Selectv Ceases English-language Pay Tv

[schuhmac]

does it really matter if select get paid by fox/austar the thing is were aint going to get what we had before with select so we have some choices to make

YES, IT DOES because most SelecTV customers would happily pay a little bit extra for the 'Great TV' package in order for the English-language service of SelecTV to continue. Why? Because it is simply a great PayTV package in comparision with what both AUSTAR and FOXTEL currently offer...

OUR CHOICE, as things currently stand, is NOT TO HAVE PAYTV after 15.11.2010 until such time that A SIMILARLY GOOD / EXCELLENT PAYTV PACKAGE is being offered at a reasonable price!

Terrestrial FTA has greatly improved anyway, especially if one has Full HD. So there simply is not the same need for PayTV as there once was and, on top of it, NBN is going to be a further game changer!

Edited September 10, 2010 by schuhmac

[schuhmac]

Yes Foxtel/Austar is paying SelecTV $250 for every person who switches to them

Thanks for that info, Striker!

Edited September 10, 2010 by schuhmac

[Petr]

SelecTV has no dignity. Thousands of us switched to them because F*ckstel or Coptus provide sh*t pay tv for decent money, and SelecTV dares to send a letter telling us to switch to F*ckstel. Is that a stab in the back or what?

Like many here, the only channels that I and my lady watch (Natgeo channels, discovery science, movie 1 + extra and E/MTV) cost so much more with those companies. This has been the story about pay TV in Australia for so many years - F*ckstel engaging in anti-competitive monopoly behaviour such as holding distribution contracts to certain popular channels so that any competition is lost before they even start. Combine with bad marketing of SelecTV and we are here. Anyone ever wonder why there's no foreign pay TV companies operating in Australia?

Edited September 10, 2010 by Petr

[Cucamonga]

What a neat time to close, now I don't have to cough up the $300 cancel fee. Have had foxtel HD the last 3 months and the select box has been gathering dust.

[andrew1503559519]

SelecTV has no dignity. Thousands of us switched to them because F*ckstel or Coptus provide sh*t pay tv for decent money, and SelecTV dares to send a letter telling us to switch to F*ckstel. Is that a stab in the back or what?

Like many here, the only channels that I and my lady watch (Natgeo channels, discovery science, movie 1 + extra and E/MTV) cost so much more with those companies. This has been the story about pay TV in Australia for so many years - F*ckstel engaging in anti-competitive monopoly behaviour such as holding distribution contracts to certain popular channels so that any competition is lost before they even start. Combine with bad marketing of SelecTV and we are here. Anyone ever wonder why there's no foreign pay TV companies operating in Australia?

It was in the news that the Selectv boss Jim Blomfield had resigned from the board some weeks ago. He was totally responsible for the marketing failure of Selectv but the resignation came because the company owners, Win TV pulled the plug on funds. They sent in accountants to shut down Selectv and recoup assets and it was they that arranged the sale of the customer list to F*xtel and A*star.

Win is a 40 year old company owned by an 80 year old man, Bruce Gordon who refuses to take advice. Back in his day with only 4 free channels, he just had to sit there and collect the money from advertisers. He forgot that it took F*xtel 10 years to become profitable and that was with good marketing and lots of capital. Rather than accountants, he should have called an ad agency. Perhaps they didn't have such things in his day.

Edited September 11, 2010 by andrew

[schuhmac]

Under 'Service Options', AUSTAR appears to automatically charge $3.50 for a copy of it's AUSTAR Magazine without there seemingly being a opt-in / opt-out option for the customer... So, does that mean that a AUSTAR customer has to pay for a magazine even if s/he does not want one?

Edited September 12, 2010 by schuhmac

[Tassie Devil]

Under 'Service Options', AUSTAR appears to automatically charge $3.50 for a copy of it's AUSTAR Magazine without there seemingly being a opt-in / opt-out option for the customer... So, does that mean that a AUSTAR customer has to pay for a magazine even if s/he does not want one?

I think they will remove it if you want that option. Awhile ago it was useful for searching out movies when it listed all of them in a special section at the front but they stopped doing that. Best to use the Movies site at http://mnc.tv/guide.

But I agree with another poster that FTA offers enough to be of interest anyway.

