General : ESPN, BT, Euro, Premier and Sky Sports news

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I think the BT Sports channels on Sky, will be similar to the 'basic package' scenario, and will keep everyone on the toes as VM will NOT agree to it.

But BT will need to recoup there money, Yes Sky have agreed to the channels. But l can see VM standing fast as they will not agree to anything big bucks, EVNE though it will be us that ending up paying for it.

[Doug P]

As people keep mentioning not everyone can or wants to join Sky...

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Doug P

As people keep mentioning not everyone can or wants to join Sky...

Tut Tut... didn't you know? It's a plain and simple solution to just join Sky. Those of us who don't get that, must just be stupid

Originally Posted by coulsontom

Join Sky. Plain and simple.

[coulsontom]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Tut Tut... didn't you know? It's a plain and simple solution to just join Sky. Those of us who don't get that, must just be stupid

No.

But if you view things pragmatically, and logically, why wouldn't you?

Surely you choose the provider who provides you with the services you want for the best price?

With the loss of ESPN, Sky will provide the same services (with some upgrades, HD, Atlantic etc...) for less than Virgin currently do.

A choice of pay more for less at Virgin or less for more at Sky?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by coulsontom

A choice of pay more for less at Virgin or less for more at Sky?

Well it or depends what you think value is as many believe Virgin overall are much better value then Sky are but other people might think differently.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by coulsontom

No.

But if you view things pragmatically, and logically, why wouldn't you?

Because there are far more aspects to consider when choosing a service provider than purely content and price. Therefore it is not a 'simple' decision.

I find posts that claim it is 'simple' irritating.

[coulsontom]

Originally Posted by denphone

Well it or depends what you think value is as many believe Virgin overall are much better value then Sky are but other people might think differently.

When you say "overally value" though, what do you mean?

Here's our cold facts:

current package:

Virgin TV XL, Sky Sports & Movies, ESPN, Broadband 100mb, full Unlimited Phone, 1 x Tivo, additional V+hd.

Cost: £113.99

Sky package:

Sky World, Sports & Movies(full HD), Full Phone, Unlimited 20mb bb (no throttling), additional HD box.

Cost: £107

Virgin pro's: 3 tuners on TiVo, recording facility on multiroom box, faster bb, ESPN.

Sky pro's: Atlantic, full HD F1 & Sports & Movies on demand.

Sky's multiroom won't let you record but we never record on extra box anyway.
ESPN is going, and we never get the full BB speed.

The only benefit to Virgin therefore, is the 3 tuners.

---------- Post added at 16:15 ---------- Previous post was at 16:15 ----------

Originally Posted by passingbat

Because there are far more aspects to consider when choosing a service provider than purely content and price. Therefore it is not a 'simple' decision.

I find posts that claim it is 'simple' irritating.

Such as what?

hope you don't say customer service. As it's crap no matter who you get your services from.

Not being antagonistic on purpose btw!

[Mad Max]

The only benefit to Virgin therefore, is the 3 tuners.

This is true, as far as the 3 tuners is concerned, but it's nonsense to suggest it's the only benefit, i for one would not like to be stuck on a measly 20Mb broadband!

[denphone]

Virgin boss wades into BT and TalkTalk row.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...kTalk-row.html

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by coulsontom

When you say "overally value" though, what do you mean?

Here's our cold facts:

current package:

Virgin TV XL, Sky Sports & Movies, ESPN, Broadband 100mb, full Unlimited Phone, 1 x Tivo, additional V+hd.

Cost: £113.99

Sky package:

Sky World, Sports & Movies(full HD), Full Phone, Unlimited 20mb bb (no throttling), additional HD box.

Cost: £107

Virgin pro's: 3 tuners on TiVo, recording facility on multiroom box, faster bb, ESPN.

Sky pro's: Atlantic, full HD F1 & Sports & Movies on demand.

Sky's multiroom won't let you record but we never record on extra box anyway.
ESPN is going, and we never get the full BB speed.

The only benefit to Virgin therefore, is the 3 tuners.

---------- Post added at 16:15 ---------- Previous post was at 16:15 ----------



Such as what?

!

Well, my BB is faster than the 20meg from sky even when I'm capped. And will you actually get 20meg or is that the advertised speed?

Tivo's advantages are more than just the 3 recordable tuners.

There are Whishlists, which having had them, I wouldn't want to live without.

