If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

What I means is if Sky Atlantic HD / Sky Sports HD / Sky Sports 3 and 4 HD etc were available on Virgin, who would you choose? Do you think it would lead to more competition? Would there be a bigger onus on Virgin and Sky sourcing new channels?

I am posting this as it seems we are not far from channel parity once Sky Atlantic HD and Sky Sports News HD and a few other rumoured channels come in September.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

I really don't think much would change unless there was a price war,you would allways customers prefer one than the other.i personally prefer vm,I have had both over the years and come Sunday will again.In tech vm are allways behind sky apart from TiVo of course and overously with channels,I do and understand when sky launch a new channel alerts 3-6 months it should be exclusive but I do think its wrong after that

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Cue the my STB is better than yours , my provider offers the best package , I wouldn't venture to the dark side type comments :p: Let's see who's first to kick it off

As is my usual answer I'd decide based on price , added extras of each package and which ticks my general requirements best at the time.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

See this is how I think it should be, all providers should have access to all channels and it becomes the packages / pricing and added extras and customer service that become the selling point.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Well it won't be me MM as l am now trained in the true Jedi arts of calmness and reflection.:nono::nono::handshake

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Agree bud get sick and tired of it,and your last 2 paragraphs sum it for me ;)

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

For me its what suits me and my family best and overall we are happy with our lot currently.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

I'd stick with VM as I have done for 14 years. I was Sky all the way before that right from the early days of Astra 1a and Sky Channel!

I wouldn't move - I like the all in one package, cheap mobile deals and the OD. The main clincher is the broadband though - that's the most important thing to me and as Sky can only offer me a carppy 9Mb..I'm staying put.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

In an ideal world that would be the way to go , I'd also like to see VM allow wholesale access to its fibre optic network , allowing the likes of Sky , Talk Talk etc to offer BB over cable sadly I can't see either actually happening.That's the exact reason my parents stay with VM , your lucky they can only get around 2mb through a BT line so cable BB at 60mb is a godsend.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

What he said...

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

I'm not sure I understand the point of the op? Currently there is no channel parity, and it's accepted that Sky have a better range than Virgin. This being Cableforum, most people here have decided that Virgin is best for them in spite of the inferior channel line up. They're not going to move from Virgin if they suddenly get loads of extra channels that were previously exclusive to Sky. This question is really for Sky customers, and is "if Virgin had the same channel line up as your current provider, would you switch?"

In addition, companies can be competitive in different ways. They can fight a price war, or they can be innovative. Even without channel parity, both companies have been innovative, either by investing in award winning exclusive content or providing market leading technology. I'm thinking Sky Atlantic and TiVo. I can't see that changing. In short, if you're hoping channel parity will lead to competition, and by that you mean lower bills, I think you'll be disappointed.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

VM for me. £100.40 for VIP with extra box. Equivalent on SKY (40Mb broadband) £144.25.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

If both providers had the same channels then price and broadband preference/availability come in to play as many go for the triple play packages.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Line of sight to Astra satellites obstructed. No contest!

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

I'd stay with Virgin. I don't fancy £65+ charge every time something goes wrong with the Sky equipment.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

I wouldn't change from virgin to sky just because i couldn't be doing with the hassle. even if they said murdoch would install it for me and i'd get twenty quid off etc i still wouldnt as i'm that lazy.

its more laziness than loyalty. I'm one of those awful people in life.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

So maybe the question for VM customers is 'If Sky had a box equivalent to Tivo in functionality, would you switch to Sky?'

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Sadly VM could never, for whatever reason, supply me with reliable TV, BB or phone services of an acceptable quality whereas Sky can and do.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

The problem is questions like this just create futile arguments on forums , no one user has the same requirements so its impossible to say who's right and who's wrong , many people have argued Sky+ is lacking in features to which others have countered TIVO is slow and clunky and overcomplicates tasks however I'm sure the majority of the UK public don't care and basically just want a box which records the shows they ask it to , something both boxes do with ease. Forums such as this are generally frequented by the more tech savvy who'll always scrutinise each providers offering , needless to say there'll always be disagreements.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

The cheapest. I don't have (and am not interested in) Tivo. I don't have sky sports, and quite frankly, Sky Atlantic appears to be full of poor quality american tat.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

What I don't get is why all that 'tat' keeps winning awards. Bloomin crazy if you ask me :shocked::rolleyes:

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Indeed as from what l have seen there are some top notch series on SA.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Atlantic is something people want so I hope it comes but it has nothing that appeals to me tbh...

