Virgin HD vs Sky HD

Pogue Mahone

Clarkson
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
141,096
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
I've got Sky dish and have been subscribed to their HD service for a few years now. I get all the sports channels and recently upgraded to include ESPN. This costs me the guts of £60/month.

I saw an ad for Virgin in the paper this morning and noticed a few things:

  • You can record two channels and watch a third
  • Only costs £40/month for all channels including SS1-3 and ESPN HD
  • No satellite dish = no reception break-up when it rains/thunders
  • You can watch BBCiPlayer (plus Ch4/ITV equivalents) on your box

Can anyone give me a good reason not to transfer to Virgin?
 
Because the box is shite, takes about 20 years to change the channel. The remote doesn't work properly (I've had about 5) and just generally slow and frustrating.

Moving to Sky next month after being with virgin/NTL for about 6-7 years.
 
I like Virgin for the tv, broadband package, price, etc.

However the 1 major problem is that the red button on Sky sports doesn't work with Virgin.

So you can't view the interactive highlights that are shown after the prem/cl games and sometimes whole games are shown on the interactive zone (CL games for example).

Could be a deciding factor.
 
dumbo said:
I like Virgin for the tv, broadband package, price, etc.

However the 1 major problem is that the red button on Sky sports doesn't work with Virgin.

So you can't view the interactive highlights that are shown after the prem/cl games and sometimes whole games are shown on the interactive zone (CL games for example).

Could be a deciding factor.
Click to expand...

HsJ said:
Because the box is shite, takes about 20 years to change the channel. The remote doesn't work properly (I've had about 5) and just generally slow and frusttrating.
Click to expand...

Interesting thanks.

Re Remote etc. I don't know if you've seen the latest OS update on the SkyHD box? I think it's also really slow and unresponsive. I'd love to hear an opinion from someone who's used both. When you say the box is shit, are you talking about their lates HD version?

Re Red button. I don't think I've ever used it. I think the United CL games have always been on major channels. I've never used it for interactive highlights either. Am I missing out?
 
We have V+, and with the limited use I've had of Sky, I personally think Virgin is better.

The channel changing is a little slow, like HsJ says, but that is surely so minor its not going to be a deciding factor?

The red button stuff on Sky Sports is not on Virgin like dumbo says, so no fan zone, player cam etc, but I'd never use any of that anyway so its never bothered me.

All the stuff you listed is basically why I find it better, the on demand stuff on Virgin is feckin brilliant, there are loads of TV series on there as well as catch up for the last week with iPlayer and 4OD.

The only other thing is Sky Sports HD is Sky only, so the only HD football with be ESPN.
 
R_Nick said:
We have V+, and with the limited use I've had of Sky, I personally think Virgin is better.

The channel changing is a little slow, like HsJ says, but that is surely so minor its not going to be a deciding factor?

The red button stuff on Sky Sports is not on Virgin like dumbo says, so no fan zone, player cam etc, but I'd never use any of that anyway so its never bothered me.

All the stuff you listed is basically why I find it better, the on demand stuff on Virgin is feckin brilliant, there are loads of TV series on there as well as catch up for the last week with iPlayer and 4OD.

The only other thing is Sky Sports HD is Sky only, so the only HD football with be ESPN.
Click to expand...

:(

Arse. That's just complicated what was looking like a fairly straightforward decision.
 
its basically £20 a month in your pocket and a load of on demand features vs HD footy.

EDIT: oh and the lack of weather issues.
 
I might just be imagining it, but I'm pretty sure standard Sky Sports cameras are better than ITV's anyway. I know Setanta's cameras were fecking awful.

The multi recording thing is good too.
 
My dad has Virgin and we have Sky. I would say the only thing he bemoans is the red button. Not really for fan zone but for the Match Choice on the Sat night. Utd are often not the featured game so he has to wait ages for them to show it - although if you have MUTV you might already be waiting for the re-run with reasonable (apart from Paddy) commentary?
In terms of normal viewing, I think Virgin's back catalogue access is better but I find their remote control and general user interface really slow and overly complicated.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Re Remote etc. I don't know if you've seen the latest OS update on the SkyHD box? I think it's also really slow and unresponsive. I'd love to hear an opinion from someone who's used both. When you say the box is shit, are you talking about their lates HD version?
Click to expand...

I've had about 4/5 boxes in my house, currently have a Samsung NTL box. Got this one as we thought it would improve the response of the remote. Just as bad though.

But yeah, this isn't HD at all, and its an NTL box which is at least a year old, so no idea how their tech. has improved since then. But my sister has a Sky+ box, and hers works brilliantly (although not sure about the new OS).

And as some others have mentioned on here, the lack of match choice is a bitch, meaning you have to settle for MOTD (unless United are first choice).
 
Well my experience of Sky is limited, it's fast and fine to use whenever I've been round a mates.

As for Virgin, well they sweeten the pot with the things you stated Pogue, but the box was spawned in satans workshop and serves only to give you a brain hemorrhage, it's response time is shit and it takes forever and a day to change channels. I guess if you're a patient man it's not to bad but I like my shit to work fast and not dick me about.
 
DouLou said:
Well my experience of Sky is limited, it's fast and fine to use whenever I've been round a mates.

As for Virgin, well they sweeten the pot with the things you stated Pogue, but the box was spawned in satans workshop and serves only to give you a brain hemorrhage, it's response time is shit and it takes forever and a day to change channels. I guess if you're a patient man it's not to bad but I like my shit to work fast and not dick me about.
Click to expand...

Nail on the head
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Just to clarify. This box you're talking about. Is it the latest HD one? The one that lest you record two channels and watch a third?
Click to expand...

Mine is not, but its just over a year old, so unless they've made some massive improvements on the entire thing, then it should be about the same
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Just to clarify. This box you're talking about. Is it the latest HD one? The one that lest you record two channels and watch a third?
Click to expand...

I've got that one, and although its not instant channel change, its not as bad as is being suggested here.

When you enter the channel number or press the up/down button, the little 'now and next' info box changes immidiately and the screen goes black for maybe 2 seconds at the absolute most before the new channel is on.
 
Do Virgin have the same number of HD channels as Sky now? As in the past they've always been lacking in that department. I struggle to watch anything in SD now.

Also Pogue, football on ITV HD can be shown on Sky now, I remember posting how to do it when the EPG's were getting updated and I seem to remember you replying!
 
Trippin_Stoned said:
Do Virgin have the same number of HD channels as Sky now? As in the past they've always been lacking in that department. I struggle to watch anything in SD now.

Also Pogue, football on ITV HD can be shown on Sky now, I remember posting how to do it when the EPG's were getting updated and I seem to remember you replying!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've got ITV HD set up on my box. The only thing is, I've got so used to live pause that I'd rather watch in SD than not be able to stop the game and/or re-wind crucial moments. With an incredibly distractable 6 month old baby on my lap that's got even more important.
 
DouLou said:
Well my experience of Sky is limited, it's fast and fine to use whenever I've been round a mates.

As for Virgin, well they sweeten the pot with the things you stated Pogue, but the box was spawned in satans workshop and serves only to give you a brain hemorrhage, it's response time is shit and it takes forever and a day to change channels. I guess if you're a patient man it's not to bad but I like my shit to work fast and not dick me about.
Click to expand...

:lol:

So so true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.