Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Given that your blessed UKTV channels are back and with five times the amount of on demand that you had before, I am astonished that you are still talking about compensation!!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Its called wanting their pound of flesh OB.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Did he mention 'compensation'? It's not a word I or VM used when I rang up. It was money to source UKTV channels from elsewhere as VM had failed to provide. I didn't even ask for that, it was offered straight away after I expressed my polite disappointment at the loss of channels I regularly watch, after just signing a contract. It was the easiest retentions call I've ever made and offered straight away; they are lovely people :)

I really think they assumed UKTV weren't coming back. Seems VM have had a major change of heart, presumably due to customer pressure/cancellations.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

No, I just think they got the deal they wanted. Remember, in negotiations, you always demand more than you want. Virgin got their enhanced on demand content, a commitment from the BBC to negotiate a deal on their archive material, and who knows what the price will be.

As for the compensation bit, I agree that if you phone up to complain, then if you are offered compensation, that is fine. I have a problem with those who are after compensation despite not affecting their viewing habits, through sheer greed.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Do we know what happened in the end? Who caved first do we think? VM having a lot of angry customers or UKTV losing a lot of money?

Either way VM get the extra on demand stuff which seems VM might have paid a little bit more and claim they got a good deal with that whilst UKTV may not have got the money they wanted but probably a little bit more than they originally were offered. Looks like both can claim to save face that way

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

My Guess is there was a bit of give and take on both sides,with each side walking away feeling that they're the winners.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

@overnightstv


Saturday's return to Virgin of the UKTV portfolio saw all-day cable figures rise by 8%, and peaktime by 13%, compared with the previous Saturday

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

That's what usually happens, with each side then claiming to be the winner. This is exactly what happened after the Discovery deal with Sky.

It's good that the channels are back, but I still believe that this has damaged VM and will continue to do so for a long time. The UKTV channel and ITV disputes have drawn to the attention of the public and reinforced the fact that VM is the most vulnerable popular patform to be affected by channels being pulled. Their appalling PR didn't help either.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Well, when I mentioned this to family and friends that have VM TV packages, most of them hadn't noticed it, and the ones that did weren't particularly bothered - so it didn't seem to damage VM in their eyes, currently or for a long time in the future.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Just like the Sky platform v Discovery Channel dispute.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

By contrast, while I only know of three people with Virgin Media outside of myself, two of them avidly watched Dave and one watched Gold and Alibi - so all of them definitely noticed, and were definitely annoyed by it.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

People complain about these channels being removed yet it can take weeks before people find their favourite channel has gone.
I doubt if it hit VM as much as it hit UKTV.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Nothing like exaggerated media hyperbole which was in overdrive these past three weeks.

---------- Post added at 12:45 ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 ----------

Absolutely no proof of that from what l see currently Richard.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Any disputes with Sky wouldn't affect the full suite of channels, all FTA/FTV channels would be unaffected.

There was also nothing to stop Discovery from retaliating by keeping their pay channels on Sky by making them FTA or FTV or making them a standalone subscription service (possibly making CA based upon subscription to their online service). As a closed platform this wouldnt be possible on VM, which is why I think that it was a bad move for VM to allow the increased possibility of channel cessation to be drawn to the attention of the public.

Their is absolutely no possibility that ITV could be removed from satellite by Sky.

Yes there is, various posts on social media to VM and on personal accounts say that people no longer trust VM to continue to carry channels.

As a result of the way that the spats between UKTV & ITV were made public, some people are blaming VM for the loss of Vintage TV.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Fair point, but the number of people venting their spleens on social media represent a very tiny fraction of VM's subscribers.

The silent majority were not that bothered, frankly.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Social media is a unreliable barometer of public opinion and always has been...

---------- Post added at 13:03 ---------- Previous post was at 13:02 ----------

99.9% l would say OB.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

It's not so much the current subscribers that are the problem, it's the potential new customers that have now been put off from using VM TV. Of course, this will be impossible to measure, but it wouldn't surprise me to see new sign ups slowing down. If people don't take TV, they are less likely to go for triple play and get BB & telephony too.

There have been cases where those who had just signed up used their cooling off rights to cancel when the UKTV channels were withdrawn and the question about continued carriage of ITV arose. These people have now lost trust in the brand and it's unlikely that they will ever return. It's also a well known fact in business that, if a customer has a good experience, they tell one or two. If they have a bad experience they tell many, many more.

