+Doc+

Virgin today freeview tomorrow. Greedy Sky, a bit like Microsoft going for world domination.

Varboy

It drives me crazy the fact that Sky seem to have the monopoly albeit unofficially. I would love to save myself 50+ a month by getting rid, but there's nothing else available in my area that will offer me the choice and picture quality

Jaybird-UK

If Telewest (now virgin) lose Sky One then Im sorry but I'd drop my TV package with them.

Jaybird-UK

Just got off the phone from Virgin and they confirm Sky One is going.

Bit of a bugger really as I signed 12 months for a TV Drive package and now I have to pay Ł80 cancellation fee I was prepared to leave phone/internet but the cancelation fee isnt really warming me to virgin media.

Cant help thinking Virgin stepped in a a bad time, Im taking my phone, internet and TV (two boxes) away, Im sure others are two.

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

i dont know what to do, at the moment i pay around Ł80 for tv, phone and broadband

Jaybird-UK

well I'm not giving up Sky One, so Im signing up.

Virgin could have retained Sky One channels but refused to pay the fee. Show them as a consumer you wont accept third rate packages.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I already confirmed it

Virgin will be removing its channels from Sky and thus a war will begin... the last company to do this was nickelodeon and after a month they came crying back... Sky will lose A LOT of money from this... most of our customers are on 12 month contracts so can't leave... hold out guys it will be back

Jaybird-UK

I'd question most are on 12 months, unless they are new subscribers or they upgraded to TV Drive I would say most are long term customers well out of their original 12 month contract.

I've got 8 months left of my 12 months, and will be paying the Ł80 when I find out how long my Sky install will be.

Sky has always had more channels, none have been deal breakers for me but I dont mind getting a few new channels into the bargain.

Sorry Virgin, your service was great but you failed up. I was also told there would be no adjustment to the exisiting subscription. Makes you wonder who is fooling who here?


For those considering moving to Sky heres some interesting stuff

Set your Sky+ to record stuff using your mobile when away
Sky.com - Products and Services>More Sky Products>Remote Record

Sky anytime, watch shows on your PC or mobile
Sky Anytime - Your Sky, On Demand

Free 2mb broadband
Sky Broadband - Broadband internet offers & broadband packages in the UK

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Dear customer,

Let’s face it. Things would be pretty boring if choice didn’t exist. There’d be just one kind of airline to fly with. One type of car to drive. And if Sky had their way, there’d only be one place to get TV.

We thought we’d let you in on a few tricks they’ve been trying to get their way.

While we’ve continued to make Virgin Media channels like Living, Bravo and Challenge available to all Sky customers, Sky may withdraw their non-premium channels from Virgin Media’s service – in order to force you into switching service.

Virgin Media were willing to pay an increase in costs in order to get the complete range of Sky content and channels.

However, Sky have consistently demanded an increase that bears no relation to the channels’ market value.

We have refused to accept this increase, since it would mean absorbing significant costs ourselves, and passing the kind of price increase on to our customers that is simply unfair. We are not prepared to rip off our customers.

So Sky have picked up their ball and gone home.

As a Virgin company, we’re well used to the attempts of large corporations trying to manipulate markets, stifle competition and rip off consumers.

Luckily, we don’t think Sky’s the limit.

We think the future’s full of fresh entertainment and communication possibilities. And we’re looking forward to bringing them to you. With all the freedom and choice you deserve.

We’ve launched Virgin Central, a revolutionary type of TV channel, where programmes start and stop when you say so. This is only available on Virgin Media, since Sky don’t have the technology to be able to transmit it. What’s more, it’s available to every single one of our digital TV customers.

And there’s our unique on demand library. A giant collection of over 500 films, 1000 music videos, 100s of TV shows – all at your beck and call. You can access them at any time.

We’re not scared of competition, we welcome it.

To find out more, visit virginmedia.com/fairplay.

Yours,



Sir Richard Branson

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

Oh well freeview it is then Virgin/NTL can stick their box where the sun don't shine, thiving bastids
Cheers
Colin

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

surely its Sky who are trying to rob you ?

djuk

On a different but positive note, I'm an Virgin Media phone and broadband customer and got a call from a very nice chap at Virgin Media yesterday afternoon who wanted to give me the basic cable TV package for free. I'm not moving away from Sky+ because I like the choice and the Sky+ system but he insisted I have it for the spare room, it's free after all - I like them already

Robertio

iTrader: (1)

Errr, so existing customers will be paying less then? Nope, so how does a price increase differ from paying the same price for less channels?


