Variety.Com: VM have Sky 'rattled' - Page 5

Downloads · 20-02-2007, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin

Right, because I don't agree with 100% of what you say, and because I don't believe Branson taking over ntl:telewest is a significant event in my life, then I am "blinkered" and "biased". Hmmmmm. Let's just leave there, shall we?

I don't think you read what i said, so i'm not sure how to respond.

Just to clarify as you seem to want to put words in my mouth... I never said it was a significant event in anyone's life and was never even hinting at that. What i said is that it hasn't simply been a new CEO, they have released new services, packages and have improved customer service. I'm not saying it's significant to you, but it is an improvement. Stuart is right. All of these are improvements on what went before Virgin. It's surely impossibly not to see that?

I say anyone who can't even agree with that is, yes... blinkered. Without a shadow of a doubt.

Facts speak for themselves.

1) Customer waiting times on the phone have been reduced. That is a fact and it is an improvement. The quality of how calls are dealt with i can't comment on, but they haven't got any worse than they were before. Overall because call times have been reduced, overall there is an improvement.

2) The new packages are there to save customers money. Numerous people on here have said how the VIP pack has saved them money and in fact given them more services for less money to boot.

3) Services... A new V+ Box and VoD content to boot are improvements on where we were previously. I'm not sure Virgin Central is revolutionary but i think it's a nice touch, and my wife was certainly pleased as all her trash TV is in a place that is easily accessible.

I'm not saying Virgin is the best thing since sliced bread. But surely this is better and actually good?

Carl J · 20-02-2007, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downloads

3) Services... A new V+ Box and VoD content to boot are improvements on where we were previously. I'm not sure Virgin Central is revolutionary but i think it's a nice touch, and my wife was certainly pleased as all her trash TV is in a place that is easily accessible.

'New' V+ box?

That'd be the TV Drive that Telewest released a while ago, and were testing in 2005? To use your wording it's not exactly 'revolutionary'.

ntl were looking at a superior box custom built for them but dropped it in favour of the inferior TV Drive.

The VIP package is a good deal for premium subscribers.

Not sure about the CS - while wait times may have reduced we'll see if that changes what's always been the huge bugbear, actually getting things resolved. I'd rather wait for 20 minutes once and get my issue resolved than wait for 5 minutes 5 times to get a resolution.

We'll see anyway, discussing the 'new' V+ box is however a great example of rebranding making things appear new. Only new thing about it is it's available to former ntl customers, it's actually a year old.

Downloads · 20-02-2007, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl J

'New' V+ box?

That'd be the TV Drive that Telewest released a while ago, and were testing in 2005? To use your wording it's not exactly 'revolutionary'.

ntl were looking at a superior box custom built for them but dropped it in favour of the inferior TV Drive.

The VIP package is a good deal for premium subscribers.

Not sure about the CS - while wait times may have reduced we'll see if that changes what's always been the huge bugbear, actually getting things resolved. I'd rather wait for 20 minutes once and get my issue resolved than wait for 5 minutes 5 times to get a resolution.

We'll see anyway, discussing the 'new' V+ box is however a great example of rebranding making things appear new. Only new thing about it is it's available to former ntl customers, it's actually a year old.

New to the majority of the customers then. I couldn't have it, and now i can have it. It's new.

I'm presuming when the PS3 is released in this Country it won't be considered a new console as it's been released elsewhere already. Or is someone on this forum determining what length of time constitutes a new product?

Carl J · 20-02-2007, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downloads

New to the majority of the customers then. I couldn't have it, and now i can have it. It's new.

I'm presuming when the PS3 is released in this Country it won't be considered a new console as it's been released elsewhere already. Or is someone on this forum determining what length of time constitutes a new product?

Mmmm posts like that I'm starting to think I have you 'rattled'

V+ is a renamed TV Drive, TV Drive is a more than year old product.

Tell me, Sky Broadband has been available for a while, if it's released on your exchange is it a 'new product'?

Sky have been running with PVRs for a while, would you describe Sky+ as 'new' if you were only just able to have it after for example being unable to receive satellite and moving home?

By your reckoning so long as something isn't available to you it could be 20 years old and still be 'new' - I was pointing out that the box isn't new, even if its' availability to you might be, and it's certainly nothing to do with Virgin Media. The decision to drop the rather nice MPEG4 S A box and run with the TV Drive was made a while ago, and both ntl and Telewest have been promising and developing PVR services for some time.

Downloads · 20-02-2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl J

Mmmm posts like that I'm starting to think I have you 'rattled'

V+ is a renamed TV Drive, TV Drive is a more than year old product.

Tell me, Sky Broadband has been available for a while, if it's released on your exchange is it a 'new product'?