John

[M_dawg]

It was in the news that the Selectv boss Jim Blomfield had resigned from the board some weeks ago. He was totally responsible for the marketing failure of Selectv but the resignation came because the company owners, Win TV pulled the plug on funds. They sent in accountants to shut down Selectv and recoup assets and it was they that arranged the sale of the customer list to F*xtel and A*star.

Win is a 40 year old company owned by an 80 year old man, Bruce Gordon who refuses to take advice. Back in his day with only 4 free channels, he just had to sit there and collect the money from advertisers. He forgot that it took F*xtel 10 years to become profitable and that was with good marketing and lots of capital. Rather than accountants, he should have called an ad agency. Perhaps they didn't have such things in his day.

Thanks for this information Andrew, puzzle pieces are coming together.

Unfortunately, no business can grow without intense marketing nowadays. Looks like Bruce / Jim believed that such an awesome product (at such a great price) would sell itself by the word of mouth. I myself tried desperately to get new customers, encouraging everyone I knew was interested in getting pay tv. Do you want to know how many I got in about two years? Well, zero. While in the same period about 5-6 of my friends joined Foxtel. Despite my fierce arguing against it.

I really tried, because I kept reading on various forums that Win was making loss on SelecTv and it was just a matter of time before they’d shut it down. If SelecTV only occasionally appeared in the media, if their logo was only remotely familiar, I’m sure I would have easily added a few satisfied customers, who would then add a few more and so forth.

A very similar example: I’ve been using this awesome VoIP service called JustVoip for years and they’ve got this deal where you recharge 10 EUR and get 120 “free days”, which means 300 minutes per week of free talk to landlines in Europe, USA, Australia etc. In reality it means that I put in maybe 20 EUR (or even less) per year and get 5 hours talk weekly to pretty much the whole world. BUT, no matter how hard I try in convincing my friends, they still keep paying five times more to Skype. As far as I know, their best deal is 9.99 EUR/month for unlimited landlines. That means 120 EUR per year. Most people I know actually prefer ‘pay as you go’ which means 1.9c/min and they end up paying 20-30 EUR each month. Not to mention that JustVoip’s sound quality is far better than Skype’s. But: JustVoip’s only advertising is through their sister websites (VoipStunt, VoipBuster, NohNoh etc.) however Skype has managed to build a strong brand name (just like Foxtel) and people just blindly follow it.

A reminder: SelecTv promo channel (199, unscrambled) - three PowerPoint slides, crappy quality, cheesy music. And a leaflet announcing the exclusive broadcasting of Andre Rieu concert. That was SelecTV's only advertising I've seen in two years. R.I.P.

[Tassie Devil]

Damn it, Austar tempted me after all with their freebie offer. :ninja: But I've put off installation until the end of October and am very doubtful I'll go for more than the 3 months but we shall see. Checking out which movies to record in a real PIA (as it is with Select) so there had better be worthwhile items in the rest of the package.

John

[andrew1503559519]

Thanks for this information Andrew, puzzle pieces are coming together.

Unfortunately, no business can grow without intense marketing nowadays. Looks like Bruce / Jim believed that such an awesome product (at such a great price) would sell itself by the word of mouth. I myself tried desperately to get new customers, encouraging everyone I knew was interested in getting pay tv. Do you want to know how many I got in about two years? Well, zero. While in the same period about 5-6 of my friends joined Foxtel. Despite my fierce arguing against it.

I really tried, because I kept reading on various forums that Win was making loss on SelecTv and it was just a matter of time before they’d shut it down. If SelecTV only occasionally appeared in the media, if their logo was only remotely familiar, I’m sure I would have easily added a few satisfied customers, who would then add a few more and so forth.

A very similar example: I’ve been using this awesome VoIP service called JustVoip for years and they’ve got this deal where you recharge 10 EUR and get 120 “free days”, which means 300 minutes per week of free talk to landlines in Europe, USA, Australia etc. In reality it means that I put in maybe 20 EUR (or even less) per year and get 5 hours talk weekly to pretty much the whole world. BUT, no matter how hard I try in convincing my friends, they still keep paying five times more to Skype. As far as I know, their best deal is 9.99 EUR/month for unlimited landlines. That means 120 EUR per year. Most people I know actually prefer ‘pay as you go’ which means 1.9c/min and they end up paying 20-30 EUR each month. Not to mention that JustVoip’s sound quality is far better than Skype’s. But: JustVoip’s only advertising is through their sister websites (VoipStunt, VoipBuster, NohNoh etc.) however Skype has managed to build a strong brand name (just like Foxtel) and people just blindly follow it.

