Virgin TV price rise "likely", says analyst

Media Boy UK · 06-03-2007, 10:18

Price rises for Virgin television customers are understood to be "likely" as the company pursues a strategy of expanding its content portfolio.

At a lunch for analysts hosted by Virgin Media CEO Steve Burch yesterday it was revealed that the company expects to return to net customer additions in the second quarter of the year, with churn following the departure of Sky's basic channels expected to be relatively limited. It is understood that although call volumes to Virgin's call centres have increased since the channels were withdrawn, retention deals offered by customer service agents have been effective at persuading customers to stay with the company.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...s-analyst.html

Info from Digital Spy.

**Hugh** · 06-03-2007, 10:29

Before we all start panicking, there is also the other bit in the report
"A Virgin Media spokesperson who was not present at the presentation told Digital Spy today that the company doesn't "have any current plans to increase TV prices" but indicated that news regarding phone prices would emerge shortly."

Let's wait and see if we need to wail and gnash our teeth.

Bob · 06-03-2007, 10:33

And if I remember correctly, phone package prices should be dropping in line with the cuts BT made last year

Media Boy UK · 06-03-2007, 10:35

I remember they says in April OR May

06-03-2007, 14:04

Would not surprise me, they have to get some cash back, and the rise will more than likely be before any cut in the cost of phone calls with VM.

Downloads · 06-03-2007, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

Would not surprise me, they have to get some cash back, and the rise will more than likely be before any cut in the cost of phone calls with VM.

Why have they got to get some cash back? I woulda thought with the loss of Sky One they would have had an immediate surplus, but in the future they will need an increase because of all the content they are going to buy for VoD etc.

I can't see the increase coming anytime soon while they still have the surplus and until they have reinvested it...?

Tod · 06-03-2007, 14:44

That story seems to have a certain amount of bias. You could describe ANY service from any supplier as "likely" to go up in price!

prawncocktail · 06-03-2007, 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob

And if I remember correctly, phone package prices should be dropping in line with the cuts BT made last year

yep FROM 1st may

Downloads · 06-03-2007, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by skirkby

yep FROM 1st may

Pretty much scraps that idea of the price increases on TV coming before price drops on phone then.

prawncocktail · 06-03-2007, 15:00

got the list of changes for Q2 yesterday and there are no price changes for TV so i dont think they will be changing soon and for the price increases that are happening the relevant discounts (as i have interpreted the information) will be changed so that the bundle price remains the same

shaun

AndyCambs · 06-03-2007, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by skirkby

got the list of changes for Q2 yesterday and there are no price changes for TV so i dont think they will be changing soon and for the price increases that are happening the relevant discounts (as i have interpreted the information) will be changed so that the bundle price remains the same

shaun

Whatabout if you have all four services, but not on a bundle price?
Like Broadband M, Television XL, Telephone M and Cellphone 300+300 package?

Downloads · 06-03-2007, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by skirkby

got the list of changes for Q2 yesterday and there are no price changes for TV so i dont think they will be changing soon and for the price increases that are happening the relevant discounts (as i have interpreted the information) will be changed so that the bundle price remains the same

shaun

Thanks confirmed then. Cheers

Just seen it confirmed elsewhere too.

prawncocktail · 06-03-2007, 15:21

then call up and get yourself on a bundle, XL TV, M Broadband and M Telephone bundle is ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£39 and ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£10 for your mobile sim.

---------- Post added at 16:21 ---------- Previous post was at 16:19 ----------

From Digital Spy

NO TV PRICE RISES PLANNED

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...s-planned.html

AndyCambs · 06-03-2007, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by skirkby

then call up and get yourself on a bundle, XL TV, M Broadband and M Telephone bundle is ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£39 and ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£10 for your mobile sim.

Not quite sure how those prices are worked out - do you take the three for ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£30 and then calculate the difference between L and XL television?
Oh - and I'm getting V+ on Saturday, plus I have an additional STB

**Hugh** · 06-03-2007, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by skirkby

then call up and get yourself on a bundle, XL TV, M Broadband and M Telephone bundle is ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£39 and ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£10 for your mobile sim.
from Digital Spy
NO TV PRICE RISES PLANNED
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...s-planned.html

From the DS article
"The confirmation came after an analyst who attended a lunch presentation by Virgin Media CEO Steve Burch yesterday indicated that further TV price rises were "likely". In a statement to DS this afternoon, a Virgin Media spokesperson said that Burch was referring to "the recent price rises we made on our TV packs as part of the Virgin Media alignment". Those price rises came into effect on February 1 and Burch "wasn't referring to any new increases," the spokesperson added."
The analyst should have reduced the liquid part of his lunch, probably.