02 Jun 10 The Best Ever TalkTalk Deal – 12 Months Free Broadband with £40 Cashback
Simplifydigital customers are being offered savings in addition to the average of £360 that the service usually offers.
In partnership with the Ofcom-accredited comparison service Simplifydigital, TalkTalk has just launched one of the most attractive broadband deals yet.
The offer will give customers free broadband and evening and weekend calls for one year, plus a £40 cashback for customers who take TalkTalk line rental at £11.49 a month on a 24 month contract.
The offer is open to new TalkTalk customers only and applies to the popular TalkTalk Essentials package which is normally £6.99 a month. TalkTalk Essentials offers:
• Free up to 24Mb broadband
• 40GB monthly download allowance
• Free evening and weekend national calls
• Free wireless router with a £29.99 set up charge
Charlie Ponsonby CEO of Simplifydigital comments:
“This is a crazy offer reflecting just how competitive the market is right now. TalkTalk Essentials is already one of the UK’s best value broadband packages and now it comes with 12 months free and a £40 cashback on top!”
To take up the offer, customers need to call Simplifydigital free on 0800 977 6604, as the offer is only available by calling this number. The offer ends on Tuesday 8th June.
About Simplifydigital
Simplifydigital is the only retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services in the UK to be accredited by Ofcom as impartial. Operating out of London over the phone or online, Simplifydigital’s experts are available to talk customers through the pros and cons of each package and help their customers choose the best option. By using Simplifydigital to compare broadband, digital TV and home phone services, consumers save an average of £360 per year.
Tags: broadband packages, compare Broadband, Simplifydigital, TalkTalk
20 May 10 Make the Save of the Summer with Simplifydigital
With Sky, Virgin Media, BT and others offering superb deals – Simplifydigital cuts out the legwork and selects the cheapest TV packages for the summer of sport
With the changes in the TV sports market as a result of Ofcom’s recent ruling, now is a great time for the armchair sports fan to shop around to find the best deal.
Fans can choose between a huge range of options, in both standard definition and high definition – from Freeview, through to premium Sky Sports and ESPN on the pay digital TV platforms such as Sky, Virgin Media, BT and Top Up TV.
According to Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital the Ofcom accredited free and impartial advisory service for digital TV, home phone and broadband:
“It is a great year for TV sports fans, with more deals and package options on the market than ever before and there are big savings to be had if you choose your sports package carefully.”
“There are so many package options on the market, we strongly advise talking to an impartial expert before taking the plunge.”
Sport available free to air
Before paying for sport, it is worth considering what is available free to air on Freeview and Freesat.
While Freeview does not have specialist sports channels (aside from Sky Sports News), terrestrial channels BBC and ITV will be showing extensive sports coverage in standard definition, includingthe FIFA World Cup, the continuing Formula 1 season, Wimbledon and the Open Championship.
The FIFA World Cup will also be shown in high definition on BBC HD and ITV HD. Both HD channels are available on Freeview HD and Freesat. But Freeview HD will only be available to approximately 50% of UK homes in June, so you need to check availability in your area before choosing this option.
You will get the FIFA World Cup on the free to air channels as well as other sporting events like Wimbledon, but to enjoy the full range of sport this summer, customers will have to invest in a sports packageto ensure seeing live English Premier League and Scottish Premier League matches.
ESPN – for the football fan on a budget
Last year ESPN picked up the rights for both the Barclays Premier League and Scottish Premier League. ESPN is available on the Sky platform, via Virgin Media, BT Vision and Top Up TV.
Pricing for Sky TV customers who have Sky Sports is £9 per month and £12 per month for all other Sky TV customers.
The ESPN channel is cheaper when bought as part of a Virgin Media TV package. Customers who subscribe to Virgin Media’s XL TV pack can watch ESPN and ESPN HD at no additional cost. As part of the deal, these subscribers also receive ESPN Classic, featuring the greatest moments of UK and European sport. And Virgin Media TV customers on the (M) or ( L) pack will be able to subscribe to ESPN and ESPN HD for £8 a month if they already subscribe to any combination of the Sky Sports channels, or £10 a month if not.
On BT Vision, ESPN is available at no additional cost for BT Vision Value Pack (Bronze, Silver or Gold) subscribers. Whilst on Top Up TV, customers can subscribe to ESPN for £9.99 per month.
