Sky taking channels from virgin media

[beer]

Great. Just great. Were with them. Im gonna miss rest of LOST now. *******s. I hate richard branson. What do you think?

[womanizer]

Come again? :s

[benjamin]

richard branson lives in my village; i'll go complain to him for you.

wait, no i won't.

YOU'LL GET OVER IT XOXO

[Seacat]

Sky's not the limit.

Sky were basically trying to extort Virgin in to paying stupid prices and then showing us stupid figures to make us hate Virgin.

Just get a freeview box, you get Sky one e.t.c. on there and they only cost like £40, cheaper than subscribing to anything and if you're already subscribed to sommat you can have all the channels - best of both worlds :p

[benjamin]

Sky's not the limit.

Sky were basically trying to extort Virgin in to paying stupid prices and then showing us stupid figures to make us hate Virgin.

Just get a freeview box, you get Sky one e.t.c. on there and they only cost like £40, cheaper than subscribing to anything and if you're already subscribed to sommat you can have all the channels - best of both worlds :p
you can get freeview for a lot cheaper than £40 now too.

[beer]

i have a freeview box. but dont u need 1 with a top up card slot :s

[sl4rt is banned]

i have a freeview box. but dont u need 1 with a top up card slot :s
If thats a question then no

[beer]

lol all i get is sky three :(

[xxMATTGxx]

You can't get sky one on freeview. Basicly Sky and Virgin Media should do a deal very soon so us Cable users can get sky one etc.

[joshuar]

I have sky on TV and sky broadband which we pay nothing for at all, and we get a good selection of channels.

Sky are probably jealous that Virgin are offering the services they are offering and more. I mean, with Virgin you can pay to fly into space with Richard Branson!

[cocaine]

i cant stand richard branson.

[alexxxxx]

it's going to go head to head

Sky will eventually show off more of it broadband, phone services and on demand services and will go for a head-on collision with Virgin. I think it could be close.

[RadioShack]

Well i think its good that Richard Branson stood up againist Sky if Sky wanted more money, although its annoying as i am on VM and i watch things like Lost and SG1 etc on Sky one. Sky shouldn't be aloud to control most of satellite/cable tv network. Sky will lose out aswell seeing as they will lose audiances so that will mean less products sold, meaning less money for sky so they will start charging more for their customers seeing as they lost their main package deal with Virgin Media.

Its a let down..

[alexxxxx]

Well i think its good that Richard Branson stood up againist Sky if Sky wanted more money, although its annoying as i am on VM and i watch things like Lost and SG1 etc on Sky one. Sky shouldn't be aloud to control most of satellite/cable tv network. Sky will lose out aswell seeing as they will lose audiances so that will mean less products sold, meaning less money for sky so they will start charging more for their customers seeing as they lost their main package deal with Virgin Media.

Its a let down..

It's a method to make cable customers move to Sky. Sky make so much profit anyway, the odd million here or there doesn't make them a problem.

I can expect around 500 000 people will move to Sky soon, if they offer their on demand and Sky+ services as standard.

[RadioShack]

;3217993']It's a method to make cable customers move to Sky. Sky make so much profit anyway, the odd million here or there doesn't make them a problem.

I can expect around 500 000 people will move to Sky soon, if they offer their on demand and Sky+ services as standard.

Yes, guaranteed some move but it won't make up for their deal lose of VM so prices for Sky customers will proberly slowly increase to make up.

[:LeKevin:]

I'm sure Lost will be on Virgin Central/VOD too - What I read on Digital Spy anyways

[Oni]

I think virgin will definatly win. Sky is big but virgin is something else.
Sky has:
TV
Internet
Phones

Virgin has:
Space travel
Trains
Planes
Cinemas
Internet
Phones
Mobiles
Tv and more

[RadioShack]

Virgin said they will be adding all the lost series to that on damand on channel 119 including the 3rd later this year, but i like it coming out live if you know what i mean, not 6 months later :(

[mat64]

You can't get sky one on freeview. Basicly Sky and Virgin Media should do a deal very soon so us Cable users can get sky one etc.

