Compare Premium Digital Television Packages
Treat your TV with respect, get it an HD TV package to see what it can do. Yes, more and more of us have got impressive widescreen flat panel TVs, taking pride of place in the lounge but aren't taking full advantage of the incredible sound and picture quality that comes from high definition services...so don't wait any longer, kick the kids outside, switch off their games console and take back control of your remote!
Helping you decide between Sky & Virgin Media
There are a number of ways to receive digital TV in the home, but undoubtedly the main contenders providing premium digital TV services are Sky and Virgin Media and both are keen to get your custom.
Sky and Virgin Media both offer a range of digital TV services including the newest high-definition HD services. The technology used to deliver digital TV to your home is significantly different and where you live can be the sole factor that determines which services are available to you (if not both). Sky uses satellites to broadcast their digital TV services, and customers receive them through a satellite dish mounted on the exterior of the home. Sky's broadband services are delivered over the telephone line requiring either an active Sky land line subscription, BT service or equivalent (non-cable) service.
Sky's best prices and speeds are provided to customers who are connected to a local telephone exchange where Sky has installed its own equipment alongside BT (known as LLU or Local Loop Unbundling). Virgin Media use a cable service (fibre optic) network to deliver its Digital TV and most of its broadband and home phone services. Again, it's possible to receive home phone and broadband from Virgin Media in most areas (even in non-cable homes) but speeds and pricing to vary as a result.
Which is the best provider, Sky or Virgin Media?
This will depend on whether you want to take all services in a bundle (TV, broadband and home phone) or pick only specific ones. Both Sky and Virgin Media offer bundled services but not all combinations are available. Customers that take a full bundle (3 services) can benefit from lower prices that taking each item separately. Customers opting for a Sky bundle have to take TV as a base product, but can tailor their TV packages and then add from a range of broadband and home phone options. It's thought there are around 10,000 different combinations, but the most popular packages are easy to spot on their site, so no need to feel overwhelmed!
Virgin also offer a range of combinations around the theme of sizes" M, L and XL which denote each step in the service and price level.
Sky Promotional and Standard Sky Terms & Conditions
Broadband availability is subject to your location. Sky Broadband Connect product (up to 8 Mb download speeds) available at £17 per month to customers outside of Sky's network area. Speeds vary with location and line quality. Set-up fees may be payable. Sky Talk or BT line rental payable. Sky Broadband and Sky Talk exclusive to Sky TV customers. Sky/BT line rental payable.
¹Monthly subscription providing you remain a Sky Talk subscriber: Base £0; Everyday £5; Unlimited £10 (otherwise £5, £10 or £15).
Due to VAT change from 1/1/10 Sky TV packages increase by 50p or by £1 if you have both Sky Movies & Sky Sports Packs; HD Pack & Multiroom prices increase by 25p a month.
Online Marks and Spencer gift voucher offer: Join Sky TV online by 17 December 2009 and we'll send you a £50 Marks and Spencer voucher within 30 days of activating your viewing. Only available for new customers with their viewing card enabled by 17 January 2010. One voucher per household and only available when you join online. Marks and Spencer voucher is subject to separate terms and the offer is not available in conjunction with other offers.
Set up: Standard set-up for £49 Sky+HD box is £30 for new customers. Standard set-up for Sky+ box is £30 for new customers (£15 if you take Multiroom) or £60 for existing Sky TV customers. Non-standard set-up may cost extra. Non-standard set-up may cost extra. Sky Broadband set-up fees for existing Sky TV customers £60 for Base, £30 for Everyday & Connect or free for Unlimited
^Dolby Digital 5.1 Available on many programmes. Compatible home cinema system required.
Sky TV Subscription: Packages from £17.50-£47.50 a month.
Sky+HD: £9.75 pm for the HD Pack. HD channels received depend on your Sky TV package. Sky+HD box £49 when you take the HD Pack and Sky TV and existing customers sign up to another 12 month minimum term for Sky TV. One £49 box per household and not available if you already have SkyHD/Sky+HD box. Sky+HD box price up to £199 for additional Sky+HD boxes (Sky TV and HD Pack subscriptions required). Sky+HD can store an average of 30 hours of high definition and 80 hours of standard definition programmes. HD ready TV required. Luxe TV HD, Channel 4 HD and BBC HD are available without subscription. Channel 4 HD requires a viewing card.
Sky+: Sky+ box £49 when you join Sky TV. Sky+ box £149 for existing Sky TV customers or £49 if you take a new Multiroom subscription. Existing customers need to sign up to another 12 month minimum term for Sky TV. One £49/£149 box per household and not available if you already have Sky+/SkyHD/Sky+HD box. Sky+ box price up to £199 for additional boxes (Sky TV subscription required). Sky+ can store an average of 40 hours of programmes. Sky+ functionality requires a Sky+ subscription (free for Sky TV customers, or currently £9.75 pm) and two satellite feeds.
Sky Broadband: You must subscribe to your chosen Broadband product for 12 months. Monthly subscription providing you remain a Sky Talk subscriber: Base £0; Everyday £5; Unlimited £10 (otherwise £5, £10 or £15). Connect at £17 pm is available to customers outside our network area. Speed you get depends on factors including distance from the exchange and line quality. See sky.com for more details and our Usage Policies. If your PC/laptop is not wireless enabled, you can buy the necessary equipment from Sky. McAfee Security Free Trial: Base-3 months, Everyday-3 months, Unlimited-12 months, Connect-3 months, then £3 per month, unless you let us know you no longer wish to subscribe. Mac users receive up to 12 months free McAfee VirusScan worth £19.99.
Sky Talk: 12 month minimum term applies to new Sky Talk customers and to existing customers taking up Sky Talk Line Rental. Sky Talk is only available to Sky digital subscribers paying by Direct Debit/continuous credit card mandate. Calls only packages not available to BT line rental customers with BT Basics or if outgoing calls are barred. Compatible BT line required for Sky Talk line rental.
General: Prices shown for new customers unless stated otherwise. Pre-registration required for existing customers taking a Sky+HD box due to exceptional demand. Once registered you will receive an indication of when you can complete your order. Your Sky box(es) must be connected to a fixed telephone line for 12 months. Sky+/Sky+HD box prices may vary if you live in a flat. You must get any consents required (e.g. landlord’s). Minimum Sky TV/Sky+/HD Pack/Multiroom subscriptions 12 months. You must be 18 years or over. Prices subject to change. Prices shown apply to customers paying by Direct Debit. For continuous debit/credit card mandate, 50p monthly charge applies. Information only applies to residential customers in UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Further terms apply. Calls cost 5p per minute (plus up to 9p connection fee) for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary. Correct at 30th September 2009.
Other Terms and Conditions for Broadband Supply
*Broadband availability and speed is subject to your location. BT line rental or equivalent may be payable. A fair usage policy may apply to Unlimited broadband products; please refer to the supplier's specific terms and conditions at the point of purchase. Suppliers offering free setup may apply a reasonable setup charge to subscribers that terminate their agreement or move house 'early', (i.e. within 12 months). Digital Choices says: "Always check the label, and keep out of reach of children."