For the serious sports fan – the cheapest way to get Sky Sports
Sky Sports includes 92 live Barclays Premier League games (with the season beginning again on 15th August), UEFA Champions League, Live International Cricket, Guinness Premiership Rugby, live NFL, Ryder Cup and PGA European Tour Golf. This summer, Sky Sports’ highlights include: highlights of the FIFA World Cup, the US Open Golf and the US PGA Championship in August, US Open tennis and of course the start of the Barclays Premier League.
The best value way of getting Sky Sports is buying it as part of a digital TV, broadband and home phone bundle.
Ofcom’s ruling, which requires Sky to reduce their wholesale price for the Sky Sports packages by up to 23%, will trigger somewhat of a price war between BT, Sky and Virgin Media. This, of course, is fantastic news for the armchair sports fan.
Sky+HD (with Sky Sports HD channel), Sky Sports, up to 10 Mb/s Sky Broadband; and free evening and weekend calls with Sky Talk costs £51 per month, excluding line rental. The Sky HD subscription is included within the price. If you take the High Definition package the Sky+ HD box comes free. If you want to add ESPN you will have to pay an extra £9 per month.
Virgin Media offers a similar package for £45.45 per month excluding line rental. For this price you don’t get as many channels as Sky’s package and it doesn’t have Sky Sports in HD, but does have the attraction of up to 10 Mb/sec fibre-optic broadband with the option of upgrading to a much higher speed if need be.
BT is also preparing its new BT Vision packages.. If the press is to be believed BT will offer Sky Sports 1 from around £15 per month meaning you can get a BT Vision Bronze pack – which includes 70 Freeview channels as well as two viewing packs of your desire – up to 20Mb broadband, weekend calls to UK landlines and Sky Sports starting from £28.49 for the first 3 months then £43.99 thereafter. The Bronze pack also includes ESPN at no extra charge.
For the serious sports fan who wants it all in high definition (HD)
Charlie Ponsonby comments:
“For serious sports fans who want to watch in HD, Sky offers the best value of all as it has the great advantage of a wide choice of up to 40 channels in HD including the Sky Sports channels.”
HDTV provides superior picture quality which is particularly noticeable for fast-moving sports, so aficionados will hugely appreciate the improved viewing experience that Sky+HD provides.
Only Sky customers can view the Sky Sports Channels in high definition but if you take a HD pack from Virgin Media you will be able to watch HD content on ESPN along with the FIFA World Cup and other “crown jewel” sporting events in HD via the BBC HD and ITV HD channels.
Charlie Ponsonby concludes:
“Prices change almost every week as all the providers offer new and exciting deals across TV, broadband and home phone. So if you think you could be saving money and are not sure which route to take, you can speak to our impartial experts at Simplifydigital and they will be able to help you.”
About Simplifydigital
Simplifydigital.co.uk offers a unique service in the UK, providing a free and impartial consultation for anyone looking to compare broadband, digital TV, or home phone services.
Simplifydigital cuts through the confusion; offers the widest range of digital service providers available and manages the customer through the install of the services.
It is the only retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services in the UK to have been accredited by Ofcom as impartial and transparent and on average saves customers over £300 pa by finding them better deals.
Customers can call their London-based experts free on 0800 542 4704 or use their online service at www.simplifydigital.co.uk
Contact details
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO Simplify Digital Limited
M: 07703 502 634
DL: 020 3159 4071
E: cponsonby@simplifydigital.co.uk
Claire MacDonald, Bondy Consulting
M: 07525 399152
E: clairemacdonald@bondyconsulting.com
Tags: compare Broadband, Digital TV, HDTV, Simplifydigital, Sky Sports
21 Apr 10 Simplifydigital Reports Rapidly Growing Demand for HDTV in Run-up to “Summer of Sport”
In the last seven days, Simplifydigital is reporting a near 75% increase in customers looking to get high definition TV (HDTV) services installed in time for the upcoming “Summer of Sport” which includes the FIFA World Cup, the culmination of the UEFA Champions League, international test cricket, European and US tour golf, Wimbledon and much more.
