Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I've got my Installation package arriving on Saturday (already have BB), but I don't see that many people actually saying they like VM as a TV Provider....

Are Sky that much ahead (cancelled contract as VM's deal was too good to turn down) of VM?

Seeing everyone jump ship when I'm only just arriving doesn't fill me with confidence for the next year ahead if I'm being honest.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I love my VM TV service especially my TiVo. Couldn't live without it now.

Record almost everything to watch when I can. Some people say its slow or sluggish but I don't find it too slow at all.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I'm not putting money in Murdoch's pocket and I'd never trust anything from BT ever..Might consider Freeview TV at some point but VM's BB is excellent.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I find my TiVo just fine, does all that I ask.:tu:

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I do like VM and, apart from the cost rankling at times, I have no service problems making me want to jump ship.

I think you have to remember that people who are happy with their provider don't normally broadcast their approval, it's the minority of users who are unhappy that look on line to see what others are saying, and come on to sites such as Cable forum to complain and this can make it feel like it's the majority of customers who are dissatisfied. All providers have customer churn and it seems to go in cycles which provider is the flavour of the month.

I came here upset about the dreaded 'RED BUTTON' problem many years ago and for some reason never left even though my problem was sorted by VM relatively quickly.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I think this place has that effect on people.

Anyway, I'm generally happy with VM. It provides the services I need, and while dog slow at times, the TiVo is also very useful. Having a fast connection means that I can download games on Steam/Xbox Live quickly and I have had little issue with Wi-Fi etc, something my old Sky Hub struggled at before I moved back to a VM enabled area.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Look nothing is perfect in life but Virgin have by far the best all round package as they have BT Sport which is £24 more on Sky plus Virgins broadband which has its critics as well is frankly in a different league to most of the other rivals in my book.

Remember critics and doomsayers are prevalent in every sphere of society and this forum is no different.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Except you are putting money in Murdochs pocket just not directly.;)

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Sadly this nefarious man has his fingers in almost every pie one buys so its pretty much unavoidable.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I think VM is really good no complaints here.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I am happy with my TiVo and BB service.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I have no problems at all with the telephone and broadband services, they are excellent. In particular, the broadband is the fastest you can get in the UK and very reliable.

The main grumble on these forums relates to:

1. The lack of certain channels - mainly Sky Atlantic and ITV Encore (although we think the latter will be with us soon). You can get around this by buying a Roku stick and subscribing to Now TV (or just buy a Now TV box and subscribe if you prefer).

2. The TIVO box, which some find a little slow, although there is not a box out there that I would prefer, to be honest.

I would not go to Sky unless I had no choice (eg if I moved to a non-cabled area).

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

As someone who's been somewhat whingy lately on here I'd say that if you can squeeze a good deal out of Virgin and your tastes are more towards sport and you'll mostly be using a TiVo for live TV and basic PVRing then it's still a perfectly acceptable service. When they finally bring the performance fixes to the VM TiVo that they've had for some time in the US then that should hopefully improve things a lot too.

Just personally for the content I want I think my money's better going elsewhere now and Virgin haven't given me confidence that they have a vision of the future that makes it worthwhile staying with them. Had the recent quality issues been resolved in a more timely manner then I might have been more willing to give them a chance for another year.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

We've been happy with VM and also NTL before them. Techs have turned out promptly the few times we've needed them and the kit we have has worked well (SH1 was only ever in modem mode. ;))

My only beef is that they should reward loyal customers with a discount without being begged or threatened.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Phone service is good. TV is good but maybe expensive for the high end packages. Tivo good but slow. Broadband slows down in evening (to ~10% of headline speed on some days) but is only fibre BB choice where we live so, with that said, is good :)

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

BB = Excellent.

TV = Ok - the Tivo user inteface is awful compared to sky, but the functionality is good.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I prefer the TiVo GUI over the Sky one.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

The service that I have had from cable over the last fifteen years has been excellent. So much so that I would be concerned to move to another supplier in case they couldn't meet the same quality of service.

The very few faults that I have had over the years have been fixed very quickly.

Broadband for me has been rock solid, giving me the advertised speeds.

I personally don't find Tivo slow and there is not a PVR out there from any other provider that can match it's functionality.

I dropped the Pay TV side of VM almost two years ago and just use Tivo for the free M TV channels. That was purely because my viewing habits changed and I was streaming most of the content that I watch (VM bundling a premium sports channel in the XL pack helped give me the final push that I needed).

But the three recordable tuners on Tivo are a massive advantage over other providers' two channel boxes when recording a lot of pay TV channels; it still seems to use three tuners quite often with just the M TV channels.

Also, Tivo's automatic re-scheduling of recording clashes is a big plus, as are Whishlists.

The only negative with VM's TV is lack of HBO content from Sky Atlantic, which, if you are desperate for, can be fixed with a £5p/m Now TV subscription and a fifteen quid Now TV box.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I had VM TV for 9 years and can't really complain about the quality of service.

Main frustrations were:
1) VM slow to add new channels;
2) lack of Universal HD and Sky Atlantic (which I used to pay extra for via Now TV);
3) TV Anywhere very poor for content for viewing on tablets/phones but believe this was due to rights restrictions;
4) Cost - VM can be pretty expensive, particularly if you have Sky Premiums.

Item 4 was the thing that finally pushed me over the edge and made me dump the TV and move to Sky as I got a great offer. I did however keep broadband and phone with VM because that has always been very reliable.

Having been with Sky for several months now I do personally prefer their TV service over VM's as it better meets my needs at a cheaper price. However, I would certainly consider returning to VM TV in the future if the price was right and they improved the items above.

