Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I'm fed up with choice been taken away from me.

Virgin say this and Sky say that...The truth is Virgin customers are loosing out, no matter what Virgin say they intend too do..

I have missed my favourite programs now for a couple of weeks..24...Stargate..Battlestar G...etc etc,,

I dont believe that Sky one has dropped in popularity..and that Bravo has increased..

I do believe we the customer should have been asked first before the chanels where taken away..Telling us Virgin where not happy is not enough..

Virgin Media is of no use without Sky One. So today I have ordered Sky's High Definition box too be installed, coming next Tuesday. I have untill the end of March too cancel Virgin, which I will do once Sky is installed.

It's costing me £295 for the HD Box and £60 too install..I begrudge this but have been forced into paying this, through Virgins aragance and taking away popular Channels. it's the only way I can continue too watch my fav shows like 24 Stargate etc,

I was happy when NTLWORLD was in charge..weeks after Virgin took over, I had reduced choice. Plus there 119 channel is a load of rubbish at present.

I went for High Definition because I like too watch television at it's highest quality.

That goes for choice as well. Virgin took that quality of choice awy

So Bye Bye Virgin,,,Hello Sky

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Err have fun?

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Uhmm......you've missed your favourite programs for a couple of weeks....I think you will find that the loss of sky is just over 7 days old my friend LOL, that to my knowledge is one new episode of Lost, SG1, BSG and 24.

I could be wrong of course, I was never that good at maths.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

be easier and quicker to download the shows your missing like everyone else

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Thank for the speech, although I fell asleep reading it.

Guess what, your lecture does not convince me or anyone else to go to Sky.

Shame isn't it - what a waste of time.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I dont get why people write out these speels of complaining misery when they're leaving VM anyway. It's a pointless feat. No-one will be interested in reading IMO. I read the first line of that up there. It got blurry after that.

It's just a case of SSDD. Whoopee. You're off to get Sky installed. So are 100 People per day apparently. They don't all come here and make a post. It's just a waste of your time and the poor readers.

JG

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I suppose it might be useful for prospective Virgin customers to see what kind of issues they might encounter if they sign-up.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Underline "might" twice there Andy, it shouldn't be taken as Gospel :)

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

OMG - £350 just to watch Sky One.
If you're throwing money around, I could do with £50 ;)

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Yes I'm glad he told us he is loosing channels. i would not have known that otherwise. i suspect some of the other stuff he said might not be true though.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Each to their own I say.........but £350 + monthly HD rental to watch shows on Sky 1 that only have about 2 weeks left to run and won't return until atleast Winter if not early next year is IMO abit expensive.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

If losing Sky one is such a big deal for you why spend over £300 to get it?? you could have got standard install free from sky and a standard box for free as well. then got VM's V+ service ( a bit of bartering goes a long way, and you probably could have wrangled free install for that too!!) and had even more choice. Because you would have the high def & vod as well as sky one for little more than what you'll be paying now, but with the saving of over £300. Work that out over the course of a year and it'll probably have been cheaper. But each to their own and if this works for you then best of luck :)

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Well if it's not such a big thing too you all...this thread got a lot of replies...

One thing I like too do, is write at places like this too find out what others will say..

I run several Motorbike sites and enjoy there banter.

But !! this one is a political thing between too M,,,sorry Billionares who couldnt give a F*** about you and I and that's really what this is about

Principal and choice

Obviously a number of you are just yes men...Maybe Masonics..They tend too be yes men...Me...I choose what I want...If someone tries too change that without asking...Bye

So my comment now is...You all just accept what they give you..Either your a slave or brainwashed...I'll keep my own choice

It's only money and I spend thousands on my main hobby...a Honda Firebalde...my choice....When I take on a TV package (what this Forun is about) I want choice as well...

What will Virgin take from you next...Branson wants too take on the Media and be the top one...just like Murdoc

All we have is choice


OK see how many read that...12 rread the first bit...must have been good as lads of threads get no hits

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

i cannot believe people don't have more to worry them than losing a channel or 5. sky one was rubbish no loss to me. if the only thing i had to worry me was the loss of sky one i would be a very very very happy man.

COME ON VIRGIN, BLOW THE B*****DS OUT THE WATER

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

you are correct in that you can have your say and spend your hard earned money as you see fit.
You also talk about banter in other sites you visit yet seem to be upset that other people do not agree with your comments on this site.
By all means leave a provider you are not hapy with but do not expect every one to agree with all of your comments.
This may be just banter tho ????

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Dont think Virgin will manage too blow them away

There's only a few areas that are cabled...I had sky before Cable and Wireless cabled my area..that taken aver by NTL and service was good.

Unfortunatly..