Wouldn't that cause Sky to loose one of it's most sort after channels?

[^.^]

Fair play
Hello,

Thanks for taking time to visit our site.

If you're wondering whats happened to your basic Sky channels, read on to find out more.

Got Sky Sports or Sky Movies?
Then you can relax, these services are not affected. So you can keep enjoying them - just as you've always done.

Whats happened to the basic channels?
As you may have heard, we've spent the last few weeks trying to make sure that all of Sky's channels remain on Virgin Media.
But Sky asked us to pay such an unrealistically high price that keeping them would mean asking you to pay the kind of increase that is simply unfair.
We refuse to stand by and see our customers get ripped off.
So thanks to Sky, some of their non-premium channels, like Sky One and Sky News have disappeared from our service.
Freeview customers set to lose channels too
Virgin Media customers are not the only people to feel the brunt of Sky's bullying tactics. Freeview customers are affected, too. Sky announced that it will be removing its channels from the Freeview service before the summer.

So what are we going to do?
At Virgin Media we stand up for our customers, making sure you get a better deal and giving you more.

Get more back
We're going to give the money saved back to you in the form of even more of your favourite TV shows and films to watch whenever you want. For example, HBO will be joining the our on demand service in April with some great series including The Sopranos, Band of Brothers and Six Feet Under.

Watch the best shows for free
We've launched Virgin Central, our new free service on channel 119, which includes:

Nip/Tuck
The O.C.
Spooks
Grey's Anatomy
They all start and stop at whatever time you say so. We'll be adding heaps more, too. Just flick to channel 119 and take a look.

The very best in film, music and TV at your beck and call
The good stuff doesn't stop there. We've got over 500 films, 1000s of music videos and hundreds of other great TV shows at your beck and call, too – all through our on demand service.

Worried about losing Lost?
We're planning to add all 3 series of Lost to our revolutionary on demand service. Series 1 and 2 will be available soon and series 3 is coming your way later this year. What's more, since they're all available on demand, they'll be ready for you to watch anytime you like. Watch one, watch them all, back to back – without the ads.

Virgin Media is the only place to get these ground-breaking services and we want to put you in control.

Tell us what you think
or have your say and mail us at [email protected].

www.virginmedia.com/fairplay

freeview will loose sky one aswel.

looks like sky are putting up the prices.

[RadioShack]

www.virginmedia.com/fairplay (http://www.virginmedia.com/fairplay)

freeview will loose sky one aswel.

looks like sky are putting up the prices.

yeah i read that not long ago.

[:LeKevin:]

Also wouldn't Virgin be able to pull UKTV/Living/Bravo etc from Sky? Like when that contract runs out?

I hope they do ;D

[^.^]

Also wouldn't virgin be able to pull UKTV/Living/Bravo etc from Sky? Like when that contract runs out?

I hope they do ;D

that would be childish, but sky's latest idea will result them in loosing some channels or them having to pay more for bravo UKTV and other channels.

[Browney]

Richard Branson dominates nearly every market he enters.

[-Sweex]

i posted this in the news section with all the details.

[dirrty]

omg get over it

[samsaBEAR]

ya know
we are on a little thing called the internet
if you are all so worried about lost being taken away from virgin or w/e, then watch it on the internet

[Browney]

Oh yeah and get over it. It's not that big a deal.

[summer]

sky + is the undoubtebly the best tv box you can get (apart from sky + HD if you have a HD tv).

[Dan2nd]

I hardly watch the Sky channels I normally only use Sky One for The Simpson :P

[xzl.]

Yuh my friend lost his Sky One ect..
Now he cant watch futurerama (Or however you spell..:rolleyes: ) ^^
But I can! :]

[Luckyrare]

Meh, why not just get sky? Its much better

btw, You will probs be able to download Lost from bittorent

[ZL2.]

sky + is the undoubtebly the best tv box you can get (apart from sky + HD if you have a HD tv).
I have Sky +, iit's pretty crap imo...


