Sky viewers lose stereo sound

By CHRIS DANIELS consumer reporter

Sky Television has dropped stereo sound for 415,000 subscribers, prompting claims that it is trying to coerce customers into switching to digital.

Stereo sound is available on Sky's digital network and all the free-to-air channels in New Zealand.

Viewers with Nicam television sets and video players can listen to movies, sport or music in stereo.

The pay-TV company pulled the plug on Nicam stereo sound forits UHF network several weeks ago.

Subscriber Graham Astley says Sky is trying to railroad him into paying more each month for the satellite system to get Nicam stereo on his "home theatre" system.

"I can get Nicam stereo for free on all the other channels, but I pay Sky every month and they can't do it? I don't want all the other channels."

Sky UHF customers such as Mr Astley used Nicam decoder boxes.

Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien said the network had moved its communications from Telecom to the BCL transmission company, which meant it had "lost the ability to deliver Nicam on the UHF."

His explanation seemed to surprise BCL general manager Rob Sweet.

He said that while he would not comment on the actions of clients, there was no reason Nicam stereo sound could not be broadcast over a UHF network.

Sky's Mr O'Brien said dropping Nicam stereo on UHF would affect only a few hundred customers who had asked for special Nicam Sky decoders.

All these customers were being offered special, cheap dealsto switch to Sky's digital service.

Mr Astley said he had been offered this "cheap deal" for the digital service, but he did not want to spend an extra $9 a month to get channels he did not want.

An offer to install a dish at no charge provoked the response that Sky was trying to "buy him off" to keep him quiet.

While Sky might say only a few hundred people had the Nicam stereo boxes, this was because it had not told anyone the boxes were available.

Sky says it has 250,000 satellite customers and 415,000 on UHF.