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital notes:
“Our sales experts take thousands of calls each week from potential digital TV customers, and there is no doubt that customers are now looking to getting organized for a long summer of sport – with the interest in high definition TV rising sharply in recent days”.
The awareness and interest in HDTV has been stimulated by the recent launch of Freeview HD and the continued marketing of HDTV be Sky, as its number one way of getting Sky digital TV.
Freeview HD carries BBC HD and ITV HD and should be available to 50% of the UK population in time for the World Cup in June.
Charlie Ponsonby continues:
“High definition TV has moved centre stage for families looking to get digital TV this summer. There is a dual effect of increased awareness of the Freeview HD service and an ongoing push by Sky to communicate the benefits of HD, particularly for watching sport.”
The pick of the HDTV packages this Summer
In a nutshell, to enjoy HDTV you will need to make sure you have an HD Ready TV; a receiver that can decode the high definition signal, such as a Freeview HD box or a Sky+HD box; and a TV package that includes high definition programming.
For the budget HD viewer interested specifically in the World Cup, Freeview HD and Freesat HD are the best alternatives, but the HD content will feel limited.
As Freeview HD will only be available to 50% of UK homes this June, you will need to check on the Freeview website first to see if it is available at your postcode.
However, for anyone who is serious about watching HD, Sky offers by far the largest selection of HD channels and programming in the UK, covering the whole spectrum of content – from ITV and BBC HD; premium sports; to a large range of movies and documentaries. The Sky+HD box also has all the features of a Sky+ box so that you can pause and record live TV. In addition Sky recently cut the price of their HD box and offer it free.
As Charlie Ponsonby comments:
“Sky offers by far the broadest range of HD content, with 39 HDTV channels to choose from, including premium sports and movies, to drama and documentaries. But the Sky HD experience comes at a price with Sky+HD, costing £10 per month, on top of your existing Sky subscription.”
Virgin Media offers 8 HD channels, including BBC and ITV in HD so that you can watch the World Cup. It also offers ESPN HD, which shows live FAPL action in high definition. In addition, they have a wide variety of on-demand content in high definition.
BT Vision offers a limited range of HD content on-demand and the Freeview HDTV channels. BT Vision is only available to BT Broadband customers. So if you are in the 50% of the Uk that can receive Freeview HD channels then you will be able to watch the World Cup in HD as a BT Vision customer.
About Simplifydigital:
Simplifydigital is the UK’s only Ofcom accredited comparison service for digital TV, broadband and home phone deals.
Simplifydigital’s impartial experts talk to thousands of potential customers every week looking to compare broadband and find the best digital TV deals from Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision etc.
Contact details:
Charlie Ponsonby,
CEO Simplify Digital Limited
DL: 020 3159 4071
E: cponsonby@simplifydigital.co.uk
Tags: Broadband, compare Broadband, Digital TV, high definition TV, Simplifydigital
06 Apr 10 Simplifydigital Customer Choice Awards for Digital TV, Broadband and Home Phone Announced
The first ever customer satisfaction awards for digital TV, broadband and home phone services based on the direct views expressed by live customers – the Simplifydigital Customer Choice Awards – have been announced this week.
Compiled using the unique Feefo feedback service, which pulls together people’s opinions, likes and dislikes 60 days into the service, these are the only awards based on qualitative data.
The “free-flowing” feedback approach has none of the restrictions of online “tick box” surveys and draws out much more insight into customers’ real experiences pre, during and post install. As such it is similar to the “net promoter” score increasingly used in the US and UK to measure the strength of customer advocacy for a brand.
Winner: O2 Home broadband – Best Broadband Only Service
Winner: TalkTalk Essentials – Best broadband and home phone bundle
Winner: Sky – Best digital TV, broadband and home phone bundle
Winner: Virgin Media – Best superfast broadband
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital, the UK’s only Ofcom accredited digital TV, broadband and home phone comparison service, commenting on the awards says:
“Our awards are based on the written feedback from customers collected a few weeks after their install. It is based therefore on their experiences of purchase, installation and early life as a customer. Our awards pull together the insight from the feedback into a robust overall rating of the service.”
The Simplifydigital Customer Choice Awards are the UK’s only large scale qualitative review of customer experience. It is based on written feedback of a sample of over 400 customers gathered throughout the last quarter of 2009 which were objectively converted into positive and negative ratings by the Simplifydigital product team.