Add to this that we tend to trust family & friends more than anyone else and it's a marketing disaster.

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/artic...celebs/1447024

On average we tend to trust friends & family five more times than even a celebrity endorsement. This is how companies like Utility Warehouse operate, they spend nothing on advertising.

---------- Post added at 13:25 ---------- Previous post was at 13:18 ----------

If people have something bad to say about a company, they are much more likely to express their feelings (both on and off social media) than they would if they had something good to say, in much the same way as they would verbally.

Seeing a post from a friend (for the reasons given above) has much more of an impact on individuals. Social media is now extremely important (especially to young people), more so than newspapers, TV etc.

It's why people who complain on Twitter get almost immediate results and why it's alleged that Russia has used social media to influence democratic elections in other countries.

Even a 1% drop would be bad news for companies who are increasingly operating with lower and lower profit margins.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Same here. I think for the most part those it affected most are people that post on forums such as these which will be the minority of people.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Taking my family and friends as an example I would say it was a 70/30 spit. 70% not bothered and 30% were. I myself was bothered, my mum was bothered as were some others. My sister who has VM wasnt as she didnt really watch them and she binges on Netflix. We all like different things and I think it is a good thing that the channels are back.

However most of my family and friends have Sky so of course they were not bothered.

It may have been a minority kicking up a fuss including myself but social media is powerful and mud sticks and I do think VM has taken some damage to their reputation over this a lot of people remember when the Sky channels were lost and that has been dragged back up again. I am not taking sides I think UKTV And VM were equally to blame and it was handled badly by both sides.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Anyone know when the UKTV channels will reappear here? https://virgintvgo.virginmedia.com/en/tv/tv-guide.html

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

l would hazard a guess that it won't be long before they will be on there.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I think you need to check you facts.
ITV can be removed from Sky and in fact were not on Sky for a long time.
Sky can not refuse to carry them if fees are paid and ITV can withdrawn them.

---------- Post added at 15:40 ---------- Previous post was at 15:35 ----------

So you would just pay up and be quiet?

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Very good question. I thought they'd already shown up there!

They stated everything would show up Monday if not over the weekend and on demand apparently will show up between now and wednesday (along with GOLD HD) but not heard anything about tv to go just assumed it was already live.

have you asked them on social media? They're usually quite quick to reply on there

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Both Dave SD and Dave HD are staying now. So that means Player TV customers still have both Dave and Dave Ja Vu:
http://www.virginmedia.com/shop/tv/tvupdate.html

But it's still possible Gold SD will go in favour of Gold HD as they're both in Mix and above.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

If this updated page is correct, some of UKTV's other channels will be dropping down to the Mix pack:

Eden
Eden +1
Good Food
Good Food +1

W HD, Alibi HD, Eden HD and Good Food HD remain Full House only.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Those four were in the lower M+ pack before they forced a move of all M+ TV customers up to Mix recently. So I've had them all for a long time.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Quite right, that's the problem with social media. The phrase "empty vessels makes the most noise" comes to mind.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Just had an Email from VM telling me the channels are back

"We’re delighted to tell you that all the UKTV channels are now coming back to Virgin TV. We’re sorry you’ve not been able to watch your favourite shows for the past couple of weeks, but the great news is, your TV package is now bigger and better than before.


We're not only bringing back all the UKTV channels you love, like Dave HD and Gold, coming soon in HD, but we are also increasing our on-demand programming by more than five times. That’s hundreds more hours of Box Sets for our Full House customers.

More than before

All the channels we added in place of the UKTV channels, including FreeSports and the Paramount Network, will be staying on. So, you’ve got loads more included in your package.
Thanks for bearing with us during this frustrating time.

Now, back to the drama, comedy, history, crime, food, true-life stories and all the other shows you love.

Kind regards,

David Bouchier,

Chief Digital Entertainment Officer,

Virgin Media"

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Is this a follow up to the David Boucher (Chief Clown) 'Sorry, we've lost the channels because of our own greed and incompetence' email ? Personally I got neither.

What we will all get very shortly is a letter along the lines of 'we've simplified your bill with an increase. But we have given you UKTV as a bonus ! '

Even Dick Turpin wore a mask......

