General : Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by denphone

Stay still for too long and raise your prices well above inflation and you will find it harder to get and retain customers.

In the case of VM it looks like they're keeping customers with churn reducing. And unlike BT and Sky, VM are a significant quad-player so it is less easy for them to sell more services. And VM haven't kept still, they were adding channels last year like never before.
But I do agree with the raising prices part, although all companies are guilty of this. I think the main issue for VM is that BT has now entered the fibre and TV marketplace which is now more competitive than it ever was.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

In the case of VM it looks like they're keeping customers with churn reducing. And unlike BT and Sky, VM are a significant quad-player so it is less easy for them to sell more services. And VM haven't kept still, they were adding channels last year like never before.
But I do agree with the raising prices part, although all companies are guilty of this. I think the main issue for VM is that BT has now entered the fibre and TV marketplace which is now more competitive than it ever was.

Its a very competitive market and Virgin need to keep up the good work from last year and not rest on its laurels and think everything is rosy in the garden as that will not retain some customers in the long run so lets hope more new services and channels are coming soon because its getting very hot in that kitchen.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by blue666666

Virgin Media is feeling the pinch from the pay-TV war between BSkyB and BT, signing up fewer TV and broadband customers than its rivals in the final three months of 2013.

The cable TV and telecoms operator added 18,600 pay-TV customers and 39,100 broadband customers in the three months to the end of December.

This compares with BSkyB, which added 77,000 TV subscribers, although half are believed to be for its internet service Now TV, and 110,000 broadband subscribers during the period.

I wonder if the poor TV performance accounts for why, when I rang VM on Monday to cancel the TV side and just have BB and phone, they offered me a cheaper price if I kept one Tivo and basic M TV? They need all the TV customers they can get?

[blue666666]

Virgin customers need more HD content (I need 3d sport, but that not everyone's taste).

[denphone]

Originally Posted by blue666666

Virgin customers need more HD content (I need 3d sport, but that not everyone's taste).

Personally 3D content in my humble opinion is not for me but l can understand that it will appeal to some.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

In the case of VM it looks like they're keeping customers with churn reducing. And unlike BT and Sky, VM are a significant quad-player so it is less easy for them to sell more services. And VM haven't kept still, they were adding channels last year like never before.
But I do agree with the raising prices part, although all companies are guilty of this. I think the main issue for VM is that BT has now entered the fibre and TV marketplace which is now more competitive than it ever was.

All the main providers are coming under increased pressure one way or another ,

VM who once had the upper hand with fibre BB are now coming under increased pressure from services like BT Infinity , Sky Fibre , Talk Talk Fibre however its worth remembering the vast majority of customers are still actually choosing the cheaper ADSL products which in some cases are being offered free by providers like Sky if you take Sky Sports/Movies or ridiculously cheap from the likes of Plusnet. VM obviously believe in their broadband product going forward , with speed increases already planned again upto 150mb they're hoping this will entice people.

Sky are facing increased pressure from the likes of BT , Netflix , Lovefilm (Amazon) resulting in them having to offer lower prices and diversify their offering whilst trying not to impact their premium paying satellite customers.

The triple play take up of 36% offers them up selling opportunities as does Sky Go extra and I wouldn't at all be surprised to see the introduction of a mobile product. The main problem for Sky at the moment is the ever increasing content costs especially sports rights.

BT had good BB additions and the BT Sport offering seems to have helped with that however their TV offering is a completely different matter in fact hasn't it been reported that Talk Talk are set to overtake BT for TV subscribers ?

The main problems for the BT TV offering is that people find it all to confusing , this isn't helped by the fact that they currently can't offer Sky Sports on its Youview boxes , its channel range is also currently probably the worst of all the pay TV platforms.

Going forward I still believe BT need to strike a wholesale deal with Sky to allow Sky Sports to be shown on their You view boxes whilst also striking a deal for the likes of Sky Arts , Sky One , Sky Living etc.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

All the main providers are coming under increased pressure one way or another ,

VM who once had the upper hand with fibre BB are now coming under increased pressure from services like BT Infinity , Sky Fibre , Talk Talk Fibre however its worth remembering the vast majority of customers are still actually choosing the cheaper ADSL products which in some cases are being offered free by providers like Sky if you take Sky Sports/Movies or ridiculously cheap from the likes of Plusnet. VM obviously believe in their broadband product going forward , with speed increases already planned again upto 150mb they're hoping this will entice people.

Sky are facing increased pressure from the likes of BT , Netflix , Lovefilm (Amazon) resulting in them having to offer lower prices and diversify their offering whilst trying not to impact their premium paying satellite customers.

The triple play take up of 36% offers them up selling opportunities as does Sky Go extra and I wouldn't at all be surprised to see the introduction of a mobile product. The main problem for Sky at the moment is the ever increasing content costs especially sports rights.

BT had good BB additions and the BT Sport offering seems to have helped with that however their TV offering is a completely different matter in fact hasn't it been reported that Talk Talk are set to overtake BT for TV subscribers ?

The main problems for the BT TV offering is that people find it all to confusing , this isn't helped by the fact that they currently can't offer Sky Sports on its Youview boxes , its channel range is also currently probably the worst of all the pay TV platforms.

