Snazy

Just a quickie really, my Sky contract is up and I am tempted by the current offer from Virgin Media on the XL TV package with additional box for the other room.

So how do you rate the service you get, compared to Sky if you have had it, and is the HD actually worth it?

Oh and do you get all available HD channels such as Sky News HD ?

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

I dont get as many HD channels but overall I am very happy with the service, We have TV, broadband and phone and have done for about 4 years now.
No complaints at all really, plus the bad weather never really effects your reception.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

unless it floods your cab

Snazy

Immediate responses on Facebook from friends has been don't do it lol.
Just looked at the HD channels and there are indeed a fair few missing on VM.

Other option is to renew with Sky and just get a new HD box from them.
Do Sky ever do retention deals or just set you free? Wondering if its worth seeing what they will do to keep an old customer.

No rush, but paying £10 a month extra for a few HD channels just sucks.

bigsinky

snaz, on top tier there are 39 HD channels

Snazy

Yeah but I don't use movies or sports, so that's 18 of the channels gone already lol
Still almost double what VM offer even without movies/sports

ScoobyWon't

I've spoken to Sky a couple of days ago, regarding cancelling.

I told them what Virgin were offering, XL Tv, 20mb internet and phone and HD at £39/Month and they came back to me with:

All entertainment packs + HD - movies - sports, + Line rental + phone package= £44 a month.

To say that I would be getting rid of sky Movies which is £9 a month, I'd only be saving £5 per month. So I'm actually losing the movie channels which I could keep for the extra £4...

Snazy, sign up to Virgin through Quidco, you get £125 cashback too

MickWrx

I can't really fault VM and worth bearing in mind you can drop your BT line rental too if you go with their telephone service.

I have 20mb broadbrand and xl TV with Vbox HD and 3 additional boxes through the rest of the house, Sky could not get close to VM's price. HD choice may not comparable to sky just yet? but I have 12 HD channels on XL not including Movies ( but you can pick and choose HD on demand) currently just checked I have.

BBC HD
Living HD
ITV1 HD
4 Hd
E4 HD
FXHD
Syfy Hd
Disc HD
Nat geo HD
MTV HD
Eurosport HD
ESPN HD

Leslie

If you do like sports then Sky is hard to beat. The HD is good quality too, hell of a lot better than the BBC version.

Les

NEILB1

iTrader: (9)

i think that Virgin are fine been with them for 3 years now and there seems to be alot more HD channels coming on all the time, The last rep i spoke to said they were spending £17m on getting new HD channel to the viewers

I have the XL tv, L internet and phone line and wireless router get it for £32 a month,

There service as been excellent and when i have had a problem there are always here to help out, I got a a faulty wireless router and had a new one the day after

Snazy

Cheers guys, its all very confusing for me lol. One group say definatly NO! The other group says HELL YEAH.
Currently I have Sky normal TV, with no movies or sports (no need for them) And BB with Orange for £15 a month inc landline and intergrates with my Blackberry for UMA calls.
No real reason to change that set up as its always worked fine, and there appears to be no saving to be made.
However the Sky is on a second landline (long story) which I could drop if I go with Virgin, which would equate to a saving. A friend also might be able to get me a discount too, so thats another plus for Virgin.

I hear that due to legislation Virgin will be getting more of Sky's HD channels soon which would also make it better.
Financially I am more inclined to go with Virgin. Tempted to get it installed to see how it goes especially if there is a cool off period that I can just call up and say "nope, take it back"

I think I need to get a pen and paper and plan all this out on paper to see where the savings are and how I can make this work lol

M4RKG

iTrader: (22)

VM = Poop... my lass has it and only got it as cheaper than SKY, shes had nothing but problems, bad reception on the tele and intermitant broadband. And its rare that the on demand service ever works. Might be a one off, granted... but thats my experience.

Only thing bad about SKY is the tech support/customer service, takes ages to get through to them if you need to... but then again, they've sorted any probs within a few minutes.

I'd stick with SKY mate, haggle them down to a good price

Snazy

This is how the number crunch....

Currently
Sky £38 a month
Orange phone and BB £15
2nd Landline £15 (mums line she pays for)
Total £68

To add HD to this would be £10 a month extra making it £78 a month.