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Mr K you are rather cynical sometimes...;)

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Don't you mean:

'Sorry, we've lost the UKTV channels this was because of UKTV greed'

And Virgin Media will need to now increase you bill to pay for UKTV greed.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Only sometimes Den ? But you know I'm right ;)

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

My point was that ITV can decide not to be on Sky, but Sky cannot stop them if they want to be.

---------- Post added at 21:02 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

I don't know the full facts, so can't say what I would have done, but I would have handled the PR side in a much more professional manner.

---------- Post added at 21:06 ---------- Previous post was at 21:02 ----------

Social media is now a more powerful tool amongst younger people than TV, radio or newspapers. Organisations who don't take this on board do so at their peril.

---------- Post added at 21:11 ---------- Previous post was at 21:06 ----------

My comment was in relation to my intention to get the UKTV channels back by signing up to TV Player. I didnt in the end as you can't record the channels and there is no VOD so, as live TV was the only option and no use to me because of one of my disabilities, I didn't sign up in the end.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I never got round to buying the Now TV box that VM suggested I buy to access UKTV, and nicely gave me the money and subscription for.

Oh well, a few meals out on VM this year. Cheers to the Chief Clown David Bouchier, top bloke ;)

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I also got the email. Nice of them to send one for channels we shouldn't have lost in the first place if both sides had played ball and thought of the customers and the vast sums we pay them!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Laughable isn't it, a pay TV company suggesting that you go to a much cheaper competitor and giving you the money to do it 🤣🤣🤣

That said, they probably failed to realise that only GOLD is on Now TV.

Good on you Mr K is what I say.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I'm guessing Media Boy's insiders are now fully aware of the inside dealings of the contract negotiations, and have the exclusive that it's all down to UKTV demanding a tonne more money (rather than the information reported by such unreliable outlets as The Times and The Guardian that Virgin wanted a 50% reduction).

Either that, or he's making it up as he goes along again. One of those, definitely.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Now that VM and UKTV have kissed and made up. I GURRANTEE that VM will put the prices UP.

And will say that WE have listened to our customers. And given more value for money.

What a load of crap

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

There's also the point that they've already increased prices for new customers... And did it while UKTV was still missing, so wouldn't have been the reason for higher costs:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33706653

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

The prices would be going up regardless just as they do every year its got nothing to do with UKTV

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

exactly :clap::clap:

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I agree. Like any company, VM will charge the maximum that the market or individual customers will stand. This is why list prices are reduced for those of us not prepared to pay them.

If people are happy to pay the list prices, all well and good for them and VM. Those that aren't will be viewed as less profitable, but a lesser profit is better than no profit and boosting the fortunes of a competitor.

Now that the UKTV channels have been restored, i'm happy to stay with VM, but if the day ever came that my discounts were reduced, i'd be downgrading or leaving for a competitor company and their new customer discounts.

I've heard that UKTV are to do a similar thing as Sky did when they were temporarily taken off VM and will be repeating the programmes that we missed over the three weeks or so that they weren't on VM. Has anyone else heard this?

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

There is no need to repeat them.

They will be On Demand I'm sure.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Depends on the level of the increase and whether they use UKTV as an excuse, even though charges to them weren't increased. Inflation increases are fair enough, but in recent years prices have been inflation busting and sometimes more than one increase.

---------- Post added at 08:32 ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 ----------

Seems your info sources at MB HQ aren't very good ! Sack them if I were you ;)

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I am sure they have given him a full reports. Telling him it is for him to determine how much he can tell the pleps that slavishly follow him . :rolleyes: watch the long list of gold options next will be l told so!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

They will be on demand, particularly with the increased offering VM has negotiated, and they will be repeated anyway, ad nauseum, on UKTV's channels before being flogged to Netflix! We won't miss anything.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

This is a big hoohaa about sfa, the thread needs to be closed, it's been done to death!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

That's what the Chief Clown David Bouchier must be being told by his bosses ! :D

They've ended up having to pay, pissed off customers, bad publicity and have had to give out loads of discounts/lost custom.... All for what ?? A bit more on demand and HD on channels that don't really need HD. A good months work for him which will see him mentioned in dispatches no doubt ! The forthcoming price rise might be bigger than it need to be because of his incompetence.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

