Setanta Sports through Sky

[MrRobin]

Was talking to my dad last night about his Setanta Sports subscription he gets through Sky TV. He was complaining that the picture and sound quality was terrible on that channel (that digital blockiness you get onscreen and the jumpy audio), even though the other main Sky channels were fine. When he phoned up Setanta, they said that the problem was due to the overwhelmind demand they were getting for that particular football game he was watching.

I told him that they were pulling the wool over his eyes; it shouldn't matter if there are 100 people watching or 100 million, it's all broadcast from a single satellite and received independently. What was more likely is that Setanta only pay Sky for a small amount of bandwidth, or a section of bandwidth that is more susceptible to weather attenuation (like some of the shopping channels that always seem crap quality picture)

Am I right, or does the demand matter? Anyone else having a similar experience with Setanta?

Ta muchly.

R.

[KevinS]

Demand will not make a jot of difference.. This is a broadcast and it's guaranteed that the when Sky show a football game there are more people tuned in and you don't see this issue..

[HYpno27]

You are right Mr R

Each channel buys a share of broadcast bandwidth. If you look at the really rubbish channels they look like they're filmed on cheap handhelds and broadcast on Youtube

You might argue that Sky have a vested interest in not selling much bandwidth to a rival - but I couldn't possibly comment

[MrRobin]

Thanks for the replies... I knew the whole demand excuse was ridiculous!

Hmm, perhaps the quality would be better with a freeview box and a setanta top up card thingie...

[PAH]

The best view is to watch it down the pub and make the most of those beer goggles.

[ContractIn]

Yes I do believe that there are bandwidth constraints in broadcasting via satellite, and now that HD is on the map, then it is likely other channels will suffer, apart from Sky ones of course

[MrRobin]

Yes, but the contraints and the capacity issues are to do with available spectrum to broadcast on, rather than the number of people receiving those signals, as the helpdesk numpty tried to fob my father off with.

[HairyArsedBloke]

... the problem was due to the overwhelmind demand they were getting for that particular football game he was watching.

It is true. Also make sure your dad puts his glasses back in the case when he is not looking at things with them to stop them wearing out so fast.