Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Tsk tsk :rolleyes:

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

I didn't mean any disrespect Henkesghost. I just meant we are going over old ground here. We have seen the same stuff in the coming soon thread and various other threads to the point where we are all repeating ourselves. Your opinion is just as valid as mine.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Was only kidding m8:)

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Well here is a different angle.

I was speaking to an Asian guy in Aston the other day. He reckoned most Asians don't go for VM, despite the superior broadband, because with VM you can't get free channels from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. On a Sky dish he said you can get stuff like morning prayers straight from The Golden Temple in Amritsar, a must for some. He couldn't think of one Asian person up his street with VM, despite it being a cable area.

VM cannot compete with satellite dishes, but they could throw in more 'free' channels for the Asian population. Is there a problem with procurement? It could be worth the investment.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Of course he meant satellite dish.

How many channels from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh do Sky have in their packages? The same number as VM I expect.

So this person will not need either Sky or Virgin Media so the point is irrelevant.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

On the international genre there are 61 channels Carl , the majority are Indian, Pakistan and Bangladesh channels but not sure how many are on VM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._International

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

No it is not irrelevant. There is a market existing for VM if only they could do a little research and some imaginative procurement. I would be interested in how much of the Asian market they haven't attracted yet. In areas like Aston where the Asian population is virtually wall-to-wall there could be miles of cable infrastructure virtually unused.

Check out Sky subscription-free channels for the Asian content under the international section. http://www.sky.com/shop/tv/free-to-air-channels/

This is the best VM can do. http://shop.virginmedia.com/digital-...els/asian.html

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

But the bolded bit is the important bit.
You don't need Sky for them. You can watch the same channels as a VM subscriber, you just need a FTA satellite receiver to receive them.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

And how many require a Sky sub?

And yes, a few of those are available on VM as I recognise their names.

---------- Post added at 23:07 ---------- Previous post was at 23:07 ----------

That was my point :)

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

About 4 Carl , but there are quite a few are premium channels , I think what roughbeast is meaning that anyone wanting to add these premium Asian channels would be better to go with Sky as their are so many FTA channels available with a dish instead of the scenario of paying VM for Asian premium and having a dish for FTA channels , however I agree fully if it's just FTA you dont have to go with Sky.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Yes. We can argue specifics and semantics all day but in the end...

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

So why don't Virgin offer a bundle including a dish and receiver? In an instant they could capture that Asian market I was talking about. You see sometimes it is a matter of customer perception. From what my Asian colleague was saying his community automatically go with Sky because of the dish. VM just doesn't enter their minds, especially now you can't get hacked boxes. ;)

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

So i take it from the last piece of your comment,your asian friend may well have got a hacked box and been happy but now they have to pay vm its another matter oh dear.! As has been pointed out already sky charge for premium asian channels,not sure how many they carry free to air though when i am around my mates tonight who has sky i wll have a look to see many "free" asian channels are on his box.;)

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Cost, training and the Competition Commission who would probably not allow it.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Virgin Media and SKY doing deals on HD !!

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

What deals are they then.

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

Any links?

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

http://shop.virginmedia.com/home.html

http://www.sky.com/shop/new?DCMP=KNC-mainsitelink-sky

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

I think we thought you meant more HD channels.......

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

oh right lol sorry if gave you wrong impression ! no i just noticed VM and sky doing more HD free deals !

Re: sky vs virgin media
 

If I recall correctly there are quite a few free Asian channels but they are mostly religious. There are also free Christian channels. How much of a draw that would me I don't know but I suspect it isn't that great as obviously different parts of the Asian community practice different religions and like non Asians not everybody is that devout anyway.
I don't know the answer but I think only a proper survey would tell us rather than just one persons opinion.