If you are unhappy about ESPN being removed from the XL pacjage, and you are in contract term, you should be able to cancel your TV service without too much of a problem.
http://store.virginmedia.com/the-leg...es.html#ending
There are 2 sections in the terms and conditions which cover this very scenario.
Section B - f
"Some parts of the services (for example, television channels that form part of our television services and other content on, or accessible via, our television services) are supplied by other organisations. As a result, due to matters outside our reasonable control or for commercial or contractual reasons, we may change, cancel or postpone all or any component part(s) of the services without notice, but we will give you reasonable notice of any withdrawals and changes where it is possible to do so.
You will be entitled to end this agreement if the changes are significant, as described in paragraph J3."
Section J - 3b
"If we and/or Virgin Media Payments make significant changes to the services so the services you are entitled to receive in return for the charges you pay are significantly altered or reduced
you may cancel those services affected without penalty by giving us and/or Virgin Media Payments (as applicable) at least 30 days' notice. Such notice must be given within 30 days of the increase in charges or changes to the services or this agreement being notified to you."
The loss of ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN America, ESPN Classic, ESPN on demand and access to the ESPN channels via Virgin anywhere are
very significant changes to your package. It's not your fault that the channels have been removed during your contract term. You didn't ask for the channels to be removed. You didn't agree to the channels being removed. The service without ESPN is not what you signed a contract for!
Remember about 7 years ago when the SKY basic channels where removed, Virgin allowed people to cancel their contracts using very similar terms and conditions.