It is now quite obvious to me (and to most of us here), what the agendas are with service providers in this game.<br /><br />Here are my findings for all to read!<br /><br />This pretty much concerns only the Balkans folk so far but may affect others if, God forbid, TV+ survives.<br /><br />TV+ has taken on the mentality of the Balkans. Even the Communist style corruption, slyness, brainwashing and bribery are at play now.<br />They even have a forum of their own where if you state something that is not in the interest of TV+ your post is promptly deleted and you are banned! It sounds like the time I was OS and they wanted to kick me out of school for wearing a cross! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/default/rolleyes.gif" /> <br /><br />How I got banned from their communist site? I'll explain.<br /><br />I wanted to know why is it that on their site, they profess that people must decide on the service providers for their Balkan content. I then got some blurb about TV+ thinking that there isn't enough of us Balkans (read suckers) to support two providers.<br />However, when i asked: <br />1. "Why then did TV+ bother opening their company if this was the case?" <br />2. "Why did TV+, plainly, rip the content out of the hands of UBI and sign up Pink to "exclusive contracts" with TV+, when UBI was already running with the content for a month so far."<br />The post got deleted and i got <strong>BANNED!!!</strong><br /><br />Bwahahaha....<br /><br />They even openly state that TV+ has a monopoly over the Balkans packages! Oh, and did i mention? "ja" is their administrator!!! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....<br />Yeah so when I asked "ja" about that he said he was proud of TV+ having a monopoly over the content cause the owner was a Serb.<br />What concerns me is that "ja" and all the other brainwashed followers of the site cant see that TV+'s agenda is to divide and conquer! Once there is no more competition they can up the prices through the roof!!! Mark my words, and they will!!!<br /><br />So folks, <strong>do not, under any circumstance sign up with TV+</strong>, as a company with that mentality should not survive. It will put us back into the Stone Age!!! What we need is healthy competition where folk can pick the quality and value of the service they pay good money for!<br /><br />Yours sincerely,<br />Vlad...

TV+, UBI, Foxtel etc, they are all same crap 2 me. TV+ has the balkan package, and as a result they will put prices up as some of u say it. Don't u all think that UBI will do the same thing with lets say Turkish package, or its only TV+ that's intrested in cashing in ?????????

when TARBS first started, and we were paying our monthly rentals, we had only two Balkans channels and no english ones. For <strong>no extra cost</strong>, TARBS had been adding chanels all over the place, even some english ones! We, the Balkans enjoyed 4 channels. UBI had gone a step further (before TV+ stuck its nose in to grab some cash! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/default/rolleyes.gif" /> ) and added more! Pink Extra, TV Planeta.... and it wasn't going to stop there....<br />But wait there is more!<br />UBI even worked on getting the best picture quality (as per our demand!) and have replaced those crap NTSC (Never Twice the Same Colour) feed with Fiber driven direct PAL from Europe!<br />Now that is dedication and I don't mind paing for it!!!<br /><br />Even Liski is proactive! (just joking nas"iot <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" /> )<br />and that's what i expect service to be!!!<br /><br />Vlad...<br /> <br /> <small>[ 16. February 2005, 08:15 AM: Message edited by: Darth Vader ]</small>

i have been following this board ever since tarbs went under. needless to say it has been helpfull in the begining thx to phill. but now, u have all lost your compas. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> bitching and wining tv+, ubi etc... pro ubi supporters main argument is that competition is better for "us" subscribers but yet u keep trying to slam tv+ into the ground with posts like these. you all sound like you are on the ubi payroll. i say ubi here as it obviously has more supporters than tv+. <br /><br />im not pro ubi or tv+ i simply want to see who will have the better package and will go to them. be it ubi or tv+. <br /><br />this is all getting boring and you have fucked up this board which used to be good <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" />

No, no, no, no, no...<br /><br />Its TV+ that doesn't want competition!<br /><br />It's TV+ that went to Pink, BN and BKTV, demanding exclusive contracts to make sure there is no competition.<br /><br />It is TV+ that wants to have a monopoly over the Balkans content!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/default/rolleyes.gif" /> <br /><br /><br />Vlad....

Exclusive contracts are quite common in the media industry, there's nothing illegal about them. They do cost a lot more money and UBI had every opportunity to snatch the best channels before anyone else but they failed to act quickly. Now they can only compensate by adding other channels of lesser value and hope that TV+, WMI, etc. go under.

I don&#8217;t think UBI realised that there was a need to lock Balkans providers into exclusive contracts, especially f they cost more. The extra cash could be used on other things like more channels... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <br />I also think that competition was welcome by the fact that it was, more or less, an open slather.<br />Look, I'm not saying UBI are angels, by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems that we were about to have a good quality service for not bad value supplied by UBI and TV+ has just *ucked it up for us!<br /><br />Vlad

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Nick:<br /><strong> Exclusive contracts are quite common in the media industry, there's nothing illegal about them. They do cost a lot more money and UBI had every opportunity to snatch the best channels before anyone else but they failed to act quickly. Now they can only compensate by adding other channels of lesser value and hope that TV+, WMI, etc. go under. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Nick<br />We need competition, I'm a licenced electrical contractor, If i was the only contractor for miles I would be able to charge $250 just for a lousy power point only metres away.<br />I don't give a shit about both the companies I'm here to install dishes and make money but i can tell you the balkan population will be screwed to the wall if you only have one service provider.<br />ALL Please do a search and find my earlier posting on the Mystery ethernet cable behind cabinet whilst there was a dream box hand control on the TABLE. Why am i saying this now I moved the dishes from B3 back to pas 8 or on to pas 8, these customers had inside information about what was going to happen to UBI and its Balkans package<br />I wonder who they work for.<br />And if they charge that price it will be dreambox heaven.<br />WE MUST HAVE UBI WITH THE BALKANS CHANNELS <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Fred:<br /><strong> but i can tell you the balkan population will be screwed to the wall</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">This is the story of our lives, it has always been and it will always be.

