Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Good Afternoon all,

I have a bit of a dilemma that Virgin has just become available in my area and my family were looking to switch from Sky the only problem being Virgin don't have the 3 only channels my parents watch.

The channels in question are Vox Africa, TVC News and BEN television.

The offers Virgin are presenting are better in every other regard but without these channels my parents don't see the need of switching, so I ask is there any way to get these 3 channels on Virgin?

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

It's up to Virgin Media to add those channels. It's not something you can do yourself.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Those 3 channels you want are available for free on internet connected smart tv's, at least they are on my 2010 samsung.

They are on demand on channel visiontv, 244 on the epg, along with another 21 free channels.

If they don't have a smart tv then it would seem an expensive way to go about getting them though.

You may be able to get them if you buy a Freeview+ box, not sure how much they are but if VM have just moved into your area you may be able to get a good deal on broadband.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

They sound the kind of channels that might appear on VM's World Box service, which is still a fairly new service so might be added in the future.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

The trouble is IAmErroSennin, you will find people generally moan about the addition of tv channels that do show dumbed down, overhyped, mainstream British/American tv shows. Every timer a foreign channel launches, people will often ask why we don't get some guff like Tru TV instead.

Trying to engage people in other cultures is a bit of a losing battle, and it's a shame VM can't just add the channels for people like your parents. It does not hurt anyone to have the channels on the network, but still people moan when they are launched.

Don't have your parents spend a fortune on a tv or freeview box, see if anyone you know feels confident enough to try and negotiate a new, cheaper, deal with Sky for your parents. Speak to the relevant department, tell them you are thinking of leaving and you will most likely get a better deal.

Good luck, I hope your parents get a good deal. Even if they can not, at least they are with a company willing work harder to reach out to many different cultures.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Are these channels Free To Air on satellite? Cancelling Sky doesn't mean that all the channels will disappear, you will still get the many free channels that are available.

If so, you could move over to Virgin Media and simply switch back to satellite for them.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Unfortunately, I don't see Vox Africam TVC News and BEN listed under the channels available on Sky's non-subscription service. But it is worth double-checking with the channels.
http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/what-can-i-watch/

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

You'd think if they're available for nothing on Freeview, albeit over BB, then VM would have them on the World Box.

Before dumping VM i'd never used the Freeview service and am quite amazed at the amount of channels available for nowt.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

I've asked someone with Sky to check and they are all Free To Air transmissions.

The OP could sign up to VM and his parents could switch back to these channels at no extra cost- or even have the two services wired up to two televisions.

Does anybody know the best way to switch between cable and satellite on one TV?

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Two different HDMI sockets Richard surely would be the easiest way to have both services on one TV ?

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

As the OP hasn't been back we can only speculate and forever hang on tenterhooks wondering how this all turned out.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Agreed.
This comment genuinely made me laugh. :)

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Thanks. I was asking this for both myself and the OP.

How would this work? Does one simply plug the satellite receiver and the Virgin box into two separate HDMI sockets and toggle between the two somehow with the TV remote?

I am thinking of doing this when I get a new TV.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Yes - it's just like switching between Cable and a BluRay player.

Just select the appropriate input channel.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

I do it with my chromecast and the DLNA for my laptop, just press source and select whatever input you want.

I realise the source automatically switches to chromecast when i select it in my browser but i have to press source and select the HDMI input to select the youview box again.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Hi guys, thanks for all the replies, I have only waited T reply as to gain as much info as possible.

It seems as though the best option may be to get a Freeview + box, however it had me thinking is buying an expensive new box and having to switch sources really a worthwhile option since my parents are not that technologically literate.

If they are any alternative ways to get just these 3 channels and VM please let me know as I was really looking to switch from sky and their overpriced service

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Could you just get VM for the broadband/phone and use the Freeview box for all your TV?

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

According to an earlier poster they are available as 'Freesat from Sky' so to me the best option would be to keep the satellite dish and just get a viewing card from sky, i think it costs £10?

http://www.sdsdigital.co.uk/channel-list.html

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

You wouldn't need to buy a new card, you could just keep the existing one. And as pointed out, the channels are not listed on the Freesat from Sky website so this needs verifying.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Thanks, I think i'll do this.

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 ----------

I did ask someone with Sky to verify this for me, if anyone has Sky they can check if they are Free To Air by taking out their viewing card completely and seeing if the channels remain viewable.

Erro: The channels you are asking about aren't on Freeview or Freeview+ to my knowledge.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

See my post #3 in this thread.

RichardCoulter had a friend who confirmed they are on Freesat from Sky, also see my link to the complete freesat from sky channel list above

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

I stand corrected.

The box that my friend has is a Sky box with no viewing card.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Regarding that list of channels in post 3 http://www.sdsdigital.co.uk/channel-list.html

TVC News is on that list
BEN TV is not on there
Vox Africa is not on there

Hope this is helpful.

Re: Looking to switch but lack of African channels
 

Vox Africa 218

BEN on 182

Hope this is helpful :)