Sky Sports Revamp

Got to hate how Sky shortened sports in "Sky Sports F1" to match the others... smh

A look in this video posted by Sky at the new MNF studio, new Cricket studio, new EFL studio, new teamsheet graphics alongside many other things:

Take a look at @SkySports new look and feel giving customers more choice with 10 dedicated sports channels. https://t.co/BZsmQYUdrh pic.twitter.com/cVGpwiWsVq

— Sky Corporate (@SkyCorporate) July 24, 2017

Darts Graphics are unchanged still using all caps.

However they have added an annoying "sky sports" logo under the scoreboard, made to look further worse by the fact, that itself the logo is in a box with borders.

Hmm.. Rendered images of the studios - but either they've built 2 identical sets, or they are planning on using one set and letting the LED lighting around the plasma screens do all the leg work - only the table and chairs will alter.

However, for the Cricket, thank god they have binned those awful red waist high 'perch' seats. Never looked good on screen.

Old Sky Sports logo used on Sky News during Cricket highlights.

Anyone watching the Darts last night will have noted Michael Van Gerwen's shirt still sporting the old Sky Sports logo. Not sure how often darts players change their shirts...

Banner on Sky Sports Main Event just now as they were due to simulcast with Sky Sports Cricket from 18:00:

They've been playing about with it... First night or two, the SS logo was rotating with the info caption. Then bordered underneath the graphics. Tonight the SS logo is underneath without border.

Red Button now requires the Box Sets package + Sky Sports HD.

SD customers no longer get it.

Really? I'd be surprised if that was the case. Can't find anywhere that says this.

They've also been trying to force people on the initial Sky Q packages (Sky Q Bundle, Sky Q Silver Bundle) onto the new style TV packages if they change their Sky Sports Packages, which effectively makes it more expensive to keep Sky Sports HD in future.

Once on the new TV packs, you will need all of the following to watch Sky Sports in HD
a) Variety Pack (£32)
b) Box Sets Add-On Pack (£6)
c) Sky Sports Subscription (£27.50 or less)
d) Sky Sports HD Pack (£6)

Therefore someone on the Original (£22) TV package, who subscribes to for example Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football for £22 per month, would have no option but to pay £22 extra to get those channels in HD (£10 to upgrade to variety + £6 for box sets + £6 Sky Sports HD add on)

The Sky Sports HD pack can no longer be purchased unless items a) b) and c) are on the account. Previously you were able to change your TV package and still be able to get Sky Sports in HD, but call-center agents have told two people in my family now that they can no longer offer that.

The Sky Q App for Sky Sports is also now being reserved for those who have all 4 items as listed above and multiscreen is also being crippled (1 extra screen only, no app for £12) for those who are not on the top packs or on the legacy packages.

Also, those on the new packages will require MultiScreen in order to get Ultra HD, it will not be possible to get it without Multiscreen, unless you are on the legacy packages which had it as standard.

Essentially for new customers and those switching from legacy packages
- Multiscreen is required for UHD
- Top TV pack is required for option of Sky Sports HD.

Can you see what Sky are doing? They are bundling features that people really want with items that people may not necessarily want and giving them no other way of accessing them, in the process driving revenue up by making people pay for things they don't want because it's the only way they can get things they do want.

So my advice, is for anyone on the Sky Q Silver or Sky Q bundles, do not switch to the new TV packages no matter how much incentive Sky offer you - there is a sting in the tail.

Right, I understand you have to have certain things to get certain other things, like you have to have Box Sets to get Sky Sports in HD. That's on the website. Your post didn't answer my question about the red button though.

I don't have Sky Q, and take Sky Sports in SD. I've just got rid of Box Sets which is yet to take effect (I wasn't using it) so will soon be on Variety (it took me 90 minutes on live chat to negotiate this as part of a retention deal last week!)

I havent caught any red button content in order to be able to test that it's no longer available in SD, but it was certainly working last week for the golf, before they changed the channels. Red button content (for tennis at least) has only ever been available in SD anyway as far as I know. The red button prompt for Catch Up was working this evening during WWE on SSArena.