After using both for a year IMO V+ is superior in many ways, for a start V+ is HD, has a bigger Hard drive can record 2 shows and watch a third. You can also use another output to send recorded programs to a dvd recorder while you watch the TV. Virgin on demand stuff is great and is worth getting XL just for it. Sky+ does have the advantage of a better EPG and the ability to remote record from PC or Phone. The New V+ box is twice as fast as the old one and about half the size according to reports.
Sky or Virgin?
- Thread starter Roweyboi
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After using both for a year IMO V+ is superior in many ways, for a start V+ is HD, has a bigger Hard drive can record 2 shows and watch a third. You can also use another output to send recorded programs to a dvd recorder while you watch the TV. Virgin on demand stuff is great and is worth getting XL just for it. Sky+ does have the advantage of a better EPG and the ability to remote record from PC or Phone. The New V+ box is twice as fast as the old one and about half the size according to reports.
Soldato
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I moved from Virgin to Sky, Better TV package, and even though the broadband speeds available arent as fast as virgin, I'm on Sky Unlimited which gives me constant speeds with no drops. Which I much prefer over, Top Speeds...Sometimes
yes
I'm with Sky and the broadband is fantastic!!! But it all relies on your BT line but Sky are trying to improve speeds even more over the next month of so. They now do a 20mb package for £15 a Month I believe, anyone on Sky Unlimited will be getting the upgrade for free 
Price wise I think Sky is cheaper if you don't have all the sport/movie channels etc but Virgin will be cheaper if you do.
As for virgin broadband they do traffic shape on the 24mb and below packages I believe and they could add caps/traffic shaping to the 50mb package once it is more widespread. Is the main reason why I went to Sky as they don't have any traffic shaping/capping at all. Download 500gb and nothing will be said
Price wise I think Sky is cheaper if you don't have all the sport/movie channels etc but Virgin will be cheaper if you do.
As for virgin broadband they do traffic shape on the 24mb and below packages I believe and they could add caps/traffic shaping to the 50mb package once it is more widespread. Is the main reason why I went to Sky as they don't have any traffic shaping/capping at all. Download 500gb and nothing will be said
Soldato
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new samsung v+ box is rolling out and current v+ customers can get a new box for £49. Also they now have 6HD channels one of those being ESPN there is also HD on demand content.
V+ box allows you to record 2 channels while watching a 3rd.
There music on demand is amazing as well
All in all I would never go back to Sky now that I have Virgin Media.
both the V+ boxes are Samsung i believe, there's a new one thats come out within the last couple of months.
and yes, 6 HD channels that cost no extra, plus more in the pipeline, which again, won't cost any extra, plus a lot of on demand HD content too
swings and roundabouts
Sky £57 a month. SkyPlus + sports and 3 packs (music, news, nature channels) Skytalk and Sky Broadband Max (20mb)
TV is great, they are in the process of installing a correct BT landline (despite the fact i told them we had an NTL cable one they said we had one and it was going to be activated, some confusion over flats in our house, therefore there is a landline upstairs that has broadband activated on it)
TV is great, they are in the process of installing a correct BT landline (despite the fact i told them we had an NTL cable one they said we had one and it was going to be activated, some confusion over flats in our house, therefore there is a landline upstairs that has broadband activated on it)
sky are offering
Sky+ all the channels except movies and sports, 10mb broadband, free evening and weekend calls for £37.75p/m inc BT line rental and £79 set up fee.
what are your thoughts on virgin and sky? whos better? what are you paying? what would you do if you were me?
thanks
Do note if that is 10mb through connect then you'll have a useage limit every month:
The new Sky Everyday Broadband Package contains the following features,
A 10GB Usage Cap
Up to 10Mb download speeds
Up to 600 Kb upload speeds
If you want unlimited broadband from Sky you have to take the Max/Unlimited package, Whereas Virgin only throttle your connection for 5 hours if you go over their allowance.
Guest 2, Sky broadband will not work over NTL lines
Last edited:
Soldato
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It's only JUST come out on 3/8/09
Guest 2, Sky broadband will not work over NTL lines
I know. I got a letter from Sky telling me that i had a landline and it just needed to be activated. I rang them and told them it says NTL on it and is cable but they said we do have a BT landline. They wouldnt have it so they must have activated a BT landline upstairs in someones elses flat.
Cue a month later and an engineer coming out to fit us with a proper lineline, and probably another month for the broadband to be activated on the correct line. (they best just port the number over, or im not going to be happy at all)
As its between Sky+ and V+ isnt refering to VM only having 6 HD channels a bit off as you get 0 HD with Sky+? Both are good services but the On demand stuff on XL with V+ is great value with just the music let alone all the great TV shows you can watch.
I'm waiting until the end of September and moving all to Sky.
I currently pay £18.50 for Sky+ (standard package) and £20 for BB & £11.50 line rental to BT.
In October I will have Sky+, tel & 15mb/s BB (very close to exchange) all for £33.50 inclusive of line rental. Better than crappy BT BB and £16.50 less per month.
A mate of mine accross the road has had Sky BB for 10 months, connects at a constant 15mb/s and loves it.
Why BT will not up the speed of BB even though the line can take it is beyond me. Idiots!!!
I currently pay £18.50 for Sky+ (standard package) and £20 for BB & £11.50 line rental to BT.
In October I will have Sky+, tel & 15mb/s BB (very close to exchange) all for £33.50 inclusive of line rental. Better than crappy BT BB and £16.50 less per month.
A mate of mine accross the road has had Sky BB for 10 months, connects at a constant 15mb/s and loves it.
Why BT will not up the speed of BB even though the line can take it is beyond me. Idiots!!!
I recently came to the end of my 12 mth Virgin contract. I looked at Sky, and also phoned Virgin who dropped their price and upgraded my broadband as well, so I now get more for less. I renewed with Virgin, it is better in every respect than Sky in my opinion, except for HD. Depends what your priorities are. One poster said it is an advantage with Sky that you own your HD box. I disagree, to me that is a huge disadvantage,. When it goes wrong, you pay to have it fixed or pay for a new one. Big downer. With Virgin, they own the box and all repairs and replacements are totally free. You never pay a penny. That's way better to me.
Wrong. I had a Virgin media set top box that went down. They tried to charge me £30 for a new one because it was one of their old ones. That was the final straw, they said they would be charging £30 to my debit card. I said no you arnt and cut off the direct debit to them
I'm not sure that is in line with their policy, I wonder if this had been escalated whether it would still have stood - but in any case, £30 is still cheaper than the £199 or more you'd have to pay for a new Sky+ box (new customers excepted)