Meh, why not just get sky? Its much better
It's a rip off tbh and Sky movies is rubbish.

[Seacat]

VirginMedia is gonner start showing episodes of lost anyway.

The only channels I watch from Sky are Sky Sports News & Sky News, but BBC News is much better anyway because there aren't breaks every 5 mins.

[Browney]

Sky+ is awesome. No problems.

[ZL2.]

Sky+ is awesome. No problems.
I find it silly you have to pay £10 a month for your recordings if you don't have to premiem channels like Sky movies + Sports.

[shiver]

Great. Just great. Were with them. Im gonna miss rest of LOST now. *******s. I hate richard branson. What do you think?
lol, over reacting much?

i have sky, so kk.

[-Sweex]

yeh i have sky so no worries :P. sorry for everyone who lost it though

[alexxxxx]

I have Sky +, iit's pretty crap imo...


It's a rip off tbh and Sky movies is rubbish.

How's Sky + bad? There's no real equivilant from Virgin apart from there on demand stuff. But NTL was crap. Really fiddly.

[Browney]

I find it silly you have to pay £10 a month for your recordings if you don't have to premiem channels like Sky movies + Sports.

It's easier and cheaper than recording every program I missed.

[Ostinato]

I'm with virgin media - and I'm considering switching to Sky Plus.

Is the whole recording and pausing tv actually good? Lol

[Papershop]

Virgin will undoubtebly take over sky. If sky inflate thier prices anymore, they will loose many customers.

[Browney]

I doubt it. Sky are raking in a pretty penny.

[the wombats]

Sky's not the limit.

Sky were basically trying to extort Virgin in to paying stupid prices and then showing us stupid figures to make us hate Virgin.

Just get a freeview box, you get Sky one e.t.c. on there and they only cost like £40, cheaper than subscribing to anything and if you're already subscribed to sommat you can have all the channels - best of both worlds :p

Sky channels are leaving freeview aswell.

I'm with virgin media - and I'm considering switching to Sky Plus.

Is the whole recording and pausing tv actually good? Lol
V+ with virgin has recording and pausing.... with virgin you can record 80hrs, record 2 programs at once and watch a diff program whilst they record. with sky you can't do that.

[RadioShack]

Im also thinking of swapping to sky plus. VM was only alright because of things like Sky one. Now that thats gone im not keen on Virgin so i will proberly swap soon.

[Ostinato]

Sky channels are leaving freeview aswell.

V+ with virgin has recording and pausing.... with virgin you can record 80hrs, record 2 programs at once and watch a diff program whilst they record. with sky you can't do that.

I knew I heard of that.

Hmm well I'm thinking of getting that then... Only extra £15 a month.

In what other ways is Sky better than virgin - or vise versa? Hopefully virign will get sky channels back...

[samsaBEAR]

I have Sky +, iit's pretty crap imo...


It's a rip off tbh and Sky movies is rubbish.
sky movies are bloody brilliant tbh

[YouFail]

In regard to all saying Virgin will get Lost.

LOST was purchased by Sky Media from Channel 4. Thus Virgin showing it without paying high fees (obviously Sky will charge big) can't happen.

Sky HD FTW :)

[alexxxxx]

Sky channels are leaving freeview aswell.

V+ with virgin has recording and pausing.... with virgin you can record 80hrs, record 2 programs at once and watch a diff program whilst they record. with sky you can't do that.

Sky isn't leaving freeview they are placing some premiership games on freeview next year. Sky+ you can do the exact same thing as V+ but only record 2 channels (and watch one of them) rather than V+ where you can record 2 channels and watch a 3rd channel.

[Browney]

V+ with virgin has recording and pausing.... with virgin you can record 80hrs, record 2 programs at once and watch a diff program whilst they record. with sky you can't do that.

Jump on the bandwagon why don't they. It reminds me of that saying; If you can't beat them, join them.

[Papershop]

In regard to all saying Virgin will get Lost.

LOST was purchased by Sky Media from Channel 4. Thus Virgin showing it without paying high fees (obviously Sky will charge big) can't happen.

