More 4 - Reply from C4

[PaulR]

I sent the following email to C4 regarding the availability of More 4 on satellite

I am very disappointed that you have seen fit to make More4 encrypted on
satellite and, further, to make anyone who wants to watch it have a Sky
subscription.

I can understnd (just) why E4 is still encrypted as you have a contract with
some time left to run but More4 - no way.

Can I urge you to reconsider and make it Free to air or, at the very least,
need just an FTV card.

Yours in impatience

and received this reply

Hi Paul

Thanks for your email regarding More 4 availability on FreeSat.

The decision to place More 4 in subscription package rather than as part of
the FreeSat line up, is entirely in Sky's hands. We would obviously be
delighted to see More 4 on FreeSat, but this is not our decision to make.
Sky, on the other hand, can at any time decide to include our new channel as
part of the FreeSat line-up.

Our promotional materials have deliberately avoided saying More 4 is free..
The press release sent out on 26 August suggested that it would be free on
all platforms and this is admittedly confusing. At the time, we were led to
believe that Sky were likely to include More 4 in their FreeSat line up.
The website 'Get More 4' was changed as soon as we were advised of the
decision by Sky on the Friday (7th October) before the launch.

Whether or not this situation will change, is entirely at Sky's discretion.
We would very much like to see More 4 feature as part of FreeSat.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us at Channel 4, we do
appreciate all feedback from viewers. We would certainly advise that you
contact Sky should you wish to voice any further concerns over this
situation.


Regards

Katrina Jennings
Viewer Enquiries

So, the message is clear. Send your complaints to $ly, I'm going to.

 

[PaulR]

And now thw reply from $ly

Dear Paul

Thank you for your e-mail about More4. Please accept my apologies for the
delay in responding.

The decision for this channel to be part of a subscription package was in
joint agreement with Sky and C4.

Unfortunately, this channel will not broadcast as a free to air channel.

I regret I am unable to assist you further with your enquiry.

Thank you for your interest in Sky.

Kind regards

Gordon Smith
Viewer Relations

So guess who I'm going to contact next!

 

[T_G]

Merdoch?

 

[Yeshi]

LOL i bet its Channel 4 you email next

 

[PaulR]

LOL i bet its Channel 4 you email next

Correct. I've sent it off already.

Don't think I'll get a satisfactory answer in the end but it's become an intresting excercise to pursue it to its logical extreme.

 

[PaulR]

OK,here's probably the last word on the subject from C4.

Dear Paul

sorry not much else we can add. There are contracts in
place with regards to the transmission of both E4 and More4 and if Sky state
they are not going to transmit it free to air, then I am afraid there is
nothing we can do about that situation at present.

Lucy Brooks
Viewer Enquiries

So it looks like it'll be encrypted until 2007/8 when the C4 contract expires.

Talk about encouraging people into Freeview.

 

[Topper]

Sky state
they are not going to transmit it free to air, then I am afraid there is
nothing we can do about that situation at present.
Lucy Brooks
Viewer Enquiries
So it looks like it'll be encrypted until 2007/8 when the C4 contract expires.

Talk about encouraging people into Freeview.

Now I challenge any human being to explain to me the logic in this situation. Despite C4 wanting it to be unencrypted Sky are going to stick to their guns and keep it encryted come what may. Sounds like another jobsworth to me. Sky get paid regardless so what is the problem???? What ever happened to the customer client relationship???? or have Sky forgotten about such trivial things.......

 

[rolfw]

LOL, some excellent handoffs there, always blame it on the other party, but if that doesn't placate the questioner, blame it on the contracts.