Sky or VM for TV???

[stereohaven]

Originally Posted by nn012

Apologies if this has already been posted - VM are currently offering 'Sky Switchers' TV XL with a free TiVo, a free multiroom V HD box with no monthly fee and free installation for £27.50 +£13.90 line rental. http://virginmedia.com/sky3

That is the deal I have just taken advantage of.

I am a long time Sky subscriber and have used them for TV, Broadband and home phone, all of which have been faultless to be fair.

I have checked Virgin media prices and content on a monthly basis and have always found VM to be more expensive, probably because of a regular discount I received as Broadband user that should have lasted 6 months but I got for 2 years...

Anyway, having recently dropped Sports & Movies, lost my nice discount (because they realised I shouldn't get it) and wanting to have another box installed upstairs it was clear to us that VM was a better deal all round if we took the "Sky Switcher Offer".

In terms of what we watch all of the channels that are important are in the XL TV pack, although I do watch Sky Atlantic (I missed Battlestar Galactica first time round) and will miss it a little, I gain some sport through ESPN.

Sky Anytime+ is poor IMHO and I am looking forward to having some real on demand choice.

The Broadband was solid despite the Router being very cheap quality and whilst the SuperHub may not be a stunner it can be used as just a modem, which will suit me fine.

The phone line is disgustingly overpriced in my view (£2+ extra for Caller Display!), so while we have to have it, we will only use it for inbound calls.

All things considered, VM is the right deal for us at this time based on what we watch, how we watch it and what we need (equipment wise) as a package.

Sky clearly have the best "linear channels" line up, but that just isn't as important any more based on how our family consume TV.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by stereohaven

That is the deal I have just taken advantage of.

I am a long time Sky subscriber and have used them for TV, Broadband and home phone, all of which have been faultless to be fair.

I have checked Virgin media prices and content on a monthly basis and have always found VM to be more expensive, probably because of a regular discount I received as Broadband user that should have lasted 6 months but I got for 2 years...

Anyway, having recently dropped Sports & Movies, lost my nice discount (because they realised I shouldn't get it) and wanting to have another box installed upstairs it was clear to us that VM was a better deal all round if we took the "Sky Switcher Offer".

In terms of what we watch all of the channels that are important are in the XL TV pack, although I do watch Sky Atlantic (I missed Battlestar Galactica first time round) and will miss it a little, I gain some sport through ESPN.

Sky Anytime+ is poor IMHO and I am looking forward to having some real on demand choice.

The Broadband was solid despite the Router being very cheap quality and whilst the SuperHub may not be a stunner it can be used as just a modem, which will suit me fine.

The phone line is disgustingly overpriced in my view (£2+ extra for Caller Display!), so while we have to have it, we will only use it for inbound calls.

All things considered, VM is the right deal for us at this time based on what we watch, how we watch it and what we need (equipment wise) as a package.

Sky clearly have the best "linear channels" line up, but that just isn't as important any more based on how our family consume TV.

Hope it all goes well for you , and welcome to the forum.

[stereohaven]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Hope it all goes well for you , and welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the welcome, I'll keep everyone posted.

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by gcampbell

Exactly, Sky go out of their way to get content to suit all tastes - would that VM were the same, they only seem to care about getting documentary channels, and the reason for this is they are cheap!

I pray for the day I can get Sky because I'm sick of being left with Virgin Media simply because they're better than nothing.

Vewing figures don't matter to the viewer at all. Unless you are talking about the viewing figures in the account holders house.

What you have to remember is that VM have to buy most of their channels from Sky. So it wouldn't be financially viable for VM to include channels with very low viewing figures. At the same time why should anyone pay Sky's high prices for loads of channels that they would never watch?

There may be some people who spend a great deal of time watching TV, and like to have the choice to watch 100's of channels. But personally I don't spend all my time in front of the TV, and I'm more bothered about quality than quantity.

---------- Post added at 16:53 ---------- Previous post was at 16:51 ----------

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Don't BT Vision and Sky do OD ?

I don't care if they do, because their BB isn't as good as VM

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

It wasn't that long ago on here people were telling us Catchup VOD wasn't as necessary now with the introduction of TIVO with its excellent suggestion and wishlist services. .

That's true for me.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

It wasn't that long ago on here people were telling us Catchup VOD wasn't as necessary now with the introduction of TIVO with its excellent suggestion and wishlist services.

I agree 100%. In fact I think I started a thread about this very subject. Once everyone on the Virgin network has access to TiVO, Catch-up VOD will not be as essential. In 2 years time Virgin might be able to bin Cathc-up and invest their money in more linear channels and demand content.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by passingbat

That's true for me.

I have catchup available through my TV and Blu Ray Player and can honestly say I hardly ever use it , for me that's a beauty of a PVR and a TIVO user has three tuners , possibly more if they have multiroom.

---------- Post added at 17:16 ---------- Previous post was at 17:14 ----------

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

Vewing figures don't matter to the viewer at all. Unless you are talking about the viewing figures in the account holders house.

