Sky under fresh attack over key fixtures
An angry licensee has hit out at Sky for "chopping and changing" the channels it uses to screen key sports fixtures, including England football and Champions League games.
Geoff Green, of the Red Lion, Linton, Derbyshire, subscribes to the Sky Base package and has been hit with a 25 per cent increase in his annual bill.
But he is now getting less games, as many vital events are being shown on Sky Sports 2 and 4, which are not part of the Base package.
"I'm paying 25 per cent more, but I'm getting far less games, it's disgusting," said Green, whose bill has increased to £3,449. "I've lost 20 games in two months."
England's second Euro qualifier games against Switzerland last night was screened on Sky Sports 2, meaning Base customers missed out on showing the game.
And the majority of top Premier League games and Champions League games are being shown on Sky Sports 2 and 4.
Sky has caused widespread uproar in the industry after unveiling what it claimed was a "fairer system" for charging pubs last month.
However, the vast majority appear to have seen an increase in their fees, with the average around 20 per cent.
Green said he is now "99.9 per cent" sure he will ditch Sky. "I can't afford the Base package so there's no way I could upgrade to the Ultimate which would cost me £4,229," he said.
"When we phone them up, they are not bothered," he said.
Mark Daniels, licensee at the Tharp Arms, in Ely, Cambridgeshire, has recently cancelled his Sky contract based mainly on the fact that he had lost Sky Sports 2, under the new system. "It's hugely frustrating," he said.
"We are a big Spurs pub and for the first game of the season against Man City we switched it on to find we didn't have that channel anymore. They've put my bill up 30 per cent, but then taken a channel away."
A Sky spokeswoman said: "We constantly review our channel packages to ensure that channels are in their most appropriate pack.
"Based on Sky Sports 2's current and future schedules, we felt it should form part of the Sky Ultimate package with Sky Sports 3 now forming part of the Sky Base package.
"Even so, all commercial customers, regardless of their package, continue to enjoy access to Premier League football, action from the Coca Cola leagues, UEFA Champion's League, Premiership Rugby, Super League, Test cricket, international rugby union and much more. We believe the breadth and quality of our offering continues to represent great value."
