tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post7986633715190876236..comments2023-11-01T10:45:23.708+00:00Comments on Virgin Media TV: Why I'm sticking with Virgin Media ... for now, anywayNiallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11917083363610144290noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-21258277515905501292009-03-18T21:04:00.000+00:002009-03-18T21:04:00.000+00:00The broadband, in my experience, is as advertised....The broadband, in my experience, is as advertised. I get almost 20mb via an 802.11n wireless router (see Speedtest at the foot of the blog's homepage) and cannot fault it these days. <BR/>The TV service is very good (see if you can get the new Samsung V+) and VOD is superb. <BR/>However, as this blog sadly reports so frequently, it's the Virgin HD service that is woefully inadequate and if that's key to your TV requirements, you had best stick with Sky HD for now and move to VM for broadband.Niallihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11917083363610144290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-63306453253075421212009-03-18T19:37:00.000+00:002009-03-18T19:37:00.000+00:00The HD picture quality etc is OK with VM, but the ...The HD picture quality etc is OK with VM, but the amount of HD content is much lower right now than Sky - one channel versus about 28 channels including movies and sports! VM does have a few paid on demand HD movies, and some documentaries and HBO series to watch in TV choice on demand - good stuff, but it hardly ever changes. I do like VM TV service for the price I pay and I can't fault the broadband.<BR/><BR/>So if you think you can't manage without HD and you watch anything other than BBC HD on your Sky service, then VM just doesn't compare, but it's pretty good for what it is.<BR/><BR/>You could always consider just broadband (and maybe phone) with VM and just TV with Sky if you don't mind paying extra, that seems the only way to get best of both worlds!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-23052967864770341352009-03-18T19:06:00.000+00:002009-03-18T19:06:00.000+00:00I am thinking of going "the other way"! I am with ...I am thinking of going "the other way"! I am with Sky and have the HD box/service. I started to look at moving because my BT broadband was so slow. For upto 8M, read 1.5M if you're lucky! It's the telephone line you see. Virgin have cables in the street and can offer better than BT. That's when the bundles come in. Cutting costs etc etc. So, you VM "oldies" - am I about to go off the rails? Will I be happy with my increased broadband speed but be wishing I had stayed with Sky HD? Is the difference content (Sky better than VM), quality or what? Help please before I go down another black hole of costly whoopsies!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-16532092684701968902008-09-04T12:52:00.000+01:002008-09-04T12:52:00.000+01:00I have XL TV for £13.50 a month. Would be nice to ...I have XL TV for £13.50 a month. Would be nice to have some more HD but I have a PS3 and bluray disc collection for that and am happy enough with BBC HD. The quality on Setanta is not great but it's certainly watchable and a bargain for being bundled with XL TV package.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-12888079442326347262008-09-03T15:25:00.000+01:002008-09-03T15:25:00.000+01:00Yeah, sorry again about the wording on the poll - ...Yeah, sorry again about the wording on the poll - I did it in a hurry and found I couldn't edit the wording on a Blogger poll once it's been posted up :o(<BR/>I agree on the NG/Discovery documentaries - it's true of History, Five and even Channel 4 docs. After every ad break they go over the same stuff again! Even more annoying if you're watching it without the ads (either FF through them or on OnDemand). Thank heavens for the BBC.Niallihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11917083363610144290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-72204953207617900282008-09-03T13:48:00.000+01:002008-09-03T13:48:00.000+01:00I also felt left out by your poll. I just couldn'...I also felt left out by your poll. I just couldn't justify the cost of a Sky HD package. Add on another £12 per month for Setanta and £10 for multiroom and things start to get ridiculous (£79 worth in fact). I'm not swapping my XL broadband for anything. My HD tele gets most use from my PS3 for games and movies and I'm happy with that at the momememt.<BR/><BR/>I've not watched Discovery/National Geographic for years, most of the documentries are a)crap and b)treat you like an idiot that can't remember sometthing you were told 15 minutes ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-22499073956585500822008-09-03T11:21:00.000+01:002008-09-03T11:21:00.000+01:00Hi NeilYep, interesting comments. I just sent an e...Hi Neil<BR/><BR/>Yep, interesting comments. I just sent an eMail to VM challenging them to convince me why I should not move to Sky HD. The reality though, is that I will be staying with VM. Why? It's pretty simple actually <BR/><BR/>- I don't want a BT line<BR/><BR/>- VMs XL broadband is very reliable and (as we all know) better than ADSL anyway<BR/><BR/>- The HD content on some of the other channels is shite anyway (I *never* watch ITV except for the odd movie)<BR/><BR/>- I watch the footy down the pub with mates. Much more sociable<BR/><BR/>Keep blogging. I'm loving your work ;-)<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-72227175787007498922008-09-02T16:54:00.000+01:002008-09-02T16:54:00.000+01:00Filmflex is comparable to Xbox LIVE Marketplace: O...Filmflex is comparable to Xbox LIVE Marketplace: Once started, you have 24 hours to watch before the film's deleted.Afronthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13630378459973921273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-27898416464773443112008-09-02T16:49:00.000+01:002008-09-02T16:49:00.000+01:00That's a fair comment. The poll questions definite...That's a fair comment. The poll questions definitely reflected my disillusionment with Virgin that day! Apologies.<BR/>Another factor for me staying is Filmflex. Starts when you want, you can pause, rewind, etc - much better than Sky Box Office. I just wish they'd let you view over a longer period than 24 hours - it seems miserly considering how much they're asking you to fork out.Niallihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11917083363610144290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-34476151378198271042008-09-02T16:46:00.000+01:002008-09-02T16:46:00.000+01:00"and this blog's poll shows that I'm not alone"I n..."and this blog's poll shows that I'm not alone"<BR/><BR/>I never voted because I didn't like the bias in the questions. Yes I'm thinking about it, but decided not to when I compared the prices for what I want. And HD is very important to me, but not important enough to me to spend so much extra per month - I'd prefer to spend that on other HD sources like bluray when I'm not interested in that many broadcast channels anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644371100807363751.post-85102760635023884032008-09-02T16:35:00.000+01:002008-09-02T16:35:00.000+01:00Great post Neil, and I'm glad you're staying a lit...Great post Neil, and I'm glad you're staying a little longer as it'll mean this great blog will continue uncorrupted ;)<BR/><BR/>For my part, I'm also sticking with Virin for now but perhaps for different reasons:<BR/><BR/><B>1. Cost</B> I get a good discount since I've been a customer for decades: max broadband, max TV, phone line and free evening calls for ~ £58 a month<BR/><BR/><B>2. PVR</B> The V+ HD box is a better piece of hardware than the Sky+ HD box, especially with its 3 tuners<BR/><BR/><B>3. On Demand</B> Don't use this too often but it's good to have have iplayer and the C4 stuff upscaled to my plasma screen<BR/><BR/><B>4. Filmflex</B> I only rent films in HD these days, and the Filmflex selection is tiny, but it's better than nothing (and I'm not paying a monthly subscription fee for it)<BR/><BR/><BR/>Actually now that I write this down, it doesn't seem all that compelling any more... I have an Xbox 360 which has 4x as many HD movie rentals available on it, and Virgin <I>did</I> personally promise me "more HD channels real soon" when I signed up a year ago... hmmm where's that Sky link again? ;)Afronthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13630378459973921273noreply@blogger.com