Sky have been running with PVRs for a while, would you describe Sky+ as 'new' if you were only just able to have it after for example being unable to receive satellite and moving home?

By your reckoning so long as something isn't available to you it could be 20 years old and still be 'new' - I was pointing out that the box isn't new, even if its' availability to you might be, and it's certainly nothing to do with Virgin Media. The decision to drop the rather nice MPEG4 S A box and run with the TV Drive was made a while ago, and both ntl and Telewest have been promising and developing PVR services for some time.

Bleh, this discussion could go on forever cos there isn't a right or wrong.

They have improved since becoming Virgin and that's all i was saying.

If i could get Sky Broadband when it's wasn't possible before than yes it's new to me, and i would quite like that service actually.

I think if we did a poll most people would vote that since becoming Virgin they have improved and i think that's all that matters. Not because of new logos etc. Because i have more for less than i did before. That's improvement.

I think we should agree to disagree cos i don't know about you but this constant backwards and forewardsing is boring. lol

I just want stated for the record that i don't think that Virgin are the best in all areas but i am impressed with some of the new stuff as a lot of people are!

As for rattled, possibly, or it could just be a long day at work!

SMHarman · 20-02-2007, 17:54

This is a funny ol thread to watch because out here, cable is king and has its stuff together on triple play, PVR etc. Sat is the NKOTB and Verizon is working on FTTH, the marketplace is effectivly the reverse of the UK.

The UK for the first time ever has two companies that can compete with oneanother. Cable having sufficient a coverage of the country and I imagine over time moving to one platform.

From what I read you are now starting to see the service I use, about time. Should Sky be rattled, well never underestimate the competition and if they look at the competition in other population dense areas of the world ground based infrastructure wins out. Sat is best for population sparse areas where the cost of cable outweighs the payback.

20-02-2007, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl J

Mmmm posts like that I'm starting to think I have you 'rattled'

V+ is a renamed TV Drive, TV Drive is a more than year old product.
.

However Carl

My v+ box is doing everything my Sky+ box did and is able to do HD when the content is there. My Sky+ box is now just a freeview device after Sky took 3 weeks to send a engineer and then tried and failed to give me a Amstrad box to replace my Thompson 160 box which i paid extra for. Don't get me wrong the box performed well until it failed and then Sky produced yet another of there excellent customer friendly service attempts, 3 weeks for a engineer is not in my view customer friendly service and here's is a little snippet of information from the engineer who turned up to fix my + box "there are not enough TV faults engineers at the moment as they have all been moved to ADSL to try and bring down the wait times for faults on that side" his words not mine. There again as Sky failed twice to give me ADSL2+ as you know all to well

that means i have no faith in there statements and phone calls saying i can now have there ADSL2+.

Personally i think Sky can be just as bad as Virgin and virgin as bad as Sky

We all have our up and downs with any company unfortunately its the downs that get the most press

Carl J · 20-02-2007, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill C

Personally i think Sky can be just as bad as Virgin and virgin as bad as Sky

We all have our up and downs with any company unfortunately its the downs that get the most press

Very true. Here's hoping the services start to matchh the somewhat aggressive advertising

andygrif · 20-02-2007, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill C

Personally i think Sky can be just as bad as Virgin and virgin as bad as Sky

We all have our up and downs with any company unfortunately its the downs that get the most press

I'm pleased you've finally seen this...it troubles me that so often I see you joining in with the aren't we great, isn't Sky rubbish deates - so it's refreshing to know you don't really believe that.

Downloads · 20-02-2007, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl J

Very true. Here's hoping the services start to matchh the somewhat aggressive advertising

They are.

Carl J · 20-02-2007, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downloads

They are.

The throttling and congestion seen in some places disagrees with this - promising the earth makes it tough to deliver.

Downloads · 20-02-2007, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl J

The throttling and congestion seen in some places disagrees with this - promising the earth makes it tough to deliver.

I know people suffering from congestion too on Sky, it's a fact of life.

20-02-2007, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by andygrif

I'm pleased you've finally seen this...it troubles me that so often I see you joining in with the aren't we great, isn't Sky rubbish deates - so it's refreshing to know you don't really believe that.

Indeed i only dig my heels in when other do

punky · 20-02-2007, 21:15

I think a lot of people only hate Sky because of their CEO, rather than their policies or behavior.

I think if someone who has been marketed to be hip and cool like Branson ran Sky, perception would be different, even if its policies/behavior wouldn't. Its the same as the Apple/Microsoft.

Downloads · 20-02-2007, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill C

Indeed i only dig my heels in when other do

lol You're not wrong, plenty of heels being dug in on this thread!