Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

Well with BT stating they want to be the number 2 pay tv provide in the UK within 3 years and they have been given the green light an budget to do it is VM under threat as an independent company?

BT Went out to spend £2 billionon football but only spent £700 million an stating they want to be number 2 means they know they can't beat Sky so it must be VM customers they are targeting especially when you consider it's VM Cable areas that are getting infinity first.

Also BT stated the remaining £1.3billion will be put into getting content should VM be worried??

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

No.* Next!

(* Okay. "Not as yet" is probably a better answer.)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

We're not getting infinity first. In fact, Bt currently don't have plans to cable my area at all, according to their customer services.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

They might have a chance if they:

1. Offer a better PVR than TiVo
2. Offer more HD channels than Virgin (Currently zero!)
3. Charge less than Virgin for TV, Broadband and Phone
4. Start to carry SKY Movies, all SKY Sports channels, Premier Sports, Boxnation etc...
5. Offer a better on demand / catch up service than Virgin
6. Make their content available on the go i.e. via mobile and online
7. Add another 100 or so channels that are current missing from their line-up

If £1.3billion can help them do this then yes. I suspect You View will have more customers than Virgin in 3 years time.

It's all good news for us the consumer. I'd love to see a price war!

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Price war? For me Freesat/view satisfies my telly needs fine. Then again, I have no interest in bid-up tv+3 HD on my iPhone.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Yeah. If Virgin, SKY and BT start offering similar services to one another, and are all targeting the same customer base, then you should start to see some competitive pricing. People who want and like pay TV could be the winners in the long term.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I would love to see it happen! But I cannot see them cutting each others throats, they will probably come to a nice cosy arrangement.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I'm sure that's illegal.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

What cosy arrangement is that then?.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Indeed :)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Virgin can compete with bt very easily, they need to make a pvr that's like bt vision, a TiVo over Ethernet rather than coax cable. Have all channels streaming, sky sports 1234 etc.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I believe that that is one of their longer-term goals.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

VM should be worried. However, I suspect they've seen the statement and are already trying to work out how they can compete.

It may also be why they are throwing a lot of money into installing Wifi points. At least in towns.

VM already have the servers in place for their mobile TV site. I think for a start, they need to make the existing Virgin Media mobile player free for ALL Virgin Media customers.

This would probably be a cheaper way of reaching most of the population than installing new cable.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I don't agree, Stuart. BT have a very long way to go before they are anywhere near Virgin Media's offerings.

However, VM will need to factor in the fact that they have a new competitor for the longer term. Let's hope they have a better relationship with BT than they do with Sky!

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

To answer the OP's question , both Sky and VM are under threat from BT's TV service however currently both Sky and VM offer vastly superior offerings. BT currently don't carry any linear HD channels and have very few pay TV channels , however I'm sure they'll be looking to strenghthen their position.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Three years ago, they weren't a competitor at all. There wasn't even any sign that they were considering competing.

BT are installing infinity at a rate of knots. I'd be surprised if it weren't available in all Virgin cabled areas before this time next year. I suspect the infrastructure needed to distribute the content to each individual town is already installed. BT have spent a lot of money upgrading their back end infrastructure, and they've already shown they've got the cash to buy up content.

I don't think BT are just a long-term competitor. I think are already competing in a lot of areas, and will cover Virgin's entire cabled network in a few months.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

BT is a threat to VM. Its new STBs will be Youview based therefore will be capable of receiving Sky channels. This along with Infinity is definately competition for VM.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

at the current rate BT vision/infinity are growning in 2 or 3 years they will pass VM.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I think VM are reluctant to start selling all service via other networks as it give more chance of them being forced to open the cable network.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Somehow l cannot see that happening anytime soon.:)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I didn't say soon i said 2 to 3 years

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Rumours now appearing that BT's Youview/vision box is going to carry Sky Atlantic although it's costing them a lot.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Source?

Most recent info I've seen is that talk talk have a deal for Sky channels that excludes Atlantic on their youview box, but Bt aren't likely to achieve the same on their youview box.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Utter nonsense thats for sure.

---------- Post added at 19:04 ---------- Previous post was at 19:03 ----------

Not even in 2 to 3 years methinks but l have been wrong before.:)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Post #22 I expect.

That's the good thing about rumours. You can say anything is rumoured, and it magically is.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Why would it be nonsense Den?

BT have a bargaining chip to get Sky Atlantic, and that is their newly aquired sports rights.

