Spent most of today investigating TV/broadband/phone packages from the likes of Sky, Virgin and BT ahead of my move in the next couple of weeks. No one service is best unfortunately.
For example, Virgin has uncapped broadband at all levels, decent selection of TV channels and (possibly) a V+ box that lets you record two channels while watching a third; BBC iPlayer as well as other TV On Demand via the telly; plus BBC HD and HD movies on demand -- all for a price, of course.
Conversely, Sky only offers capped broadband unless you go for its highest level (which is nothing like as high as Virgin's), and I really can't be doing with just 10Gb of traffic a month; plus its Sky+ box can 'only' record one channel while watching another (or record two including the one being watched). However, it has a better selection of channels, and more customisable to boot, plus up to 33 HD channels -- again, for a price.
It all comes down to exactly what we're prepared to pay and exactly what we want and feel we need. We get a lot of use out of iPlayer on TV, but would we need it as much if we could just record stuff on a V+/Sky+ box? And is it worth sacrificing that wide selection of HD channels? Is it even worth the extra cost for HD? Yes I'll have a fancy new HDTV, but I'll also have Blu-ray to enjoy and an HD TV service adds to the price (£69 installation + £5 a month from Virgin (required for V+ too), or £49 + nearly £10 a month from Sky -- but you do get a lot more channels for that).
And there's always Freesat, of course, though in addition we'd have to find broadband and phone elsewhere, which can actually get so expensive it becomes worth adding TV for the discounts it brings. (The actual cost is more, naturally, but you get an awful lot more for your money too.)
It's all far too complicated in my opinion.
3 comments:
Go with Sky. Range of channels trumps all other factors.
Besides which, you don't need iPlayer on your TV, you can watch it on your computer.
I'd personally go with Sky for TV, and get a separate Broadband package from a specialist internet service provider.
We get a ludicrous amount of use out of iPlayer on TV though, and it's never as good on a computer. Of course, a faster broadband connection (and being in a less user-dense urban area than we are at the minute) might change that.
As for a separate provider, taking out a three-in-one package with Sky or Virgin gets you all kinds of discounts, and so far I've yet to find an alternative where I can split services between different providers and keep it justifiably cheap.
...though Sky is really looking like the best option, at least for the first year -- the free line rental for the first year brings its price in line with Virgin for a lot more service, and there are ways round the iPlayer conundrum.
But then after Year One the line rental hikes the price by £10 a month, which isn't so nice. Then again, it's only an extra £10 a month.
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