Sky+ for council tenants?
Council bosses in Cheltenham have spent more than £100,000 wiring flats with Sky+ ahead of the digital switchover.
A three-year programme to prepare for the switch-off of analogue television has seen Cheltenham Borough Homes replacing aerials on communal blocks throughout the town.
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An Echo Freedom of Information request has revealed the preparations include readying every building to receive Sky+ at a cost of £113,000, although residents will have to pay for subscriptions to the service them- selves.
Paul Stephenson, assistant chief executive at Cheltenham Borough Homes, said: "With the digital switchover anticipated to start in the county between 2010 and 2011, we began a programme to upgrade aerial systems for the council's tenants and leaseholders who share a facility.
"The planning and preparation work began with a customer working group in 2006. Then, in 2007 and 2008, training, advice, leaflets and information sheets were distributed to residents, along with some roadshows, to make sure tenants and leaseholders were aware of the changes to come.
"The upgrade work is now in the third and final year and to date has benefited more than 1,000 tenants and lease- holders."
The Government plans to ensure every home in the country has switched to digital television by 2012. Some older-style aerials may not be able to cope with the new signal and it is these the council says it has been replacing.
To receive digital television, householders can buy a set-top box, subscribe to cable or have a satellite dish installed.
Freeview boxes start at £25 while Freesat from Sky is a one-off payment of £150 including standard digital box, dish and standard installation. There is no subscription cost.
A CBH spokesman said: "The upgrade to communal aerials on Cheltenham Borough Homes-managed property is of the integrated reception system type.
"This enables customers to access digital signals, DAB digital radio and Sky. It will also reduce the number of Sky satellite dishes on blocks of flats as customers will be able to plug their system into a communal aerial.
"Customers can only access Sky services if they have a Sky subscription. This is not something that we provide."
68 Comments
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by hard working taxpayer Bigot, Cheltenham
Friday, June 05 2009, 3:11PM
“If this digital upgrade is anything like the new kitchens & bathrooms that CBH so say installed, then celebrated with cutting a cake, then god help us all, I can see it now
"Celebrating our success"
another bun fight for the executives of CBH at the good old taxpayers expense.”
by anon, Glos
Friday, June 05 2009, 8:17AM
“Well this is why WE NEED A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT!!! So if you own your home or are in a private block you pay!!!?????? Unreal!!! We all pay enough tax etc for the council tenants and the unemployed! No wonder we are in recession!!!!!!”
by OAP Chelt, Cheltenham
Thursday, June 04 2009, 8:55PM
“Tenants pay for this service? you must be joking,the vast majority are on benefits.This is purely an update of the existing TV aerials in flats,to digital,so why the expence?CBH should be updating their antiquated TV aerials free of charge. It's a disgrace!!”
by WHAT A JOKE, CHELTENHAM
Wednesday, June 03 2009, 9:50PM
“AMAZING WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN FIND MONEY FOR.......MY FRIEND HASNT EVEN GOT A BATH YET THEY CAN BUDGET AERIAL UPGRADES!!WHAT NXT??JACUZZIS IN UTILITY ROOMS??”
by LOL, CHELTENHAM
Wednesday, June 03 2009, 9:45PM
“ITS A CABLE GET OVER IT,IF YOUR THAT STRESSED NEVER WATCH TELEVISION AGAIN LOL LOL”
by sam, at home
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 3:51PM
“Silly question would it be cheaper to put a freeveiw area up than sky plus????”
by Bob, Cheltenham
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 12:55PM
“All that is being provided is the ability to receive the digital signal.If you want Sky plus etc you will have to pay the subscription.I have been a subscriber to sky since it first started broadcasting.I have been a home owner for over 40 yrs,but please stop having a go at CBH tennants.they are NOT getting something for nothing.If they want sky they subscribe.”
by Claire, Chelt
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 11:53AM
“DG - it really is like hitting your head against a brick wall trying to explain to these people that ITS JUST A CABLE that is being fitted - why do they need to be so resentful - always have to find something to moan about - phew I GIVE UP!!!!!”
by DG, Cheltenham
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 11:26AM
“Why no free subscriptions? Surely the sports and movie channels should be provided to all tenants too? You cannot expect people to be limited to watching their relatives on the Jeremy Kyle show on mere terestrial surely?
Rick, Chelt
"Freeview" is not "terestrial", (terrestrial) Rick, which is why the aerials have to be changed.
(headbang, headbang)”
by Rick, Chelt
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 10:27AM
“Why no free subscriptions? Surely the sports and movie channels should be provided to all tenants too? You cannot expect people to be limited to watching their relatives on the Jeremy Kyle show on mere terestrial surely?”