The pay-TV broadcaster Sky is making cuts. However, this time, it is not individual formats that are being deleted, but entire channels. What does this mean for subscribers?
“Our station portfolio is strongly geared to the wishes of our customers and is regularly adjusted accordingly,” the pay-TV provider explained on Tuesday.
As a reaction to the changed user behavior, two channels will disappear from the Sky portfolio at the end of the month: Kinowelt.TV and Stingray Classica. While Kinowelt.TV has been showing a colorful mix of films from worldwide around the clock since 2004. The Stingray Classica channel, launched in 1996 under Classica, focused on operas, ballet, and classical concerts. Both tracks were only available in SD.
Sky Provides A Replacement
At least film fans will be well served on Sky even after Kinowelt.TV has been switched off, both via the existing channels and via the planned streaming service Paramount+, which is scheduled to start in 2022 and will be activated for all customers of the cinema package at no additional cost. Others, not even Sky customers, can book the streaming offer. You can get a subscription to the Sky Ticket streaming service here. (Advertisement)
So far, there is no substitute for the 24/7 Stingray Classica program. It is also unclear how Sky will use the vacated channel slots in the future.
New with Sky Go & Sky Ticket:
There is a great innovation for Sky Go and Sky Ticket users who want to use streaming services with multiple devices. Sky is increasing the number of devices registered in parallel and is now making switching between old and new devices much easier than before. More on this in the text – in the video, we show you how you can use Sky Ticket on your Smart TV.
New with Sky Go & Sky Ticket: Significantly more freedom in device allocation
Heavy streaming users know the problem: You will eventually look down the drain with many providers if you want to consume films and series on several devices. Most streaming providers only allow a limited number of simultaneously approved end devices before they have to be exchanged or deleted from a list to add new smartphones, televisions, or tablets. In the past, this was a small balancing act, especially for Sky Go and Sky Ticket customers. Previously, only four devices and one device change per month were permitted.
But that’s over now, as the company recently announced in a press release. Sky recently increased the maximum number of devices registered via one Sky Ticket account from four to five to offer streaming customers more convenience. It will certainly accommodate the growing number of possible end devices. After all, Sky Ticket is now available on Windows computers, iOS and Android devices, and the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Smart TVs.
The second change is a particularly valuable upgrade: Sky now allows up to five switches between devices per month, a significant improvement compared to before. If you now want to exchange several machines from the account list, you no longer have to do this for months.
Changes Now Also Apply To Sky Go & Co:
The simplified device change is also available for customers who receive Sky with a “Sky+” or “Sky Q” receiver. Switching is easy with Sky Go, the Sky Q app, or Sky Q Mini. Sky customers with a classic subscription can currently look forward to another innovation: In times of the Corona crisis, the pay-TV provider activates the Sky Cinema and Sky Entertainment packages for one month at no extra charge. You can read more about this in this article.
For all Sky customers:
Sky customers can look forward to a new service: the media group brings a special loyalty program to Germany with “Sky Extra.” In the future, subscribers can receive exclusive benefits depending on how long they have subscribed to Sky services.
That’s behind the new “Sky Extra.”
Pay-TV and streaming provider Sky is bringing a new customer loyalty program to Germany. In Italy and Great Britain, Sky customers have had the opportunity to participate in a special rewards program for a while. After a pilot phase in October 2018 with a small customer base, Sky’sSky’s “Extra” loyalty program is now officially launched in Germany.
As a participant in the program, customers receive rewards based on how long they have been loyal to the media group. These can be access to exclusive offers and technologies or participation in events such as a look behind the scenes at Sky Sports News or a visit to a set of a Sky Originals production.
Sky: Loyalty program Extra rewards long-standing customers
“Extra” is free of charge and automatically available for all Sky customers, but a one-time registration for the program is necessary. Every customer automatically starts at the “Bronze” level at the beginning of their Sky subscription and works their way up over time. From the third year, you are in the “silver” level, from the sixth in “gold,” and from ten years, you are a “platinum” customer.
Sky officials say they want to say “thank you” to customers “in a special way.” Perhaps this step can soothe some people who heavily criticized Sky after many problems with the broadcast of the final season of Game of Thrones via Sky Ticket.
At least it’s a nice touch for existing customers who usually get a raw deal when it comes to bonus campaigns that focus on winning new customers.