[info4u]

Whilst working for Telewest Broadband (and during the merge with NTL and complete merge with Virgin before the official launch of Virgin media's name)

The answer would be no.
Because you enter a written / verbal agreement to stay with the company for 12 months. (you can but at a penaty charge for breaking your commitment, even thou your channels are no longer available in the terms and conditions it does mention the company reserve the rights to change the channel line up without an exit clause)

Even though the sky channels have gone I would still stay with Virgin since this is just another way Sky are trying to force customers to go over to them

The services with their broadband is ADSL which is poorer quality to DSL
Their Sky+ Sky 180 and HD boxes are less effective (Though they have more HD channels this is a matter of time before change)
Sky arent all winners since they would have lossed 3.3 million customers
which sky wanted to charge Virgin Media 3 times more for the channels (3p per day) compared to the normal costs

So if Virgin Media had of agreed to their new charges you would have seen at least 60p increase in your monthly costs just for Sky News, Sky Travel Sky Sports News and Sky 1 which would have generated complaints (Experiance from when working there)

All in all Virgin Media will be obtaining contracts to show Sky programming from Sky 1 on on demand channels currently 120 in replacement to Sky One to show Nip Tuk and other programmes, Hopefully this will include the simpsons and many other channels

In the meanwhile you may catch Sky news, Sky Travel and Sky One on Freeview.

Or watch sky news on the website directly

This is no surprise from Sky since they did the same with the Disney Channels back in 2004 and Movie channels, they always wait to last minute to end the contract and then force complaining customers missing their channels to go over to Sky.
As these are owned by sky it puts a downer on the services

Without dought though keep holding on with Virgin you will probably see
Virgin Movies
Virgin 1-2-3
Virgin Sports to replace the stranglehold that sky are putting on the company

Sky only doing this because they are finally feeling the pressure not to mention this is the first time sky have trully had some competition and look at how they are spitting their dummy out the pram.

Not very professional in my eyes.

Quick Reminder...
Disney channel issue 2004
Movie channels
Late at renuwing contracts with competitors on purpose
Poor Sky+ compared to V+ which records more and has more functionality
TV On Demand and TV Replay
TV + Phone and Broadband with one company and now mobile phone

Unlike sky who only provided satalite Tv until recently which is phone and broadband though BT lines but paid to Sky

Red button is charged with Sky where as Free with Virgin* Some charge
Higher speeds on Broadband with Virgin are comming vs to sky
More channels to come Example HBO with Virgin

Remember the ITV insident

Sky have lost 3.3 million which will be a loss to them they are hoping customers will switch
Those who dont will force sky to renegatiate and be fair