I don't know wheather they have done the deal or not, but I can see how it could be possible. VM have no such bargaining chip these days; they sold them all.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

And does everyone think VM are standing still?

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

They are not standing still on a lot of things. But when VM was the only show in town with fast fibre BB, then content wasn't necessarily king. But now, when fast fibre BB is available to all TV/film content providors, then content does become king and VM need to ensure that they don't fall behind. They also need to keep up with Sky on ipad functionality and they need to be ahead of Sky on multiroom streaming.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

VM are not standing still as we are likely to find out later in the year and as we have already seen with one million TiVo sales..

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Bt's bargaining chip is also the thing that makes them a competitor, hence Sky doing business with talk talk but not with Bt. I think Bt are going to have to force their way into the top two, they can't expect that a few football rights are going to be enough to trade against access to the full stable of Sky channels when their stated aim is to become Sky's biggest rival.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Any proof that BT will get Sky Atlantic PB because from what l know there is not a hope in hells chance of them getting it anytime soon.:)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Bt won't be getting Atlantic. They want to be Sky's biggest competitor, Sky have no interest in helping them in to that position. Indeed, at the moment youview from talk talk is a better product than youview from Bt simply because they have the Sky channels.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

[Mod Edit - Comment removed at OP's request]

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

For someone who is a confirmed staunch Sky supporter you seem to be somewhat cuddling up to BT lately and perhaps you can give us more of a lowdown on what you think might be happening in the next 6 months? Telly as you seem to be well in the know with regards to this.:)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Well, Marketing usually are told in advance....;)

btw, less of the 'fanboy', please.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Telly, is your suggestion that Atlantic will be on youview based on the likely addition of now TV app?

Of course it is laying new fibre optical cable, buying prem league rights and launching a sports channel big moves. Also adding more channels to there tv over the years and looking to add more and more. Then more cheddar to play with.

There looking pretty strong. Will have to see what happens in the next 12 months and into the future.

Will be interesting to see how BT sports goes.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

It could still be available on BT Vision STBs without BT and Sky ever doing a wholesale deal for the channel!

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Well we shall see but it is highly unlikely in my mind Lex.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

It will available on Youview via Now TV won't it , BT's future STB will be Youview.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

BT Vision customers or BT broadband customerd signing up for the Youview package will both be able to subscribe to Sky Now so they will actually have access.

Partnering with Youview was a shrewd business move by Sky as it now 1) reduces its wholesale reliance on VM and 2) reduces the threat of Youview to Skys own platform as now anyone entering Youview as a pay tv provider has to compete with Sky.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

apart from the speed upgrade (had to do because of BT infinity) and the few 3rd rate HD channels added wot have VM done i for one have not seen anything new except price increases.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Just be patient and l am sure things will come and the second point is has not Sky and BT put their prices up as well.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Why are every one SO concerned that BT will move ahead of Virgin ? If the offer a better package in the future MOVE. News flash. You are not obliged to use them.

How many of you have the same power suppliers as you did say five years ago.
Do you only ever buy the same goods,no matter what the deal offered?
Me I have no brand loyalty, I Follow the money/service. This year we have flown with BA, Virgin & TUI this depended on what the package is. Have problem with this "blind" devotion to the Virgin brand. ( staff members accepted)

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

There has never been any blind loyalty as l praise and criticise in equal measure dear Itshim.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Exactly right, Itshim. Youview looks an excellent set top box, if infinity ever arrives in my area and they find the content then talk talk or Bt will definitely become options for me.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Sky actually froze their prices for their customers for 12 months last year. As a new Virgin customer, I have to say that they are offering some good deals for new customers but their after sales service is abysmal.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Sky actually held prices for 24 months August 2010 through August 2012.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I thought it was a 12 month freeze from 1st september 2011 to 31st of august 2012.:confused:

News reported by website Cable.co.uk confirmed that the price freeze runs from September 1st this year (2011) to August 31st 2012, which will be welcome news for Sky customers at a time when UK residents are seeing other bills continue to rise.

The above from the digital comparison website.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

whatever the cost or price increases on the TV side of things VM are still way infront of BT

but

on the internet side BT are coming up fast.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I doubt it was a 12 month freeze as that wouldn't really be a price freeze due to 12 months being the usual pricing period.

I think what happened was that in Sept 2011 the prices were held at 2010 levels for 12 months making the period since last increase 24 months when they did increase in Sept 2012.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Wow!