Virgin is using the fact that most people that want High Def TV wont pay the extra that sky ask

Now dont get me wrong..If Virgin had kept sky one...Best channel on TV I wouldn't leave...

Only after a week of thinking about this...I feel this is just the beginning...I believe Virgin want too bring in there idea of TV...There own channels

They must know they cannot compete with Sky...Sky is Europe BIG !! Virgin only has cabled areas.

I have had more problems than enough with Virgin freezing...Just happened as I write this..The number of times I've had too turn of at the socket not on.

Time will tell...Some of the comments her have sounded like those that say..I havnt time too watch the exsisting 5 channels never mind more.

These people must be easy pleased....

Back too my main point...


Choice


Virgin took that away without writting too it's customers first and asking there opinion..I cannot accept what they say about the comments on the web page play fair...Because they didnt play fair in the first place.

---------- Post added at 22:15 ---------- Previous post was at 22:09 ----------

you are correct in that you can have your say and spend your hard earned money as you see fit.
You also talk about banter in other sites you visit yet seem to be upset that other people do not agree with your comments on this site.
By all means leave a provider you are not hapy with but do not expect every one to agree with all of your comments.
This may be just banter tho


You are so right with what you write Colin.....I'm just putting my opinion after having a choice taken away

All i say is Virgin took away choice. We could have had those channles while they talked..

I am not upset that people disagree with what I say...As I have said many time...Choice...we all have that and I respect everyones replies..

It's the fact we have choice that we can make all these comments. I wont be getting rid of Virgin Internet or telephone...I'm completly happy with that service...it the TV change...choice removed..

Cheers Colin for you reply...I enjoy a bit of banter and fun...Keep the comments coming...I started a good thread here...

Joe

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Actually, VM gave you a choice, and you took it, good luck with Sky, really.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

One other thing since Virgin took over....

Under NTL when I rang I got an answer fairly quickley.

After having my V+ Box fitted that didnt work..I was on the phone from 5-45pm until 7-30 before i got too speak too someone that could sort out a simple home visit of an engineer.

I have too add, the Engineer that came out was great...except he had too admit he didnt know what he was doing...only had 30 mins tuition on the V+ box

I lost a week of Virgin TV until they found out how too sort out the instalation of the V+ Box

V+ Box is great...love it...

Just dont like loosing

Choice

OK I know sky charge for this and an insurance is needed too cover home calls.

BUT !1 after being on the phone talking too people in India telling me they couldn't access my details..That started my dislike for Virgin

Today I tried ringing them too discuse whether it was worth staying or leaving...I got all the press this press that but never got an opperative too talk too///I hung up in the end....Never had that with NTL

NTL was great..16 mins on the phone annd an engineer was out the next day

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a ****ing big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers.
Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of ****ing fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the **** you are on Sunday night. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing ****ing junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, ****ing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, ****ed up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life...
But why would I want to do a thing like that?

I chose not to choose life.

I chose not to choose Sky

I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

WOW !!

I wish you well Mordon.. Took that a bit far mate...Hope it was the beer mate...

Take Care...Life is fun mate...enjoy it...

Joe

---------- Post added at 23:29 ---------- Previous post was at 23:04 ----------

Thanks Toto

Your right...thats why i have asked Sky too install there HD system...More Choice

Sky has more HD choice...There both after our money..neither have anything too brag about...Both are giving a service they choose and not the customer.

We should be allowed too pay for each channels that we want, not pay for those we dont want...but thats what they offer and we have no choice there..other than too have it taken out..yet doing that only means we deny ourselves

My point is not a financial one..but a one of having something took away from me without first consulting me..sorry without me being able too say I want too vote if we keep it.

We live in a democrcy...Our Government is making a big thing about this around the world and our BRAVE soldiers are in harms way too make this point yet we dont mind a simple thing like what we already had taken from us.

I wish Virgin well and hope they eventually see that it's the customer that comes first, Unfortunatly we are at there wim for what ever they charge...Both are the same there.

No reduction in cost from Virgin for a reduced service...and the 119 channel only satisfies a few...not 100 % et I know you cannot please 100% but a vote of customers wheather they where willing too pay more...or fight would have been a better way too have dealt with this.

I was supprised too see that some of the on demand is chargable...ordinary programs

Is that the future for all on demand...pay as us view for anything over and above normal subscription...I say that for both Virgin and Sky.

Time will show but the truth is no matter what system you watch your TV through...It wont be cheap...It's a busniess and there out too make money

Enjoy what you choose..as that's all we have...the right too choose..Too say I want or dont want...Thank goodness for Choice

I have chose too go too sky for more High Definition choice..Sky at present has more...In time this will even out..hopefully and give us a better choice in the future...It's early days for HD and it will take time too see who is best...It's early days for Virgin...I just feel they have started wrong.

take Care my friends...Nice too have a discussion on this. Listening too others comments does help too make a dissicoin and my dissicion too go too Sky was influenced by what I have read through the many threads on this site...

