Well here we are in June and soon half of 2008 will be gone - can someone tell me where? Is it to do with age? We have had our first influx of visitors for the summer months and as I have said before - nice to see them - nice to see them go!!! However with the really nice sunny, but not so hot days, visits have been a pleasure. For those that know us both, Matt's and my mums are over so we are enjoying pampering them.
TV News - there are two big stories this month and they are the only two I am going to concentrate on.
Firstly the new BBC/ITV FREESAT system. It was launched on 5th May but there was no great fanfare - not even a mention on their own website - www.freesat.co.uk!!! I understand that although they have launched, they are having severe software problems both within the system and with the digiboxes. On a recent visit to the UK I went to four independent retailers, all of whom knew nothing about it - Dixon's knew nothing, although on the way out of the store I saw a corner stacked with "FREESAT" advert/display material. Dragging staff back and showing them, we eventually got the store "technical director" who admitted launch was imminent, but he had not yet attended training day and new nothing. Curry's knew nothing, but COMET had a display stand out - loads of advertising material and a digibox (Humax HD at 150 pounds) but a sales rep said it doesn't work because of software problems and they couldn't sell it!!! One note I did make, was that the sales display showed box at 150 pounds plus installation at 75 pounds. The sales rep did seem to think that you could not have one without the other, so as I predicted some time ago it may be difficult to get hold of boxes for this system - overall not much news on this - next month ???
Secondly - and the big news for some of you - is the Micromesh rebroadcast system cutbacks. How it all happened has been lost in the abundance of internet sites/bar gossip/news stories, but the outcome is that all stations requiring a SKY card have been withdrawn from all micromesh systems from north of Alicante to Cartagena. We have warned of this for years - it was unquestionably illegal/immoral - and now it has happened. To all the moaners crying over their lost channels I can only say you had it good for years - just accept that and now move on.
I very much doubt these channels will ever come back unless the operators come to some agreement with SKY and EEC governments; in which case you are not going to get it for 2€ a month - more like 50€100€. So can you watch SKY channels and sports any more? We are still supplying systems as are the other independent dish installers. We still have a supply of ready-to-go cards (unfortunately at a price) or we can, for a bit less, arrange a card at a UK address you give us. Yes these are technically illegal, but I don't think SKY will be pushing for there closure. Micromesh paid one subscription for each SKY channel they wanted and then rebroadcast to thousands of people with no recompense to SKY - now love/hate SKY and the Murdoch Empire that was not right. Your individual subscription does go to SKY who pay to provide this service and of the 10million SKY subscriptions I estimate 1 million are outside the UK. Stop those and SKY goes bust!!! A potential client who had lost her Micromesh sport asked "Can you guarantee service in the future?" - well of course the answer is no I can't but my 8 years experience in the industry says that individual systems and contracts on the SKY system will remain - after all SKY wants your monthly money. They want your subscription for ever more, but they don't want to supply households through the mesh system from where they get zero income.
So yes we can reinstate a SKY system for you, but it means a large satellite dish and equipment with prices from 800? upwards - but remember, several adjacent properties can share a dish and reduce costs - is your neighbour in the same boat?
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Article sponsored by RAINBOW SATELLITES the experienced Murcia County Satellite Installer for UK TV. Contact Alan or Matt on 686 358 475 or email rainbowsats@terra.es. Our website www.rainbowsats.org has good basic information.