Sky or VM for TV???

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Chad

Don't let anyone try and trick you, Virgin Media is the number 1 when it comes to providing content in the UK.

I'm no Sky fan but that isn't really true.

Catch up, is well, catchup; i.e., you could have watched it anyway. TV choice on demand, with some exceptions, again shows things that have previously been shown on a channel carried by VM.

Sky have some channels that show content that we can't currently see on VM, either on a linear channel or on demand. And some of it (Sky Atlantic) is award winning drama.

I think there can be no doubt that for the broadest range of content, Sky is king in the UK.

[Chad]

Just to clarify Tim, Catch-Up TV is a completely free service that is included in all of Virgins TV packages. I've just had a look at what is currently available and I must admit I'm very surprised. It's not until you step back and look properly at the Catch-Up service that you notice just how much stuff you get access too.

Each day Virgin makes available on average 140 programmes televised in the last 24 hours from BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 3, BBC 4, BBC HD, BBC News, CBBC, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, CITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Channel 5 HD. In total that's 980 programmes that have been televised in the last 7 days at your finger tips.

Technically you do also get 7 day Catch-Up material from SKY Living and the FX channel too however this can be very limited. At the moment the only thing from FX is last nights episode of The Walking Dead.

If you want any more info regarding On Demand or Catch Up Tim, just let me know.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Chad

Just to clarify Tim, Catch-Up TV is a completely free service that is included in all of Virgins TV packages. I've just had a look at what is currently available and I must admit I'm very surprised. It's not until you step back and look properly at the Catch-Up service that you notice just how much stuff you get access too.

Each day Virgin makes available on average 140 programmes televised in the last 24 hours from BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 3, BBC 4, BBC HD, BBC News, CBBC, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, CITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Channel 5 HD. In total that's 980 programmes that have been televised in the last 7 days at your finger tips.

Technically you do also get 7 day Catch-Up material from SKY Living and the FX channel too however this can be very limited. At the moment the only thing from FX is last nights episode of The Walking Dead.

If you want any more info regarding On Demand or Catch Up Tim, just let me know.

So you can get more repeats

[Chad]

Originally Posted by passingbat

I'm no Sky fan but that isn't really true.

Catch up, is well, catchup; i.e., you could have watched it anyway. TV choice on demand, with some exceptions, again shows things that have previously been shown on a channel carried by VM.

True but if you missed the programme, or you've never seen it before then it is brand new content to you personally. If you take the TiVo service, this will help you find even more new content you may never have seen before.

Originally Posted by passingbat

Sky have some channels that show content that we can't currently see on VM, either on a linear channel or on demand. And some of it (Sky Atlantic) is award winning drama.

Again I can't argue. It really comes down to each individual viewer. Personally I am not a fan of American drama so missing channels like SKY Atlantic, CBS Action and CBS Drama are not an issue for me at all whatsoever. I like sport so ESPN being included in the XL package is a real bonus to me.

Originally Posted by passingbat

I think there can be no doubt that for the broadest range of content, Sky is king in the UK.

Again I can't disagree but when it comes to volume and choice of content Virgin is king. Virgin offer a service where you will ALWAYS be able to find something you want to watch regardless of what time of day it is. According to figures on BARB, Virgin do actually carry the top 30 most watched programmes outside your usual terrestrial TV. So whilst SKY might have a broad offering that doesn't mean it's of a high standard. Not 1 single programme from SKY Atlantic features in the top 30 list.

If you have the XL package with Virgin plus SKY Movies and SKY Sports, which is roughly 175 channels, plus 6500 hours of On Demand content, plus another 1000 worth of Catch Up programmes, plus TiVo recording all sorts of programmes you've never even seen before and you're still not satisfied I really don't think what SKY has to offer is going to satisfy you either.

This is just my personal opinion. The channels that Virgin don't carry, with the exception of BoxNation, are just not that important to me. Again each to their own however some of the viewing figures on BARB appear to confirm the channels we don't have on Virgin are not exactly big hitters:

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weekly-viewing?_s=4

[Tim Deegan]

I have to agree with Chad.

If I have missed a program I have to watch it on catch up in my bedroom, because sky doesn't show it.

Also most of the channels on sky are complete rubbish, and aren't worth having anyway.

If HD really matters to you, stick with Sky, otherwise use Virgin Media.

[dibbz]

i was it the same situation as you a few days ago.....went with virgin!

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Chad

True but if you missed the programme, or you've never seen it before then it is brand new content to you personally. If you take the TiVo service, this will help you find even more new content you may never have seen before.



Again I can't argue. It really comes down to each individual viewer. Personally I am not a fan of American drama so missing channels like SKY Atlantic, CBS Action and CBS Drama are not an issue for me at all whatsoever. I like sport so ESPN being included in the XL package is a real bonus to me.



Again I can't disagree but when it comes to volume and choice of content Virgin is king. Virgin offer a service where you will ALWAYS be able to find something you want to watch regardless of what time of day it is. According to figures on BARB, Virgin do actually carry the top 30 most watched programmes outside your usual terrestrial TV. So whilst SKY might have a broad offering that doesn't mean it's of a high standard. Not 1 single programme from SKY Atlantic features in the top 30 list.

If you have the XL package with Virgin plus SKY Movies and SKY Sports, which is roughly 175 channels, plus 6500 hours of On Demand content, plus another 1000 worth of Catch Up programmes, plus TiVo recording all sorts of programmes you've never even seen before and you're still not satisfied I really don't think what SKY has to offer is going to satisfy you either.