I'll just put on my pants over my trousers and become SuperVlad!<br /> <br /> <small>[ 16. February 2005, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Darth Vader ]</small>

I thought you were not comming back, "ja"? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/default/tongue.gif" />

We all got screwed by TARBS in the end. BTW TARBS had no competition regarding any ethnic package, and they didn't increase their prices so why do u people think that TV+ will do just that?????????????

How did you get screwed by TARBS SCG? <br /><br />Paying the same subscription since day 1 and increasing your package from 2 to 4 channels + some general english content?<br /><br />Whats the definition of SCREWED?

Exactly! <br /><br />Besides, the Balkan content ( and for that matter, any other) was not locked in “exclusive contracts” in the TARBS days. Competition was, and still is, most welcome…<br /><br /><br />Vlad...

Fat chance if TV plus get there way, then you will know what the word screwed is.

Well....aren't you guys not exagerating here? I mean TARBS had an obvious monopoly - maybe they didn't have exclusive contracts, but in reality no other company could enter the market. Its the aim of the companies to try and eliminate competition, thats what TARBS achieved, thats what UBI and TV+ want to achieve. TV+ paid big money to eliminate competition within the Balkan market, but that's what any company would want to do. Don't try and tell me that UBI is doing anything it can to encourage competition - they are just as scared of it as TV+.

We need competition regarding which way you look at it.

It may be that the providers want no competition, but <strong>we</strong> do!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <br /><br />Viva le competition! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" />

I sometimes wonder at the lack of understanding of basic business/economics here.....<br /><br />Running TV Companies, or bringing channels into Australia all costs money.<br /><br />Balkan channels were FTA for a good while and at the carriers discretion. Now the carrier is just starting the business of making money through subscription.<br /><br />What's wrong with that?<br /><br />Or do you Guys all think that every service of every type, including your own, should be free?<br /><br />Wasn't it something like that that caused TARBS to go under in the first place?<br /><br />Come on - give the new Operators a chance

Yes we will give them a chance, a chance to go to hell when the Serbian population in Australia have to fork out $98 for a few lousy channels,

Phil and others<br /><br />TV+ will not be increasing its price for the 4 channel platform past its current price $65.<br /><br />Stop baging TV+ and give them a go..<br /><br />Rgs

and how much would a full package cost then ??? with all the balkan channels??

Lazar<br /><br />I am not aware of what is going on at the top levels..<br /><br />Just that more channels than TARBS had from the Balkans.<br /><br />One might expect that if customers want 8+ channels then they would pay a higher price than one that may want 3 - 4 channels.<br /><br />I think that all will start to come clear over the comming weeks...

ok so Phil is right in saying that the price would rise a fair bit to get all the channels?

Lazar Sorry to say BUT Phil is not right when he says<br /><br /> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Phil Debono:<br /><strong> .....to fork out $98 for a few lousy channels, </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">FEW refers to 2 - 3 channels ie current platform...<br /><br />I dont call 8+ channels 2 - 3 channels...<br /><br />I dont know what is being decided BUT People will have choice to opt for BASIC - (no more than current price) or PLUS package (possibly higher rate)<br /><br />Rgs<br /> <br /> <small>[ 21. February 2005, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: Satfreak ]</small>

ok anyway 8-10 channels say for $85 or more is abit steep to me <br /><br />anyway will see wat happens <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" />

Lazar<br /><br />I agree and again as said I dont know whats going on regarding this so we will need to wait and see.. but I will update you,,

You're driving people to hack your system...

Trust me it will be over $80 per months, it has to be, If you pay around $65 for the basic package you would expext to pay another $15 or more for the extras. So what Satfreak is saying is you will only be paying around $5 more for all the extra channels now if that was the case you would be paying $70 per month and that sounds steep allready. Now we know your not going to charge only $5 for the extra channels, it will be between $15 to $25 now where does that bring it to,,,,,(A) $65+15= $80 (B) $65 + $25= $90 thats a rip off.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Big Chief:<br /><strong> You're driving people to hack your system... </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Sharing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" /> is Caring <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

What about Aids? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

TV+ is aware of this and I believe that pricing may be discounted in the comming months to deal with this.

After they've paid the hefty fees to PanAmSat no doubt <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

What fees?<br />Panamsat is giving tvplus a freebee for 6 months only just to piss off Mr M B.

PanAmSat never gives freebees mate its tied to payments down the track..

Free today but twice as much tomorrow, "Panamrat".<br />Now you know why TV plus will have to slug it customers a hefty Sub to cover cost, I wonder how many they will get?, and as you can see many from the Balkans are sitting and waiting to see what is happening to UBI.<br />At its peak I wonder how many Balkans customers TARBS had?? that would give you a good indication whats going on.

Say no more..