Winner of the "spin of the year" comment, methinks...:D

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

This reminds me of the price was, is now saga. I do not care, for how long , what it is reduced by, or, it was this. The only thing that matters is how much is it going to cost ME.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

It's worse than just spin. Sky had at least two price increases in 2011.

http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Talk...ease/m-p/23659
http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Talk...ASE/m-p/116353

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Yes the master and his servants seem somewhat quiet on that though.:D

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Totally agree - my view is "am I now getting the service(s) I want for a price I think is reasonable (including in comparison to the competition)"?

If so, fine - if not, time to look around/move.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Exactly :D

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Most of London is NOT cabled - there are millions of people in London needing TV service & lots of flats

A relative has just bought such a flat in London and has taken the BT TV service which includes Sky Sports 1 & 2 + ESPN + some Premier League Football matches in 2013

there's a big market out there

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Yes, there is, and good luck to BT with that. However, in those areas covered by Virgin Media, I can't see many changing for an inferior service. In the longer term, BT may genuinely compete seriously with VM, but as I said earlier, they have a long way to go yet.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Looks like Youview is becoming a real viable alternative to Virgin:

http://corporate.sky.com/media/press...f_sky_channels

The agreement will see a wide range of standard definition channels become available through Talk Talk on a wholesale basis. These channels include Sky 1, Sky Living, Sky Arts 1 & 2, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, Sky Sports F1 and the full suite of Sky Movies channels. In addition to the live linear channels, in time Talk Talk customers will be able to access a comprehensive selection of bonus subscription video-on-demand content through Sky Anytime.

The channels will be available via Talk Talk’s YouView service and will be delivered over broadband. Sky’s new internet TV service, NOW TV, will also be available.

Whilst there is no HD on Talk Talk just yet, it is rumoured to be coming soon according to posts in their forums.Talk Talk offer the same catch up service as Virgin and have a good selection of on demand content. Their channel list isn't bad either:

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

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Good - more competition is better for everyone.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I agree. I hope BT offer a stong service also. I'm hoping for a price war.

Talk Talk also have their own unique selling point too. SKY have SKY Atlantic, Virgin have ESPN and Talk Talk have.....

"12 month LOVEFiLM Instant - Unlimited films and TV streaming"

I must admit I'm fairly impressed with what Talk Talk offer, and their prices. TiVo is a better box, and Virgin have a wide range of HD, but give Talk Talk 12 months and I'm sure their PVR will have improved and their HD offering increased.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

TV film streaming is coming to VM soon - I suspect this autumn. Best to see what's on offer from Virgin this October, I believe that we are going to see some real progress with the TV service.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

There is going to be a big fight for second place in the UK pay tv market. Although it may only really start seriously this autumn it will be an on going battle.

I just wonder if VM can stay competitive over the next 2,3,4,5 + years aswell as servicing the £6 billion debt.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Theres no need to worry about Virgin as they will be perfectly fine despite the negative doomsayers on here constantly knocking them.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I think you will find that VM are adding more TV customers per qtr than Sky

Sky Q1 +15k Q2 +20k VM Q1 +51k Q2 +38k

Why do you think that is Telly?

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

For me it all comes down to the ability to record the streaming channels. BT have stated that's how they plan to deliver the additional premium content, but if you can't record it then it's borderline useless. We never watch anything live anymore!

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Really good point this.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

It is possible to record iptv streams. Infact you can record lots at once. Many more than 2 or 3 just depends on quality an BB speeds.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Unless it is DRM'ed.....

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Even then it very simple to record and playback iptv on an authorised device.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

It's not as simple as pressing a button on the remote control and then accessing it later from your stb planner though, is it? Or is it?

I fear it would be beyond some people. I fear I'm one of them!!!

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

The problem with recording IPTV boils down to BB connections also , an IPTV PVR with three tuners like TIVO which can record three HD shows simultaneously would require approximately 24mb-30mb speed working on the average MP4 HD stream being 8-10mb , many peoples BB simply couldn't handle that.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Indeed. Some people can't seem to even handle the Tivo :D

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

In layman's terms, Muppetman, you'd need an extra box alongside your youview box, and a really good broadband connection?

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

To be honest I think BT is a threat to all, I would imagine Sky's current 5 year view sees virginmedia dropping in importance and TALKTALK and BT fighting for second place.

In some ways Youview in a good thing for sky. Their are millions of households in the UK without payTv, with Youview sky get a presence in those home with minimal investment.