This is a good Forum (maybe the best) for this disscusion. Thanks for everyones help..You all helped me make the dissicion for me too go too Sky. It was only 60/40 but what I've read is the 60 % too go too Sky.

Many thanks

Joe

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I do know life is fun, Did not mean any offence to you, just thought it would be good excuse to post the Renton voice over from Trainspotting , with slight amendment ;)

Every one makes the choices that suit them in life and thats the way it should be, no one should ever be dictated to.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

If people don't post about why they are leaving VM, then VM will see no need to change. A company lives and dies by feedback.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Excellent post. Just go

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

bikerjoe,
I hope all goes well with the choice you have made, will you please come back after you have Sky fitted and let us know how you get on :)

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Choices

Pre Feb 2007
NTL TV - Near enough mirror to what you get on Sky (bar a few dozen advert channels) plus a little bit of VOD - costs pretty similar to Sky.


Post Feb 2007
Virgin TV - Lost Sky channels, huge increase in VOD, V+HD, great deals on prices to compete with Sky, increased packages
Sky TV - huge deals on prices to compete with Virgin

Choices have improved already - thanks to Virgin!

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

just to be pedantic Virgin did not take over NTL - NTL/Telewest bought Virgin Mobile & rebranded the company Virgin Media

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Hi Banjo

I will come back next week after I have Sky installed and tell you what I think..

I feel at present, once the inital shock of the instalation fee is paid..costs are equal who ever you choose.

Looking forward too the Sky Easter special on Sky one...showing all the missed programs through Virgin removing channels..

It's not just the new Stargate etc I enjoy...Too me there like a good book you go back too time and time again...I enjoy the repeats as well..All on Sky One

Good luck too you all...I've enjoyed this chat and all your comments..

Joe

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Welcome to the club sir - you wont regret it...

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I am sure the op will not regret the move.
Yes you can get a VM box for nothing, but with all the hassle is it not worth paying a bit more for quality workmanship?
And what is to say in time the price will not drop anyway?
What is the cost of a quality dvd player? and I do not mean anything under £300.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

good luck with the move over but it was not Virgin's fault that the channels were taken off as Sky wanted too much money for them according to what I have read.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Yes according to what you read.
Until both VM and SKY agree to publish the minutes nobody will know.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I've been a cable customer for more years than I can care to remember and I've got no complaints about the shift to VM. From a technical point of view the combining of the NTL and Telewest systems was no mean feat to achieve - of which still to be completed. In addition, the launch of VM had to be brought forward two weeks ahead of schedule - thanks to SKY blabbing it all over the press and the media.

There's no way that I'd move to another service provider - most certainly not SKY!! Whilst I sympathise with those that have lost channels like Stargate SG1/Atalantis, Battlestar Galctica, etc (my favourites also), I'll get comfort in the fact that programs (a bit like like Karma) come around and around, so I'll (no doubt) get to see them a little later on in the year.

Reading the press reports, look like OFCOM may be getting involved with VM/SKY dispute. Hopefully the SKY bully boy will get the just deserved kick in the proverbial - fingers crossed.

Anyway you tell me of any other service provider than can provide a decent quality internet package without a stinking BT connection??

As for the bleaters who are threatening to move over to SKY, please feel free to join the rest of the sheep, by the way the shepherd is called Murdoch.

I'll si thee

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

The combining of all the fragmented cable companies that CableTel went round buying was no mean feat to acheive - also still to be completed some eight years later AFAIK.

I fear I might have missed the interest expressed by OFCOM in the VM/Sky dispute that you refer to. Could you perhaps point me to a link that reports that please?

I would agree...my cable internet connection, once they'd ironed out the severe problems in the early days, was excellent. There were problems of course, some serious some less so - exactly the same as every ISP experiences over time. But I have ADSL now, it's almost as good.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Hi, I am new to this forum, but I want to have my say in the aweful position I have found myself since Virgin has take over ntl.

I am a huge fan of 'Lost' and I was so pleased when Sky started to air the show only 4 days after it was aired in the US. It was great! I was able to go onto the 'Lost' forum and be able to contribute.

Then it all went bad. Not a lot of notification, what I read at the time I thought was just hype or spin or whatever, I really did not think tha Virgin would pull the plug.

So, I have also taken the steps today to cancel my account with Virgin and have ordered Sky. What a revalation!I transfered my telephone account and my BT line will be installed and working on Monday (it could even be tomorrow, but they could not promise). Sky have stated Tuesday 13th as installation day, with a promise that the engineer will call to say that he is on his way, free magazine, broadband installed and everything. I could not be happier.