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

If both have channel parity it would need to be Virgin for me for the following reasons:

1. Better PVR
2. BT Sports free to XL and VIP customers
3. Multiroom included for Boxnation and BT Sports
4. No need for a broadband subscription to watch catch up and on demand TV

In all seriousness if SKY allow Virgin access to the likes of SKY Sports News HD, SKY News HD, SKY Sports 3 & 4 HD, SKY F1 HD, SKY 3D and SKY Atlantic they will seriously weaken their appeal.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

If you think programmes like 'Game of Thrones', 'Mad Men' and 'Boardwalk Empire' are poor quality American tat, I can't think what American programmes are good quality! Would it be 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' or whatever it's called?

Whilst the daytime programmes on Sky Atlantic are not really worth watching (in my opinion), there is a much better selection of worthwhile viewing in the evenings. During the winter schedules, I would be likely to record three or four programmes a week from that channel. Sky One, in contrast, appears to have gone downhill badly. I don't watch anything on there these days ever since 'Fringe' ended. Shame.

---------- Post added at 12:44 ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 ----------

I don't think it would at all. Only the outer fringes of the subscribing population are influenced by such matters. Sky thought they could kill Virgin Media off by taking away Sky basics a few years ago. Didn't work.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Your views on Sky1 daytime are on the ball.

but in 1990 when I first saw Sky1 it has

Weekdays
6am DJ Cat
8.30 game show
9am to 5pm Back to back talk shows

Saturday:
6am Kids shows
12pm WWE shows
2pm Famliy shows (Bewitched, Fashion TV and Wonder Woman)

Sunday
6am Kids shows
11am Hour of Power
12pm Live Sunday League Cricket

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

exactly Chad mate that's why don't think it happen sky don't want to lose customers to VM hope im proved wrong

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

That was certainly the case a while ago, Dave, but things have changed. VM and Sky are on much better terms now and deals are being done. I think you may be surprised at what will happen next month. Watch this space ;)

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Indeed that's what l hear as well but alas good old Dave is his usual pessimistic self over this.;):D

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

my present package on VM is:
TV XL
BB 60mb
phone XL
1 tivo 1TB
1 tivo 500Gb

price £67.99 inc line rental

i no longer have Sky Sports/Movies and premium HD (£41.25). But i do get BT Sports/ESPN in HD included and possibly Netflix as well soon.

i have worked out ( i think correctly) the comparable price for this on Sky:

entertainment + (includes HD) £32
multiroom £11.25
Sky Fibre 38mb £20.00 but i cant get sky fibre in my area
tel talk anytime £19.50
BT/ESPN HD £15.00

total £97.75

thats a big saving with VM

sky movies/sports HD would be another £35.25- a bit cheaper than on VM. Both services have on demand and catch up. The only things SKY has is the Sports 3/4/F1 in HD a few other HD channels some of which may be coming to VM soon eg Sky Sports News HD- oh of course Sky Atlantic, and er.... 3D (i channel and i dont have a 3D telly anyway).

-add to that i have no maintenence /call out charges with VM-at the minute VM win hands down for me-

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

To be fair, you seem to be quoting a discounted price for the VM services but the full price for Sky. The list price for your services according to the website is £75.99 – still a lot cheaper than Sky.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Would stick with VM, not for TV on its own but for the broadband service that Sky cannot currently match, also as has been said you do have any charges for repairs etc.

Re: If Virgin and Sky had Sky channel parity - Who would you choose?
 

Virgin all the way as Sky doesn't offer channels that I can't get on VM I rarely watch live TV so VM has everything I need and TiVo records what I want to watch