Sky Viewing Card Changes: Potential Problems - SatChat ™ Satellite & Entertainment Forum

satchat · 06-10-2009, 10:21 AM

Sky Viewing Card Changes: Potential Problems

Every five years or so, the British Sky Broadcasting changes their viewing card to comply with their agreements with NDS. On its Web site, Sky explains that this is to ensure that subscribers get a secure and up-to-date service. The thing is, replacement cards will be sent to all Pay TV subscribers, but not those who use the Sky viewing card for free to air access.

One potential problem is that the cards may not arrive in time before you get the message that instructs you to insert your new Sky viewing card. What's worse is that not everyone will be able to follow the new step-by-step instructions on how to change the cards. There is the possibility that subscribers would have problems with the new card, have multiple set ups requiring different cards, or problems with compatibility. No sweat, because one call to Sky or your Pay TV provider is all it takes to remedy it.

But what if you are one of those who use their Sky viewing card not as a subscriber but to access free to air channels? By admission, Sky themselves have said that the information on the process of obtaining a new card would be available could take months. That means weeks or maybe even months of interrupted viewing on your part.

And speaking of relearning the curve, Sky has taken the initiative to completely revamp the menus. That means that a subscriber would have to get used to the new menu and configurations. Easy to say to a teenager who has all the time in the world to figure it out. It is, however, a different story if you are a 75 year old grandmother who had just learned the old menu after five years of looking at it.

Generally, however, it seems that Sky has it all covered. Aside from making sure that the public has been duly informed about the move, they have come up with a site to help people in making the switch. The Sky Viewing Help site not only provides detailed step by step information on how to change your existing cards, it also has a highly detailed troubleshooting guide, a frequently asked questions section, along with a list of pay TV providers and their corresponding contact numbers and Web sites.

Also, Sky has taken steps to ensure that their subscribers get their replacement cards in advance, starting their mail outs in April, two months before the old viewing cards are scheduled to be switched off.

So aside from these minor potential inconvenience, it is highly unlikely that Sky has some ulterior motives in making the viewing card change. I personally believe that Sky only changes their viewing cards to improve their existing technical standards or if the they are bound by their agreements to do so. Further, Sky would have to change their viewing cards in the event that existing ones have been hacked, paving the way for the proliferation of pirated Sky viewing cards.

06-10-2009, 10:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
satchat Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 253	Sky Viewing Card Changes: Potential Problems Sky Viewing Card Changes: Potential Problems Every five years or so, the British Sky Broadcasting changes their viewing card to comply with their agreements with NDS. On its Web site, Sky explains that this is to ensure that subscribers get a secure and up-to-date service. The thing is, replacement cards will be sent to all Pay TV subscribers, but not those who use the Sky viewing card for free to air access. One potential problem is that the cards may not arrive in time before you get the message that instructs you to insert your new Sky viewing card. What's worse is that not everyone will be able to follow the new step-by-step instructions on how to change the cards. There is the possibility that subscribers would have problems with the new card, have multiple set ups requiring different cards, or problems with compatibility. No sweat, because one call to Sky or your Pay TV provider is all it takes to remedy it. But what if you are one of those who use their Sky viewing card not as a subscriber but to access free to air channels? By admission, Sky themselves have said that the information on the process of obtaining a new card would be available could take months. That means weeks or maybe even months of interrupted viewing on your part. And speaking of relearning the curve, Sky has taken the initiative to completely revamp the menus. That means that a subscriber would have to get used to the new menu and configurations. Easy to say to a teenager who has all the time in the world to figure it out. It is, however, a different story if you are a 75 year old grandmother who had just learned the old menu after five years of looking at it. Generally, however, it seems that Sky has it all covered. Aside from making sure that the public has been duly informed about the move, they have come up with a site to help people in making the switch. The Sky Viewing Help site not only provides detailed step by step information on how to change your existing cards, it also has a highly detailed troubleshooting guide, a frequently asked questions section, along with a list of pay TV providers and their corresponding contact numbers and Web sites. Also, Sky has taken steps to ensure that their subscribers get their replacement cards in advance, starting their mail outs in April, two months before the old viewing cards are scheduled to be switched off. So aside from these minor potential inconvenience, it is highly unlikely that Sky has some ulterior motives in making the viewing card change. I personally believe that Sky only changes their viewing cards to improve their existing technical standards or if the they are bound by their agreements to do so. Further, Sky would have to change their viewing cards in the event that existing ones have been hacked, paving the way for the proliferation of pirated Sky viewing cards. __________________ CABLE, SATELLITE, FREEVIEW, FREESAT PRODUCTS ALL AVAILABLE AT BUYME24BUYME CLICK HERE TO SEE

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