Sky HD FTW :)

Theres a ting called a contract, which in time will end

[Angel-Light]

If Virgin and Sky were to get a deal, it would mean an increase in price for Virgin Media customers = more people moaning about it.

I don't really like Sky One anyway, so no loss for me. Glad Branson did stand up to Sky though, they needed to be knocked down back to earth.

Go VM :)

[Browney]

Even though a contract will end, it doesn't mean it has to be passed on. Usually during the last few episodes talks happen so the contracted are still in the bosses hands which means good business men can bully them into another contract.

Sky knocked down to earth? Oh please. Virgin Planes, Virgin Trains, Virgin Money, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Galactic even. Now if anyone needs bringing back to earth from being high and mighty it's Virgin.

[alexxxxx]

Lost will only be on Virgin ON DEMAND not 'Live' if y'know what I mean. Sky One will still have it first.

[Papershop]

If Virgin and Sky were to get a deal, it would mean an increase in price for Virgin Media customers = more people moaning about it.

I don't really like Sky One anyway, so no loss for me. Glad Branson did stand up to Sky though, they needed to be knocked down back to earth.

Go VM :)

there wouldnt be that much of a rise? Now that theres now sky channels, then it will fall. If they make an agreement halfway, it will only increase a few pounds maybe

[F32]

Virgin should bring down the price and screen everything Sky does a day later.

Richard Branson is a great guy - he's the guy that's trying to save our planet, and you hate him for it?

[ZL2.]

sky movies are bloody brilliant tbh
They're always playing the same movies, they played 'Jingle all the way' for like a year ;//.

I agree with the comment above about Richard Branson.

[Browney]

Virgin should bring down the price and screen everything Sky does a day later.

Richard Branson is a great guy - he's the guy that's trying to save our planet, and you hate him for it?

I don't hate him and it's a worthy cause. What I do hate is corporate bullys not only bullying around other companies but now it's own viewers. It never asked them what they feel.

[Papershop]

yea richard branson is saving us from the EVIL SKY. :D

And sky movies are crap. Better going to blockbusters.


@At cola. Sky bullied virgin into making a choice. Sky started it

[F32]

Virgin Media is a good move for the world.

But I was talking about something else; Richard Branson could be a universe saver - seriously.
[Not because of the Sky thing]

[Browney]

you richard branson is saving us from the EVIL SKY. :D

And sky movies are crap. Better going to blockbusters.


@At cola. Sky bullied virgin into making a choice. Sky started it

Sky asked for more money Virgin said no. Not much bullying there. I don't think Sky would replace another companies channel with the slogan "Sky Sports Snooze."

[Papershop]

Ditto

Virgin are protecting thier customers, as appose to sky which is inflating thier prices by the day. But then again, if you feel happy paying such high prices, then good for you

[F32]

Sky are:
Over-rated
Over-priced
Over-confident

[beer]

I think ill just get the normal sky box with minidish. sky one back then then its rest of LOST. meh. Ooh good idea. I may be selling my minimoto tomorrow 4 £150. Ill save some of that and get sky. Im brainy :]. On top of that tho im getting a new fone. -checks the sky website to c how much it will cost 4 a normal sky subscription-

[FlyingJesus]

I prefer VM for a very stupid reason - that Richard Branson is British. I know that it's a completely idiotic reason to prefer something but that's just how I am. Also I do think that because of the success of Virgin worldwide in *everything* they do, they'll make it through this the victors.

Oh and I don't watch LOST so I'm not affected by the crap that's happening with that.

[beer]

Ooh just £18 to switch to normal sky cos u get the box and installation free when u choose a sky TV package. I like that.

[Unpredictible.]

Great. Just great. Were with them. Im gonna miss rest of LOST now. *******s. I hate richard branson. What do you think?

Follow these simple points and you'll be fine.
all you need is a:

Brain
Azureus
internet obv.Get Azureus go to www.mininova.org > search Lost Season 3 Episode '1'
so instead writing all of it you could write, lost s03e'01'.
Download torrent, open with Azureus.. and wait for it to be finished.