Going forward I still believe BT need to strike a wholesale deal with Sky to allow Sky Sports to be shown on their You view boxes whilst also striking a deal for the likes of Sky Arts , Sky One , Sky Living etc.

and them are going to be keep going up MM as both sky and BT up money trying to beat each other in that

[Bananaman_007]

I know they all do it but the attitude to existing customers stinks. I have been trying to help a friend at work who has been with VM (and Telewest before that) for 14 years. The best deal they would give her on the VIP package was £112 a month. Bare in mind my parents got the VIP pack for £72 for the first 6 months with an extra TIVO and V+hd (3 boxes) and £100 credit as a new customer. I emailed Tom Mockridge and his office would just not help quoting prices on the website and giving stupid comments such as a new customer is a more valuable one.

She does not want to leave VM but they gave her no choice.

[andy_m]

They actually said a new customer is a more valuable one?

[Bananaman_007]

Originally Posted by andy_m

They actually said a new customer is a more valuable one?

Yes he then went on to try and justify that, but what he said made little sense. He was talking about the new customer losing VM money in the first 6 months but gaining it back in the last 12. The rolling discount offered to existing customers is a static discount for a 12 month period. However i rightly pointed out that after the discount period ends for new customers the package can be changed he agreed but said most new customers don't change even if they did vm would still be making money.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Bananaman_007

I know they all do it but the attitude to existing customers stinks. I have been trying to help a friend at work who has been with VM (and Telewest before that) for 14 years. The best deal they would give her on the VIP package was £112 a month. Bare in mind my parents got the VIP pack for £72 for the first 6 months with an extra TIVO and V+hd (3 boxes) and £100 credit as a new customer. I emailed Tom Mockridge and his office would just not help quoting prices on the website and giving stupid comments such as a new customer is a more valuable one.

She does not want to leave VM but they gave her no choice.

I must admit that SKY are really good with their offers to retain or regain customers. When I joined SKY initially 13 months ago I signed up on a 50% off friends and family offer. I had the works in terms of TV, SKY Sports, SKY Movies, HD package, broadband, telephone, multiroom etc... costing me £61.37 per month.

Last month my deal came to an end so I cancelled. Within 3 weeks SKY offered me 50% off to come back for a further 12 months. I'm on the exact same package but they've thrown in my broadband for completely free. Luckily I get 17.5mb consistently from my broadband connection which cover my households needs. My new monthly subscription is £55.40, down £5.97 from last year.

I know SKY isn't everyone's cup of tea however ever since I joined them they've made me feel like a valued customer, and give me tremendous value. If I'd just stuck with Virgin on the VIP package I'd now be paying £120.44 per month.

There is little to no value being loyal to your TV provider, unless they deliver what you want and offer exceptional value. The good deals are reserved for those who are prepared to shop around. I didn't really want to leave Virgin but they simply priced me out. As a result I've managed to get half price TV for 2 years, which in the long run save me just over £1500!

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Dave42

and them are going to be keep going up MM as both sky and BT up money trying to beat each other in that

Agreed but Sky is taking a hit on its profits, it is not passing the increased costs onto customers. This is because fewer people would subscribe to Sky Sports if it raised its prices, generating less income and therefore less profit for Sky. If it could get more income by charging more for Sky Sports, believe me it would have done so already.

[denphone]

Well done for getting a good deal Chad but it does seem that the full paying customers are subsidising many of these customers who get half price deals every year and l am not sure for the many customers who are loyal to their provider that is fair as they seem to be subsidising all this.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chad

The good deals are reserved for those who are prepared to shop around. I didn't really want to leave Virgin but they simply priced me out. As a result I've managed to get half price TV for 2 years, which in the long run save me just over £1500!

Agreed, if you put the leg work in, you get the best deal. I also think a lot of people don't work out the total costs or savings as you have done, they just look at the monthly amount. Before they know it, they're paying £1k-£2k per year without even thinking about it.
And don't forget that a £ saved is worth more than a £ earned. A £ earned is probably worth less than 70p once tax and national insurance are taken into account!

[Chad]

Originally Posted by denphone

Well done for getting a good deal Chad but it does seem that the full paying customers are subsidising many of these customers who get half price deals every year and l am not sure for the many customers who are loyal to their provider that is fair as they seem to be subsidising all this.

That's the problem. Providers see loyal customers as easy guaranteed money. They don't have to fight hard to retain them. How many people are unhappy with what they pay per month, and price increases, yet stay with their provider and begrudgingly continue to pay regardless?

When was the last time anyone felt their TV provider truly fought to keep their custom? When I left Virgin I'd been a customer for around 8 years, the majority of them I was on the VIP package. I re-contracted with them for 18 months around March 2012 to get TiVo. 8 months later I received a letter stating my package was going up by around £5.50 per month. I was not prepared to accept the price increase, called them and cancelled my contract under the terms and conditions. Even though I had been with them for 8 years and was on their top end package with 10 months still to run on my contract, Virgin wouldn't offer me any kind of favorable discount. They would only make downgrades to my package to save me money. They'd rather lose me as a long time loyal customer than offer some kind of discount to convince me to stay. The same thing with SKY recently. I called to cancel as my package was going up to full price. SKY offered me 30% off with no contract at all to stay. I advised whilst I appreciated the offer it was still more per month than I was prepared to pay. I cancelled my services and 3 weeks later I received a letter offering 50% to come back. In the end, due to getting my broadband for free, I'm actually getting close to 55% off my package. I didn't even really have to do anything. SKY really wanted me back as a customer and in the end where prepared to meet my price expectations.

Ultimately my main concern is what I pay per month. If it's at the expense of others, shame on them for not doing something about it. The SKY 50% off deal is available to all every 8 weeks or so. Likewise Virgin do now and again offer 12 months half price if you join them on a 18 month contract.