[scr]

So Whiskey what sports channels do you get ? We had taken cable tv last year only for the cricket coverage but sadly the coverage isn't what we expected. Now that the one year is up we've stopped cable tv. Which ESPN channel do you think is in the line up ? Any idea ?

[shri]

Whiskey, *sigh* it took us 6 months to get our Now Broadband TV box. Don't even get me started on how bad things can be at PCCW when you fall outside of a certain normal band.

[UbeJam]

Originally Posted by Lammarite

In the Middle East you had a choice of service suppliers and competition was hot. There were a lot of Indian/Pakistani/Egyptian etc channels also but for the 5-6 english language channels worth watching (i.e not fashion channel etc) it ws a good rate. There isn't the need for english speking channels here so there wont be any push from the vendors.
If you are willing to go under the table, there are various suppliers who will hook you up with a shitload of channels from South Africa/UK/US etc for very little via pirate card. You get all the movie channels, sports, series, comedy etc from Phillipines, India also.

Do you have any contact numbers/persons of these "professional" sat tv installers (even pirated)?

Got nowBroadband TV free (free channels only) with my broadband internet and still figuring out if I'll sign up with cable tv. NOW has HBO and Cinemax but looking at more English channels. Wanted to have Nickelodeon + Disney Channel to supplement Cartoon Network for my daughter.

[navera]

Originally Posted by UbeJam

Do you have any contact numbers/persons of these "professional" sat tv installers (even pirated)?

Got nowBroadband TV free (free channels only) with my broadband internet and still figuring out if I'll sign up with cable tv. NOW has HBO and Cinemax but looking at more English channels. Wanted to have Nickelodeon + Disney Channel to supplement Cartoon Network for my daughter.

I got 6ft satellite dish plus reciever and remote ,we are living in village house but moving to flat at the end of march, so we are selling our Satellite dish for $2000 .the channels we catch from dish our mostly Indian ,Pakistani ,chinese and some english channels.

[jmaresky]

OK OK. So I am following up my own thread.

Six months have passed and my basic Cable TV subscription has expired. Of course, Cable TV has quietly continued charging me (via Autopay) for a monthly rate which is higher than my previous 6-month rate - HK$308/month + HK$30 converter rental.
They won't give me a better deal unless I take a 12-month contract which is not practical because I move out of HK in February. They say that they have no 6-month contract.

I wasn't particularly impressed by the basic Cable TV package - 4 Discovery/Animal channels which are OK/Good, CNN/BBC, TCM, 3 sports channels, and everything else is basically useless.

So I am checking out the options. Satellite (pirate)? NOW?
NOW offers 6-month packages with Discovery Showcase for $56/mo, BBC World for $16/mo (what is the difference between standard BBC and BBC World?), some free channels including soccer and ABC Asia, and perhaps even the Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney channel ($55/mo) for my 18-month-old daughter.

Is there anyone out there with any ideas/suggestions on the subject?
Thanks again to all the Geoexpatters with helpful advice.
Jonathan

[jmaresky]

It is getting worse - I am now replying to my own reply...

I called NOW. They don't have a 6-month packaqge, only a 12-month.
They also told me about the basic fee of $148/month which is not mentioned in the web site as far as I can see.

So - if I only sign up on a monthly basis, they will also charge $530 for the installation (which would be waived if I was to make a 12-month commitment...).
So it is becoming less and less attractive. If fact - right now it is UGLY.
Any ideas?

[JPMeaney]

yeah, we got now on an 18 month package...pricing isn't too bad, but the only really worthwhile channels are Discovery, BBC World and HBO/Cinemax...on the plus side they're picking up ESPN in Aug...SIGN ME UP FOR THAT...one more channel to pay monthly for!

[berryplucker]

I think your only option is to take a longer package and try to transfer it to someone else when you leave (or try to find someone who is leaving and needs to break a 12 month term and could transfer the subscription to you).

[tbl]

I too am in a TV quandry...which is better in terms of picture quality and reception? Does the fog and/or frequent rainstorms cause a problem with satelite reception?

[Hebe]

Sometimes rainstorms will cause a bit problem but not very often.