The survey also provides a very positive endorsement of Simplifydigital. Customers rated the personal service and expertise of the Simplifydigital impartial experts particularly highly – both in terms of the advice given when selecting a package and the customer service support provided during the switching process.
Charlie Ponsonby concludes:
“Qualitative customer feedback is the most trusted source of information about a product or service – hence why we believe these awards are something very different.”
Best Broadband Only Service
Winner: O2 Home Broadband
O2 Home Broadband was the clear winner in this category receiving the most positive comments about its broadband only package with a net rating of +1.78 (out of a maximum of 3).
Customers were particularly impressed with the free, unique UK based technical support; ease of set up, reliability of the service; and value for money (especially for existing O2 mobile customers).
O2 offers two home broadband packages. The most popular package is the O2 Home Broadband Standard which offers up to 8Mbps broadband with unlimited download limits from £7.50 per month for existing O2 mobile phone customers.
Best broadband and home phone bundle – Simplifydigital Customer Choice Award
Winner: TalkTalk Essentials
TalkTalk won for its good value and reliable family broadband service with an excellent value call plan. It achieved a net rating of +1.05 (out of a maximum of 3).
The free “Speed Boost” which raises your speed to the fastest available at your postcode for no extra cost, is seen as a real added bonus by customers.
TalkTalk Essentials is one of the UK’s best selling broadband and home phone bundles, offering up to 8 Mbs wireless broadband for £6.99 per month, plus £11.49 line rental. The bundle includes free evening and weekend calls and free anytime calls to local numbers.
Best digital TV, broadband and home phone bundle – Simplifydigital customer choice award
Winner: Sky
Sky topped the “triple play” charts with customers attracted by the TV channel choice, Sky Sports, and Sky+ which is seen as the leading PVR (personal video recorder).
Sky+HD customers recorded particularly high satisfaction scores. Sky achieved a net rating of +1.0 (out of a maximum of 3) having lost some ground as a result of the inability to get all three services installed and running at the same time.
Sky digital TV, broadband and home phone packages start from £18 per month excluding line rental.
Best super-fast broadband – Simplifydigital customer choice award
Winner: Virgin Media
Virgin Media came out top in the super-fast and ultra-fast broadband category. The feedback reflected customers’ views of the XL and XXL packages which offer broadband speeds of up to 20 Mbps and 50 Mbps respectively. Virgin Media broadband achieved a net rating of +1.01 (out of a maximum of 3).
Customers were converts to the “fibre-optic revolution” and were broadly very pleased with broadband speed that the fibre optic broadband network delivers and expressed very positive views about the speed of getting the service up and running.
About Simplifydigital
Simplifydigital is the UK’s only Ofcom accredited retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services. The Simplifydigital impartial experts take thousands of calls every week, from UK consumers looking to compare broadband, digital TV and home phone deals.
Each customer receives a free “consultation”, during which the experts match their unique needs to one of over 10,000 deals from all the top UK providers.
Each customer who buys through Simplifydigital then receives a qualitative feedback form from Feefo within which express their views of the Simplifydigital service and the quality of the service provider to which they have signed up.
About Feefo
Feefo is an independent feedback forum which allows customers to freely express their views on a product or service. The feedback is collected in a strictly controlled and impartial manner and is available for view at www.feefo.com. Feefo works with a number of leading brands across a huge variety of sectors.
Contact details
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO Simplify Digital Limited
M: 07703 502 634
DL: 020 3159 4071
E: cponsonby@simplifydigital.co.uk
Jessica Bondy, Bondy Consulting
M: 0781 208 2138
DL: 020 7534 9801
E: jessicabondy@bondyconsulting.com
Tags: broadband packages, broadband service, compare Broadband, Customer Choice Awards, Simplifydigital
19 Mar 10 Simplifydigital Offer Broadband From 16p Per Day
The broadband market is cut-throat at the moment and there are some great Easter deals out there if you hurry.
The deals in play have sharply reduced prices and you can now get broadband for as little as 16p per day (or free as part of a digital TV package).
The cheapest broadband only package on the market is from Plusnet (which is owned by BT) and is currently offering 8 Mbs broadband with a 10 GB usage cap for £5.99 per month which works out at less than 20p per day. This is an extremely popular choice.
