General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 4.

[howardmicks]

Makes the all experience even better thru yer iPad bud,u can program in use it as a remote.the wish list on TiVo is brilliant enjoy bud any probs giv us a shout if I m not on someone else will help you decent bunch of lads on here and Facebook virgin media staff are pretty good also,let us know what you think after a couple of days bud

[Chad]

Here is a real eye opener.

SKY Sports on Virgin Media costs £25.75 plus £7.00 if you want SKY Sports 1 and 2 in HD. That's £32.75 per month for just 8 channels.

The XL package on it's own, without phone or broadband, is only £32.00 month if taken with a V HD box rather than TiVo. That's less than what you pay for SKY Sports and you get:

200+ channels (37 of which are in HD)
BT Sports & ESPN
Catch up TV
TV on demand

When you look at it like that, the price of SKY Sports starts to look ludicrous. I think there might be rocky times ahead for SKY Sports.

[ocav]

I have a feeling eventually VM will be renamed UPC, mainly because the name Virgin is only licensed to them and I'd hazard a guess that has an expiry date. Probably not right now, but in a few years, then they can operate under one brand

[martin201002]

Originally Posted by Chad

Here is a real eye opener.

SKY Sports on Virgin Media costs £25.75 plus £7.00 if you want SKY Sports 1 and 2 in HD. That's £32.75 per month for just 8 channels.

The XL package on it's own, without phone or broadband, is only £32.00 month if taken with a V HD box rather than TiVo. That's less than what you pay for SKY Sports and you get:

200+ channels (37 of which are in HD)
BT Sports & ESPN
Catch up TV
TV on demand

When you look at it like that, the price of SKY Sports starts to look ludicrous. I think there might be rocky times ahead for SKY Sports.

What do you mean by rocky times. Less uptake on virgin media?

UPC is a horrific name though.

[martin201002]

Originally Posted by howardmicks

Makes the all experience even better thru yer iPad bud,u can program in use it as a remote.the wish list on TiVo is brilliant enjoy bud any probs giv us a shout if I m not on someone else will help you decent bunch of lads on here and Facebook virgin media staff are pretty good also,let us know what you think after a couple of days bud

The app for iPad is excellent I use it instead of a remote, much quicker to delete stuff from TiVo with an iPad too.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by martin201002

What do you mean by rocky times. Less uptake on virgin media?

For starters there is the potential for less uptake on Virgin. Since BT Sports launched as part of the XL package I know 2 people who have cancelled their SKY Sports subscriptions.

SKY also have an issue in that Sky Sports 1 and 2 have ceased broadcasting on the digital terrestrial pay TV service Top Up TV. BT who hosted the two channels on the terrestrial TV platform withdrew them and are using the bandwidth to offer BT Sport 1 and 2 instead.

SKY's third problem is their carriage dispute with BT. Until that is resolved SKY Sports remains unavailable on BT's Youview platform.

I just think that SKY might start to feel the pressure soon and BT are ready for the fight:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...s-8771482.html

[martin201002]

Originally Posted by Chad

For starters there is the potential for less uptake on Virgin. Since BT Sports launched as part of the XL package I know 2 people who have cancelled their SKY Sports subscriptions.

SKY also have an issue in that Sky Sports 1 and 2 have ceased broadcasting on the digital terrestrial pay TV service Top Up TV. BT who hosted the two channels on the terrestrial TV platform withdrew them and are using the bandwidth to offer BT Sport 1 and 2 instead.

SKY's third problem is their carriage dispute with BT. Until that is resolved SKY Sports remains unavailable on BT's Youview platform.

I just think that SKY might start to feel the pressure soon.

Do you think ofcom will force sky to offer sky sports on youview? If I wasn't such a cricket fan I would of cancelled sky sports to be honest, it is rather expensive.

Other thing is bt aren't going anywhere they have the financial power to give sky a fight.

Originally Posted by martin201002

Do you think ofcom will force sky to offer sky sports on youview?

If they do, Sky will just offer it themselves as anyone can launch IPTV channels on YouView, so they can do a BT to BT.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by martin201002

Do you think ofcom will force sky to offer sky sports on youview? If I wasn't such a cricket fan I would of cancelled sky sports to be honest, it is rather expensive.

Other thing is bt aren't going anywhere they have the financial power to give sky a fight.

I can't see Ofcom forcing SKY to offer SKY Sports on Youview unless it is proven that BT have actually tried to wholesale their channels to SKY in return at a reasonable rate.

I agree that BT are in this for the long haul. I was reading today they have signed up 10,000 commercial customers so far at a rate of between £75.00 to £125.00 per month. BT have also made their channels available in Ireland via Setanta Sports.

I just can't see this being the loss making exercise everyone thinks it will be. I think BT will be aggressive when the Champions League rights become available for bidding in the next couple of months. Who knows, maybe the money from Virgin will help them see off bids from SKY?

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by Chad

Here is a real eye opener.

SKY Sports on Virgin Media costs £25.75 plus £7.00 if you want SKY Sports 1 and 2 in HD. That's £32.75 per month for just 8 channels.

The XL package on it's own, without phone or broadband, is only £32.00 month if taken with a V HD box rather than TiVo. That's less than what you pay for SKY Sports and you get:

200+ channels (37 of which are in HD)
BT Sports & ESPN
Catch up TV
TV on demand

When you look at it like that, the price of SKY Sports starts to look ludicrous. I think there might be rocky times ahead for SKY Sports.

