Sky vs Virgin Media:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Virgin Media had more branded searches than Sky among broadband providers in the United Kingdom. Virgin Media had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Sky had 135,000. Virgin Media made up 50.1% of all broadband provider searches we track, and Sky accounted for 5.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about broadband providers, Virgin Media appeared in three of the five answers and Sky in one. Virgin Media was mentioned before Sky in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Virgin Media, about 9 searches for every 1 for Sky
Who does AI mention more?
Virgin Media, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Sky in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Virgin Media, named ahead of Sky in 3 of 3 answers
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Top broadband providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Virgin Media was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sky was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Virgin Media was listed before Sky in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Zen1st
EE2nd
Vodafone3rd
Plusnet4th- Virgin Media5th
Hyperoptic6th
Community Fibre7th
YouFibre8th
BT9th- +1 more
Sky11th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- EE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Zen5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Plusnet4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Vodafone4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Virgin Media3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Hyperoptic3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
TalkTalk2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- BT2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Community Fibre2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Sky1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about broadband providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which broadband provider should I switch to in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best broadband providers in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best full fibre broadband provider in the UK for working from home?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“broadband deals”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best broadband provider”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is Sky or Virgin Media more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Sky and Virgin Media by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 broadband providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Virgin Media, Sky. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Virgin Media | TalkTalk | EE | Hyperoptic | Sky | BT | Plusnet | Community Fibre | Vodafone | YouFibre | Zen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 50.2% | 12.3% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 6.7% | 2.5% | 0.91% |
| Nov 2025 | 47.9% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 54.6% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 4.9% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.99% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.6% | 14.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 51.3% | 12.7% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 53.5% | 13.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.5% | 12.5% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 52.3% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 51.5% | 10.4% | 7% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.2% | 10.5% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.8% | 10.4% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.1% | 12.4% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 1.4% |
How has the Sky and Virgin Media comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Virgin Media was ahead of Sky in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sky’s share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom held steady at 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgin Media’s share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom moved from 50.2% to 50.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1.2M.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom broadband providers in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Hyperoptic overtook Sky and BT to rank 4th among broadband providers in the United Kingdom, with 5.5% of the searches.
In September 2026, Virgin Media lost share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom, from 51.8% to 50.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Sky in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sky’s and Virgin Media’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Sky
1 branded search term
- sky broadband
Virgin Media
1 branded search term
- virgin media
Other head-to-heads among broadband providers
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