This is just my personal opinion. The channels that Virgin don't carry, with the exception of BoxNation, are just not that important to me. Again each to their own however some of the viewing figures on BARB appear to confirm the channels we don't have on Virgin are not exactly big hitters:

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weekly-viewing?_s=4

I understand what you're saying, and the benefits of VM when coupled with Tivo, far outweigh Sky's extra content for me.

But there is a lot of 'Sky bashing' goes on, and for broadness of content shown, Sky beat VM. So, therefore, it can't be denied that Sky are the content kings.

For on demand and catchup, VM are king.

I very rarely use catchup and only occasionally use OD; with 3 recordable tuners and Whishlists, I find that there is no need.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

If HD really matters to you, stick with Sky, otherwise use Virgin Media.

Totally agree. Virgin have 36 HD channels compared to 61 from SKY however SKY Box Office HD1, SKY Box Office HD2, Sky HD Retail Info, SKY 3D are not really proper full time HD channels. Virgin pretty much carry the most popular HD channels. They do still carry the standard definition versions of the missing HD channels apart for SKY Atlantic, MGM and NHK World.

Virgin do offer plenty of HD content via On Demand and Catch-Up, with more to come on SKY Anytime and UKTV.

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 16:57 ----------

Originally Posted by passingbat

I understand what you're saying, and the benefits of VM when coupled with Tivo, far outweigh Sky's extra content for me.

But there is a lot of 'Sky bashing' goes on, and for broadness of content shown, Sky beat VM. So, therefore, it can't be denied that Sky are the content kings.

For on demand and catchup, VM are king.

I very rarely use catchup and only occasionally use OD; with 3 recordable tuners and Wish Lists, I find that there is no need.

Plenty of SKY bashing, there's an understatement

I actually joined SKY a few weeks back:



I was all set to go but SKY changed my install date. I then started to think about what I'd gain from joining SKY, and what I'd lose leaving Virgin. When I called Virgin to cancel, I asked to speak to retentions. They offered me a a reasonable deal plus a free TiVo 500Gb box. I cancelled my order with SKY, and agreed a new 12 month deal with Virgin.

I think the overall package from Virgin, including telephone and broadband just can't be beaten. But this is a thread about TV, so I'll leave it there.

[LexDiamond]

VM XL TV is excellent value for money. It includes all the most popular pay channels, channels in HD and on demand and a far superior PVR.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

and a far superior PVR.

You mean the SA V+

[LexDiamond]

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

You mean the SA V+

Even that one is

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

I have to agree with Chad.

If I have missed a program I have to watch it on catch up in my bedroom, because sky doesn't show it.

Also most of the channels on sky are complete rubbish, and aren't worth having anyway.

If you can live without Sony Entertainment Television, ARY Qtv, ARY Oneworld, ARY Entertainment, ARY News, Sky Atlantic, CBS Action, CBS Drama, Bliss, Chart Show TV, Dance Nation TV, Flava, Kix!, POP, Pop Girl, Scuzz, The Vault, True Movies 2, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Absolute 90s, TCM 2, BET, MTV Classic, MTV Music, ZEE Café, Zing, NHK World HD, Russia Today, Movies4men, Movies4men2, Al Jazeera English, Fox News and France 24 you'll be fine with Virgin. I have left out all of the +1 channels and HD varients from this list plus all of the various religion and sales channels. These channels are perceived to be the "popular missing ones".

Also you can't yet get Premier Sports or BoxNation on Virgin.

If you are a fan of music TV you'll notice there are a few main music channels missing from Virgin's offering. Virgin offer music on demand, included in the XL package, which provides access to thousands and thousands of the latest and greatest music videos, concerts and even karaoke at the touch of a button. Also included are concerts and plenty of HD videos.

For me personally, if Virgin offered to carry the missing music channels, but in return would stop the music on demand service, I'd ask them not to provide the missing music channels.

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

If HD really matters to you, stick with Sky, otherwise use Virgin Media.

If a program is available in HD then I will watch it in HD, but unless you are watching animated gilms like ice age or shreck, then it doesn't make a huge difference anyway.

---------- Post added at 17:19 ---------- Previous post was at 17:17 ----------

Originally Posted by Chad

If you can live without Sony Entertainment Television, ARY Qtv, ARY Oneworld, ARY Entertainment, ARY News, Sky Atlantic, CBS Action, CBS Drama, Bliss, Chart Show TV, Dance Nation TV, Flava, Kix!, POP, Pop Girl, Scuzz, The Vault, True Movies 2, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Absolute 90s, TCM 2, BET, MTV Classic, MTV Music, ZEE Café, Zing, NHK World HD, Russia Today, Movies4men, Movies4men2, Al Jazeera English, Fox News and France 24 you'll be fine with Virgin. I have left out all of the +1 channels and HD varients from this list plus all of the various religion and sales channels. These channels are perceived to be the "popular missing ones".

Also you can't yet get Premier Sports or BoxNation on Virgin.

Well most of those I never watch, and the few that I do, I only watch on rare occasions.

---------- Post added at 17:57 ---------- Previous post was at 17:19 ----------

I've just got off the phone to VM, and apparently if I add an extra box (half Tivo), with all channels except sport including HD, then it will cost me an extra £37. However that includes changes I have made to my phone packages, taking call divert off my fax line, and adding talk mobile (top version) to one line. The addition of the talk mobile package will save me at least £40 per month.

My monthly sky bill is £50.75.

So by adding the extra VM box I could save around £53 per month

The question is, I moved house in April, so will sky have me now in a 12 month contract unil April 2012??

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by Chad

Scuzz,

This is the only channel that I miss from Sky, But I have a massive music collection of metal So since I have been with VM I have still had my fill of metal mayhem