What you have to remember is that VM have to buy most of their channels from Sky. So it wouldn't be financially viable for VM to include channels with very low viewing figures. At the same time why should anyone pay Sky's high prices for loads of channels that they would never watch?

There may be some people who spend a great deal of time watching TV, and like to have the choice to watch 100's of channels. But personally I don't spend all my time in front of the TV, and I'm more bothered about quality than quantity.

---------- Post added at 16:53 ---------- Previous post was at 16:51 ----------



I don't care if they do, because their BB isn't as good as VM

Well my advice would be to give VM a try Tim if it's not to your liking you can move back after contract.

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by richard1960

This debate is as old as the hills on forums,Skys main product is its TV serivce without which it would not have much,but VMs is its Broadband/vod.

As it is now VM have most of the watched tv channels and a good selection of HD in the TVXL pack,and also sky sports red button (on sky sports) which suits most people,plus ESPN included in XLTV, Sky and VM have two very different buisiness models to be honest i think VM do pretty well now.

Absolutely.

I'm not knocking Sky, as I've been with them for 16 or so years (I think), and haven't had any problems. On the other hand I've been with VM (or NTL as they were), for a similar amount of time. And during that time I have had many problems with their customer service (but that's another issue).

I have made the decision to move completely to VM, based on information from this thread, combined with the fact that I will save over £50 per month. And I will still have almost all of the channels I watch, with the option to add the sports package (for the F1 next year) for just another £7 per month.

[stereohaven]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Well my advice would be to give VM a try Tim if it's not to your liking you can move back after contract.

I forgot to mention earlier that the offer I accepted to move from Sky was subject to a "no questions asked" 28 day money back guarantee.

I admit I still haven't received the contract to study the fine print but my telephone conversation with a VM representative was clear on this point (i.e. that was the case), and it also says it on the back of the marketing letter I received.

So you can test it and leave without fulfilling a contract it would seem, but I am not sure if this guarantee is a standard offer available to all.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by stereohaven

I forgot to mention earlier that the offer I accepted to move from Sky was subject to a "no questions asked" 28 day money back guarantee.

I admit I still haven't received the contract to study the fine print but my telephone conversation with a VM representative was clear on this point (i.e. that was the case), and it also says it on the back of the marketing letter I received.

So you can test it and leave without fulfilling a contract it would seem, but I am not sure if this guarantee is a standard offer available to all.

Yes something not many other firms offer , have to say I'm not to familiar with the exact T&C's of the offer.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by stereohaven

I forgot to mention earlier that the offer I accepted to move from Sky was subject to a "no questions asked" 28 day money back guarantee.

I admit I still haven't received the contract to study the fine print but my telephone conversation with a VM representative was clear on this point (i.e. that was the case), and it also says it on the back of the marketing letter I received.

So you can test it and leave without fulfilling a contract it would seem, but I am not sure if this guarantee is a standard offer available to all.

Here this is taken from the small print?

Money Back Guarantee: Media: Available to new cable customers and existing customers taking a new cable service. Call us within 28 days of activation for a refund of 1st month’s rental charges and any installation charge. You will only be charged for transactions (calls, purchases, service upgrades) occurring after activation. Statutory rights not affected.

http://shop.virginmedia.com/bundles.html

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

Absolutely.

I'm not knocking Sky, as I've been with them for 16 or so years (I think), and haven't had any problems. On the other hand I've been with VM (or NTL as they were), for a similar amount of time. And during that time I have had many problems with their customer service (but that's another issue).

I have made the decision to move completely to VM, based on information from this thread, combined with the fact that I will save over £50 per month. And I will still have almost all of the channels I watch, with the option to add the sports package (for the F1 next year) for just another £7 per month.

That sounds good to me,i nearly went to sky earlier this year for tv over the sky sports red button issue but it did arrive in full on vm which made the difference to me.

Also i would have stayed with vm for Broadband anyway as ADSL in my area is 1mb max! not even enough to stream you tube properly.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by gcampbell

Exactly, Sky go out of their way to get content to suit all tastes - would that VM were the same, they only seem to care about getting documentary channels, and the reason for this is they are cheap!

I pray for the day I can get Sky because I'm sick of being left with Virgin Media simply because they're better than nothing.

Well everybody has freedom of choice but you might find that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

---------- Post added at 18:48 ---------- Previous post was at 18:47 ----------

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

virgin do the best broadband and vod, but their "liner" channels are second rate

l don't think so in that Virgin choice of linear channels apart from Sky Atlantic is as good as Skys.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by denphone

l don't think so in that Virgin choice of linear channels apart from Sky Atlantic is as good as Skys.

Very true Den, As apart from the ones we have not got and Sky have. They are the same

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by denphone

l don't think so in that Virgin choice of linear channels apart from Sky Atlantic is as good as Skys.

What is so special about Sky Atlantic????