To consider I should be able to watch Sky channels with my Virgin TV package?

[Silvercatowner]

I have a freeview TV package as part of my Virgin subscription. I noticed that if I upgraded to one of the basic packages I could watch Sky channels. I phoned yesterday to upgrade. I struggled to explain that I did not want to upgrade my mobile phone provision and was happy with my broadband. This did not seem to compute and he explained he was transferring me to customer services. After 7 minutes on hold I gave up. AIBU to think I could just upgrade TV?

Sales people tend to try and sell stuff. It's what they do, especially when on commission.
If you had stayed on the phone you would have got some sky channels.

You hung up too soon, especially as the call was free on a Virgin landline.
You could have got exactly what you wanted, and if you talked nicely you would probably have got the extra channels free for an introductory period.

Presumably he was trandferring you to someone who could do what you wanted - I don't understand why you hung up?!

The call had already taken nearly 30 minutes. I have a short attention span....)

Sallyingforth - VM don't offer channels free for a trial period.

OP - you say you have the "free view" package. Do you have fibre optic cabling installed and the M+ package currently? You'd need this to "upgrade" your channels. (I only ask as VM do offer a basic, actual freeview service when you don't have fibre optic, and isn't upgradable). If you do then you should be able to upgrade online without speaking to anyone.

BUT please be aware that a couple of SKy channels aren't avaliable on Virgin full stop, including Sky Atlantic. You can only get these through Sky or NOW tv. You can get the latter for £7 ish a month.

VM don't offer channels free for a trial period
Oh yes they do if you speak to Retentions. They will upgrade the TV channel package without cost for an initial period. I shouldn't have called it a trial though - you'll have to commit to it with an extended contract period.

By the way OP, if you log into your account page on the VM web site you can upgrade your service there.

Indeed they do, we had sky sports and movies free for 3 months.

Virgin customer service will do you a deal if you are patient. If you were transferred to customer services you must've rung through on the wrong option to start with.

Thanks. I was transferred to customer services because what I wanted didn't fit any of the regular 'packages' (it took 25 minutes to establish that....). I will brace myself and phone back this afternoon.

If you can't stay on hold for 30 minutes without it testing your attention span, you probably won't be able to sit through most of the stuff on Sky either...!

You will only be offered a deal or free channels for x months by detentions if you are outside your minimum term (and sign a new contract). Unless this is the case the OP won't get anything for free.

You can do loads online with VM, so ditch the phone and login to your account via their website.

What SKy channels do you want? Not all will be available through Virgin so check before buying.

Virgin have tried to get Sky to do a deal with them over Sky Atlantic, but Sky thinks it gives them a competitive edge.

Tbf sky are right in me and dh case, we wanted to be able to watch game of thrones and only sky had.

You could always get now tv, it gives you Sky1 , Sky Atlantic and Sky Living through your broadband.
You buy passes for each month, or get a deal for 6 months. No tied in contract.
6 .99 a month

Box sets are a hell of a lot cheaper than eky just to get the good stuff.