EE vs Virgin Media:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, EE had more branded searches than Virgin Media among TV providers in the United Kingdom. EE had about 22,200 branded searches, while Virgin Media had 17,100. EE made up 2.5% of all TV provider searches we track, and Virgin Media accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about TV providers, both EE and Virgin Media appeared in all five answers. Virgin Media was mentioned before EE in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
EE, about 30% more searches than Virgin Media
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Virgin Media, named ahead of EE in every answer
Follow EE vs Virgin Media and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top TV providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both EE and Virgin Media showed up in all five answers. Virgin Media was listed before EE 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 EE or Virgin Media more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for EE 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 EE, Virgin Media. 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 EE and Virgin Media comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 5 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: EE took it in January 2026, Virgin Media took it in February 2026, EE took it in March 2026, Virgin Media took it in May 2026, EE took it in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, EE’s share of searches among TV providers in the United Kingdom moved from 2.6% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 22.2K.
- 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 EE in the United Kingdom fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 22.2K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using EE’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.
EE
1 branded search term
- ee tv
Virgin Media
3 branded search terms
- virgin media tv
- virgin media tv packages
- virgin tv
Other head-to-heads among TV providers
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.