Shouldn't you own something you bought and it's features?

[papercut2008uk]

okay, the title is a little confusing, but, this is not a recent issue, i've had it for a long time.

 

a few years ago we got SKY, with a SKY+ HD box.

 

now it's a lot more expensive then the normal box, and you actually buy it so it's yours. the extra features (if you dont know) are a HDD inside so you can record TV and playback.

 

so shouldn't this feature work, even if you cancel your TV subscription with SKY, since you paid for the box? because if you cancel your TV subscription with SKY, you can no longer use the actual HDD in the box, since you cant even record, play or even delete anything on there, so the HDD a useless noise machine, just humming away hours on end with no actual use.

 

since i, and many other people, paid extra to have the feature, shouldn't that feature remain, regardless of if you are still subscribed to SKY's TV package or not?

[Ryoken]

Debates of should/shouldn't aside.. This isn't uncommon. The device will say it only works with an active subscription. Most Cable/Dish box's work like that. 

 

Personally I think the HDD should be accessible regardless of subscription status and the like. But it is what it is.

[+John Teacake MVC]

Good point, Having one of these myself.The honest answer is I don't know. You pay a subscription to certain channels hence the HD part of it. I suspect you could "record" certain broadcasts but if you have no subscriptions you wont be able to download or have access to any On Demand stuff. 

[Anibal P]

You can't access the HDD because there's no way for SKY to confirm you have the rights to use the content, which is what the subscription is covering in the first place 

[Dick Montage]

The feature does still work, but is dependent upon the decryption that SKY use.  That decryption is part of the package within your subscription.

 

Sorry, no!

[dipsylalapo Supervisor]

I think Anibal P hit the nail on the head, you've recorded these TV programmes as part of the subscription to Sky, once that subscription lapses you no longer have access to those programmes. 

 

As you own the Sky box, there's nothing stopping you from ripping out the HDD and using it for anything else. 

[what]

Isn't it similar to making an album on Spotify available offline? You don't own it, you just have rights to play it, even though its stored on your drive. Once the subscription is taken away you lose the rights.

 

Or perhaps gaming DLC that comes pre-installed on the disc, but you need to buy a license to use.

[Aergan]

Sky is a subscription service and unfortunately, you only "own" the hardware given after the minimum contract (except the Sky card) or what you buy from them direct. Any content you have no rights to I'm afraid.

[MikeChipshop Member]

You haven't purchased all the needed parts to use all the features, subsequently you can;t use all the features.

[Arachno 1D]

You essentially own the hardware but not the software or the license key to unencrypted the programs stored on it.

[SteveCac]

The contents of the HDD are gained and made available with a subscription. At no point do you own this content, so why should it be made available after you stop paying the sub?

 

It depends what you are trying to do with the box I guess. If you wanted to cancel your sub but still watch the programmes recorded on it, you're out of luck. But if you wanted to continue using the box as a freesat recorder, then why not? I'm not sure if this is an option.