Do I even need Virgin any more?

Melody2010

Forgive my absolute ignorance but we've had a Virgin package for many, many years. Stayed with them because been happy with broadband, but on most basic TV package I can get becuase we hardly watch TV at all. I'm utterly clueluess about smart TVs and all those developments (when we stay at a holiday cottage I can never work the telly!). It's finally dawned on me that we probably don't need Virgin TV at all and could just get a smart TV - am I right that we can watch general telly on that? Can we catch up and pause on it too?

Please don't laugh at what a know-nothing I am!

PZ19

if you only watch the freeview channels and have a digital aerial at your house then no, you don’t need virgin or sky.  If you record programmes and watch later then you will need some kind of recording box.  You do need a broadband supplier however for your internet.  If you’re with virgin and out of contract or a month to go, put a cancellation in.  You will then likely get a call with an offer for you to stay.  Sounds like you just need a broadband only deal.

smart tv’s have the apps to watch subscription services such as Netflix, Disney plus, Amazon prime etc, as long as the free ones. BBC iPlayer, ITVX etc.  you will need the internet to watch them.

so in short don’t lose your internet, but can lose your tv thru virgin if you don’t really watch anything that isn’t on freeview.  To check broadband prices use the uswitch site to,compare,prices 

if your current TV is not a smart TV, and you are happy with it, you can turn it into one by buying an Amazon Firestick.  That contains all the apps you need.  People’s viewing habits are changing now, instead of recording, the theory is you can watch what you like, when you like on one of the apps like the iPlayer, ITVX etc

dreaming

I used to have a Virgin tv package but when I was planning my retirement I made a note (over 3 months) of the tv I watched and realised I could access most of what I watched on Freeview, so binned the tv package. I do have a smart tv and can access most of what I want through the wifi connection. I pay for the cheaper Netflix subscription, and Amazon Prime, which I have as I am sometimes fairly housebound due to illness (so also use the free delivery service). Over Christmas I sometimes (luckily I still had an ariel on the roof) take out a free trial of one of the other subscriptions (just have to remember to cancel in time). I kept broadband and phone for another couple of years but when they wouldn't negotiate the annual price rise I ditched that too and went with a much cheaper provider). The only thing I had to do was make sure I opened up a gmail.com address for emails (or hotmail would work) and notify/change anyone I had email contact with. So if you have broadband with Virgin this is a consideration but they seem very expensive now and I can switch much more easily now if my current provider gets expensive.