Are Sky & Virgin really worth it?

Michelle Horne · 3 Mar 2018 at 12:18

In the past I have had Sky and after the first week or two when you have caught up on everything all you seem to get are repeats after repeats.

I cannot talk for Virgin as they have always been far more expensive than Sky and in general have all the channels that Sky have plus a few of their own.

Having not bothered with Terrestrial television for many years now I switched to Amazon and Netflix which at best are rubbish and worst, unwatchable.

Is it worth having to pay for a BBC television license in order to watch TV?

chaparral · 3 Mar 2018 at 13:15

Michelle Horne said:
I switched to Amazon and Netflix which at best are rubbish and worst, unwatchable.

What do you find wrong with Amazon and Netflix ?

Am always watching films on Amazon prime and Netflix and find them both great..

I also have SKY but thinking of cancelling it as I no watch sky so much these days..

Michelle Horne · 3 Mar 2018 at 13:20

I don't pay the extra to watch the newest movies but yeah you get one or maybe two good films but the amount of films that say English and are Foreign with subtitles or so low budget its cringe worthy are amazing. I have lost track of the films in this last week I have watched a couple of minutes of then turned them off.

rhysduck · 3 Mar 2018 at 13:55

Is that Amazon or Netflix? Plenty of english medium films on both, netflix especially for all of the available tv shows.

MissChief · 3 Mar 2018 at 14:16

I think it depends on the package. Cinema for example is OK, one new film a day but its the on demand section with over 1000 movies available that is the main draw imo.

The box sets package is great for binge watching. The walking dead is on there, greys anatomy as well as loads of other stuff, some old, some new. The main TV channels do show relatively new content but they can't show new programs 24/7, there just aren't that many shows being made! It's also worth remembering that Sky still has many customers who don't or can't record shows and may not have their boxes connected to their broadband if they have it. To make sure these people don't get left out they do show movies for example 2-3 times a week.
People also talk about repeats, the Gold channel, while now showing some original content is mainly repeats. It's in the top ten most watched channels on Sky so clearly there's a demand for these repeats!

Captain · 3 Mar 2018 at 14:32

Nowtv for movies and tv, works out to £17 a month or you can buy 4 months of movies on eBay for £10.

Spook187 · 3 Mar 2018 at 14:33

Where did you get virgin are more expensive than sky, the reason I'm leaving sky after 20 years is because I got a better deal with virgin, loyal customers are always Stitched up like a nana blanket it beggers belief.

MissChief · 3 Mar 2018 at 14:50

Spook187 said:
Where did you get virgin are more expensive than sky, the reason I'm leaving sky after 20 years is because I got a better deal with virgin, loyal customers are always Stitched up like a nana blanket it beggers belief.

And have no doubt Virgin will try and put your bill up at the end of your offer as well. Everyone does it. Credit cards, utility companies, car insurance.

Spook187 · 3 Mar 2018 at 15:23

MissChief said:
And have no doubt Virgin will try and put your bill up at the end of your offer as well. Everyone does it. Credit cards, utility companies, car insurance.

yep i don't argue that, but after 20 years the best sky could do was a tenna off a month, they forced me to leave for at least 12 months, anyway i wanted to try out virgin fibre

ljt · 3 Mar 2018 at 15:50

I don't think Sky/Virgin TV are worth it personally.

Stopped Sky TV well over 18 months ago and don't miss it in the slightest. I only really watch 2 series (Walking dead and Game of Thrones) so just buy a £8 NowTv sub once or twice a year to watch the latest series.

Scam · 3 Mar 2018 at 16:57

When my landlords renovated our flat they for some reason decide to only put a Virgin/Sky connection in the lounge, no standard aerial. Even though there is a perfectly good aerial on the roof -- and they put regular aerial sockets in the bedrooms! :confused:

So we're stuck paying Virgin for the minimal TV package, when we'd be perfectly happy with Freeview. Absolutely does my head in. :mad:

Paying for cable TV is a massive step backwards in time, we don't watch enough of it to make it worthwhile. On top of that I get Amazon free as a work benefit, and pay for Netflix (it's pittance between a couple).

Why people pay Sky £70+ per month I have no idea. Some people have more money than sense.

Hades · 3 Mar 2018 at 17:00

chaparral said:
What do you find wrong with Amazon and Netflix ?

Am always watching films on Amazon prime and Netflix and find them both great..

I also have SKY but thinking of cancelling it as I no watch sky so much these days..

Exactly my situation.

MissChief · 3 Mar 2018 at 18:09

Scam said:
When my landlords renovated our flat they for some reason decide to only put a Virgin/Sky connection in the lounge, no standard aerial. Even though there is a perfectly good aerial on the roof -- and they put regular aerial sockets in the bedrooms! So we're stuck paying Virgin for the minimal TV package, when we'd be perfectly happy with Freeview. Absolutely does my head in. Paying for cable TV is a massive step backwards in time, we don't watch enough of it to make it worthwhile. On top of that I get Amazon free as a work benefit, and pay for Netflix (it's pittance between a couple).