But Orange mobile phone customers can get an even cheaper broadband deal which works out at just 16p per day (£4.88 per month). This is because Orange is offering existing customers a big discount on its Orange Home Broadband Max package. This package offers super-fast up to 20 Mbs broadband, with unlimited downloads and free evening and weekend calls. It’s free for the first 3 months and then £6.50 per month thereafter – giving the average monthly cost of just £4.88.
TalkTalk also offers a great value alternative for those who want a broadband and home phone bundle. They are also offering a free speed boost allowing customers to get the fastest broadband connection available at their address (up to 24 Mbs) for just £6.99 per month or 23p per day! This TalkTalk Essentials package comes with a 40 GB usage cap and free evening and weekend calls.
Sky digital TV customers have the option of free Sky Broadband Base which offers a sluggish up to 2 Mbs broadband connection and limited 2 GB usage cap, for no extra cost on your digital TV subscription. This free broadband package does however have a £60 install charge.
Broadband deals vary according to postcode, so always use an availability checker before buying. And if you need help migrating or have questions about the package and migration process, you can speak to Simplifydigital’s Ofcom accredited impartial experts for free on 0800 1 388 388. They help thousands of customers compare broadband in order to find the best deal every week.
With their help the switching process is surprisingly easy and with the deals on offer today, if you hurry, there are big savings to be made. You can also visit www.simplifydigital.co.uk for the pick of the deals.
About Simplifydigital:
Simplifydigital is the only comparison service in the UK whose price comparison calculator has been fully accredited by Ofcom. On average, customers save over £300 on their digital services, thanks to the impartial advice that Simplifydigital can provide.
Tags: Broadband package, cheapest broadband, compare Broadband, Simplifydigital
08 Mar 10 The Cheapest Way to Get Sky Sports – with £100 Cashback
Sky Sports continues to build its roster of world-class sports content, and with the great deals available today, it has never been more affordable.
The cornerstone of Sky Sports remains the 92 live Barclays Premier League games each season, but it offers far more, including the UEFA Champions League (including Chelsea v Inter on 16th March), Live International Cricket including England v Bangladesh ODI and Test series in March, Guinness Premiership Rugby, live NFL, and PGA European Tour Golf.
The best value way of getting Sky Sports is buying it as part of a digital TV, broadband and home phone “triple play” bundle. Both Sky and Virgin Media offer triple play bundles which include Sky Sports. No other digital TV providers in the UK offer Sky Sports as part of their package.
Sky Sports on Virgin Media with £100 cashback
Virgin Media offers Sky Sports with its range of TV bundle deals.
Virgin Media TV size (M+) which includes Sky One, Sky Sports Collection; Broadband size (L) which offers up to 10 Mbps fibre-optic broadband; and Phone Size (M) which gives free weekend calls, costs £24 per month for 2 months and £42 per month thereafter excluding line rental. Installation is free in March.
And if you buy this Virgin Media package with Sky Sports through Simplifydigital.co.uk before 8pm on 31st March 2010, they will give you a £100 cashback. The deal can only be found by visiting the Simplifydigital broadband deals page.
Sky Sports with free Sky+HD box and free installation
Alternatively you can buy Sky Sports as part of a Sky package with the added attraction of Sky Sports in High Definition.
Sky 1 Mix with Sky Sports and Sky+HD, Sky Broadband Base which offers up to 2Mbps broadband; and free evening and weekend calls with Sky Talk, costs £46 per month, excluding line rental. The package comes with a Sky+HD box for free (usual price £49) and free install.
So whether you want to get Sky Sports through Virgin Media or Sky, there has never been a better time to buy.
If you would like impartial advice to compare a huge range of digital services, you can visit Simplifydigital to compare broadband, TV and home phone packages from all the top providers.
About Simplifydigital:
Fully accredited by Ofcom, Simplifydigital is a completely impartial retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services. For anyone wanting to compare broadband, home phone services or digital TV packages online, Simplifydigital has experts on hand to help find the best deal and to provide valuable information on each package available to you.