I've been with NTL/Virgin for almost 6 years now, and the standard of service has been much lower than I'd like. Internet dropping connection, speed drop off, TV box updates run when I'm trying to watch the TV, picture pausing and jumping. Now I'm going to get fewer channels, great.
I don't even bother trying to phone customer service anymore - once spent 12 hours on the phone just to speak to someone, only to find they had disconected my internet access for no apparent reason.

Wish I could get Freeview here, I would have got rid of the TV package years ago and saved myself quite a few pennies.

Freak

Final straw
Have been with telewest since it came here- must be getting on for about 11 years now?
When NTL joined the broadband got significantly worse- in terms of speed and dropouts all the time.
The picture on cable now jumps all the time, and the box is constantly locking up.

This just seals it- despite having just upgraded to TV drive.

Guess what....its worked.

Right. You are prepared to **** them off instead. Way to go. And what is the difference between paying more for the same service vs paying the same for less service?

GTB Limited

The only reason this has happened, is that Sky is **** scared of Branson.

Mark

Jaybird-UK

Please dont buy into the PR that Branson is the saviour of the common man, fighting for the independant and caring for us all.

He wants to make money just as much as the next corporation. No difference between Sky and Virgin.

Sky put their prices up, they have investited millions in Sky One and want to recoup the cash.

Virgin refused to pay, yet wont even reduce the rental to their customers - so who is the robbing *******s?

oh, and I fly Virgin twice a year and they now charge an extra Ł50 if you get an emergency exit seat. They used to be no extra, just a perk of checking in early.

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

i have Virgin car insurance

Simon C

With the way you drive you need something.





















I'd say a eye test!!

King RA

pffft, sky one, big deal. What are you gonna miss?? simpson repeats, malcom in the middle?? Work out how to download tv shows and you'll find yourself barely using it at all anyway. Sky doesn't have teleport replay or the massive selection of programmes on demand, all with the adverts ripped out. Bliss.

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

lol, a smaller car might do the trick

King RA

I think sky news is going too, which I'm more upset about.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

and travel, but Virgin plan to replace them with Virgin Channels

Jaybird-UK

Dresden Files
Stargate SG1
Battlestar Gallactica
24
Lost
Ross Kemp on gangs
and yes, Simpsons is still worth watching.

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

What about people who don't have internet or are uncomfortable with downloading TV programmes illegally (i don't know any legal way to download the latest Tv shows)and as you mentioned it's not just Sky One going

JackClark

The whole country should revolt, move to Freeview for a while and the rip off price of subscription TV will drop like a stone.

FlightMan

Pimmo, sent you an PM.

LG John

Sky One is one of my most watched channels and I’ll be very sad to see it go! Looks like I’ll be reverting back to downloading Lost again I’ve got the full Virgin Media package with the TV Drive including its limited (but impressive) HD material, the full-fat broadband and a suitable phone package. I cannot emphasis how versatile the system is with regards to watching your programmes when you want to and catching things you may have missed. I also find the quality to be far superior to satellite systems that can go wonky during bad weather, etc.

I’ll be gutted to lose Sky One but I’m not changing my package. Sky can’t offer half of what Virgin Media can and critically I do not believe is supporting cowboy tactics like this. Everyone that dumps Virgin for Sky is only a statistic to convince Sky that such behaviour is acceptable and will work again. Vote with your feet and stick with Virgin IMHO.

As a final point I think a lot of people think they watch Sky One a lot when they don’t. It’s like a comfort blanket – you just need to know its there. Allow me to explain: if someone asked me what channel I watch the most I’d almost certainly say Sky One and I think viewing records would prove that I’m tuned into that channel more than any other. But I seldom watch it! It’s the default ‘background’ channel – when I’m not really watching anything I’ll stick it on because the Simpson’s, Futurama, etc will be showing. I don’t watch the programmes as I’ve seen most of them before but I’m happy to dither around doing what I’m doing in the house and occasionally I’ll catch the odd gag or Homer moment. I bet there are a lot of people that treat Sky One this way. Seriously, how many of you really sit down to properly watch Sky One programmes? Lost is the only programme I will religiously watch from start to finish come rain or shine and on the basis Sky only ‘just’ got it I can easily revert to downloading again

Sub97

I watch Lost, 24 and Nip/Tuck religiously on Sky One

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I got that too but i wouldn't post it on here

Markus

iTunes Store (possibly US only though) does have a fair few shows on it, for example,

Stargate SG-1
Stargate Atlantis
The Dresden Files
Battlestar Gallactica
Lost

Plus a whole lot of other shows. Granted you have to pay for them, so it's not free, but it certainly is legal.

Also, some of the network websties have online episodes of the show too, usually a week or so after airing. I think ABC does this with Lost.

Once the AppleTV is released, which I think is pretty soon, there will no doubt be even more content available.