You do like to read your sensationalist tabloid headlines Mr K.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Maybe so, Mr K, but you seem to have done ok out of it, as have many other Virgin customers, I don't think it's all one sided as many on here seem to think.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Our own household accepted the replacement channels while UKTV was off air and although we watch some of UKTV's programming it was what it was and anybody with any reasoned rational knows that generally in life these things are never one sided.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

If it's like the BBC and programmes are kept for a month that will be fine, but if it's only a week then the missed programmes will have been and gone.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

But you've missed out on some excellent episodes of Juliet Bravo Den ! ;)

It was all very unnecessary and I do totally blame VM. They were the ones who created the situation by suddenly wanting to pay 50% less. Might try that with my next VM bill.....

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Is there any other on demand that is only there a week??

None that I'm aware of.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

And who says they wanted to pay 50% less? as that is talk and nothing more then that.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I was referring to the catch up part of VOD, but if the missed programmes have already been put onto general on demand, that will be even better :)

---------- Post added at 15:07 ---------- Previous post was at 15:05 ----------

It was reported in the media, not just talked about on here. If it had of been wrong, i'm sure that VM would have said so during the war of words.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Being reported in the media does not mean it has any validity as has often proved the case.

---------- Post added at 15:12 ---------- Previous post was at 15:10 ----------

Virgin's stance was not to pass comment unlike UKTV..

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I'm just waiting got the next price rise to come

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Not forgetting of course that it was UKTV who opened the carriage discussions with a demand for an increase and a refusal to negotiate. They offered a 'take it or leave it' deal and Virgin left it.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Don't we get catch up tv for the UKTV channels?

I want to watch the classic eastenders episodes i missed out on when it launched 10 days ago. Nick Cotton and Dirty Den are sensational and I missed out on the first few episodes in 1985.

I wish i was being sarcastic. I thought we had catch up tv for uktv before

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Seems a totally different 'VM' version of events - where did you get that info from ? Whatever, it seems they have decided to 'take it' it after all - the customer is always right as they now know.

---------- Post added at 16:26 ---------- Previous post was at 16:23 ----------

Virgin's stance was to not even tell their own customers about it..... They've been quick with the 'good news they're back' emails out though ! And even quicker with the next price rise communication no doubt.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Radio 4 Media Show from 25 July (still available on iPlayer). Both sides are to blame for what happened and it seems that they managed to meet somewhere in the middle eventually.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

And what good would that do? as private talks should mean that as you don't play it out in public just because there is a clamour for it.

---------- Post added at 16:41 ---------- Previous post was at 16:39 ----------

And the others platforms are different?.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I meant tell customers that they'd lost some channels !

---------- Post added at 16:43 ---------- Previous post was at 16:42 ----------

Being as bad as your competitors isn't a great selling point. I don't recall Sky having as many channel withdrawal problems as VM have had.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

You only tell them when you know they are going Mr K.

---------- Post added at 16:52 ---------- Previous post was at 16:47 ----------

So if they all put their prices up then they must all be bad companies according to the preaching's of Mr K as price rises happen for a reason of which a intelligent man like you will very much understand the reasons for price rises.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

You mean you didn't see it when it came out 40 years ago, Mr K?

---------- Post added at 17:48 ---------- Previous post was at 17:46 ----------

That's the catch up. However, aren't we getting loads of box sets if the blurb is to be believed?

---------- Post added at 18:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:48 ----------

Oh, dear, Mr K, did you not know? :sorry:

---------- Post added at 18:42 ---------- Previous post was at 18:38 ----------

It was very close to happening between Sky and Discovery. It happens in the States from time to time. It's no good slagging VM off for this problem. They considered UKTV to be poor value. So what were they supposed to do when UKTV dug their heels in?

Yes, it is a shame for the viewers who missed the programmes they wanted to see for a few short weeks, but the alternative was to be ripped off. And guess who would end up paying? :Yikes:

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Very true, maybe you should think about that when you ask for proof of things thst others post ;) Just because a link exists doesn't mean it's necessarily true and just because one isn't available it doesn't always follow that something isn't true either.

