There's no getting away from the fact that it is all nefarious business practice to 'trick' people into these subscriptions. I presume its not illegal, but then neither is squirreling away your millions offshore to avoid tax, but it bl---y well should be! I wonder how many people just go along with it and can't be bothered with the hassle of getting their money back?
I'm currently trying to work out what exactly Sky have done with Sky Sports and, given that I only have it for the tennis and they don't now have a dedicated tennis channel, what I'm supposed to do? There will be something in it for Sky and against the customer, I just can't figure out the angle yet!
Regarding Sky, they have pulled a fast one, and again not illegal but still not right. There used to be Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, but as from a couple of weeks ago, they have created a new channel, Sky Sports Main Event, and the other two have disappeared. And for the pleasure of this new service, they have put the price up by over £5 per month.
It seems far more complicated than that, Lidfam - in Sky's usual inimitable fashion. There used to be Skys 1-5 and the tennis (that's all I'm interested in) could have been on any one of them. it would even switch from one to the other in one day. Now, they have replaced Skys 1-5 with 'dedicated' channels for football, cricket, golf, FI. Plus, we also have The Main Event, Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena where, presumably, they can place anything they want. They're selling this as more 'personalisation' for us and all just for our benefit.
I had no idea the whole thing has gone up by £5 a month. If they put up prices, they usually send a letter informing us so. Presumably, that wouldn't fit in with this all being for our benefit.
I've been keeping an eye on where the tennis appears in the new scheme of things - and, so far, it seems to split between Action and Arena, sometimes showing at exactly the same time. If you change from the current whole Sky Sports programme, you have to commit to a minimum 18 month contract but I have also read that there is some doubt over Sky's future coverage of any tennis!! Its a minefield.
Like I said, they're all crooks!!