Virgin Media Customers - Sky channels are coming back...
Discussion
...on November 13th
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7708819.stm
I know there are some here (myself included) who managed to negotiate a reduction in their subscription when Virgin removed the Sky channels, so make sure you check your bills when the Sky channels return as any discounts applied may be removed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7708819.stm
BBC News said:
Virgin and BSkyB end channel row
Television providers BSkyB and Virgin Media have reached an agreement on a long-running row over channel charges.
The deal will see Sky's basic channels return to Virgin's cable service and Virgin's channels stay on Sky.
Last year, Sky pulled its main channels from Virgin's cable TV service in a row over payment, leaving viewers unable to watch programmes such as Lost and 24.
Both companies said they had agreed to end all High Court proceedings against each other.
The two firms have reached a deal which will see fixed annual payments for the channels, plus performance related bonuses.
Watchdog Consumer Focus welcomed the news, saying "common sense had finally prevailed".
Long-running row
Sky's basic channels - including Sky1, Sky News and Sky Sports News - will return to Virgin Media on November 13 under a contract running to June 2011.
Under a second deal, the Virgin basic channels such as Living and Bravo will continue on Sky.
The two companies fell out last year over the price that each would pay to carry each other's channels.
Relations were already sour after BSkyB bought a stake in ITV in 2006. Many saw the move as a way to block a Virgin takeover of ITV.
BSkyB was later told by the Competition Commission to reduce its stake in ITV because of competition concerns.
Sky3, Sky News and Sky Sports News will be available in the lowest M tier; Sky1 and Sky2 will be available in the L tier; and Sky Arts 1, Sky Arts 2, Sky Real Lives and Sky Real Lives 2 will join the XL tier.Television providers BSkyB and Virgin Media have reached an agreement on a long-running row over channel charges.
The deal will see Sky's basic channels return to Virgin's cable service and Virgin's channels stay on Sky.
Last year, Sky pulled its main channels from Virgin's cable TV service in a row over payment, leaving viewers unable to watch programmes such as Lost and 24.
Both companies said they had agreed to end all High Court proceedings against each other.
The two firms have reached a deal which will see fixed annual payments for the channels, plus performance related bonuses.
Watchdog Consumer Focus welcomed the news, saying "common sense had finally prevailed".
Long-running row
Sky's basic channels - including Sky1, Sky News and Sky Sports News - will return to Virgin Media on November 13 under a contract running to June 2011.
Under a second deal, the Virgin basic channels such as Living and Bravo will continue on Sky.
The two companies fell out last year over the price that each would pay to carry each other's channels.
Relations were already sour after BSkyB bought a stake in ITV in 2006. Many saw the move as a way to block a Virgin takeover of ITV.
BSkyB was later told by the Competition Commission to reduce its stake in ITV because of competition concerns.
I know there are some here (myself included) who managed to negotiate a reduction in their subscription when Virgin removed the Sky channels, so make sure you check your bills when the Sky channels return as any discounts applied may be removed.
Mr_B said:
Guess I've left it too late to phone up and try and haggle a discount then ? Last time I called then it was near impossible to understand what the guy in the Indian call centre was saying. Was that the same for everyone else ?
Got a call from them last week, asking if everything was hunky dory, explained that I was quite happy with the service, but a bit miffed that new customers got a much better deal, she then apologised, and put us on the same deal as the new customers, result. Give them a call, what have you got to lose....any discounts applied may be removed...
Since that thread on PH which helped a lot of us gain discounted rates, haven't VM been out with a permanent long-term offer for their top package? I moved up to it from the discounted previous rate for about 60p extra a month.
PH purchasing power matters
Since that thread on PH which helped a lot of us gain discounted rates, haven't VM been out with a permanent long-term offer for their top package? I moved up to it from the discounted previous rate for about 60p extra a month.
PH purchasing power matters
Mr_B said:
Guess I've left it too late to phone up and try and haggle a discount then ? Last time I called then it was near impossible to understand what the guy in the Indian call centre was saying. Was that the same for everyone else ?
Depends what services you currently have. The trump card with Sky is all variety packs (excluding Movies and Sport) + a Sky+ HD Box, 2Mb broadband and free evening and weekend cals all for.. £32 a month.VM are offering all three of their XL packages for £48 for the first six months, then £56 thereafter. Add a V+ box in to the mix and then they add on another £10 per month (if you don't pay the £75 one-off fee for the box).
All I was saying is that if VM are sneaky then anyone who had a discount for losing the Sky channels (in my case my discount came to £21 per month) may find that VM remove the discount and you could easily be paying £70+ for something that is offered to new customers for far cheaper. As I said, check your bills and if this happens to you then complain. Vigorously.
Don't take your negotiating hat off just yet. There are still deals to be negotiated. VM do not want to lose any customers to Sky if they can help it.
cjs said:
TBH they can forget the Sky channels, there is very little on them worth watching. I just wish they would get more HD channels, all they have is BBC HD and some on demand stuff. Where is ITV HD? C4 HD, Discovery HD etc.
likewise, I believe they have had ample time to get their network in order. I understand if they were seriously accelerating their analog switchoff the fact the STB's are not mpeg4 becomes less of a problem.Freesat is sounding very attractive these days.
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