The VM stance changed depending on what suited them. They said that they wouldn't pass comment in public, yet frequently did so.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Yes, to say that they wouldn't pass comment in public. :D

UKTV, by contrast made no end of sycophantic comments to its 'lovely audience' rubbishing VM at every turn. They are fortunate that VM took them back, because they would have been in real trouble otherwise.

Never bite the hand that feeds you is a good rule to go by, I was always taught.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

The missing episodes of Harrow are now available on demand:

Episode 2 is available until 22nd August
Episode 3 is available until 28th August

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Indeed, just watching ep 3 as I write this. 4 and 5 already recorded.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

And many, many other things. Such as saying they wouldn't negotiate in public, after trying to negotiate literally in the middle of a BBC News video, which they then clipped and posted from their own corporate account. Like their various C&P statements repeated as infinitum from their own Twitter channels. Like their own comments on The Media Show, their community forum, in their press releases and elsewhere.

Come on, OB. Youre better than that. Lying isn't necessary.

I get that you're more in line with Virgin's side of things, that's fine. People are allowed different opinions. I'm slightly more on UKTVs side, but agree that both were at fault in a variety of ways. But to say that they only commented to say they wouldn't comment in public is blatantly untrue.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Uk TV is back on VM, people who threatened to leave in the main did not.
Both sides took a negotiating position, both became intransigent that lead to the channels being removed from VM system. Common sense prevailed they came together and a deal was done, everyone should now be happy rather than raking over the coals!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I'm not so sure that there aren't still a lot of people leaving, there's still a lot of complaints being made about long wait times to get through to disconnections/retentions and people immediately being disconnected as soon as they get through!

One was from a former VM employee who said that this was a disciplinary offence when she worked there.

It's a good start as a damage limitation excercise to get the channels come back, but I think that the way it was handled and the fact that It has now been brought to the attention of the public that VM is the least secure of all the main platforms for channel continuity will be of detriment to VM for a very long time.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

UKTV channels are now available again in CatchUp - including EastEnders from episode 1.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Aren't we the hand that feeds VM ? ;)

---------- Post added at 08:53 ---------- Previous post was at 08:52 ----------

Indeed, seems Ed Balls couldn't get through to them the other day, wonder why ? :D
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...a-Twitter.html

---------- Post added at 08:57 ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 ----------

You sound more 'senior' than me OB ! ;)

Seriously some stuff, especially sit-coms, were much better than they are now. Hence the popularity of Gold. High definitions and huge TVs aren't everything if the content's crap.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Two hands in your case..;)

---------- Post added at 09:03 ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 ----------

Ed Balls does like to open his mouth but the problem is he is always sticking his foot in it without realising the ensuing chaos that generally unfolds from it..

---------- Post added at 09:06 ---------- Previous post was at 09:03 ----------

He still has a few years life in him yet as you are still a young pup compared to us oldies.;):D

---------- Post added at 09:06 ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 ----------

On that we can certainly agree.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

He was only asking for his footy in HD ! hardly a controversial political move....

(Anyway, I don't know. Just watched the BBC documentary of Balls in Trumpland. He was very tactful around that lot - scary people ! )

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Why the hysterical response? You did see the grin emoji, didn’t you? It was meant to be a joke.

That one obviously fell flat!

---------- Post added at 09:38 ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 ----------

I think what they said is that they would not negotiate in public. From what I read VM did not say very much apart from alerting us to their reasons for not wishing to settle with UKTV (ie too expensive for channels with so much repeated old material, not enough OD, insufficient access to the BBC archives, etc.) Of course, they also had to participate in the occasional media interview, but I didn’t hear those.

From what I picked up, VM wanted to keep the details of their negotiating position close to its chest, whereas UKTV was really quite vocal about the whole thing. I’m not sure what is meant in the remark that VM kept changing position. Wasn’t the constant complaint that they just kept quoting the corporate line?

---------- Post added at 09:44 ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 ----------

I don’t buy this recurring comment about the long term damage done over the UKTV issue. Most people will forget about this with a little time, and most of those thinking of leaving last week, in the end will not be bothered to do so. They now have more channels and more OD than before, so why should they?

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

And all the discounts/credits they have been giving out very freely over the last few weeks ?

