What's this all about?
If you're a Virgin Media customer (the renamed NTL/Telewest) you've lost your Sky channels. So call 'em up, complain and see what you can get!
The Details
Virgin Media announced from 1 March all Sky non-premium channels (Sky One, Sky Travel, Sky News and Sky Sports News) would no longer be provided in its digital TV packages. Premium services, such as Sky Movies and Sky Sports, haven't been affected. Let's ignore the thorny question of whether Sky or Virgin are to blame, it means you've lost some major channels.
What has Virgin said?
Virgin Media has publically stated it won't lower prices to compensate, rumours are flooding round that by complaining directly you could grab yourself six months of either up to 46 extra channels for free or half price tv service.
What to do
Simply, give Virgin Media a call. Either dial 150 via your Virgin Media landline or call
0800 0529403. Then explain that these channels were a signifcant reason you became a customer and you feel you're losing out. While it probably won't cut the price, ask for replacement channels.
Depending on the package you already have, it's possible you'll be offered a six months free upgrade to the L or XL package, or if you already subscribe to XL, it may offer it to you at half price for six months. There are no guarantees, but be polite and use a little chutzpah.
If it doesn't work, for other ways to slash the cost, read the article
Digital TV Cost Cutting.
Martin
