BT vs Virgin Media:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Virgin Media had more branded searches than BT among TV providers in the United Kingdom. Virgin Media had about 17,100 branded searches, while BT had 6,600. Virgin Media made up 1.9% of all TV provider searches we track, and BT accounted for 0.75%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about TV providers, Virgin Media appeared in all five answers and BT in four. Virgin Media was mentioned before BT in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Virgin Media, about 3 searches for every 1 for BT
Who does AI mention more?
Virgin Media, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Virgin Media, named ahead of BT in every answer
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Top TV providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Virgin Media appeared in all five answers. BT was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Virgin Media was listed before BT in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
NOW5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Sky5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
EE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Virgin Media5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
BT4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Freeview2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Freely2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about TV providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which TV provider should I choose in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best TV providers in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best value TV and broadband package in the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“tv packages”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“broadband and tv”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is BT or Virgin Media more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BT and Virgin Media by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven TV providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Virgin Media, BT. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | NOW | Sky | Freeview | Freely | EE | Virgin Media | BT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 53.2% | 18.7% | 10.6% | 7.2% | 2.6% | 6.7% | 0.96% |
| Nov 2025 | 57.6% | 16.5% | 11.6% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 4.9% | 0.85% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.8% | 13.5% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 2% | 2.5% | 0.73% |
| Jan 2026 | 62.9% | 16.1% | 12.6% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.76% |
| Feb 2026 | 64.4% | 15.8% | 10.5% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 0.77% |
| Mar 2026 | 64.6% | 16.3% | 10.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 0.78% |
| Apr 2026 | 64.3% | 15.7% | 12.9% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 0.63% |
| May 2026 | 63.9% | 14.3% | 10.5% | 5.7% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 0.63% |
| Jun 2026 | 55.8% | 18.1% | 13.6% | 7.5% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 0.82% |
| Jul 2026 | 63.9% | 14.9% | 12.8% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.63% |
| Aug 2026 | 67.2% | 15.6% | 9% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 0.66% |
| Sep 2026 | 62.2% | 17.1% | 12.4% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 0.75% |
How has the BT and Virgin Media comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Virgin Media was ahead of BT in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BT’s share of searches among TV providers in the United Kingdom moved from 0.96% to 0.75%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 6.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgin Media’s share of searches among TV providers in the United Kingdom moved from 6.7% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 69.5K to 17.1K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom TV providers in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Virgin Media in the United Kingdom fell 75.4% over 12 measured months, from 69.5K to 17.1K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for BT in the United Kingdom fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 6.6K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BT’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.
BT
1 branded search term
- bt tv
Virgin Media
3 branded search terms
- virgin media tv
- virgin media tv packages
- virgin tv
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