From MSE:-
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ne...youre-affected

Not complaining as I've done very well aswell , especially as the channels have come back anyway :D But this will have made a dent in VMs income and not done its image any good to potential customers. Sorry, but the 'Chief Clown' needs sacking....

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Take a look for yourself on online forums a social networking sites, they're full of comments about how VM can't be trusted to keep the channels on air that people sign up and put themselves into a contract for.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Online forums are not representative of the vast majority of people opinions and anybody who thinks they are is deluding themselves..

---------- Post added at 10:36 ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 ----------

Discounts and credits are handed out on a regular basis so that's not significant Mr K.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Social media is very important for the young as I explained earlier in the thread. It's easy not to appreciate the importance of it in the lives of young people.

Extra discounts were given out more than would have been done and a fair few were significantly more than the £3 that I got. Some were a lot more, which I suspect was because these people hadn't claimed things like loyalty discounts etc, which would have remained unclaimed if it were not for these channels disappearing.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Well, it's not that different to the other comments you've made throughout this thread (heck, even within that post just there), so it being a 'joke' isn't exactly obvious...

Regarding one of your follow-on points, as an example of them changing their position, you note they said they 'wouldn't negotiate in public'. This clip, from their corporate Twitter account on the first day that the channels were missing, is them quite literally 'negotiating in public':

https://twitter.com/VirginMediaCorp/...22793030807553

There was also repeated offers to 'restore the free channels immediately', and more public negotiation in the following days:

https://twitter.com/virginmedia/stat...26943116644352
'@UKTV has decided to cut off Virgin Media customers from its free channels like Dave.
We want to keep these on air. So, @UKTV – will you #saveDave?'

https://twitter.com/VirginMediaCorp/...36689031458818
'To be clear: we are ready to restore UKTV’s free channels for our customers immediately with @UKTV’s permission.'

https://twitter.com/VirginMediaCorp/...27306185838592
'@UKTV Glad you agree these channels are freely available and funded by advertising. Why not make them available to our customers through Virgin TV?'

The 'won't negotiate in public' line only surfaced after UKTV tweeted that Virgin had backed out of a deal on the 3rd August:

https://twitter.com/UKTV/status/1025418796016836613

Anyway.

OB and others weren't bothered the channels were gone, and aren't especially worried they're back.
Myself and others were annoyed they were gone, and are quite happy they're back.
Given no one seems actively angry that they're back, I think we can probably put this whole topic to bed now, as everyone's united either in happiness or not-bothered-ness. :)

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

or until VM announce a price rise - oh look they've just done that very thing !
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...-for-2018.html

predictable as ever VM..... :rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Of course its predictable. It happens every year. Whether its VM or Sky or even rail prices increasing.

Hardly unexpected

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Yes please lets put this one to bed!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I know, Richard, but as we keep trying to tell you, these customers are only a small fraction of the VM customer base.

---------- Post added at 12:50 ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 ----------

Not only that, but VM didn't have to pay anything to UKTV in those three weeks. They would have taken the money for the discounts from that.

---------- Post added at 12:52 ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 ----------



So you'd think. 'Nuff said.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I phoned in at beginning of this year to go from 200Mb to 350Mb, that was all. I didn't mention money or discount and by the end of the call was £26 pm better off. It seems VM give discounts anyway.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

they've always given 'discounts' out, usually on condition you sign up to a 12 month contract. But I was amazed at the discount and cash they gave out when i rang a few weeks ago, on top of the discount i was already getting - without really asking. It's usually like getting blood out of stone. Doubtless it wouldn't be as easy now they have the channels back !

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

*sigh*

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

So why are there still excessive waiting times to cancel and why are some customers being hung up on immediately they do actually get through? It's suspected that this is to get the average number of calls waiting down and/of to put people off from cancelling.

This is normally a disciplinary offence and calls ending so quickly would show up to management, so it's entirely possible that they have instigated this.

This report contains information that the fallout over the way the whole thing was handled is not over yet as far as some customers are concerned:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...-for-2018.html

Do you really think that the carriage costs which work out at pennies per week per subscriber per channel for three weeks will cover the extra discounts given out (for a decent amount and indefinitely in some cases)? Come on now.

The actual affect of the dispute won't be known until the figures are released, so don't try and pretend otherwise.

---------- Post added at 15:18 ---------- Previous post was at 15:11 ----------

You keep saying this, but you aren't obliged to read or contribute to any thread you don't want to you know!

