-F · Accepted solution]

Hi all,

I think there are a good few comments in this thread which are teetering the line of breaking community rules so I want to step in at this point. As a reminder, let's keep the conversation on the topic at hand.  Along with that, lets keep things nice between users and not directed at any one person or group of people in any negative light. 

I'll be locking the thread down should I feel it's the best thing to do moving forward so please do keep things friendly moving forward.

@ZyloKai Your comments are appreciated and what I would say is that if you did want to express this over to the relevant team in Sky I think our Programme Enquiries / Viewer Relations team fit that bill better than anyone else. 

You can find their contact details from our complaints page on Sky.com here.

Thanks for getting the thread started.

[rscott]

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@nolte wrote:

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@Mr+Ripley wrote:

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@nolte wrote:

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@Mr+Ripley wrote:

---

. Let's not forget the recent debacle whereby Sky customers in Ireland couldn't ( and still can't, ) use the Vue ticket promotion offer from Sky Cinema because they don't have any Vue cinemas there. It's fairly clear that Sky doesn't do its homework.

---

Republic of Ireland has 3 vue cinemas - limerick, Dublin, and Ashbourne.

It is Northern Ireland that has none

---

  @nolte  I think you know what I meant.

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????

I am genuinely confused by this post

I just pointed out there were a couple of vue cinemas in ROI (still an inconvenience if you live outside their catchment areas)

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There are also no Vue cinemas in Suffolk. For me on the Essex/Suffolk border, it's either Thurrock, Basildon, Dagenham or Norwich, so in practical terms, there aren't any within a sensible distance.