Contact details:
Charlie Ponsonby
CEO Simplify Digital Limited
DL: 020 3159 4071
E: cponsonby@simplifydigital.co.uk
Tags: broadband deals, compare Broadband, Simplifydigital, TV bundle deals
15 Dec 09 Simplifydigital’s 2010 Digital Predictions
Simplifydigital predicts what will be big in the world of digital TV and broadband in 2010
2009 saw big changes in the digital home. Broadband continued its relentless path across UK homes, with three quarters of UK homes now having internet access. Mobile broadband hit a hot sales streak, selling over 150,000 per month. And in the digital TV world, Sky switched to high definition TV (HDTV) as its lead product, with the result that over 1.6 million Sky customers now watch in HD.
The good news for consumers is that the pace of innovation is accelerating, as providers compete for business. So 2010 should be a great year of more choice and better value.
Here is Simplifydigital’s pick of the big events likely to play out in 2010…
Tesco to shake up the broadband market
Broadband prices fell by 6% last year with the result that the average broadband household is now paying about £10.70 per month. And good quality family broadband packages can now be found for under £7 per month, including free calls in the evening and weekends.
But Tesco’s major push into the broadband market in 2010 should put a cat among the pigeons and put further downward pressure on prices. BT remains the biggest broadband player, followed by the TalkTalk Group, Virgin Media and Sky. All the big players will be watching Tesco carefully and expect a tit for tat price war if Tesco go in hard on price.
On the other hand, broadband providers have invested heavily in recent years and are looking to increase their margins, so there will be plenty of upward pressure on prices too. So we expect broadband prices to fall, but not by much.
PAYG to drive mobile broadband popularity
Mobile broadband is proving hugely popular among UK broadband customers. “Dongles” are available in all shapes and sizes and allow broadband access wherever you can get a mobile phone signal. The only drawback is the unreliability of the service, which is at the mercy of the mobile signal strength.
All the big mobile phone players offer competitive mobile broadband packages starting from about £5 per month. But PAYG mobile broadband is setting the category alight. The flexibility of 1 month contracts is proving hugely popular, so 2010 will be the year of PAYG mobile broadband.
As such we fully expect mobile broadband sales to outstrip home broadband sales in 2010.
Consumers thirsting for more broadband speed
2009 saw Virgin Media heavily pushing the advantages of fibre-optic broadband. Fibre-optic technology allows far faster broadband speeds than is possible via copper wire (so-called DSL broadband). DSL broadband is used by all the major broadband providers with the exception of Virgin Media.
The net result is that UK broadband consumers do not enjoy the fruits of super-fast broadband. The average broadband speed is just over 4 Mb/s, versus an average of over 90 Mb/s in Japan. And many UK broadband customers are simply unaware of how much better their internet experience could be with a faster broadband connection.
But 2010 will be the year when UK broadband consumers wake up to the attractions of super-fast broadband and start demanding more. Super-fast broadband makes watching video online and online gaming a trouble free experience – and means that whatever the time of day, and however many members of the family are online – your surfing is a tip top experience.
2010 – the year that high definition TV (HDTV) hits the big time
HDTV is an avalanche waiting to happen. 56% of UK households have HD Ready digital TV sets which are designed to view in HD, but only a small fraction (circa 10%) actually watch TV in high definition. This is because you need not only an HD Ready TV set, but also an HD compatible digibox and HDTV channel package.
But three big things are happening in 2010 to kick start the HD phenomenon.
HD will launch on Freeview in early 2010, making it available without a subscription to millions of homes; the World Cup will be broadcast in HD in June 2010, giving a huge boost to the category – and Sky will continue to put its marketing might behind HD, which is now Sky’s lead digital TV product.
Bundles will rule in 2010 saving households more money
Already the majority of digital TV, broadband and home phone customers buy their packages in bundles, from one or two providers. The savings to be had by bundling are very big (Simplifydigital estimates that people save an average of £360 per year by bundling all three services from a single provider). What’s more bundling makes life easier by ensuring a single bill.
2010 will see some cracking new bundle deals on the market from all the big players. There will be a myriad of deals offering everything from mobile phone and broadband bundles; to TV and home phone bundles. With the right advice from an impartial expert, there is bound to be a bundle for you that will save you a lot of money.
And 3D TV takes a bow for the first time
3D TV is causing a lot of excitement among the techie community. New 3D technology means that 3D viewing is coming to the movies (witness Avatar the latest James Cameron movie blockbuster to hit the screens just before Christmas); coming to gaming and also to TV.
