Our interview with UPC Ireland boss Robert Dunn raised hackles at Sky Ireland. Dunn had a swipe at Sky’s high-definition (HD) product, and claimed that UPC’s would be superior when launched next year.
HD is the latest generation of TV technology, offering a superior quality of picture. Only a relatively small number of programmes or movies are filmed in HD.
In a statement, Sky refuted Dunn’s claims about the quality and speed of the satellite company’s HD offering.
“Unfortunately Irish Times readers were misinformed when, in the interview with the CEO of UPC, it was suggested that Sky HD is not ‘true HD’,” said Mark Deering, director, Sky Ireland.
“In actual fact, and unlike cable or terrestrial networks, digital satellite has enormous capacity for high-bandwidth services such as HD.
“This enables us not only to offer the most choice, with over 6,000 hours per month, but it also the best-quality picture and sound.”
Not that the service comes cheaply. The satellite broadcaster recently cut the price of its Sky+ HD set-top boxes to €149 from €299. When launched two years ago, it cost a whopping €449.
We don’t know how many households bought it at lofty level but we can’t imagine they’re too impressed at the steep discounts now being offered.
There’s nothing like a bit of competition to spice up the market.