A reminder: SelecTv promo channel (199, unscrambled) - three PowerPoint slides, crappy quality, cheesy music. And a leaflet announcing the exclusive broadcasting of Andre Rieu concert. That was SelecTV's only advertising I've seen in two years. R.I.P.

I've been with SelecTV since the beginning and it seemed a great product. So many people want a "posh" product now, I think they might have done better by not promoting the low cost and instead promoting it as what "smart" people subscribe to. SmarTV?

When I was driving north of Launceston a few weeks ago, it was good to see the NBN. Recognised the fibre on poles from similar ones in remote parts of China! So perhaps Fetch TV will be a viable replacement. Just hope they get the marketing right.

[Guest robin1503559767]

I just received my advice letter from Selectv. Not happy Jan!

No explanation of why they are cancelling the English packages (but continuing with the Greek and Italian packages).

Service ceases on 15/11/2010. Selectv will not bill you if 30 days of service is not provided. All contract obligations and recoupment fees on termination &/or migration to Foxtel will be waived. Nothing mentioned about equipment.

The "Exclusive Offer" to Selectv subscribers from Foxtel is:-

Free first month with Foxtel.

Free installation.

Get $42 per month "Get Started" package - guaranteed fixed price for 12 months.

Plus choose one other package and get it for free for 12 months.

If you choose "Sport" as your free package, you will get live coverage of Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games in October on six dedicated channels.

Other additional packages are currently $16 per month.

The option to move between add-on channel packages at any time.

They will manage your transfer from Selectv - you don't have to contact Selectv.

If you are not wanting to see the Delhi Games on Foxtel, I would suggest your best bet is to do the changeover (migration) in November - as selectv will not charge you for less than 30 days i.e. November - and Foxtel will not charge for the first month with them.

Foxtel does NOT provide Ovation Channel, so you will have to contact Ovation direct to organise a stand-alone channel subscription.

Bye, bye to cheap pay tv. Tough luck for pensioners and others on low incomes.

[Guest robin1503559767]

I just received my advice letter from Selectv. Not happy Jan!

No explanation of why they are cancelling the English packages (but continuing with the Greek and Italian packages).

Whoops! I meant Greek and Spanish packages.

[Striker]

I just received my advice letter from Selectv. Not happy Jan!

No explanation of why they are cancelling the English packages (but continuing with the Greek and Italian packages).

Whoops! I meant Greek and Spanish packages.

Those 2 packages will cease also they are just trying to organise who to offload those subscribers to most likely UBI...

[Guest robin1503559767]

I received the following email from Ovation Channel - in reply to my query about other alternatives for people who will lose Ovation when Selectv ceases.

"As Ovation is broadcast through Foxtel and Austar, subscribers must have access to one of the these platforms in order to receive the channel. You must subscribe to at least their basic package (which I believe is $42/month on Foxtel), after which Ovation can be added on for an extra $9.95/month by calling us directly on 1300 682 846.

Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any further enquiries, or call us on 1300 682 846.

Kind regards,

Jessica Sivertsen

Ovation Media

9/112-118 Talavera Road North Ryde NSW 2113

Ph + 61 2 8879 7010 | Fax + 61 2 8879 7099

E: jsivertsen@ovationmedia.com.au

W: www.ovationmedia.com.au

Ovation Media is a media and entertainment company specialising

in broadcast, brand management and licensing, home entertainment,

live touring and production. This email (and any attachments with it)

is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain

information, which is confidential and /or privileged. It must not be

disclosed to any other party. If you receive this transmission in error,

please notify the sender immediately and delete from your computer".

[schuhmac]

Both FOXTEL and AUSTAR are obviously counting on current SelecTV subscribers not being able to "live" without PayTV after 15.11.2010. For instance, see some of AUSTAR's advertising: "Are you missing out?"...

Sure, I/we will miss Eurosport, BBC World News and Nat Geo Adventure, etc. ... BUT I/WE CERTAINLY WILL NOT MISS AUSTAR!

