News | Technology
29 Mar 2024 18:20
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Technology

    Sky Digital TV Blackout as satellite fails

    Hundreds of thousands of Sky Digital subscribers that have come to rely on the Sky satellite service for their news and entertainment have been subjected to a prolonged blackout of all the Sky Channels.


    Sky Television
    Sky Television
    At around 7:30pm this evening, viewers were suddenly inconvenienced with incorrect messages such as:

    “Atmospheric conditions have temporarily disrupted your viewing. If normal viewing does not resume shortly, please contact your service provider.”

    Or

    “No Signal. Rain Fade. The disturbance to your viewing is due to atmospheric conditions. Your pictures will resume shortly.”

    The problem was, atmospheric conditions seemed normal in most places.

    Within a short time, the Sky 0800 759 759 customer service number was jammed and the Sky TV website (www.skytv.co.nz) became unavailable.

    Many viewers, thinking their own home setup was at faulty, attempted to adjust settings and re-power their equipment, to no avail.

    At around 8:45pm, the Sky website was replaced with a single page message that read:

    “We have an outage on SKY’s Optus B1 satellite.

    At this time there are no SKY satellite services. We will keep you updated as we obtain more information.

    SKY Sport 1 is Free to Air on UHF for the duration of the Live Cricket Awards.”

    It has been widely rumoured that Sky Digital has been relying on a single transponder on the Optus satellite and has no backup if that transponder fails. If that were the case then it would mean that Sky Digital services would cease until a replacement transponder could be commissioned. That might not be until another satellite is launched. If this rumour is true, it could mean Sky Digital customers would have a long wait for their service to “resume shortly”.

    Update 30 March 2006 10:00pm

    Sky spokeman Tony O'Brien says the signal was lost while the satellite was being re-positioned, but that communications with the ground station are restored and Optus will re-point the satellite, a maneovre which should be complete about about midnight. Updates will be published on the Sky website.

    So if this procedure is successful, Sky subscribers might breath a sigh of relief.

    © 2024 ron, NZCity

     Other Technology News
     18 Mar: How Vegemite can help break down your old computers, phones and TV sets
     14 Mar: A high-tech upgrade for a ferry service plying a Fiordland lake
     02 Mar: Elon Musk sues ChatGPT maker OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman for allegedly 'perverting' mission for profit
     01 Mar: NASA's asteroid-smashing DART mission 'completely reshaped' its target Dimorphos, scientists say
     03 Feb: Ignoring work calls and emails after hours could soon become a legal right in Australia as political momentum grows to ensure people can unplug and unwind
     10 Jan: Conversation is Key: Kiwi women favour chat skills in online dating, survey shows
     02 Jan: More and more drug users and dealers are taking to social media to buy illegal substances
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A coaching conundrum for Crusaders assistant James Marshall as they look to end their losing run in Super Rugby tonight against the Chiefs in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A 30-year-old has been charged with murder after a body was found in a burnt-out car earlier this week 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Tracee Ellis Ross has paid a glowing birthday tribute to Diana Ross 17:53

    Rugby League:
    NRL Good Friday: Bulldogs take on desperate Rabbitohs, Broncos renew rivalry with Cowboys 17:37

    Cricket:
    Cricket's best female all-rounder has led England to a 4-1 T20 series win over New Zealand 17:27

    Entertainment:
    YouTube star Ninja has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32 17:23

    Rugby League:
    The South Sydney rugby league team is ready to lift itself off the canvas and floor the Canterbury Bulldogs in their Good Friday NRL contest 17:17

    Golf:
    Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko heads into the second round of the latest LPGA tournament in Arizona right on the cusp of the cut 17:07

    Rugby League:
    South Sydney rugby league coach Jason Demetriou has urged fans not to worry about his mental health 16:57

    Entertainment:
    Pierce Brosnan has given his seal of approval to Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the next James Bond 16:53

    International:
    World Court orders Israel to 'take all necessary and effective' action to ensure Gaza has access to humanitarian aid 16:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd