Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Hi,

First time post and I have the following packages Broadband , phone and tv paying about £60 a month.

I watch sky one, wife watches uk gold and kids watch sky one and kids channels.

We are waiting to see what happens before deciding but if we lose sky one then we will scrap virgin tv and go with sky for tv

PS

has anyone tried channel 119 as I think it is a joke

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

It's great - I watched the episodes of Spooks that I'd missed the other night - and paused the television for a phone call.

You did press the red button I presume, and not just watched the trailers??

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Yes I did press the red button, This is not new this is another name for the on demand service which ntl had.

Why switch to channel 119 and then press red button when you can just press the on demand button?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

or can do both ;)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

On Demand was pay per view - this has been extended to include a number of other programmes, and as per the press information this morning will include Lost.

On Demand movies are available at a cost, TV catch up is at a cost, unless you are on the XL pack.

Virgin Central is free to all - I'm fairly certain that's correct and no doubt someone will correct me.

Mind you - if you do move to Sky, remember they have a large hole in their accounts (as per the profits warning this morning) so I would think it likely they would want to recoup the losses from somewhere - the only place left for them is their subscribers.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Don't get me wrong I don't like sky and I would hate having a dustbin lid on the side of the house.

As I said I we will wait and see (about a month should give the kids at virgin and sky to see if they can play together)

Without Sky one I can't see me staying unless someone gives me a good reason to stay with virgin tv.

Virgin Central may be free but there's not much there, unless you like what they give you and not what you want.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

TV catch up is free. TV Choice has been made temporarliy free (for 3 months I believe) and VC is free. Movies and music are still ppv. :)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I'm an NTL customer and have been for years! We used to have sky but they are complete rip off merchants IMHO.. Now I watch alot of SkyONE and to be honest its probably the only premium channel I watch, everything else I could watch on FreeView.. I do how ever use the Broadband service and OnDemand..

When I heard about SkyONE being withdrawn I came ever so close to signing up with Sky because I could get Sky+ and keep the good channels, then I thought NO that's what Sky want VM/NTL/TW customers to do!

I do however thing Virgin need to re-acess the customer care short-comings that are NTL legacy, we've still got one of the early PACE boxes and its rubbish, I asked about the V+ box but they want £15/month and £75 up-front.. Now If I could buy the box I would have one but I'll be b*ggered if I'm paying £15 a month for a PVR box :p:

Anyway, we'll be staying with VM as I have my suspicions they will be bidding with vengeance against Sky for shows like Lost, Futurama, Simpsons etc. next time they are up for grabs.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

The V+ is £10 p/m if on XL, and no install fee if you keep 2nd stb @ £5 p/m. The reason there is a fee is because it v+ has 3 tuners, it's like having 3 stb. like sky currently charge £10 p/m for sky + unless you have movies or sports.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Where's Shawty when you need him?
:)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

IMHO they should be dishing them out for free to persude current customers to stay :D

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

They don't need to..

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Just for my pennies worth.

I don't know what I'll do about the turning off of the Sky basic channels. Sky one is only watched for two programs in our house: Nip/Tuck and Bones.

It's not worth leaving VM just for that. But at the same time I do feel let down that the two Companies cannot resolve it.

I remember many moons ago when two Companies were fighting for Satellite: Astra and BSB (I think they were called). Each company had it's own benefits for the channels and also the shape of the dish (round or square). They merged in the end and became Sky :-)

Sorry... A little history there.

Anyways. If Virgin can get some of the good shows and broadcast them without Sky One. I'll be a happy man.

OD is a step in the right direction (I sat in front of the TV all weekend and watched Greys Anatomy for free and for the first time).

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

And you can sign up to Easynews.com and get all of your favorite shows directly from the states ;)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

But not free of charge?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Does anyone really know whats going to happen. Lets hope they resolve it as Id hate to loose Sky News 24 & Lost (is that all ??)

PS How do we NTL'rs get V+ ????

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

you only have to ask once ;)
Ring up 150, and ask for it - that's what I did.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

SORRY :dunce:

Thanks

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

they didnt really merge more bsb got into trouble and sky bought them out dumpnig the squarial users quite quickly (it was better technology)
to

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Yesterday I had an email from VM pointing me at a "new" press release, but when I clicked on the link which took me to its press release page, there was no new press release dated 27th Feb. I checked from time to time during the day and it still didn't appear. I just looked again, it's still not there. How weird is that? Did anyone else see the new one, supposedly about how Sky still won't reduce its prices to VM?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Did anyone see Breakfast News this morning, they were both on there. Apparently Virgin want it to go to arbitration

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Nice, our Broadband is dead now.. In all the years I've had NTL, I've never had a problem, Virgin take over and the only few decent channels are dropped and broadband in my local area goes down lol! :D

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I just spoke to VM...I decided to cancel my V+ box for reasons I won't go into here. Anyway I asked the guy on the phone what's happening with the sky channels and he confirmed that VM are losing them....but then he said if it was him, he'd get a freeview box because SKy One is going to be on freeview in a month's time...

I have two freeview boxes at least (one built into the TV card on my PC and one on the downstairs TV) so does that mean I'm OK?

This will also mean that I can record sky one, because I can record onto my PC from the freeview TV card.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sky One is likely to be removed from Freeview.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6343715.stm

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Hi Davey,
This is interesting mate! Could you please elaborate on how the process works exactly? I had a quick look at easynews.com, but it doesn't actually explain how to proceed with what you are suggesting. I would really like to hear it from a member before considering joining it. Cheers!

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sky One has never been free-to-air afaik?!

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Hm....oh well....*throws up hands in despair*

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

It was quite a spat!... BBC have it ready for those who didn't see it...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...tm?bw=bb&mp=wm

BBC Business Video pages...

Can't see anything being settled today :-S

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Classic :D

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

BBC seemed a bit biased towards sky in that though :erm:

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

They're just as bad as each other although I'll say one thing... At least VM seemed to stick to the point rather than spending the entire time trying to sell products...

There just like my kids... although I can send them to bed when they're like this... :D

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Well I've just about got used to the fact that VM won't have Sky after tomorrow. I shall survive! I can watch 24 online, and that's about all I'll miss, really. I can live without the rest...just....

Maybe it will all reappear somewhere...

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

The dispute defies logic. Sky will deprive Virgin Media of Sky One & other channels and in doing so will create a massive shortfall in their income so much so that they would need something like 150,000 Virgin Media Customers to switch to Sky to replace the income. It does seem to be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

What will Sky do if the required number of customers do not switch?

Maybe the simple thing to do is for Sky and Virgin Media to merge so that they can use their joint funds to provide a better service to all the over 11 million Sky & Virgin Media customers.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Yes I would agree - But if memory recalls, did that news presenter used to work for Sky News... ?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I found channel 119 (by rebooting the box). Now I find I need a TV pin to get to watch anything. How do I get a TV pin?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Your default TV pin should be 0000, you can then change it to your own on the box settings, Failing that... you need to call VM who should send you your pin down the cable to your box.

---------- Post added at 18:13 ---------- Previous post was at 17:46 ----------

Surely Virgin Media now have enough clout to start up its own channels to compete with SKY and negotiate franchises with the various producers and program makers. Why not VIRGIN 1... Virgin Sports... Virgin news etc..Come on Mr Branson ..Show your metal..!!!!!!!
ITS happening watch this space;-)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

:tu: "Branson" will get there ;) were staying with Virgin :) :) :) :) :)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

My default PIN is 1234. When the engineer fitted the new box I asked him what the default pin was as I had forgotten the one I had changed it to. He said they are all 1234 now.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Yup he did :D Mentioned in a thread here or on DS, a lot of the people on Sky News are also looking to defect to BBC news, as they're peed off about them pulling it of Freeview :erm:

When watching this morning, the woman turned to him at one point and asked 'have we slagged sky enough now?' :D :D

Pat

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

yup - that's what mine was when it was installed today (changed now).:D

---------- Post added at 20:44 ---------- Previous post was at 20:44 ----------

It was until about 1993.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

No fair, I was only 9 then :p:

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

My default pin on V+ was 0000.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sky one *really* was awful then. The only good thing on it was "The Simpsons".

I think it actually was the channel that the old BBC series "KYTV" took the mickey out of.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Well am I spending the last ten minutes with my beloved Sky Sports News, one would hope not but it seems as though the people at the top do not care about their ever loyal customers, sky are as bad as virgin and vice versa lets hope they get off their high horse and start thinking about us before themselves but alas this will probably be it no more sky sports news and sky news and on with bbc news 24, it makes me shudder just thinking about having to watch bbc news 24, even worse euronews.

Come on you fat cats get it sorted you bunch of selfish uncaring people.

Rant over.

UPDATED 0:02

TOTALLY SELFISH, UTTERLY RIDICULOUS AND FOR WHAT A FEW EXTRA QUID TO YOUR POCKETS ALREADY LINED WITH BILLION DOLLAR NOTES WELL I HOPE YOUR MONEY IS BURNT TO DUST IN A FIRE. GOODBYE.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

That's it, it's gone :(

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Good riddance!!

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

You might not like Sky One; I however do enjoy some of the shows, 24, Battlestar, Lost etc.

I have looked on that Virgin One channel and I don’t want to be watching out of date shows nor stuff I could watch freely on BBC One!

I think I'll stick with Virgins Internet service but the TV is going. People might be slagging off Sky One but I see very little quality content on any other channel!

I'm all for having a pop at Sky, but if you're going to act on your customers behalf like Virgin and disagree about paying 90pence per subscriber for a channel some of your subscribers want, seems to me you're going to lose those customers in the long run.

I'd be using Sky if I didn’t live in a listed building which prevents me from erecting a dish!


---------- Post added at 07:39 ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 ----------

My Point is, If I had an option to pay £5 or even £10 extra a month for those channels I'd take it, I think a lot would.
Reading www.virginmedia.com/fairplay I think a lot feel the same as me!

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

in all the hoo-hah I missed where this '90p' figure has come from, someone please explain. is that what it was going to cost each customer per month?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sorry, djorgensen, but I don't fancy paying more to watch Sky One or Sky News. What annoys me more is the way the media say that we are losing Sky Two. I've never had it and I am really disappointed that I can't watch a channel I've never had. I believe that Sky News is preferable to News24 but I can live with the BBC offering. If you want to switch to Sky thengo ahead but beware that Sky will likely have to pass the loss of revenue on to their own customers.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Thats what Sky Wanted, they wanted something like 38 million or something, divide that by the number of NTL subscribers and you get around 90pence.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...253715,00.html
It even says that Sky allowed Virgin to markert the channels directly.

Seems like a good idea to let customers choose

---------- Post added at 07:55 ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 ----------

I understand Sky is launching its own Freeview style box with Sky One and all the other Basic Sky channels on it

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Is this not another loss leader to get people on to the Sky platform so you can be targetted for subscription based services?

Why does the world need another Freeeview style box I thought you could already get a freeview style card to get the basic channels on staellite anyway? Other than sports, which is all premium channel/pay per view there is very little quality UK based programming on Sky anyway.

Branson has proved he has the bottle to take the fight to the big boys, go and ask British Airways.

If it comes down to who you trust, Murdoch or Branson; I know who I would back for long term customer focussed service.


It just seems sad that customers are the ones who are suffering while the big cheeses squabble.

M

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

:Yikes:
Sky - 1 - Our Cancellation to them (Due on 8th March) Withdrawn
Virgin Media - 0 - Still trying to cancel.. (since 9am!)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Been with Sky since early 90s - then decide to go to VM & all this happens.
We watch Sky One - hmm thinking head on has anyone asked Sky (if ya have Sky system) for just the lost channels & pay the 3p per day?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Whilst in the long run that end result comes to:-

Formed Monoply 1.
Competition 0.

End result, price hikes because there is no longer strong opposition to force competition that usually drives prices down.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I canalled my sky tv subscription last month, and arranged for the virgin v.i.p, package to be installed on the 7th march, thinking it was a good deal, now I find for the small amount more I was willing to pay i will be loosing the 5 programs my family most watch, I kind of agree with the the stance by virgin, but don't really want to pay price of full package for only half of what we want and am know reconsidering my options.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

This disagreement is simply a big business decision so the end user suffers and eventually pays more for the TV programmes. Many quality shows will now become split accross these two carriers as virgin begins its own range and begins to bid on shows like lost etc, and yes in the future you will likely be able to purchase as a higher priced premium package on sky the virgin package and vice versa for cable customers. I think many would be surprised just who is rubbing who's backs here. Thats all thats its about, how to screw as much as possible out of as many as possible, this is all its ever about. They are all the same, the only difference being Mr Branson is undoubtedly one of the most shrewd business men going, someone who knows very well how to butter both sides of his toast, yet retain the appearance the toast is only buttered on the one side.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

i hopw thats ture cos i love star gage its the only sky one show i like oh yeah and the simpsons. i guess i'll have to buy the dvd box sets when they come out

---------- Post added at 13:11 ---------- Previous post was at 13:04 ----------

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

first thing this morning I posted on the have your say board on the bbc, and lo - my post is not there. it was not swearing, or in any way against house rules, but I think it didn't show up because I said something like 'well good for Virgin Media - standing up to Murdoch' :rolleyes: so the HYS board on the subject is full of pro-sky anti-VM comments. :mad:

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

its a nice a nice though but that wont happen probabily in our life time. first of sky and vm cant play with each other. and i am anoyed that sky one is gone. anyhow even if a VM and sky were to merge people like freeview and even BT would storm out in a rage claiming it to be unfair. and ofcom would reject it, as it would be to big of a monopoly.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

jUST OUT OF INTEREST WHAT NOTIFICATION HAS VIRGIN SENT US DIRECTLY, PERSONALLY i HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING, GREAT CUSTOMER CARE, PLUS 30MINUTES HOLDING TO CANCEL MY CONTRACT

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

check your email :)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Thats what annoys me more! Yes sky probably tried it on with prices but Virgin should have given us a months notice, like we have to do. I think i will remove the DD that why they have to go through me to get any money and not try it on the last month.

Shocking no e-mail nothing, only came on the new a few days ago.
If it was not for here i would have been lost as to what was going on.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Whilst I applaud VM's decision to stand up to Sky and their tactics I am still going to have to switch to Sky. I am not bothered about the missing channels but as I am moving house, only about half a mile down the road, there is no cable provision as it is on a new housing estate, VM may have a concern over losing customers due to the turn off of channels but no concern due to no actual cable. Don't want to go but have no choice. Therefore Sky win again by default.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

For some reason NTL/Virgin media NEVER send me e-mails infroming me of anything.
Having said that, losing Sky is not the end of the world, can't remember when I last watched it.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

For anyone who is concerned, here are the calculations of Sky's last offer to Virgin Media:

3p x 30 (average days of the Month) = 90p p/month, p/subscriber.

90p x 3,300,000 subscribers = £2,970,000 p/month.

x12 (Months) = £35,640,000 p/year.

That's the latest offer pe Year for Sky One, Two, Three, News and Sports News. (And possibly Sky Arts and some HD services.)

-20% = £28,512,000.

That's what ex-ntl: were paying, according to Sky, per year.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Same here.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

well now this has happened does this mean virgin have broken there agreement with their subscribers ???

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Same here, does anyone know why?! I feel unloved :(

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I also did not receive an email (but then again I never got one from Tony Blair either). As I don't watch SKY 1 I never saw any of the alleged windups by SKY that other posters have referred to in other posts. However, I was kept fully aware of everything that was happening thanks to NTHELLWOLD. Well done to everyone who contributed. I never miss an episode (which is more than I can say about Lost, 24, Simpsons et al. This will not affect me in the slightest and I voted to have VM use any savings to boost their service. Here's to the future.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

i get endless amounts of advertising email from virgin media

some of them used to be branded from telewest and others branded from blueyonder but now they all come from virgin media

i get them to my main blueyonder account

you know the really long one @blueyonder.co.uk

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sky are bullies and i think virgin media is great and i have had it since it was cable and wirless. Im realey only losing sky one and two because the other three are on freeveiw. i only watched lost on sky one now so i can just rent it from blockbuster when its on DVD so up urs Sky :2up:

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sky are out of order but Virgin may make big changes to its customer services so if they can do that I will stay. I have been a sky customer and left to go to NTL because of price and the cr*p customer services I got from sky, NTL faired no better. I am looking for good choice of programs and decent price and most of all if i do have to ring up for any reason I dont want to be on the phone for over forty mins before i talk to some-one and then passed to another department. Some-one give us a provider with excellent customer services and I cant see any-one leaving so sort it out.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

i miss sky news i always watched it

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Sky One will be missed but if Virgin Central can build up a nice arsenal of programs, even acquire blockbusters like 24, Lost etc... which is not impossible, and stream them via on demand then they'll win 1000s of customers a week.

However, I think they're being extremely unprofessional about the whole incident even if Sky were being very unfair. I'm surprised at a company of Virgin's size stooping to schoolboy tactics like name calling via EPG and static messages slagging Sky on ex-Sky channels.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I wonder how Sky knew this...

That means one of the Sky crew has Virgin Media at home? lol

I don't mind it. MAde me chuckle. Sky Snooze.

I'm sure it wasn't an instruction by Virgin, more a practical Joke.

Still, they rewrote the names! Wow! Not illegal, is it?

What have they (Sky) done?

Refused Virgin to Continue to show the channels while an agreement is made, thus showing no willingness.

Asking for money for flagging channels. (Oh! Hello Sir Alex Ferguson! My name is Sven Goran Eriksson... and my son plays football. He is 27, and plays for a local Sunday League. He is 279lbs and runs like a woman. Give me £60m and he is yours.)
In real life: 'Oh! Hello Sir Richard Branson and Steve Burch! My name is Greedy Murdoch, and I have a bunch of Channels that have been dropping 20% audience figures on Cable over 3 Years. We run repeats of crap shows, all available on DVD, and we have 2 Flagship Shows that people actually watch (24 and Lost) yet LivingTV have Most Haunted, CSI, Americas Next Top Model and so on, so, In contrast, pay us almost £40m a year for Sky One, Sky News (we won an award you know... BBC news kicks our asses but hey! we are Sky!) Sky Sports News, Travel and Travel Extra...

Virgin: No. Sorry. Your channels are crap, and in the bunch of 5 channels, you have 2 shows we are slightly interested in, and we can get them on VOD this Year anyroad.

lol

---------- Post added at 01:04 ---------- Previous post was at 00:42 ----------

You have to think also, how much will Virgin make from this?

It will definitly contribute to the Q1 2007 results from Jan 1st to March 31st, and that's just the £35m they aren't paying.

Put that towards contracts on VOD for Lost and possibly 24 (note: no-one has second run rights on 24, like Ch4 has for Lost.) as well as the money Virgin are making from our Subscriptions without these channels... (I know everyone is saying 'you get it if your telephone, bla bla bla' but come on, there are 5 channels, not one, and they are worth something to Consumers.) Say its £1 for Sky One etc, that's £3m further to add.

Maybe we could even get exclusive rights to something up and coming in the states, and give 24/Lost a run for its money.

I believe Lost has Lost (no pun intended) its glitter now. Its not as Hyped up, and is running its course.

Series usually only survive about 6 seasons, then it becomes repetitive.

Prison Break is on Season 2, and that's better... Five got that, up and coming. Get that on VOD possibly?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

People who leave VM now are extremely short-sighted...

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

and why would that be we can always switch back

most of us who will switch dont watch many of the channels they have left so why would we stay with a package we dont use

and i dont use vod either except for the free bit and then only if i managed to forget to record it on my freeview hard drive

kids want sky 1 i want startrek stargate etc wife likes 24 etc

the only other channels we bother with are discovery fx and bravo cartoon network boomarang and those very infrequently

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Virgin Media is the best thing that ever happenned to NTL Telewest, the future is what its all about...
I can see SKY with a sweat on its brows and wriggling with in its preverbial shoes..
If anyone is thinking of switching to SKY they must be short sighted and stupid...Stick to your Virgin and see what happens..even NOW VM has the best TV packages ever to happen...
OK I love my Stargate stuff...but WTF Sky 1 and 2 is are channels of Reruns and Adverts which IMHO can be done without...VIRGIN Media have the best ideas ever to hit our TVs and i can only see things improving ... so all you NTL/Telewest peeps should keep your subsriptions or you will be biting your tongues in times to come...LONG LIVE VIRGIN MEDIA and the best Television you can get....

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I'll miss Sky News only.
Sky One was only ever watched for the Simpsons/Futurama. And that was only between 7pm-9pm weeknights. Any other time, wasn't worth it.
Anyhow, I have the Futurama Boxset, and the likes of the Simpsons/Stargate/Lost etc can be had by other means. Ususally the new stuff before it is actually shown on Sky One.

It's a sad state of affairs that 2 big companies have come to this childish stalemate. No switching for me. The process of going thru CS just would **** me off too much. Then go over to SKY (never again) and their CS is no better.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

In a years time maybe. Everyone that goes to Sky is just giving Mr Murdoch exactly what he wants and do you all really want one person to have so much control and influence over what you watch and how you watch it?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I like the idea of VOD but the choice offered on Virgin Central is pathetic. Teleport replay on ex-Telewest is not dependable; you can follow a series for a few weeks and then find that the last episode is not available. I don't intend to move from Virgin but they will have to start offering their customers a more varied choice of VOD if they want to keep their customers and even more so if they want to attract more viewers. I have only recently decided to upgrade to a VIP package but I am considering cancelling it. I haven't do so as yet for I am sure that CS will be very difficult to contact because of the actions of SKY the other day.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Its just a simple case of product. I am missing Sky Sports News and Sky 1 already and it has only been a few days. I am moving house soon and have been thinking of who to go with. I am afraid to say Sky offers me a better product. Last night was typical of my last few years with NTL - EPG locking up, continually searching, remote taking ages to respond. I really want HD also, and there is just so little content on VM. As much as it pains me - Murdoch has got my money, at least for a year and then maybe re-evaluate.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Nice reasonable post, no vitriol, no points scoring, and a decision was made that's best for you. :tu:

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Specially when Sky increase prices to compensate for the lost revenue..

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

On the above point, and not trying to make any points, I thought it may be useful to quantify the amount of new programming.

I went through this week's Telegraph TV guide, 24 Feb - 2 Mar 2007 (which shows if satellite programmes are new), and here are the new programmes for this week on Sky One -
Saturday - nothing new
Sunday - Dream Team 8pm, 24 9pm, Lost 10pm
Monday - Project Catwalk 9pm
Tuesday - Stargate SG-1 8pm, Battlestar Galactica 9pm
Wednesday - Stargate Atlantis 8pm, Dresden Files 9pm
Thursday - Bones 9pm, Rescue Me 10pm
Friday - Crash Test Dummies 8pm

11 hours of new programmes in that week, of which 5 hours were Science Fiction (which I like, but not everyone does).

I think if people are unhappy, they should switch to Sky, and that should solve their problem for now; it's all the emotion, vitriol and often downright nastiness (on all sides) that amazes me - it's not life or death, it's just some TV programmes.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Be good too see Virgin bring in it's own news channels and Virgin One instead of 119 wu=hich at present is crap.

I think I speak for the majority when I say, It's Sky one programs like 24...Stargate...Batlestar B...That we want..so Virgin give us them

Then those that love sport, would like sa Virgin Sports channel

Give us this and I think we would be happy

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I am with Virgin Media and before with telewest- but the service is poor - even poorer with Virginmedia (indian call centre is awful)- So I will changing to Sky if the situation can not be resolved.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

From what I hear (and I heard this from a Sky rep in Brent Cross shopping centre who was actively *trying* to sign me up...) Sky customer service is just as crap as VM. So you won't gain anything there by switching. The rep even promised me a fast track phone number to avoid having to hang on for hours on what is covertly a premium number even though it appears to be an 0845 one, but he didn't promise me the service itself would be any better; he knows it won't be. At least he was being honest.

