Vodafone TV gets stay of execution

Photo / file

Vodafone NZ's Vodafone TV service - which had been due to shutdown on September 30, has been given a stay of execution until October 30.

The reason is delays with Sky TV's new box, which will feature Vodafone TV-style features, including the ability to stream regular Sky channels over UFB fibre (negating the need for a dish on your roof), support for 4K Ultra High Definition video and support for third-party apps like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon's Prime Video.

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Sky originally hoped to start rolling out its new box from mid-year, but was hit by Covid supply chain issues. Staff trials are now under way, and the pay-TV provider is due to update further when it reports its financial results next week.

Vodafone TV - a gadget that sold for $179 - acted as both a Sky TV decoder and a streaming device.

The telco says it's shuttering the service because it was a money loser. It said earlier this year that around 100,000 customers have a Vodafone TV unit, though not all use it to access Sky (it can also be used for free-to-air-channels and streaming only).

Refunds are being issued on a sliding $75 to $150 (see box below) for those who bought a Vodafone TV within the past two and half years. Around 40,000 customers will qualify for some level of refund, Vodafone says.

Source / Vodafone