Subscrption TV Beginners Guide

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Subscription TV Beginners Guide

Sky
Sky is probably one of the most recognisable names in the consumer world and through its year round advertising and competitive product range it leads the subscription digital TV market. Sky have separated their channels into 'mixes' that allow you to mix and match certain categories of programmes and then add on premium channels like Sky Movies or Sky Sports if you want more choice. Sky's subscription packages start from £16 a month for their most basic mix.

Sky now provides Freesat which is digital TV that is free-to-view but is provided via a satellite dish. Freesat is available for a one-off cost of £150 for equipment and installation and customers are able to upgrade to subscription packages from Sky at any time.

Sky customers can choose to bundle their digital TV with home phone and broadband.

Virgin Media
Virgin Media was formed when cable companies NTL and Telewest merged in 2007. Virgin Media offers customers digital TV packages in three different sizes; Size:M, Size:L and Size:XL. These sizes can then be combined with Sky Movies or Sky Sports, or Setanta Sports. Virgin Media costs from £11 a month for the Size:M home phone package - all customers then get Size:M digital TV at no extra charge.
With Virgin Media your home phone line is converted to a cable line and so you must take your home phone through them. However there is no line rental fee and you can choose to bundle broadband or mobile phone into the monthly fee.

Setanta Sports
Since August 2007, Setanta has broadcast exclusively live Barclays Premier League matches and programming that includes Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Blue Square Premier, the French, Dutch and Portuguese leagues, PGA Tour golf, Magners League rugby, Australian Rugby League and some of the best boxing fights from both sides of the Atlantic.

For digital satellite viewers Setanta provides a Sports Pack that comprises twelve channels - Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Setanta Golf, NASN, Liverpool TV, Celtic TV, Rangers TV, Racing UK, Racing World, Arsenal TV, Setanta Ireland and the recently launched channel, Setanta Sports News. Setanta Sports 1 is available in the UK on Freeview and BT Vision, and eight of the channels are available to Virgin Media customers through the XL pack.

Setanta recently broke Sky’s 13 year monopoly on the English FA Premier League and have the rights to 46 live matches this season as well as golf, basketball, boxing, Live Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket, rugby and horse racing.

It costs £9.99 a month with no annual contract or can be bought as part of promotional deals with BT Vision, Tiscali TV or Virgin Media.

BT Vision
Customers wanting to sign up to BT Vision must be subscribed to the BT Total broadband package. Once you have had BT Total broadband installed you are able to receive the basic BT Vision package for free which gives you access to all Freeview channels in your area. You can then add on subscription packages for as little as £4 and change the package you take each month so you'll never be short of something new to watch, whether it's sport or kids channels that you're after.