Virgin option
XL TV inc HD channels and +box
M Broadband (10mb)
M home phone
£53 a month.

Mum could ditch her phoneline, and with HD included, a potential saving of £25 a month

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

I'd vote for Virgin - are always one step ahead with regards to the broadband and altho they are playing catchup with their HD service, I have to say their upscaling of the SD channels via the HD boxes is far better than that from Sky (there is a write up on this on avforums somewhere)

Virgin are also trialling 100mb and 200mb broadband whereas Sky etc will always be limited to things like distance from exchange etc via adsl

SPEN555

An alternative to another box is to get a product called "Sling". By using your broadband it can control your box and you watch on phones, tvs, pcs etc.

Snazy

I am waiting to see if my friend can get me a little discounts through friends and family, could make Virgin even more attractive.
Just been on the phone to Orange on more cost cutting and came out smelling of roses, so im on a roll lol

Hanley

Don't forget with VM you also get catch-up TV, iPlayer, ITVPlayer etc which is very good

I was a Sky customer for around 10 years and finally ditched them last year and switched to VM and I can't say I miss Sky.

We use the catch-up TV all the time, never had any problems with reception etc and the picture quality is far superior to Sky (IMO of course).

As for the additional HD channels, I don't miss them, watched the Champions League final yesterday on ITV HD and the picture was stunning.

DYK

Another for virgin,had it for some yrs never had any problems with reception/picture,not had any problems with broadband either,no BT line rental..Agreed the HD channels are playing catch up to sky but is it really a problem to have a few less HD channels,get the virgin v box and will be sorted...

bigsinky

i have the best of both worlds. i have sky and i also have VM for my broadband. i have to say i cannot fault their 50Mbit service.

Leslie

I can't even imagine that sort of speed Big S.

Les

Snazy

Les, me neither, I have no use for massive speeds, but Sinky downloads Tb's of **** a week, so needs it lol.

Cheers for the feedback though guys, always interesting to see the flip side of a coin.
Financially it works out, and hopefully living in town I should not face too many issue with the service.
Pretty set on at least trying it out. Worst case I will swap it all back. Not gonna cancel anything til its all in and working.

Snazy

Seems I have just had my arm twisted behind my back...

XL TV with all 165 channels
L Broadband, 20mb uncapped, router supplied and 50 free photo prints a month
XL Phone, unlimited landline calls
Plus a second box for the other room....
For £33.50 a month (instead of £67)

Thank heavens for having friends in Virgin lol. Now to see if its any good lol

+Doc+

In my eyes VM is far better than Sky on so many levels, the only draw back would be HD Sports and movies but these are extras I don't have so no problem.
The catch up TV and on demand is superb.

Jamz3k

Since you don't watch movies and sports, have you considered Freesat?

ScoobyWon't

It's a good deal

Sadly as the fibre optic cable stops at the end of my drive and won't go up it, I can only bluff Sky and claim Quidco by getting the girlfriend to sign up at my address.

Snazy

From what I see FreeSat is limited on channels. While I dont do sports and movies I do watch a lot of real life, natural etc stuff.
This way there is no initial layout and I am getting a bloody good deal here.

Reffro

Another trick Sky can't do, right now I am recording two programmes and watching a third live.

Just got my V+ HD box on Saturday, loving it. And I don't have a dustbin lid hanging off the wall or roof

Snazy

I got to admit that will come in handy as with mine and the other halfs choice in programs we are always getting clashes etc lol.

The order has been submitted by my mate, so I should hear in the next day or 2. Then by next week will hopefully have it installed and can give an opinion, then cancel the other bits.

Snazy

Well its all in now. 3 hours to get it all fitted, no demo (i just wanted him gone lol)
Have to say, it takes some getting used to but I like the way it works already.

Took me a while to work the wifi wireless router out, but all done now, and everything running on it, inc the Berry's etc.

Pleased with the HD too, can see a difference, not a £10 a month difference that Sky want, but worth while. Left wanting a bigger newer TV now. Slightly miffed that the remote cant control my Dell TV, where the Sky one could, but a good excuse to get a new one.

Anyway. broadband, download is good up load is crap but I rarely upload these days.

ScoobyWon't

The only people who require a highspeed upload are those who provide a live **** stream.

Is there a demand for Mal-****?