Is satellite/cable worth it ?

You need to decide what sort of sport you want to watch NanKate. Different satellite companies have the monopoly on different sports. We watch F1 and it's part of the standard Sky package so we don't need to sign up for the sports bit. If you wanted all the footie (more than the big matches that are on the ordinary channels) you'd need to buy the sports package as extra.

We have the standard Sky package and are happy with everything it offers. I held out for years before signing on the dotted line but am happy with it. I've thought about backtracking to Freeserve but there are a few odd programmes on Sky that Freeserve can't provide so I'll stay put. I'm not a Virgin fan so we'll stick with Sky for the time being...

Thanks Mollie.

I am not a footie fan, so the standard Sky packaged sounds good.

NanKate Which ever Company you decide to go with make sure you don't take the first price you are quoted by the sales teams,they have the power to give you massive discounts if you push them,we have BT Vision and have been with them for 3 yrs now but every year when I come to the end of the contract I always ring and ask what their best price is for my package and I do abit of homework finding out what others are offering,last year when BT Sports became free for a year if you had BT Vision I got my internet reduced and got unlimited use at half price for 12 mths,if mr glamma didn't enjoy the sports so much though I would be happy with freeview as there are so many programmes to pick from and I would be quite happy really.

I have the Virgin TV/phone/broadband package. I only have the free to air programmes but one year, for the duration of the rugby world cup, I paid for Sky Sports and didn't regret it for a minute. But I do wish that major sporting events like test matches were still free to air.

You can now easily pipe live TV from your computer to your TV at no extra cost. Have a look at UK TV guide (red heart logo). It works.

That's true, papaoscar - if you have an up to date television set. Mine's about five years old but I can't connect my computer or tablet to it which would be useful for Netflix.

We had the full Virgin package (phone, TV and broadband) in our last house, which was supplied with cable, but had to have the same, only with Sky, down here. Theseus is a big sports fan, and is very, very, happy with it. I suspect I would manage with less, but am not sure. streaming to the TV is a great option too - when I get round to it. I'm not a great at home film watcher.

Hi; while we can travel TV is a very low priority. When we can't roam any more TV will become more important in our lives. We tend to stay in places that don't have TV - such as Gladstone's Library in North Wales!

We have Sky+ HD[all the sports, different programmes etc but not films]we can get boxed sets free with that, and catch up tv. DH watches tons of sports, and I like most of the rest, dramas ,comedy etc also we do get films, but not the Sky ones, which is ok [we used to have this option, but I found I didn't watch many.] If you view paying for the package as part of your social life [as if you were going to cinema and so on] I think it is worth it.It's so easy to record things as well.

Thanks Roses . What sort of money are we talking about for the above please ?

We have Freeview now, which I 'won' on Gransnet and are very happy with it. My main complaint with Sky was that the monthly direct debit for our basic package kept creeping up. We had to threaten to cancel every year to get them to lower it again. We were paying £30+ to £40 per month with neither sports nor films.

I think I will have to be housebound before I am prepared to pay £40+ a month for the sports channel I want.

No offence to anyone who is housebound.

I wouldn't pay for the sports channel even if I was housebound!

And neither would I! But Theseus loves sport, and I happy for him to be able to watch it. I just thank goodness that he doesn't care for football, or motor racing, because the noise would drive me up the wall. Oh, and not anything horsey either.

We are out a lot, so it's TV in front of which to collapse.

We have sky+ hd NanKate, it has broadband and phone rental and some calls included and is approx £ 95 . I know it may sound a lot but ring them after 6 months and you will be able to negotiate for next 6 months, do this regularly ours is £74 at the moment. We love the tennis (c'mon Andy!) and sky Atlantic has loads of good drama...and the films...and Greys anatomy....and Game of Thrones.

Thanks Oldgrl2 for your advice.

I am a tennis fan like you but have to admit I support Rafa Nadal who is a true sportsman and gentleman, I find Andy M a real yobbish pain !

Roll on French Open and Wimbledon which I am pleased to say I get on my telly still.

Hi NanKate
this probably won't help you with sports, I love the Tennis too, be nice to Andy M he's come on in leaps and bounds since have old school Ivan Lendl as his coach!
we pay a fortune for our virgin broadband/ TV & phone package,
(£110 per month) but we do get catchup TV, pause TV, (great when you need a brew or the Loo,) and free sky movies, but the movies weren't enough as they only add a couple of new ones each week, and I love movies!
So I recently subscribed to Netflix for £5.99 a month, which I can get on my new Virgin box and online anywhere which is great for when I go to My caravan.
I really don't watch a lot of TV even though reading this it looks like I do, I just can't bear the ads life is too short!

I am with you Geraldine....love Andy Murray although I am sure he has tender scar tissue at the moment. Loving Indian Wells and no mention of Rafael ( gamesmanship) Nadal also losing his 1st set in second round. Not everyone is on Andy's humour wavelength but I like to cheer him on