I think that it's interesting to analysis the continuing affects of the situation, hopefully VM will be doing the same thing and might learn something about customer care and retention.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Yes, I do! The carriage costs are certainly significant - if they were not, why would VM be making such a fuss about their high charges for low value content and free channels?

I don't know how much Virgin were paying UKTV for their channels, but if it only amounted to 5p per customer per week, that would amount to £60,000.

I am not sure what your motivation is for making such a big deal about this. The channels are back. We have some HD channels that UKTV kept from us before, more on demand, and - oh - those 'replacement' channels to boot. I really can't see the point in continuing to debate an issue which is now resolved.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

I don't think that there is a cat in helps chance that three weeks of nil carriage costs will cover the amount of discounts awarded.

I made it clear why I think that it's useful to debate the continuing effects of the situation in my last post and my comment to alwaysabear also applies to you too.

Which HD channels are you referring to that UKTV withheld? We had them all, apart from GOLD HD* which was actually offered to VM.

* GOLD HD is said to be working on a Wednesday launch date. I'm assuming that as this is the last HD slot available on the system with the current configuration, that VM will want to carry out work of some kind beforehand to free up more capacity, so hence the delay.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

So, Virgin Media within the last couple of weeks have stuck their heels in and refused ro allow people out of their contracts who weren't happy about the UKTV dispute and angered them even further, to now putting prices up just weeks after and now those customers can leave penalty free anyway? What was the point? Now those same people will probably just leave out of principle because the way they have been treated and with a bitter taste in their mouth.

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

UKTV has told an Virgin Media Viewer that GOLD HD should launch sometime this month.

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5...t/true#M169241

Re: VM loses UKTV channels
 

Do you know, is this a distribution agreement? I.e if the program has already been aired / recorded the viewer may keep it until he or she is ready to delete it?

Only Fox News went off the air maybe a year and change ago or so...and I still have hundreds of hours of their programming left which I am still going through, bit by bit which I recorded before they went.

The network (509) no longer even exists on Sky yet I can still watch recordings. In fact they even replaced the networks number with a different network - 509 is now CCTV.

Still can watch out an delete old FNC stuff though (manually).

Re: VM loses UKTV channels
 

In most circumstances you can continue to watch for up to 3 months, I believe.

Re: VM loses UKTV channels
 

You didn’t strike me as a Fox News viewer - I thought you more of a middle of the road liberal (with a small ‘l’)... ;)

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

Back then Fox was outstanding (Bush years) and then it turned into a more "anti government" media outlet during the Obama years.

Under Trump though, it is out and out propaganda / the nationalist news network.

I used to love the leg shots too....their anchors were / are hot and all but the make up and hair was great. Though truthfully, I was most interested in the dresses / skirts and tops. These days the anchors are shorter and all uniformly wear skin tight dresses which I don't like so much. (Also the odd jumpsuit here and there).

I was actually fairly liberal - then Luther shook me by the ankles a bit and now I am much more of a traditionalist. The abortion issue drove me away from the left like VM viewers after the UKTV....ahh! I see what you did there!!!

Re: Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels
 

What were the old and new carriage costs, then, Richard? They haven't made that public as far as I am aware, so you cannot say the nil carriage costs for three weeks or so will not cover the discounts and compensation payments. It's just a finger in the air argument.

As far as your second paragraph is concerned, when did you start setting the rules? You are plugging this tired old argument to death, and yet we will all see that this will be a distant memory for most of us before too long. Surely there is a limit, even for you, on the number of different ways you can make this point.

With regard to the UKTV HD situation, yes, I stand corrected in that Gold HD was the only one withheld previously. I was mistakenly counting Drama, which unfortunately is not available in HD, although I can't think why. It would make more sense if it was Drama rather than Gold, but there you go.

---------- Post added at 17:10 ---------- Previous post was at 17:06 ----------

1. Gold HD
2. More 'On demand'.
3. A commitment from the BBC to commence negotiations on the BBC archives which they previously refused.
Possibly, 4. A reduction in cost, which would have reduced the size of the price hike.

I think all this, together with the discounts and compensation payments (and of course the return of the UKTV channels) as well as those 'replacement channels', have satisfied most.