You now have freeview viewers with Sky content on their main screen just the touch of a button away and available instantly. Imagine , it's a wet Friday evening you want a movie can't be bothered to go to blockbusters, just take sky movies with no contract access to 100's of new blockbuster films for a whole month not 1 night.

I know I'm getting a Youview box , an I live in a cabled area and have sky.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Why are you so anti Virgin in your posts Telly?.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Just like iplayerHD or love film / netflix HD a 3mb connection will be ok but 5mb+ is better. For recording 2 streams in HD maybe 6.5mb. I know a family that use netflIx on ADSL 7mb an they can watch 2 different movies on separate devices at the same time no problem.

---------- Post added at 16:14 ---------- Previous post was at 16:13 ----------



Youll need to point out direct anti virgin comments,Some users struggle when any none negative sky comment is made an go into a frenzy.

But try to find me saying virgin is crap, or virgin is unreliable or anything like that.Even the post you quote is not anti virgin. The reason virgin could drop from second place is the potential reach or talktalk and BT is bigger than virgins. Unless virgin start reselling Openreach products.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

@telly so potentially possible for most, but you'd still need an extra stb?

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Can't se them being a true threat until the average broadband speed increases to a point where the ability to watch and record more than two streams becomes possible. There is also an issue with multiple TVs where this just will not work as I understand it so multi room is a no go as well.

Even then don't try and do anything else with your connection, good luck gaming while trying to view / record multiple streams.

J

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

You appear to confuse "non-negative sky comment" with "even Sky Marketing aren't as slavishly pro-sky as me"....;).

btw, the "anti-virgin comments" include

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

All you've done is basically highlighted comments I made deliberately mirroring comments made about Sky, Infact I believe it was you who made the comment about Sky needing 48 Olympic channels or risk a mass exodus to Virgin(May or been Stuart).

Look carefully I have deliberately mirrored statements made on here about Sky, Just to see when they were returned what the replies would be.

But they're not really negative, more unqualified opinion. [ADMIN EDIT - rep discussion removed] , In my office we get the impression VM are feeling like a headless chicken right now. Not quite sure where they fit in the market over the next 5 years, where is thier strength, the USP?


---------- Post added at 19:21 ---------- Previous post was at 19:19 ----------

I don't see Youview being capable of recording NowTV if thats what you're asking.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

It is. Cheers.

---------- Post added at 19:30 ---------- Previous post was at 19:28 ----------

On that basis can you really see it being a mass market threat to Virgin based on access to Sky content alone? After all, by virtue of the fact that I have internet access, I also have access to Now TV, just not through my stb.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Yes because it will be ondemand.............Didnt record a movie? So what just go watch it right now ondemand.

PayTV is changing fast in the UK, Once people didint like PVR as they liked their hard copy on VHS, Now they like digital recordings. Next its full ondemand.

Broadband internet speeds in the UK have changed in 3 years, areas that had an average speed of 2mb now have access to 80Mb. In 5 years time it will be evolved even more. Some users will wants a PVR just as some wanted VHS years ago.

But its changing, in 5 years you won't record much or even watch much live TV, its all about content rights. Ondemand rights are different, you dont see Lovefilm or Netflix being FORCED to give VM or Sky their content. The future of pay tv is very very different to how it is now.

You can keep saying half the UK doesnt have fast BB, well it does..VM cover 14 million homes although only 4 million take their services, Open reach is rolling out fibre to thousands of homes A DAY. In 5 years it will be the norm to have 40mb+. If ya think I'm worng come back in 2017 an tell me via your "Insert any name" cable connection lol.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

The Sky Movies pass on Now TV offers both Sky Movie Channels and the movies On Demand , I would imagine a similar scenario for the entertainment content (ie Sky Atlantic , Living , One and Arts) meaning people don't need to watch live and sport well you want that live anyway.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

He's trying to promote Sky and thinks negativity towards Virgin will help? It's hard to think of any other reason.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I disagree, Virgin have some good products.

TiVo seems to be working well for them with 1 million sales, Superfast broadband(although limited with STM and traffic management) Ondemand.

Virginmedia offers a great choice and alternative to other providers, where its future lies only Virgin knows.

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

I haven't once said the UK doesn't have fast broadband. Fair points from telly and Muppetman about now TV being on demand, so there won't be much need to record the content. My point is that you don't have to have youview to access now TV, it's just one way to do so. I'm a Virgin customer and have access to Now TV, and in the event that Bt cable my area I'll look at youview, but access to content I can already access by virtue of the fact that I have a decent broadband package won't be enough to make me switch.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I would say Tivo and OnDemand.