Tonight was the last straw for me. One of my favourite programmes at the moment is 'Masterchef' which is on BBC2. Tonight it was just black. I had to go and watch it on our TV in our bedroom, which I assume is on annalog or whatever. When I phone ntl to cancel the service I was left on hold for several minutes and then cut off with a message to phone again tomorrow. I the phoned customer services and was directed to the cancellation service. After explaining that I had already tried and had been cut off, I was not offered any help at all. This means that tomorrow I will spend a lot of time trying to cancel my contract. What was interesting was that the lady I spoke to (a Supervisor) explained that if there are 200 customers in the queue the message automatically invites customers to phone again tomorrow. How much money is the company making from customers who wish to cancel?

Sorry to rant and rave, but I am just so disapointed with ntl aka Virgin.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Masterchef is repeated on Sunday I think.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Why did you not just watch it on your normal TV, you can still watch BBC2 without cable

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

True, true and no doubt we will never know the full truth. It's a shame that big companies are so greedy but good for the customers to have competition out there. And VM are no doubt competition for sky which has been a long time coming. :rolleyes:

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

ThisIsMoney
"BSkyB is calling for the media watchdog, Ofcom, to force Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Media to open up its cable network to other broadcasters."

Or it may (tangentially) be this - SkyDTT
"BSkyB's plan to launch pay-TV channels on the UK's digital terrestrial platform—announced last week on the day that Virgin Media launched its quad-play proposition—will require media regulator Ofcom to conduct a consultation looking at three key issues.
Ofcom said while no request to change licences held by Sky and National Grid Wireless, the transmission group which currently carries Sky's three channels on Freeview, had been received, discussions between Ofcom and Sky had identified the need to consult on Sky's plans to launch a new DTT set-top box using the MPEG4 compression standard; the impact of the loss of Sky's three channels on Freeview; and whether new licence conditions were needed to ensure fair competition"

or this - BBC
"Media regulator Ofcom has been ordered to investigate BSkyB's controversial purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV. The government has asked the watchdog to advise on whether November's share deal was against the public interest. BSkyB's decision to buy into ITV was seen by some as an attempt to block a bid for the firm from its rival NTL"

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

i can't believe how hostile people have been to u on this. Maybe these people work for VM.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Forget about SkyOne. Just download your fav SkyOne shows ;-)

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Well that must be good advice. However (with respect) clairvoyancy was never one of mine or (I guess) many readers strong points.

Care to expand your statement with (perhaps) some information?

Si thee

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Don't think that's what he was referring to. Also, I haven't seen any response on this issue by OFCOM. Chiefly, one assumes, as it's just a bit of PR'ing from Sky rather than anything serious.

Hmmm, not really anything to do with Virgin, let alone the Virgin/Sky 'dispute'

Not really anything to do with this dispute. I might argue that it's not really anything to do with Virgin either, as they had their chance to buy ITV but failed....but let's not go round in that circle again.

So, are you saying that the poster was not correct about OFCOM involvement in the Sky/Virgin 'dispute'? It's just that I haven't noticed their reply either....

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

I did watch Masterchief on my 'normal' TV and I am aware that it is repeated on Sunday, but I work shifts so that is a no go.

Anyway, I have left Virgin and, next week I will be able to watch my favourite programmes. (This is how good the service is. I have a date and time when the engineer will appear, he will phone me to let me know he is on his way, with the timescale of the installation being one and a half hours). That is what I call good service.

After waiting ages to cancel I just wonder how many customers are going domw the same road. As I discussed with my family today, Virgin are going to have to produce something very large to pursuade customers to return.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Good Luck, to you all, with your move to Sky. All I can say is I hope you don't have any problmes. Yes they may have been nice to talk to while signing up, thats because you're a new customer. Now that you have signed and been captured, you will be like all the others, just a means of payment.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

Andy, I am not saying anything - I was just trying to be helpful :)

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

The only difference I can see, from my experience in dealing with both, then is that with cable they weren't even that knowledgable or pleasant to speak to before signing up, let alone after.

Let's be realistic...the grass ain't exactly green on either side of that particular fence.

I know mate...I think I knew the answer to my original question, because the poster was trying to suggest that VM/Sky issues would be handled by OFCOM, which it would be very unlikely to be, as it's not really within OFCOM's remit.

As the poster of that statement has not provided anything to back up his suggestion, I would think that we could assume that he was mistaken in his post.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

You should get a call in the morning of your install giving you a three hour eta window, however if the tech is running late you may be lucky and get a call to let you know, then again you may not. Dont forget the installer can, and usually does, arrive at the end of the eta window and it may take some time to carry it out.


Best of luck.

Re: Hello Sky (ordered today) and Bye Bye Virgin..
 

dont know what your on mate ?? MASONIC;S??????