Sky has been testing 3D TV intensively in 2009 and plan to launch the UK’s first 3D TV channel in 2010. So expect to see everything from movies to the Premiership jumping into your living room.
About Simplifydigital
Simplifydigital.co.uk offers a unique service in the UK, providing a free and impartial consultation for anyone looking to save money and compare broadband, compare digital TV, or compare home phone services.
Simplifydigital cuts through the confusion; offers the widest range of digital service providers available (including Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, AOL, Orange, 02, Top UpTV etc); and manages the customer through the install of the services.
It is the only retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services in the UK to have been accredited by Ofcom as impartial and transparent. Customers call free on 0800 1 388 388 or use their online service at www.simplifydigital.co.uk
Contact details
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO Simplify Digital Limited
DL: 020 7788 1022
E: cponsonby@simplifydigital.co.uk
Tags: compare Broadband
11 Dec 09 MSN Extends Partnership with Simplifydigital to Launch Cashback Site
MSN and Simplifydigital have extended their partnership to launch a cashback site for digital TV, broadband packages and home phone services.
The new cashback service on MSN Money will enable MSN users to save time, hassle and most significantly money on broadband, digital TV and home phone packages. The service offers the top deals from the most popular digital providers, plus an additional cashback for MSN customers.
The Simplifydigital service already saves customers an average of £462* pa on their digital bills, by finding them better deals – and MSN customers will now enjoy an additional cashback on top.
The new service therefore combines the appeal of a cashback site with Simplifydigital’s unique, Ofcom accredited comparison service, which:
• is designed to compare complex bundle deals across digital TV, broadband and home phone
• uses Simplifydigital’s proprietary “smartsearch” technology to rank the results against the users’ unique requirements (such as preferred TV channels, speed of broadband, call destinations) from over 15,000 package combinations available on the market
• allows users to “play” with the recommended packages to add or subtract features and see how it affects the price of the package
• the whole process is designed to be assisted by Simplifydigital’s impartial experts with whom you can talk during the online consultation and to process the order on your behalf.
All the key UK suppliers are presented on the service, including 3, AOL, BT, Orange, O2, Sky, Talk Talk, Tiscali, Topup TV and Virgin Media.
Phil Coxon, at MSN, said: “This is a great new service for MSN customers, offering Simplifydigital’s unique broadband, digital TV and home phone comparison service combined with the appeal of a cashback site”
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital, said: “We help thousands of customers each week save money on their digital TV, broadband and phone services and now we are thrilled to be overlaying cashback deals to help them save even more!”
The service is available by freephone 0800 542 4608 or online at http://comparebroadband.uk.msn.com/
*10% of customers between 1st August 2009 and 26th October 2009 saved an average of £462. Based on a total of 251 customers with 45 customers making no savings at all and 206 making a saving of 12pence or more.
About Simplifydigital
Simplifydigital.co.uk offers a unique service in the UK, providing a free and impartial consultation for anyone looking to save money and compare broadband, compare digital TV, or compare home phone services.
Simplifydigital cuts through the confusion; offers the widest range of digital service providers available (including Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, AOL, Orange, 02, Top UpTV etc); and manages the customer through the install of the services.
It is the only retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services in the UK to have been accredited by Ofcom as impartial and transparent. Customers call free on 0800 1 388 388 or use their online service at www.simplifydigital.co.uk
Tags: compare Broadband
09 Dec 09 Simplifydigital’s pick of the digital deals this Christmas!
There has never been a better time to snap up an amazing deal on your digital TV, broadband and home phone services.
This Christmas, you the consumer are well and truly in charge, as the top UK digital providers are competing very hard for your custom, so some of the deals on offer are terrific value!
Whether you’re looking for fibre-optic broadband; a cracking home phone calls package or a top-of-the-range digital TV package with sports, movies and high definition TV – there are some amazing deals to choose from.
Here is our pick of the Christmas digital deals…
High definition TV (HDTV)
High definition TV (HDTV) is the big seller this Christmas. It provides stunning pictures in 4 times the detail of a standard TV programme. HDTV is particularly impressive for sporting events, documentaries, movies and dramas.