Especially NOT their pricing:

For instance, see 'RAI ITALIA' amongst AUSTAR's Stand Alone Channels and Extras - $13.95 per month WHEN ANYONE CAN VIEW THIS CHANNEL FREE-TO-AIR ON INTELSAT 8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games - $20 for Sports subscribers (RRP $85 - YES, eightyfive Dollars RRP!!!) WHEN IT PROBABLY WILL BE FREE-TO-AIR ON DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL ANYWAY!

I/we would have to pay $86 per month (instead of currently $29.95 per month) in order to continue to have a similar viewing experience to the one which we currently enjoy on SelecTV!

I agree with andrew and M_dawg that the smart choice would have been for everyone to subscribe to SelecTV! Unfortunately, many people did not do their research prior to commiting themselves to a PayTV service whilst, at the same time, there also appears to be the often wrong belief that you only get a good product or service if you pay a high price for it...

In my opinion, if people are prepared to pay about $100 or more per month JUST FOR PAYTV, then people simply have too much money and more money than sense, in that, e.g. one can do infinitely more with Broadband whilst at the same time Broadband also costs less than PayTV!

For as long as there are people who are prepared to "pay through the nose" for PayTV (as SelecTV used to say), nothing will change until the NBN is up and running and there is real competition in this market...

Edited September 18, 2010 by schuhmac

[RMF]

The reason i wont be taking up the offer is because of the way Foxtel and Austar have a no competition agreement.

There is no reason why everyone on Australia couldnt decide for themselves if the had Foxtel or Austar, but they have divided up the market by your postcode so that there is no competition between each other.

Cosy little deal that is, and one i believe warrants far more ACCC scrutiny than Select closing, which is any business' right.

Austar have even tried to tell me what Foxtels offer is (they were wrong)

Id much prefer Foxtels offer, but Austar wont match it....Basic plus any other Pack versus Basic plus only Movie Pack.

Roll on NBN and IPTV, RIP Foxtel and Austar. Dont the gurglar where they belong.

[schuhmac]

AUSTAR brochure titled 'No worries. - Your guide to a hassle free switch over.':

Under 'Got a question?' on the back page:

What happens with my SelecTV equipment?

AUSTAR will re-use the satellite dish and swap your set top box with an AUSTAR set top box. As you own the SelecTV set top box it will remain in your possession..."

So, they want to re-use THE CUSTOMER'S SATELLITE DISH whilst, at the same time, tying the customer to them by means of their set top box.

Firstly, there ought to be an option whereby AUSTAR supplies a Conditional Access Module (CAM) for those customers who want to use their own receiver/PVR, especially if they already own a HD receiver/PVR.

Instead, as I understand it, they want to give the customer either an inferior Standard Definition STB; OR

charge $14.95 per months for an inferior MyStar Standard Definition PVR after the first three months; OR

charge a $100 once-off start-up fee plus $19.95 per month for MyStar HD!

AUSTAR got to be kidding!

Secondly, what guarantees are there, that AUSTAR will not claim the customer's satellite dish in the future???

Edited September 19, 2010 by schuhmac

[Tassie Devil]

I'm having second thoughts and will cancel that Austar agreement I got talked into the other day. There is really no point as, apart from movies, there is not much there of interest any more. And finding the movies we want to record is a PIA. I just went through all the Movie Network offers for the next two weeks and there are only two there we either have not looked at recently or have not seen. Not good economics.

And of course if you get sucked into their Mystar you end up not wanting to lose it because of recordings stored there - a real trap .

John

[schuhmac]

AUSTAR brochure titled 'No worries. - Your guide to a hassle free switch over.':

Under 'Got a question?' on the back page:

What happens with my SelecTV equipment?

AUSTAR will re-use the satellite dish and swap your set top box with an AUSTAR set top box. As you own the SelecTV set top box it will remain in your possession..."

So, they want to re-use THE CUSTOMER'S SATELLITE DISH whilst, at the same time, tying the customer to them by means of their set top box.

Firstly, there ought to be an option whereby AUSTAR supplies a Conditional Access Module (CAM) for those customers who want to use their own receiver/PVR, especially if they already own a HD receiver/PVR.

Instead, as I understand it, they either want to give the customer an inferior Standard Definition STB (AUSTAR channels ONLY);

OR charge $14.95 per month for an inferior MyStar Standard Definition PVR (AUSTAR and free-to-air SD channels) after the first three months;

OR charge a $100 once-off start-up fee PLUS $14.95 per box per month AND A FURTHER $5 per box per month to get the HD channels in one's package with

MyStar HD (AUSTAR and free-to-air SD and HD channels) !