Done.. its downloaded.. you could watch lost now.

Lost comes out every Thursday you could even be ahead of lost by 1-2 episodes.. because i know i am :)

[Russia]

Well as i just said virgin are :rude: up NTL.

[beer]

Follow these simple points and you'll be fine.
all you need is a:
Brain
Azureus
internet obv.Get Azureus go to www.mininova.org (http://www.mininova.org) > search Lost Season 3 Episode '1'
so instead writing all of it you could write, lost s03e'01'.
Download torrent, open with Azureus.. and wait for it to be finished.

Done.. its downloaded.. you could watch lost now.

Lost comes out every Thursday you could even be ahead of lost by 1-2 episodes.. because i know i am :)
on a 4 gb HDD with less thn 200 mb free......

[^.^]

what about the new simpsons episodes :(

[Papershop]

How about you dont say anything leerm, cos what you do manage to say, is a pile of crap anyways

Telewest are protecting thier customers from price hikes, unlike sky, who will probably up the cost, now that telewest isnt funding them any money.

[Papershop]

on a 4 gb HDD with less thn 200 mb free......
well with that £18 you are planning to pay to move to sky, buy yourself a harddrive

[beer]

id rather have sky thanks. plus theres a lot more channels i want that we dont currently have on virgin media. cool.

[FlyingJesus]

tbh the only thing i watch is hollyoaks on c4

[beer]

lol i watch allsorts. n i want that new discovery turbo channel. i love things with engines.

[:Hazel]

i didnt realise to a little while ago. that really peed me off, now i'll miss alot of programmes i liked :@

[beer]

£18 to switch to sky hazel :]

[:Hazel]

£18 to switch to sky hazel :]

hmmm... i'll see. its jst annoying that these big companies with billions have to squabble.. silly people:(

[beer]

hmm i emailed sky and got this reply:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about this.

Unfortunately, Sky One, Sky Sports News, Sky Travel and Sky News are no
longer available for Virgin Media customers to view.

Virgin Media has withdrawn Sky's basic channels from their television
customers following the expiry of the agreement between the two companies.
This was their decision. As a "closed network" only they can decide what to
offer their customers. Up to the final hours we tried time and again to
reach a solution, including proposing a way for Sky to retail channels
directly to cable customers in a way that would cost Virgin media nothing.

Sky knows that its basic channels have many loyal cable viewers and our aim
has been to avoid any disruption to their enjoyment of our programmes. We
are disappointed that we will now be denied access to cable TV homes.

If I may also take this opportunity to explain that we have made repeated
efforts to reach an agreement, but Virgin Media has rejected all of our
proposals, including our latest offer of just 3p per customer per day.

We're committed to bringing you great shows like brand new Simpsons, Lost,
24, Nip/Tuck and Battlestar Galactica. In fact we've increased our
investment in channels and programmes by 68% in recent years.

If Virgin Media decide that it wants to bring back the TV that its customers
enjoy, we are available for talks.

Thanks again for contacting us.

Yours sincerely,

Sky Viewer Relations Team

[Judge Judy]

Richard Branson isn't having a good week. First a rail crash then this.

[beer]

rail crash? :s

[chips]

im going to get sky in my room now i used to have vergin/telewest and sky downstares

[Dan!]

im going to get sky in my room now i used to have vergin/telewest and sky downstares

the fairtrade office will be looking in to it lol


sky are being babys, it also be removed from freeveiw so the bbc aint happed

[chips]

why cant virgin pay a bit more and keep the costs down anyway they can afford it i think virgin are being just as greedy as sky

[xxMATTGxx]

rail crash? :s

Yes, Richard Branson who owns Virgin Media, also owns Virgin trains. Which due to a point failure it came of the rails. Only one person has died from it due to the trains are built like tanks.

[^.^]

why cant virgin pay a bit more and keep the costs down anyway they can afford it i think virgin are being just as greedy as sky

Sky wanted to almost double the amount they wanted Virgin Media to pay so Virgin Media refused.