Automatic resolution of recording clashes

Suggestions. I don't use them, but many do.

Intelligent search functionality with easy links to setting up series links or a wishlist

Full series, season and episode information on a show and the ability to set series links or wishlists directly from that information.

Direct link to youtube for a show you may want a sample of if you haven't seen it.

Backwards EPG with direct link to catchup. Have Sky introduced that recently?

MRS. Pathetic number of channels ATM, but a functionality not available on a Sky box.

Free repair of equipment

And I have had excellent customer service over the 15 years I've been with Cable. I have only had one bad experience that was resolved on the same call.

I'm astounded that you can't record on Sky's multiroom box. Is that really true?

Sky can only offer me one thing that I want, and that is Atlantic, which I really would like.


It's a pretty clear choice for me, but for others, it will be less clear cut (i.e., not simple). For example, those who want Sports 3 and 4 and F1 in HD, but also want fast broadband and like the superior functionality of Tivo.

And I still can't get over Sky's multiroom box not being able to record!!

Originally Posted by coulsontom

Sky's multiroom won't let you record but we never record on extra box anyway

[Media Boy UK]

BT Sports Package to launch on August 1st?

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35564597-post36.html

[coulsontom]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Well, my BB is faster than the 20meg from sky even when I'm capped. And will you actually get 20meg or is that the advertised speed?

Tivo's advantages are more than just the 3 recordable tuners.

There are Whishlists, which having had them, I wouldn't want to live without.

Automatic resolution of recording clashes

Suggestions. I don't use them, but many do.

Intelligent search functionality with easy links to setting up series links or a wishlist

Full series, season and episode information on a show and the ability to set series links or wishlists directly from that information.

Direct link to youtube for a show you may want a sample of if you haven't seen it.

Backwards EPG with direct link to catchup. Have Sky introduced that recently?

MRS. Pathetic number of channels ATM, but a functionality not available on a Sky box.

Free repair of equipment

And I have had excellent customer service over the 15 years I've been with Cable. I have only had one bad experience that was resolved on the same call.

I'm astounded that you can't record on Sky's multiroom box. Is that really true?

Sky can only offer me one thing that I want, and that is Atlantic, which I really would like.


It's a pretty clear choice for me, but for others, it will be less clear cut (i.e., not simple). For example, those who want Sports 3 and 4 and F1 in HD, but also want fast broadband and like the superior functionality of Tivo.

And I still can't get over Sky's multiroom box not being able to record!!

I appreciate that some use features we don't.

Wishlists for example, I don't use, and others don't because they wouldn't know how too (too complicated). But I appreciate that you would like to use it.

We're not heavy internet users. We just browse the web, read e-mails mainly so 20mb wouldn't bother us and tbh on normal browsing you can't tell the difference. We only get about 40mb as it is now.

I do like the catch-up on virgin, and they were ahead of the game on this, but Sky have caught up in a sense that they now too offer iplayer and itv catch up services as well as full sky catch up and on demand.

We have found that virgin catch up often breaks and it's usually at night when you most want to use it.

The multiroom box that is free with sky doesn't record, but if you pay £199 you can get a recording one, which is frankly, a rip-off. Thing is though, we never record on the multiroom box so it wouldn't affect us.

Basically, it depends on what you want/need. But it still remains that you go to the place where you get what you want for the cheapest price. I don't know why anyone would not do that unless they had won the lottery.

[muppetman11]

Erm you can record on a Sky multiroom box if you elect for a second PVR , in fact there's loads of people who've rang Sky looking to switch who've been offered two PVR's free , I have two Sky+HD boxes both of which are recordable , coulsontom is referring to the free multiroom box the SkyHD which is the same as VM collections that include the VHD both non PVR's. It's horses for courses as always.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Erm you can record on a Sky multiroom box if you elect for a second PVR ,.

I did assume that was the case, which is why I was surprised when it was said that you couldn't. So I therefore asked the question.

[tvtimes]

Originally Posted by coulsontom

Join Sky. Plain and simple.

Not renewing our virgin contract which is £113.99 at the moment. Which is £6 more than the same package (minus ESPN) with Sky and that includes all HD channels.

When ESPN goes, Virgin will be very expensive, and there's no way BT will be cheap.

And your basis for this comes from........? How do you know BT won't be cheap? Have you been privy to their pricing?