Sky vs. Virgin Media (VFM)

**hybrid** · #1 (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 10:39 PM

Are you getting VFM (value for money)? Under the latest news regarding Virgin Media removing some Tv channels from their line up, due to the increase that Sky wanted to charge Virgin Media – are you receiving the best services for money?

Let’s start with Sky’s Package – they offer broadband, low cost telephone charges and TV, but so do Virgin Media (but with less TV channels). One big difference is with Sky’s phone service you still need to pay line rental to BT, so an extra bill.

Virgin Media on the other hand charge more for their TV package, even though they broadcast fewer channels. With their phone service you can have unlimited calls and this is all billed to you from one company.

Now Virgin Media is offering 20Mb broadband as from May (subject to maybe a new cable modem that costs £25.00, if your current modem is not compatible), along with a 768k upload. This will then become the UK’s fastest internet broadband provider, but they are also increasing the price of this package by £2.00 per month.

If you actually calculate the prices between these rival companies you are better off with some services from one company and vice-versa. Virgin Media cannot beat Sky’s TV packages, yet Virgin Media offers better pricing on their telephone service and broadband. So, taking all this into consideration, you’re better off by using Sky for their TV service and Virgin Media for phone and broadband services.

Whats your opinion on this?

**shedevil** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-25-2007, 07:11 AM

ive got sky tv i was gonna have the broadband aswell till they said i gotta have BT fone line so ive got virgin broadband and fone,ive always had virgin broadband though.i dont really care what they change it to id still have it..cant live without my internet.but can live without sky tv

**samanthaxuk** · #3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2007, 04:53 PM

well i'm with virgin/ntl and i hate them. everymonth they seem to be crediting me as they have charged me double.

i want to move. can you more to sky without a bt landine?

as ive got ntl.

**shedevil** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-27-2007, 05:58 AM

Hi Sam.yeah,you can move to sky tv but if you wanted
the broadband you'd need a BT line..
better still phone virgin give em earache bout ur bill.
i did and now my fone and broadband is only a fiver each a month.woohooo i won

**hybrid** · #5 (**permalink**) 03-27-2007, 07:17 AM

Hi Sam,

Basically, when you signup initially with Sky, you are under a 12 month contract to have their box connected to a phoneline, whether its BT or a Cable line. The Sky box does a call-back once a month, to check its still connected to a telephone line. After the 12 month period, you don't have to have it connected to a telephone line, unless you want access to some of the interactive services.

Most of the time Sky have a deal running, meaning if a Sky customer refers you then both parties receive £30 in vouchers.

I had dealings with cable in the past, and vowed never to pay them again via Direct Debit - since they tried billing me twice, which caused huge bank charges, eventually I managed to get the charges back from cable, but it wasn't easy. Now, I just pay them via Debit Card when I get a bill.

**pzblues** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 06:56 AM

I would say that sky offers the best service and the fact that virgin media have lost key channals would mean that eventually sky will offer good sign up offers and take a lot of virgin media customers, however, while cable can be gotten for free, most of us will stick with VM untill its all gone