July 14, 2010

Did I miss something?

Am I missing something? Virgin Media customers are going to be paying less than Sky customers for Sky HD Sports 1 & 2 and all the Sky Movies channels, and have ESPN HD and Film4 HD and a dozen other HD channels for nowt (the ones worth having) and folk on Cable Forum are still sounding off and crying foul??
If you don't want to pay, don't. Simples. I could understand the outrage if all VM customers were going to be charged an extra £7 a month regardless of whether they want the premium HD channels or not, but that's not the case. At least we're getting the choice now.
Nothing's officially been announced. No matter how reliable sources are (and two of the best, Square Eyes and Big Red, are not hearing the same things) we still don't know exactly what's coming, so let's just see what's announced in the next few days.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can understand lower packages paying £7,But to charge xl/vip is a disgrace

Kevin Gollop said...

I think £7 I could just about live with, though I'd still be pretty hacked off being a VIP customer. I think it's the per box pricing that's really set everyone off.

goonergaz said...

per box if you want HD premium content...I have HD in the front room and would put up with SD in the bedroom to save £7 (FTR Sky are charging £8 more PER BOX for HD £3 for HD and £5 for the box and there's no free HD at all)

brooza said...

Does anybody know if this is going to be available to those that don't subscribe to the Sports/movies SD?

goonergaz said...

Brooza, I don't understand your question?

If you have V+ or the HD box with XLTV you get all the HD channels for free bar the premium channels (Sky Sports and Sky Movies).

You even get ESPN HD for free.

brooza said...

gst2000, I don't have the Sky Sports pack, but would be interested in getting SS1/2 in HD. Would I have to get the SS pack as well or can I just pay for the premium HD channels?

paininthegulliver said...

£7 a month for 2 channels Sky Sports HD1 and HD2

economic sense?

OLU said...

I only WANT HD MOVIES
DONT WANT SPORT

WOULD I'VE TO PAY £7 ???

Oblong said...

Common sense says it's not going to be the same additional fee if you've just got sports or just got movies.

Common sense can be a plastic cat, but in this case it will surely win 1-0.

Square eyes said...

@brooza,..

Sorry but yes you do have to subscribe to the SD versions as well

@baw...

the £7 is not just for the sports, it for the movies as well

@OLU...

again yes it would still be £7

paininthegulliver said...

to square eyes

and if you don't subscribe to the Movie channels?

Square eyes said...

it is £7 no matter what, sports or movies even both together, it is still £7

NickJ said...

Must say I was surprised, what did Neil Berkett mean when he said:

"We will continue to improve the quality of our TV service in the months to come, including for the first time the addition of Sky Premium channels in HD for a very competitive price. While I am unable to share all of the details with you now, please rest assured that there is more good news to come for our TV XL customers." which was listed in the blog on the 12th June?

I assumed at the time, as others did that he was suggesting that XL customers would receive the Sky Sports/Movies HD for free if they had the existing SD packages but the more recent posts suggest not.

I know it's still not official yet but does anyone know what he was referring to? - or maybe it's a ploy, a bit like the government suggesting 40% cuts now, only to introduce lower cuts later, maybe XL customers will get a free upgrade after all and everyone will be happier?!

Oblong said...

Just heard from one of my sauces (tomato), that Sky are launching Sky News -1 in September. This will allow viewers to witness important world events before they actually happen.

The Racing Channel -1 will come to an end on July 22nd after pressure from various multi-national betting companies.

In related news, I'm going to bed.

BikeNutt said...

Very Good Matt!

paininthegulliver said...

like i said £7 for 2 channels

insanity

goonergaz said...

@baw - would you be happier if it was £7 across the board like sky (but £3 cheaper)!?

Nialli said...

I did not realise Sky charged £10 a month for HD per box. I think a lot of folk weren't aware of that and think it's just Virgin who are charging per box. It ain't. Blame Sky

BikeNutt said...

I've been thinking of ditching SS & SM for some months now but held on a while longer for the outcome of the premium HD channels saga.

As I'm sure we all did, I quietly hoped for the SD subs to reduce thus offsetting any additional cost for the HD content - i.e. no net increase.

If the hype is to be believed I, as an XL customer, will receive no such discount on my SS & SM subs and (may) be hit with an additional £7pm increase. Whilst this is not a huge sum, it re-affirms my belief that the current TV service is costing this household far too much. It is only TV after all!

Instead, I will watch choice premiership games down the pub, watch the HD Cricket highlights on 5HD, continue to watch HD movies on red and blu. The savings will go into the pot for family treats.

All is well in the world!

matthew said...

Hmmmm...Bike Nut talks alot of sense...making me think.."its only TV after all" really excited about SS HD but the prices are starting to add up!

Big Red said...

Well my first post for a while as I now mainly use Cable Forum. Sorry Nialli will try harder to post here.

To business as a VIP/XL TV customer all I ask my insider is what is going to impact/benefit ME nothing else.

My insider is not just a insider he is a friend I have known for a number of years and he knows I post information on these kind of forums so he's not going to make me look silly and I believe what he tells me - he has not let me down yet.

Anyway back to subject - All I can say he has told me VIP customer will get ALL yes ALL HD channels from SKY at no extra cost - XL TV customers will get the Sky Basic HD channels and they only way you will get Sports and Movies HD channels is by subscribing to the SD packages/bundles.

But I'm guessing that some of the rumours (Square eyes post) are true there will be a charge for these HD channels for M/M+ and L customers. Or simple terms upgrade to XL TV or VIP

I fully expect us VIP customers to get ALL HD and future HD channels at no extra cost.