Why people pay Sky £70+ per month I have no idea. Some people have more money than sense.

Not everyone pays £70 though? Sky's cheapest package is £20pm?

You could also pick up a freesat box or old sky box and viewing card and watch that way? You don't need to be paying Virgin at all but don't let that stop you complaining.

Scam · 3 Mar 2018 at 18:24

MissChief said:
Not everyone pays £70 though? Sky's cheapest package is £20pm?

You could also pick up a freesat box or old sky box and viewing card and watch that way? You don't need to be paying Virgin at all but don't let that stop you complaining.

I was using £70+ as an example. I know plenty of people that pay stupid-money for all the sports, movies etc. I just don't see the point.

Regarding the second point; I honestly did not know that. I could buy a freesat box and plug it into the Virgin connection? :confused:

MissChief · 3 Mar 2018 at 18:26

Scam said:
I was using £70+ as an example. I know plenty of people that pay stupid-money for all the sports, movies etc. I just don't see the point.

Regarding the second point; I honestly did not know that. I could buy a freesat box and plug it into the Virgin connection?

You said you had a Sky connection? And people pay £70 per month BECAUSE they see the point? Just because you don't doesn't make everyone that does stupid! Considering how many football matches you can see on Sky a month many consider the monthly cost a comparative bargain. You wouldn't even get a ticket to see one game for £20pm, never mind a ticket for as many as a dozen games a month?

glenimp617 · 3 Mar 2018 at 18:49

My bill is £70 a month for

SkyQ 2tb all channels and boxsets
Movies
Sports (inc HD pack)
SkyQ mini with multiroom
80mb Fibre
Landline with evening and weekend calls

If that's not enough we also have Amazon via prime, Netflix and ifollow (for league games) via VPN.

We are a family of four and get our moneys worth. Premier league and F1 for me :-)

The big question is, are you getting your moneys worth? fairly simple question, and if you aren't cancel.

johnny6 · 3 Mar 2018 at 19:12

Just moved my parents over to now tv from Sky. 6 months entertainment and movie passes for £50.95 on the now tv website. Sky was costing them over £60.00 a month for a similar offering, I would say now tv covers 85-90% of their previous sky viewing habits.

rolypolyman · 3 Mar 2018 at 20:38

Scam said:
When my landlords renovated our flat they for some reason decide to only put a Virgin/Sky connection in the lounge, no standard aerial. Even though there is a perfectly good aerial on the roof -- and they put regular aerial sockets in the bedrooms! So we're stuck paying Virgin for the minimal TV package, when we'd be perfectly happy with Freeview. Absolutely does my head in. Paying for cable TV is a massive step backwards in time, we don't watch enough of it to make it worthwhile. On top of that I get Amazon free as a work benefit, and pay for Netflix (it's pittance between a couple).

Why people pay Sky £70+ per month I have no idea. Some people have more money than sense.

Well I was paying Sky £134.99 per month, I had everything with Sky, I was fairly happy except for the fibre broadband which at times was dire so I decided to try Virgin. I have pretty much all I had with Sky only I now get 220Mbits download speeds (sky would go as low as 8 at times) and I'm only £90p/m and only 12 month contract. I will not go back to sky unless they get there broadband up to scratch, drop 18 month contracts and get rid of dishes and drop their ridiculous charges for HD. I was offered 30% off to stay with sky having been with them for 20+ years, they were giving 60%+ to some folk. Have seen adverts on tv with Sky claiming 'superfast fibre broadband' , I guess somewhere in the country has them. There was a lot to like about sky but it is not the full package it should be.

chaparral · 3 Mar 2018 at 20:44

TheOracle said:
My bill is £70 a month for

SkyQ 2tb all channels and boxsets
Movies
Sports (inc HD pack)
SkyQ mini with multiroom
80mb Fibre
Landline with evening and weekend calls

If that's not enough we also have Amazon via prime, Netflix and ifollow (for league games) via VPN.

We are a family of four and get our moneys worth. Premier league and F1 for me

The big question is, are you getting your moneys worth? fairly simple question, and if you aren't cancel.

Something not right there if your getting all that for £70

I pay sky £70 for just movies ,HD pack and 1 multi room box (Old sky boxes)

glenimp617 · 3 Mar 2018 at 20:47

chaparral said:
Something not right there if your getting all that for £70

I pay sky £70 for just movies ,HD pack and 1 multi room box (Old sky boxes)

Be better at haggling then, loads of people on here are on similar deals. Took me three phone calls I think to negotiate it all.

In your case I'd switch to now TV as you are being ripped off.