That would be because those companies neither own nor produce the content they have :rolleyes:

(Yes. I know he won't see my comment as he's 'ignoring' me but that doesn't stop me pointing out any stupid comments he makes :))

I don't think OnDemand will take over from broadcast TV until all the content that is currently broadcast on TV is made available OnDemand. Not only that but they'd have to make navigating content - ie FF/REW - more responsive.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Also, on demand content needs storage, meaning stuff can only remain available for a limited period of time due to turnover. Record a series to your TiVo and you can watch it at your leisure. I agree, I think we're a long way off on demand being anything other than a companion to "normal" TV.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

Have you mentioned these positive VM aspects in any of your other posts, especially, "Virginmedia offers a great choice"? You may well have done, but the overall impression I get from your other posts is one of being critical of VM and promoting Sky. It seems that only when being challenged on this, have you posted positives with regard to VM.

Re: Is BT a threat to VIrginmedia
 

I think that FTTC will only provide 40mb+ to around 50% of the population on VDSL2, so it would not be the norm.

This would be solved by FFTP but how long will that take. In 5 years time what will the requirements be? Full HD audio and sound takes over 10mb to stream. With multiple streams this would eat up an 'average’ connection.

At the moment streaming will always be playing catchup in terms of quality.

J

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

Tellys post - In my office we get the impression VM are feeling like a headless chicken right now. Not quite sure where they fit in the market over the next 5 years, where is thier strength, the USP?

Telly - I will probably get banned for this <edit Rob: if you know it's against the site's rules, don't say it>. VM have got a superb game plan and are not running around like headless chickens. How do I know? Because I invest in media companies and VM are one of the best investments in the community I work within, they have the products, the infrastructure, the brand and lots of other blinding opportunities up their sleeves that you would never have any idea about. Lets look at some facts from an investment perspective -

If you look at both companies results you will see the following. VM have 4.8 million customers from the 12 million homes they pass and Sky have 10.6 million customers from the 26 million homes that they could take their services.

Therefore, VM has 40% penetration into homes that they pass and Sky has 40% penetration into the homes they could serve.

However Sky does not have Virgin as a competitor in half the country whereas Virgin does have Sky as a competitor in all the areas it operates in.

Therefore it’s logical that if Virgin were nationwide they could have more customers than Sky.

I appreciate that may be hard for your Sky biased head to follow - Telly - but facts are facts and the facts are that a huge number of people are happy with what VM offer.

And BTW - 64.6% of Virgin Media customers take a triple package, in comparison 32% of Sky customers are on triple. Skys claim of being the biggest triple play company is simply based on volume and is typical spin doctoring from Sky!

So why not bugger off to a Sky forum where you can all believe in better together - like lemmings!!

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

<edit Rob: Please don't repeat stuff that you know is against Cable Forum Rules>

Indeed. A clever use of words by Sky. But if that's true then surely it's false advertising?

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

They are clever though Carl, they claim to be the most popular but it's based on volume. Sky are the masters of spin and good luck to them.

In the investor world Sky are looked upon as the ford focus - lots of extras that are not too sophisticated whereas VM are seen as BMW - not too many extras but what they do have work very well e.g watch out for the TiVo I player app - phenonimal

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

I don't think the iPlayer app is very good at all, to be honest.

ETA:
Sorry. Didn't explain that properly. To clarify. The app is brilliant but the implementation isn't very good. 1m skip back/forward? :eek: And not particularly quick. Seems faster on Freeview.

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

What difference would it make to have Tivo over Ethernet rather than coaxial cable? Forgive my ignorance.:confused:

---------- Post added at 08:41 ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 ----------

I wonder if Virgin Media are going to increase there availability by cabling more areas? My brother in law lives in a village, and half who live on the East side of the M11 get BT INTERNET, the West side do not. Because BT who are rich beyond hades say it would cost too much. Cabling is so expensive, and difficult in some areas. Sky have the advantage of not needing cables. This must be offset by the incredible cost in launching a satellite. Virgin would have a huge market share if they expanded, they are definitely best by far. I heard that the cabling would not be economical in the future.:erm:

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

Well for a start they'd be able to "sell" it nationally instead of just in cabled areas :)

Re: Is BT a threat to Virgin Media
 

I'm sure just a couple of years ago Branson announced that he expected to have cabled the whole country, or at least most of it, by now.