Dear Colleague,
At the end of June I expressed my concern at the soaring cost of our SKY
subscription rate and asked for the opinions of other subscribers. The
replies pointed to similar dissatisfaction or at least a happy ending in
protesting SKY's rates.
When SKY first introduced its Non-domestic viewing agreement in 1996, I
complained and we received a concessionary rate. I've been told that we
still
receive a concessionary rate; the £152 per month they're proposing from
September is also apparently a reduced rate. Nonetheless, I have just
written
to SKY querying this.
However, as an example of the discrepancy and lack of co-ordination in
SKY's
prcing policy, it's interesting that while we are to be charged £152 per
month (£1,824 per annum unless they decide to hike up the amount part
way
throught the year) another institution with approximately 6,000 more
FTEs is
being charged £564 per year. Unlikely evidence of a coherent consistent
pricing structure, although we may be the only two anomalies in an
otherwise
perfect system.
Personally, I feel that a combined response from higher and further
education
is one way forward, to help SKY devise a policy or formula for dealing
with
the education sector. Others may have different suggestions and I'd
like to
hear them. Perhaps others are satisfied and I'd be interested in knowing
that. I would be grateful if you could forward this message to the
person in
your institution responsible for satellite provision, if any.
Many thanks for your time and attention.
Shau-Lan Chan
Asst. Librarian (Media Services)
University of Brighton
Library Media Services
Watts Building
Moulsecoomb
Brighton BN2 4GJ
Tel. 01273 642769
Fax 01273 606093
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