Virgin Media -v- Sky

Mark Scollon · Post by **Mark Scollon** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:03 pm

Does anyone have any real idea of what's going on with this?
I'm with Virgin Media and have now lost Sky1, 2 and News (not a huge problem as I only watched Lost and 24 on these channels).
I've had a look at the Virgin Media web site which says it's all Sky's fault for wanting to up their prices too much but I have a feeling there's more to it than that.
I think Murdoch may be feeling a little bit threatened now that Branson is involved. There didn't seem to be any trouble when NTL, Telewest and the others were the competition.
Of couyrse, I could be way off the mark with that but I'd be curious to know what any of you may have heard about it all.

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:30 pm

There's possibly a bit more involved, like share-buying antics. The web-sites of the respective companies appear to be accusing each other of being uncooperative. I did have to have a chuckle about BSkyB saying they wanted more choice for people, when a business like that blatantly doesn't.

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:55 pm

Looks like the Media Kiddies are having a playground squabble....

Post by **Mike** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:34 am

I know that Sky are looking at a ?20million drop in operating profits from the loss of the Virgin Media contract. I personally don't think that the loss of those channels will worry you too much!

Apparently you will not be eligible for a refund for the loss or compensation as there has not been a major service disruption. . . . it might be worth arguing for that one though.

Sky are now on a major advertising offensive to ensure that they can pick up as many of the disgruntled Virgin Media customers as possible which leads me to think that they are actually planning to try and have an all out war here. . . not good for business it must be said.

Virgin have been quoted as saying Sky have picked their ball up and have gone home! There have also been reports that the channels have been re dubbed Sky Snooze, Old Sky Sports Snooze etc. . . .

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:01 pm

I think Sky Sports News is a fairly boring channel anyway - but I still end up watching it most Saturdays. In fact, most of them are. They are good for the odd programme they offer in my opinion, just like every other channel.

Mark Scollon · Post by **Mark Scollon** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:36 am

Well, I'm into my 3rd day without these channels and so far they haven't shown anything I would have wanted to watch anyway so no great loss then.
I like the comment about Sky taking there ball home. That's pretty much what I thought about it all.
I think this argument could rumble on for a good few months though. It will be interesting to see what they both decide to do next.

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:41 am

We don't, by and large, watch television, so that solves most problems. When I was very little, sometime in the deep and distant past, every Sunday afternoon my Mum and Dad would draw the curtains and watch the old movie that was on TV, engulfed in an impenetrable haze of stale cigarrette smoke.

The very thought of watching television fills me with horror.....but I do make exceptions quite happily for a select few programmes. And we do hire DVDs.

:?

Post by **Mike** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:51 pm

I think that Virgin have already decided, they are going to Joke about it and replace the channels with a similar Virgin branded content.

Sky are bullies and I really don't like them at all. . . I think this sort of commercial war is not in the public best interests. After all you should be trying to sell your channels to as many as possible NOT just to those who buy from you directly. Sky are MORONS! Followed closely by Natwest who you pay xxx.56p and they refund xxx.55p, can't add 110 + 1 without getting 223 and generally have the most amazingly outdated and stupid process imaginable (and they hope you will not complain

)

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:04 pm

Don't forget to charge them ?30 for each day they owe you 1p....

Post by **Mike** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:02 am

I will do!

Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:09 am

Here we go Round 2 is going to be fought in the courts if Sky do not reach a deal with Virgin Media within 30 days. Apparently they are going to fight for the 'rights of the consumer' in this matter against Sky's market prowess.

Mark Scollon · Post by **Mark Scollon** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:37 pm

I've just read that article and thought I'd cast my vote to stay with Virgin while I was there. Surprisingly, this opinion was in the majority at the time. I thought more people would have been conned/swayed/coerced in to signing up to Sky.
I've also read somewhere that Virgin are having discussions with a few other American Stations with a view to getting some of them on board. One of those talked about was HBO who made the brilliant series "Band of Brothers", so that can only be a good thing.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:14 am

I have seen the sky adverts against Virgin Media now, yawn. I just hope Sky do not increase their already huge market share.

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:17 pm

I've heard the Sky adverts against Virgin Media which are fairly scathing - They state quite categorically that Virgin no longer offers Sky and that they are offering a 'weekend cacth-up' of programmes of all the 'favourites that you have missed'

Mark Scollon · Post by **Mark Scollon** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:44 pm

The whole campaign must be costing them a small fortune. There are billboard, radio and tv adverts at least, and I wouldn't be surprised I've they've extended the campaign to Cinema ads as well.