Getting away from Virgin landline+broadband+TV

LovelyNed

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I didn't see anything when I searched.
After a few recent bad experiences with Virgin customer support, I'd like to get my mother (in her 80s) moved away. She has 3 Virgin services, a landline (that she will not give up), broadband (that she barely uses), and TV (quite an expensive package because she wants Sky Sports).
How can I get her moved away with the least fuss? Do I have is to switch to BT first to get the landline/broadband sorted out? I get that BT and Virgin are separate networks so both can coexist, but if BT cancel my mother's landline part of her Virgin package, will that result in them cutting off her TV as well? (I know Virgin are really good at being bad).
I have to tread carefully, because I'm not there at her house all the time and if anything goes wrong she'll not want anything to change and keep paying over the odds. She's paying ridiculous amounts for insurance and utilities and I want to help her cut costs.

jbrassy

Just out of interest, how much is your mum currently paying for her Virgin package?

For the broadband and landline she can easily switch away from Virgin. I pay £24 a month for Vodafone broadband and landline phone (although I don't use the landline phone). 

When it comes to the TV, she could get a Freeview box of Google Chromecast which has Now TV installed on it. You can currently buy a Chromecast from Argos for £30. Now TV with Sky Sports costs £30 a month. 

Overall, I would budget £30 a month max for broadband and landline and £30 a month for Sky Sports (so £60 a month in total). Then there's the upfront cost of getting a Freeview box or Chromecast.

Just to note, BT and Virgin have separate landline networks. Cancelling Virgin will not affect your ability to get a landline with BT, Vodafone, or whoever.

Rodders53

TV: 
Option 1: 
Needs a working UHF TV aerial for the Freeview tuner to work --  does it?  (Should be easy to check).  BT Sport will become streamed over the internet that way.  Not just a channel to punch in.

Option 2:
Needs a working satellite dish...  and a freesat box ... again BT Sport would be streamed.

Option 3:
Or a paid service from $ky who will install the dish for free (needs Landlord/Building owner approval and possibly Planning in some conservation locations)... {but that's into the fire of $ky from the pan of Virgin}.  Then the BT Sport would be a broadcast channel.

Option 4:  
Stream all TV via Fire Stick, Chromecast TV etc.,. or even the new Freely TVs...
Broadcast TV will end, eventually, but probably not in the next 20 years (imho).

BT Sport is now called TNT I believe?  https://www.bt.com/sport

Telephone:
Check / investigate how easy it is to transfer the Virgin number to another provider.  
Check if it's a real landline with potential new suppliers:  Many a moving to fibre delivery and VoIP telephony (so power outage means no phone).
Cheap telephony via a mobile is worth considering? 

Clive_Woody

Is she currently under a fixed term contract (e.g. 12 months "deal")? If so it may be expensive to leave without payinh a penalty.

LovelyNed

Clive_Woody said:

Is she currently under a fixed term contract (e.g. 12 months "deal")? If so it may be expensive to leave without payinh a penalty.

No, there's no contract. Virgin tried to get her into a new contract for 18 months to 'reduce costs' but we stuck with the old one to keep options open.