Sky v Virgin Media for TV

techdiver

About a year ago I went down the route of FTA Satellite and Saorview. I installed my own dish and got a couple for FTA boxes.

I was with UPC for TV and broadband and now I just have broadband. I am finding myself thinking about going back to pay tv service as I miss being able to get rugby on TV when Sky/BT have most of the games.

My choice is between Sky and Virgin Media. The thing I find funny is going with either option reduces the ease of access to some of the FTA channels I like to watch (the ITV channels). Sky has the advantage here as I know I can add them as "Other Channels". I am assuming that Sky would be the way to go. They have way more HD channels and with Sky Q are moving towards 4K.

Does anyone have Sky Q and if so, what are your impressions? Also, with the "Other Channels" option can you tune in the ITV channels in HD, or has this been blocked to Irish subscribers (for some unknown reason).

icdg

As I understand it Other Channels is still there, but only accessible on the main box. The Sky Q mini boxes, which have no tuner of their own, can't handle it. (This isn't to do with geography, UK viewers are subject to the same restriction, though they obviously have less need to recourse to the feature.)

Edit: just to say that ITV2,3,&4 HD are only available to subscribers with a UK Sky HD subscription and can't be turned through other channels any more. ITV(1) is okay. This applies to both SkyQ and Sky+HD.

techdiver

icdg wrote: »

As I understand it Other Channels is still there, but only accessible on the main box. The Sky Q mini boxes, which have no tuner of their own, can't handle it. (This isn't to do with geography, UK viewers are subject to the same restriction, though they obviously have less need to recourse to the feature.)

Edit: just to say that ITV2,3,&4 HD are only available to subscribers with a UK Sky HD subscription and can't be turned through other channels any more. ITV(1) is okay. This applies to both SkyQ and Sky+HD.

I really don't understand this! They actively block the HD variants, when the SD variants are available, so it can't be a rights issue with UTV Ireland.

I suppose at least you can get the SD ones as they are FTA, with VM I believe they are now gone?

icdg

While there are rights issues alright, the main issue here is that the HD channels are part of the Sky Digital package, but only in the UK. They aren't on Freesat.

They were still on Virgin Media at the weekend, unless somethings changed yesterday or today. There is the issue that the version of ITV4 on Virgin Media has all sports programmes blocked regardless of rights status.

Sky Ireland: Chedu

Hi techdiver,

We couldn't help but notice that you were thinking about joining us. We would be more than happy to talk you through the benifits of being with Sky .

If you would like us to give you a call, just send us a PM to the Sky Ireland: Reps account.

Cheers,
Chedu

techdiver

Just did a bit more research.

The amount of channels missing from the Sky EPG compared to the UK is shocking! Even more so when most of the missing channels are FTA!

We watch ITV 2 and 4 quite a bit as well as the BBC HD channels and the BBC Kids channels. None of these are on the Sky EPG and you have to go down the "Other Channels" route which is a PITA. This also makes Sky Q even less attractive as you can only access "Other Channels" on the main box as far as I know....

icdg

To be fair the BBC kids channels are there, 613 CBBC and 614 CBeebies. The only completely missing BBC channels now are BBC News and BBC Parliament. We also only have access to NI and generic English versions of BBC One and Two, not the other regions that are on the UK EPG.

On Virgin you'll find BBC News as well as BBC World, which isn't on Sky at all as its not allowed to be shown in the UK. (You won't find BBC Parliament though). As I say Virgin viewers do get ITV2 and 4 (cut down version of the latter).

To me the big advantage of Virgin over Sky is the fact that it's EPG is in a far more logical order. Unfortunately there isn't a lot Sky can do about this owing to Ofcom regulation of its EPG in the UK.Sky completely wins out on the sheer amount of content available.

bluestrattos

I had both Sky and Virgin Media, and to be fair, if you want TV, you go to SKY, even for broadband Virgin Media would be my last choice.
Sky can cost you, an arm, leg and your first born, but at least you get a great TV service.

techdiver

I agree it's a much better service overall. I had VM TV before, but I can't understand why they omit FTA channels from their official EPG in Ireland only.

They also only have the SD variants of CBBC and BBC Four etc. It's a PITA having to go to "Other Channels" to get these.

murpho999

bluestrattos wrote: »

I had both Sky and Virgin Media, and to be fair, if you want TV, you go to SKY, even for broadband Virgin Media would be my last choice.
Sky can cost you, an arm, leg and your first born, but at least you get a great TV service.

Disagree with this, I have Sky for TV but have VM for broadband. Speeds are way beyond anything else on the market.

Berty44

One important thing to factor in your decision is what the quality of your broadband will be if you switch. If efibre is in your area then no problem. However if you have not got efibre ( like me, and I live in a Dublin suburb so don't just assume ! ) then you are dependent on the old copper wires in the ground. Where I live, without efibre, my speed using the traditional copper wire is only 3Meg, which is unworkable. So I have Sky for tv and Virgin for Broadband/Phone.

techdiver

Berty44 wrote: »

One important thing to factor in your decision is what the quality of your broadband will be if you switch. If efibre is in your area then no problem. However if you have not got efibre ( like me, and I live in a Dublin suburb so don't just assume ! ) then you are dependent on the old copper wires in the ground. Where I live, without efibre, my speed using the traditional copper wire is only 3Meg, which is unworkable. So I have Sky for tv and Virgin for Broadband/Phone.

I won't be switching broadband. I'll be keeping vm for that. It's far and beyond the best in the game.

My move will be for tv only.

Digifriendly

Do your FTA boxes not still work? if so they should have ITV2/3/4 although only in SD.

techdiver

Digifriendly wrote: »

Do your FTA boxes not still work? if so they should have ITV2/3/4 although only in SD.

They work fine. Yes you can get the SD versions of all the ITV channels.

Back to one of my original questions. For anyone that has Sky Q, is it worth it over the normal sky box? What are the main advantages?

vienne86

I watch a lot of sport and think the Sky platform is best for that - red button is invaluable. I have VM broadband though as it is the only way I can get a fibre connection - excellent service, I must say.

techdiver

vienne86 wrote: »

I watch a lot of sport and think the Sky platform is best for that - red button is invaluable. I have VM broadband though as it is the only way I can get a fibre connection - excellent service, I must say.

Do you have sky q or just the regular box?

pippip

Until Virgin replace the Horizon box with something else I wouldn't consider for a second taking their TV service, absolutely shocking piece of tech.

techdiver

pippip wrote: »

Until Virgin replace the Horizon box with something else I wouldn't consider for a second taking their TV service, absolutely shocking piece of tech.

I tend to agree. I had Horizon previously and the box is shockingly bad!