Football in HD for example is a huge improvement on the standard TV experience – with players (and the crowd!) visible in extraordinary clarity. In addition, HDTV signals are also broadcast in surround sound making for a much richer sound, as well as visual experience.
In a nutshell, to enjoy HDTV you will need to make sure you have an HD Ready TV; a receiver that can decode the high definition signal, (such as a Sky+HD box, HD Freesat box, or Virgin’s V+ box); and a TV package that includes high definition programming.
The best high definition TV deals this Christmas come from Sky and Freesat.
Sky has by far the largest range of digital TV channels to choose from in the UK, with 35 HDTV channels on offer including Sky OneHD, documentaries, drama, Sky SportsHD, Sky MoviesHD and more. This Christmas Sky is offering a terrific deal on Sky HD with Sky Movies. The deal offers Sky 1 Mix, Sky HD pack and Sky Movies from £44 per month – plus a free Sky+HD box. There is a £30 set up cost.
Freesat on the other hand offers over 140 channels with no monthly subscription, including ITV and BBC in high definition.
As Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital comments:
“HDTV is the next big revolution in TV entertainment in the UK. It has moved from a niche luxury for the few, to an affordable mass-market entertainment phenomenon – as such it will be one of the big sellers this Christmas.”
Best value digital bundle deals – digital TV, broadband and home phone
All the top UK providers offer great “triple play” bundle deals. These are typically the cheapest way to buy your digital TV, broadband and phone services.
In fact Simplifydigital’s recent research show that customers save an average of over £460 per year by switching to the best value bundle deals.
These deals come in all shapes and sizes. At the value end of the market, Tiscali is offering the best deal of all this Christmas.
The Tiscali package is just £9 per month (excluding line rental) for digital TV, broadband and home phone services!
The package offers 65 digital TV channels including Sky One and a range of on-demand TV content; up to 8 Mb/sec broadband with unlimited downloads; and free weekend calls. Tiscali is also throwing in a Tiscali+ box for free – normal price £100! The Tiscali+ box is a PVR (like Sky+), which allows you to pause and record your favourite TV programmes.
At the top end, you can get Sky’s market leading HD service with Sky Movies; up to 10 Mb broadband and free evening and weekend calls from £54 per month. The Sky+HD box is free with a £30 set up cost.
Alternatively Virgin Media offer super-fast, up to 20 Mb/s fibre-optic broadband size (XL); 175 TV channels (size XL); and free daytime, evening and weekend calls for £5.50 for the first 2 months and then £47 per month. The package has a £35 set up fee and is only available in cable areas.
Best value broadband and home phone bundle deals
Again there is lots to choose from in the crowded broadband market. At the value end of the market, TalkTalk is offering a cracking deal this Christmas.
TalkTalk already offers one of the best value broadband and home phone services, offering up to 8 Mbs wireless broadband for £6.49 per month (excluding line rental of £11.25). The package is exceptional value and includes free evening and weekend calls. What’s more TalkTalk is offering £30 of gift vouchers to every new customer.
At the other end of the spectrum, for the ultimate Christmas treat, why not go for Virgin Media’s unbelievably fast XXL broadband service. This up to 50 Mb/sec fibre-optic broadband service is by far the fastest available in the UK from the top UK providers.
It doesn’t come cheap, but the speed has to be seen to be believed. Virgin XXL Broadband costs £28 per month (excluding £11 line rental). This is reduced from £35 per month.
About Simplifydigital
Simplifydigital.co.uk offers a unique service in the UK, providing a free and impartial consultation for anyone looking to save money and compare broadband, compare digital TV, or compare home phone services.
Simplifydigital cuts through the confusion; offers the widest range of digital service providers available (including Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, AOL, Orange, 02, Top UpTV etc); and manages the customer through the install of the services.
It is the only retailer of digital TV, broadband and home phone services in the UK to have been accredited by Ofcom as impartial and transparent and on average saves customers over £300 pa by finding them better deals. Customers call free on 0800 1 388 388 or use their online service at www.simplifydigital.co.uk
Contact details
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO Simplify Digital Limited
DL: 020 3159 4071
E: cponsonby@simplifydigital.co.uk
Tags: Broadband, compare Broadband, Digital TV package, HDTV
