Sky or Destiny for Cable TV?
Just got a letter last night from Sky Cable informing us that they would be switching the signal in our area from analog to digital. This means we are forced to use a Digibox to watch cable. Sucks.
DIGIBOX
This Digibox allows our TV to receive digital signals which is much clearer than analog ones. The box also eliminates illegal cable connections. One Digibox can only accommodate one TV. If you split the cable to another TV, both TV will get the same channel as that in the Digibox. The Digibox has its own remote control and it consumes additional electricity albeit minimal.
The letter stated that we need to have the Digibox installed before April 28 when they will stop using the analog lines. The Digibox and the installation would be free of charge for the number of TV’s declared in the account (maximum of three).
PROBLEMS WITH THIS SETUP
We have two TV’s but only one is declared to the cable company (which was OK previously in Home Cable). To allow cable for the other TV, we have to pay Php350 for the installation fee, deposit Php1,500 for the Digibox and add an additional Php150 per month for the 2nd connection. That would bring our monthly cable due to Php680 + Php150 = Php830.
Now imagine if you have 4 TV’s. That would be Php1130 per month and Php4500 deposit for the boxes. Not to mention 4 additional remote controls for your TV’s and the cumulative power consumption of the boxes.
SWITCHING TO DESTINY
I guess I would then be switching to Destiny. Sky Cable’s monthly due is too much for 2 TV’s and 3 people. Destiny Cable TV’s monthly subscription is only Php450 (Php500 in some areas) and Php50 for each additional TV.
Destiny is ok but they don’t have 24 hour call support and their website doesn’t seem to be updated that much.
CHANNELS THAT I WOULD BE MISSING
- Star World (Luckily American Idol is also shown in QTV)
- AXN (No more Amazing Race for me)
- Star Movies
- Lifestyle Network (Now where can I watch those fabulous cooking shows)
- Animax and Hero (No more anime)
- National Geographic
- Velvet
- CinemaOne (My wife watches this)
CHANNELS THAT I WOULD BE GAINING
- Basketball TV (Woohoo NBA Playoffs and the Olympics)
- JackTV (Better than Maxxx)
- Animal Planet
- Discovery Channel (will replace my Nat Geo)
- Discovery Travel and Living
- MGM Movies (Bleh)
- Hallmark Channel (Bleh)
- Pinoy Box Office (Will replace CinemaOne)
List of SkyCable Channels
List of Destiny Cable TV Channels
Oh well. Can’t help it, I have to sacrifice those channels to save some bucks. I just hope that when Star’s contract with Sky Cable will expire this May, they would negotiate with Destiny.
It’s a good thing that Solar Entertainment decided to broadcast ETC, 2nd Ave, and Crime/Suspense on the free channels.
How ’bout you? Would you switch when it’s time to get a Digibox?
You might also be interested in:
- Ditching Destiny, switching back to Sky Cable
- bTV is back in Sky Cable!
- Sky Cable 2008 sucks!
- Lakers win NBA Finals 2010. Destiny support sucks!
Filed under: Grrrrr
Manuel,
If I remember correctly, Crime/Suspense and 2nd Avenue were test broadcast first on Sky before it was made available on Destiny. I think this is also the case with JackTV (formerly Solar USA) Solar Sports and BTV (which was a Sky exclusive)
Also, Meralco is not majority owned by the Lopezes’ anymore.
You pay a premium for Sky because of channels like ANC, Myx, Cinema One, Hero, Velvet, Maxxx, Balls and Lifestyle. Not to mention AXN, Star Movies, Star World, Cinemax, National Geographic, AXN Beyond, Fox Crime and others.
sucks. i wanted to watch the playoffs (we use skycable), and so i called to have BTV activated. but they told me i had to get a digibox, i said, fine. but then they said our area cannot use a digibox, so i asked “what? so i’ll miss the playoffs?” the operator just laughed, and i said, “so i have to switch to destiny then?” the operator laughed again. fuck skycable. they force you to buy their digibox, and when you do decide to get one, they can’t provide it… stupid m*therf*ckers… time to call destiny cable then.
I’ll miss star world too, but as with you, hope that destiny negotiates with star this may.
calvin: enjoying the playoffs with Destiny hehehe. You can still catch some action in Star sports though.
LOL. Skycable sucks, I mean they say they have a lot of exclusive channels but they’re all UTTER CRAP. I mean stuff like Balls, Maxxxx, KID’S CO, LMAO. Exclusive my white ass, they just play a bunch of old shit and a bunch of crappy shows. I’d rather have Jack TV and Basketball TV than any of the 100+ “exclusive channels” offered by Skycable.
I also wanted to catch the playoffs on basketball TV, and when I heard it could be acquired for P100 a month, I quickly called, but they said I have to install a freaking digibox for 2k. I ain’t paying 2k just to watch BTV which I can get for 500 on Destiny. Didn’t matter, it was available in my condominium. Then I immediately called Destiny.
the digibox of sky cable is a big scam!!! if they want to subscribers to use it. Then it should be for free. wtf.. i would be switching now to the illegal antenna that cost around 10,000 pesos. You can bring it with you anytime, anywhere.. and think about this,. it’s a one time fee. unlike for sky cable that you have to pay around 1000 pesos a month. for 10 months you can buy a satellite already.
well yeah it should be free, i think the first one is already free for existing customers. actually, free naman talaga sya because you’re just going to rent it. you can get your money back pag ayaw mo na sa sky and in good working condition pa yung unit. well at least ganun ang pagkaalam ko. still haven’t returned my prepaid digibox.