V. Interesting Chad. VM and BT can really force Sky to seriously look at it's sports packages prices and availability to other broadcasters now. It will be interesting to see if many VM customers decide to stop Sky Sports because they can they can see plenty of football (albeit lots of non-pl football) free of charge through BT Sports.

Also, I do not know enough about Sky's packages to make a comparison. As a Sky customer are you able (and willing) to compare the cost of the most similar Sky TV package (without any discount and Sky Sports package)?

---------- Post added at 00:54 ---------- Previous post was at 00:43 ----------

Originally Posted by Chad

I can't see Ofcom forcing SKY to offer SKY Sports on Youview unless it is proven that BT have actually tried to wholesale their channels to SKY in return at a reasonable rate.

I agree that BT are in this for the long haul. I was reading today they have signed up 10,000 commercial customers so far at a rate of between £75.00 to £125.00 per month. BT have also made their channels available in Ireland via Setanta Sports.

I just can't see this being the loss making exercise everyone thinks it will be. I think BT will be aggressive when the Champions League rights become available for bidding in the next couple of months. Who knows, maybe the money from Virgin will help them see off bids from SKY?

Lets hope they can pull off a coup there! Perhaps they could get financial support from VM too and have an ad campaign saying ALL Champions league football (including ITVs games) are free on VM and free with BT BB, and that you will have to pay to watch them with on Sky without BT BB.

How great would free CL football be for those who love their football?

I think Sky will just spend daft amounts of money on those rights though.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

Also, I do not know enough about Sky's packages to make a comparison. As a Sky customer are you able (and willing) to compare the cost of the most similar Sky TV package (without any discount and Sky Sports package)?

Here you go:

http://www.sky.com/products/tv-packs...nt-extra-plus/

Like XL with a V HD Box, SKY Entertainment + is £32.00.

Here are the key points:

Virgin have 37 HD channels (SKY 48 HD channels)
Virgin have 200+ channels in total (SKY 320 channels)
Virgin have BT Sports included (It'll cost £12 to £15 to add BT Sports with SKY)
Virgin have TV on demand without the need of broadband (SKY have on demand but broadband required)
Virgin have catch up TV without the need of broadband (SKY have catch up TV but broadband required)
Virgins £32.00 package has no recording option (SKY £32.00 package comes with SKY +)
Virgin have 3D on demand (SKY have SKY 3D)
Virgin have TV anywhere (SKY have SKY Go)

One thing to remember is you have to have broadband in your house to access on demand content with SKY. There is no need for an internet connection with Virgin. This again adds even more value to Virgins £32.00 package.

If you add TiVo Virgins package goes up to £37.00. However when you consider the value of BT Sports in the package, and no need for broadband to access all of Virgins on demand services, £37.00 is still better value than SKY's similar package.

If SKY Atlantic does come to Virgin, why would anyone think of joining SKY?

Originally Posted by ocav

I have a feeling eventually VM will be renamed UPC, mainly because the name Virgin is only licensed to them and I'd hazard a guess that has an expiry date. Probably not right now, but in a few years, then they can operate under one brand

Can't see it, there is lots of info from their CEO saying they are keeping the name. Think the licence is for 10 years initially.

[Chad]

Who says I'm obsessed with stats, figures and lists?

Off to bed, see you all in the morning zzzzzzzz

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by Chad

Here you go:

http://www.sky.com/products/tv-packs...nt-extra-plus/

Like XL with a V HD Box, SKY Entertainment + is £32.00.

Here are the key points:

Virgin have 37 HD channels (SKY 48 HD channels)
Virgin have 200+ channels in total (SKY 320 channels)
Virgin have BT Sports included (It'll cost £12 to £15 to add BT Sports with SKY)
Virgin have TV on demand without the need of broadband (SKY have on demand but broadband required)
Virgin have catch up TV without the need of broadband (SKY have catch up TV but broadband required)
Virgins £32.00 package has no recording option (SKY £32.00 package comes with SKY +)
Virgin have 3D on demand (SKY have SKY 3D)
Virgin have TV anywhere (SKY have SKY Go)

One thing to remember is you have to have broadband in your house to access on demand content with SKY. There is no need for an internet connection with Virgin. This again adds even more value to Virgins £32.00 package.

If you add TiVo Virgins package goes up to £37.00. However when you consider the value of BT Sports in the package, and no need for broadband to access all of Virgins on demand services, £37.00 is still better value than SKY's similar package.

If SKY Atlantic does come to Virgin, why would anyone think of joining SKY?

Cheers Chad. That is a great comparison. The only things Sky have now are HD and Atlantic, which to be fair, are what many people want currently.

You are spot on with your comments with regards to the BB and BT sport value with VM. I also think that TIVO is very good value at a fiver a month, esp. (as you say) if anyone was to consider the possible savings from extra broadband costs.

In regards to TV Anywhere/Sky go (my knowledge is poor), I do believe VM still have more channels you can watch live too? I know BT Sports is a bonus for TV Anywhere at the very least!! I also believe there is some form of optional charge for Sky Go with regards downloads but not from VM. Another point of difference is that you can watch your recordings on TV Anywhere, but I have not seen that advertised by Sky (happy to be corrected on all these points though).

Lets hope VM do get Sky Atlantic next month, and I have no reason to doubt Howard's statement given he was right about BT sport. I will be fascinated to see what Sky do next (other than offer a cheaper price for their packages)!