So to reassure you sugnid, if the package and price meet your needs, I'm sure you'll be fine and enjoy VM's services.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Technically you are though if you subscribe to vms m+ or above package.
BT aren't as bad as people make them out to be yes they have their faults but no company is perfect.
When i was with VM had nothing but buffering issues as they over subscribed in my area, they tried to call my bluff too when i phoned to cancel they soon realised i was serious, i would probably go back to VM in future though if things have improved.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

If you have been using a Sky+HD box previously and are moving over to VM TiVo then you are going to find TiVo slow. You'll either just become ok with the sluggishness or you'll be back with Sky before your cancellation period is up.

You once had 30 days to cancel not sure if the same any more.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Really? What about it is slow compared to the Sky box?

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Let me see, VM = 200Mb broadband that has only gone down for more than a few hours once in the last 8 years

or I could have BT ADSL2 (no FTTC here and none planned) running at 15Mb

Yep I'm more than happy with VM

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Depending what mood it is in, it can take many seconds (upto 5) to respond to a command e.g. My Shows for example. My relatives have Sky+ and when I have seen this in use, it seems instant when responding by comparision. Not a scientific test but just an observation ..

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Very happy with all our VM stuff - Tivo excellent, phone hardly used going out but no worries for inward stuff, and the broadband is fast and solid. Never needed tech support so can't comment. Just booked the BB upgrade so wait and see, but I'm confident that I'll get what's promised. Wouldn't dream of changing anything.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Most things are slower on TiVo, for example as you know as you have Sky you can go from watching a live channel to watching a recorded show in about 2 seconds (press the play button on control to go directly to planner then press play on the recorded show) that can take quite a bit longer on TiVo but only a few seconds.

Another problem is 3 or 4 rapid button pressed on TiVo can cause a real slowdown, as it catches up.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

H'mm... And how long does it take to select a programme from on demand and to start watching it on Sky? At least we don't's have to download it first!

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

That depends on your Internet connection normally around 10 seconds or so on a connection of 5mbps +.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

In my experience of playing with my daughter's Sky + box, I would say that you can access programmes rather more quickly directly from on demand through the TIVO.

For those who don't know, you have to download selected programmes from on demand to your recordings before then selecting the programme to watch if you are on Sky.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Can't honestly say I've ever found a problem using either service , that said if Sky's service took an age I'd have ditched it long since so clearly it doesn't.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Well................... It literally takes about 5-10 seconds for a on demand HD movie to start for me an a TV show or none HD content starts pretty much instantly.. I am happy to film it post it on YouTube? If you do the same on TiVo.


We both start on a live channel and start a on demand movie, see whose movie starts playing first? I suspect Skys instant response to button presses/menu selections will counter any instant movie starts on VM TiVo with its laggy response to button presses/menu selections.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

OK, I'll take your word for it, tweedle. Maybe my daughter's box is a bit slow, or perhaps it is the broadband that's causing the delay.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I think the service is reasonable. Broadband ok most of the time. TiVo is good but is so slow when you compare the Netflix or YouTube apps against the Roku. Never use the phone. But I must admit recently I have been questioning the cost of it all. I think that will make me cancel ultimately and go somewhere else. I'm at the tipping point in terms of price.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Just to add my tuppence..

Yeah, the Tivo can be a bit slow sometimes but that's usually related to having almost 200 series links and the EPG updates. We had problems with the 10Mb connection being congested for quite a while, followed closely by our 50Mb having peak-time congestion for the best part of a year. Both are currently performing well.

But in the grand scheme? I did a quick price comparison before taking Line Rental Saver a couple of weeks back and there wasn't much difference. The overall quality of service is excellent and we've certainly never had any major faults that weren't fixed promptly. And whilst I certainly wouldn't pay for BT Sport, it's a very nice bonus for the Premiership & European rugby.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Broadband and phone are good and reliable. The TV lags behind Sky in terms of content and box speed. Sky's new box will leave VM further behind.

What I really don't like is having to haggle with retentions after every frequent price rise. OP - you may have a good deal now, but if you stay with VM for years you'll be amazed how quickly the price spirals if you never haggle/threaten to leave. The annual retentions call is a pain in the backside for all concerned. I've been with cable since 1996, I often wonder what my price would be if I'd never questioned it - I wouldn't be surprised of it was double. I guess there must be many who pay well over the odds, not realising there are such things as being 'out of contract' or that you have to ring up regularly and have a whinge.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

Broadband: download good, sometimes excellent. Upload could be better, sometimes poor.

Broadband is the the reason I have cable. If you have good broadband and access to certain places, you really don't need anything else...

Phone: Never used it, so don't know. Last time I checked five years ago caller ID wasn't even available in my area. Don't know about now.

TV: The biggest frustration about cable has always been about its tv service and I'm not talking about anything major, but the minor niggly things that make all the difference.

Cable stbs have always been slow and sluggish. Being able to change channels instantly, should be the norm, not a pipe dream.

The ability not to reorder channels as I want them is a huge frustration. I can order my channels exactly as I want on Freeview.

When did it become a luxury to record tv (tivo/V+) and pay extra for the privilege? And why can't I transfer programmes off the tivo onto a hard disc on my computer to keep the shows. It renders the tivo useless and I've barely used it since I've had it.

And of course the lack of certain main channels has always been an issue.

Cable Tv should be the best, but its always played catch-up to someone else and its user interfaces and hardware have never been up the standard they should be.

Re: Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?
 

I like it and if people don't then switch and stop moaning about the service.