AUSTAR got to be kidding!

Secondly, what guarantees are there, that AUSTAR will not claim the customer's satellite dish, LNB, cabling in the future???

Edited September 19, 2010 by schuhmac

[Tassie Devil]

Secondly, what guarantees are there, that AUSTAR will not claim the customer's satellite dish, LNB, cabling in the future???

I can answer that.

They leave the dish behind & forget it. I've had their dish for years now and they have no record of it - the girl the other day had no idea I had one of their dishes.

John

[schuhmac]

They leave the dish behind & forget it. I've had their dish for years now and they have no record of it - the girl the other day had no idea I had one of their dishes.

Yes, some companies do an 'Install and Forget', BUT really, unless you have got it in writing there is no guarantee that AUSTAR won't view your satellite dish, LNB and cabling as "THEIR" equipment in the future...

Edited September 19, 2010 by schuhmac

[bertzz99]

Got a call from Foxtel on Saturday to ask if I had read about the closing down of Select and the Fox offer. I said yes. He asked if I wanted to take up the offer to which I said that I didnt think the offer compared to what I have with Select now and that I needed to at least get Basic + Sport + Kids + Movies to make it comparable. He said that would cost me $74/m not negotiable. I said no thanks, and that was that. With the new FTA channels coming very soon, I might just have enough there.

[Keepleft]

Yes, some companies do an 'Install and Forget', BUT really, unless you have got it in writing there is no guarantee that AUSTAR won't view your satellite dish, LNB and cabling as "THEIR" equipment in the future...

LOL, I have discarded at the tip probably 20 or so 65cm Fox and Austar dishes, LNB's, cables from various folks homes.

Buy a dish for about $44, meh - they want to make a fuss they can.

If you don't want it on your home, get rid of it without concern.

Got a call from Foxtel on Saturday to ask if I had read about the closing down of Select and the Fox offer. I said yes. He asked if I wanted to take up the offer to which I said that I didnt think the offer compared to what I have with Select now and that I needed to at least get Basic + Sport + Kids + Movies to make it comparable. He said that would cost me $74/m not negotiable. I said no thanks, and that was that. With the new FTA channels coming very soon, I might just have enough there.

Fair nuff!

You could realign the dish to either the Optus C1 satellite for reception of "AlJazeera International", the english language FTA news channel, or to Optus D2 for reception of of say; Press TV of Iran, Russia Today (RT), and NHK World Japan; these are respective government english language news and documentary channels.

You'd use your existing decoder, so no waste of product and no subscription card needed.

A clever soul could add say a 2-way LNB holder and two LNB's for reception of Optus C1 and Optus D2 for reception of those channels off the one dish.

Edited September 20, 2010 by Keepleft

[schuhmac]

As at 23.09.2010, AUSTAR advertised the following on Yahoo!7 ( http://au.yahoo.com/ ):

"Catching the latest movie - Watching the game - The kids' education - Get AUSTAR for just $1 a day - No lock-in contract + FREE installation - AUSTAR Right now for just $1 a day, AUSTAR pays for itself"

So, WHERE IS there really AN OFFER by AUSTAR to SelecTV customers, when AUSTAR wants to charge SelecTV customers $40 per month JUST for the Starter Pack and Movie Network Option and, on top of it, wants to re-use the SelecTV customer's existing satellite dish, LNB and cabling (all of them OWNED BY the SELECTV CUSTOMER) in order to provide its PayTV service ??????????

Edited September 24, 2010 by schuhmac

[simon13]

AUSTAR brochure titled 'No worries. - Your guide to a hassle free switch over.':

Under 'Got a question?' on the back page:

What happens with my SelecTV equipment?

AUSTAR will re-use the satellite dish and swap your set top box with an AUSTAR set top box. As you own the SelecTV set top box it will remain in your possession..."

So, they want to re-use THE CUSTOMER'S SATELLITE DISH whilst, at the same time, tying the customer to them by means of their set top box.

end quote

I have just signed up with Austar today and asked if they were instaling a new dish and was told that my dish would be repositioned to c1 to which I said that I want that dish to stay set up for pas8 and that Austar is to install a new dish to which was agreed upon.

Those of you that have made the switch did the installer take any of the selectv equipment? ie box, card or LNB.

Edited September 27, 2010 by simon13