Reply to: BT Vision vs Sky

[VectraMan]

I actually found Sky support quite good. They normally answer the phone within a reasonable time and the person you speak to can normalyl help you. Maybe I was just lucky.

WHS. I had a problem with a new viewing card a couple of years ago, and they were very helpful.

[davetza]

I take it you have never called SKY........

I actually found Sky support quite good. They normally answer the phone within a reasonable time and the person you speak to can normalyl help you. Maybe I was just lucky.

[SueEllen]

I take it you have never called SKY........

Or Virgin........................

Or Tiscali....................


They are all as bad as each other. They spend absolutely no money on their customer service and it seems they only provide it because they legally have to.

[Waldorf]

The problem with BT is that if it works you are fine. If something goes wrong you then have to deal with the worst customer service in the world. Be prepared to sit on the phone for ever, go through lot of press 1 for that 2 for this then be conected to someone who can't help you and has to transfer you to another deplartment and then you get cutoff etc etc. You will also need to move your broadband over to them to use BT Vision so make sure you are out of contract with your existing broadband provider.

I take it you have never called SKY........

[davetza]

The problem with BT is that if it works you are fine. If something goes wrong you then have to deal with the worst customer service in the world. Be prepared to sit on the phone for ever, go through lot of press 1 for that 2 for this then be conected to someone who can't help you and has to transfer you to another deplartment and then you get cutoff etc etc. You will also need to move your broadband over to them to use BT Vision so make sure you are out of contract with your existing broadband provider.

[monobrow]

I have BT Vision. been a SKY & Virgin customer previously. it does exactly what it does on the tin.

for 1499 a month I get Kids Pack (great for 3 yro) and movie pack (which is crap to be honest) and replay, lots of daytime channels and ESPN, but SKY sports is extra.

I suppliment it with a blockbuster mail thing, overall, very happy

[Spacecadet]

LoveFilm advertise streaming movies. I rarely watch TV and can't be arsed renting movies even to copy them but the idea of streaming them does appeal. Problem is how good is the quality on a 6.5Mb connection, how much bandwidth will it use?

Anybody used this service yet?

we've got a 3mb (at best) broadband and the streaming quality is fair. Not quite up to upscaled DVD quality but good enough for an impulse watch.
Did have one instance of a film freezing and then refusing to play after 45 minutes, just as I was getting in to it

Interestingly Amazon are going after LoveFilm
Amazon targets Lovefilm in £200m deal - Telegraph

[fckvwls]

Anyone here subscribe to the BT Vision service? I currently have Sky and the BT Vision service seems to be about £30 per month less than the Sky equivalent (before "I'm leaving" deals are struck). I can't really see the catch so would be interested in any opinions or experience.

My only slight reservation might be that the broadband service I get runs at around 4Mb so I'm not sure how well the BT service would cope with that.

Views?

I moved from the SKY HD package to the BT Vision service at the start of last year. My motivation was primarily the poor broadband service I was getting from SKY as well as the fact that I wasn't using all the SKY channels much. Took a bit of getting used to but am now perfectly happy with the BT service and have no desire to go back to SKY. I do however subscribe to Sky sports 1 and 2 via the BT add on service.

I pay for 10mb broadband but in reality I don't think I get more than 4.5mb given how far I am away from the nearest BT exchange. Not had any issue with the BT Vision service due to this so it works fine.

[Zippy]

I thought BT Vision was Freeview (no use here) plus Video On Demand stuff?

It is but you can also buy sports (inc Sky Sports) and kids packages. I have BT Vision but only bother with the Freeview, with an occasional film.

Have a look at this and see if it appeals

[VectraMan]

I try not to watch any American crap if I can help it.

I need..
- kids channels (for son)
- those tulipey daytime channels that show rubbish like 'Come dine with me' and 'Coach trip' and 'Kirstie and Phil' for the wife.
- Bloke TV (eg Sky Sports, Discovery Channel, Dave etc) for me

If I can get a service that can jam 'Celeb' shows and Talent shows then even better.

I pay something like £22 per month to Sky for that stuff (well except Sky Sports obviously), so if you can get it for £30 per month less than £22, go for it.

I thought BT Vision was Freeview (no use here) plus Video On Demand stuff?

[Cliphead]

LoveFilm advertise streaming movies. I rarely watch TV and can't be arsed renting movies even to copy them but the idea of streaming them does appeal. Problem is how good is the quality on a 6.5Mb connection, how much bandwidth will it use?

Anybody used this service yet?

[SueEllen]

I use to have Homechoice that turned into TiscaliTV (I dumped them when they turned to Tiscali as the service suddenly got appalling) they sent digital TV down your phone line as well.

There literature stated that when you watched TV the broadband speed was less.

It was only noticeable sometimes in the evening between 7pm-10pm. As was with Homechoice for about 3 years it wasn't a problem.

[CheeseSlice]

My only slight reservation might be that the broadband service I get runs at around 4Mb so I'm not sure how well the BT service would cope with that.

2MBit is enough AFAIK

[Alf W]

That's my question really. Ours isn't rubbish but it's not super fast by any means. In the evening it's usually supporting two laptops, two smartphones and one of a PSP / DS / Wii already.

[BoredBloke]

Doesn't BT vision use your Broadband connection. Do you have a good link? Our's is rubbish so not an option for me.