For me personally the only programme I will miss is 24 which I have become totally addicted to; the rest I can take or leave. And since I can get 24 in other ways I see no reason to disturb the status quo at the moment....

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I was with Sky: I can confirm the customer service is shockingly bad. I think whoever you go with there will always be an Indian call centre.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I Want 24 back sob sob, but Sky can forget it, been there done that, never again. Will stick with Virgin Media, can find 24 elsewhere, so no hardships for me. kids are gonna miss the simpsons but again will get that elsewhere to. So anyway when is Virgin gonna pull the plug on their programs I know a few people with sky who will definately miss virgins content on sky.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

nothing stopping me getting both at once i have in the past

but as i only watch the channels i can get on freeview in the main and sky one why on earth would i pay for the rest that i don't watch

sky has bravo and sci fi if virgin took them off then i might get virgin again too most likely at a discount for coming back lol ;)

but i dont intend to pay either for stuff we don't use

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Is it just me - but there seems to be a common thread. CUSTOMER SERVICE, or lack of it. Both companies seems to have horrendous cs. I can only speak for NTL, and just don't bother unless it is really necessary. It seems to me that if one of these companies sort this problem out, word would spread and they would be quids in. I am the only one to see this?!?

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

When I finally got through to a human being at VM (after holding for over 12 mns) it was somewhere in Lancashire not India. In fact (*shock horror amazement*) one of the staff even called ME back the next day to update me on the subject of the damaged cable cabinet outside my house, which I have been reporting since January 14th. Not that anyone's been to repair it yet but at least she called me back!!

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

we where having a talk about this at college today and we where saying why do virgin media creat there own channels like Virgin Media News, Virgin Media Sports New & Virgin Media Entertaiment... Theres no reason why virgin cant compete with Sky... Im sure if virgin take some effort into it they could do all this and bring in some great shows... I only watched sky 1 for The Simpsons and there all repeats... So i wont miss it !:D

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

How can an 0845 number be "covertly premium rate" Course it cant and wont. Dont be daft LOLOL

If you feel that this number is a premium number "covertly charging" at a higher rate than OFCOM allows for 0845 numbers then I would suggest you contact OFCOM and let them know.


Glad I dropped NTL TV for Sky last year, much better package, more channels to choose from and a real good CS team (And no I dont work for them)

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

You phone the 0845 number which takes you into an IVR menu system. One option from this takes you to a more expensive route. This can be done without letting the caller know, it's quite a common scam.

That's how and not very LOL for the poor sods who get fleeced that way.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

I am undecided about switching to Sky. I really don't want to as I am not keen on them as a company or their tactics. However VM should really lower their prices for customers that have lost channels.

I used to be with Telewest before VM took over and was quite happy with them and their CS. I have the HD package and PVR which is nice. But honestly there is so little HD content it's next to worthless. I understand that VM will be (according to the recorded message on their helpline) "be using the saved money to provide more OD content" etc.... But why should I pay the same price with less channels for somthing that MIGHT come in the future. I have looked through the currently available OD programs and nothing really interests me.

When I signed up I choose a package based on the channels I wanted to watch. I am sure in my contract it says that VM have the right to change the channels at any time, but it still doesn't change the fact that I don't have the package I signed up for.

Thinking about it now I might be best off with Freeview. I will see what VM say if I ever get through. 25 mins on hold now and waiting, and waiting.

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

VM are allowing customers a penalty free get out of their contracts because of the Sky channel loss now. If you don't want to hang on the phone, just pop your request to cancel in a recorded letter and give Sky sales a call....

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

Thank you

Re: SKY VS Virgin Media
 

The IVR wasn't actually designed to fleece people out of money, it's really meant to annoy people so much they give up waiting & ring off.