Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Why Vice was removed from VM:

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2020...an-linenar-tv/

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

a year since sky UHD announcement and still no sign hope it can be next month when Premier league season was supposed to start

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Lets hope it does arrive by the 12 September Dave.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Next Season PL and EPL will start on September 12th. So still time for Sky UHD to appear before the new season starts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53530479

---------- Post added at 20:54 ---------- Previous post was at 20:53 ----------

Oops. Sorry den I did not see your post.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

The thing is though,the fixtures are not going to be announced until just 3 weeks before the season starts.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Don't see how that stops a channel from launching, it won't be exclusively showing football surely, and they can show repeats in the run up anyway.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

When the fixtures are released is irrelevant to wether or not Sky UHD coverage is on Virgin.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

But Sky can't plan what games they are going to show in UHD until they are given the fixtures. Then Virgin will be in a position to reveal when it's launching.

I know they will be also be showing Movies and documenteries in UHD so I reckon it will all launch to coincide with the start of the football season which I've been suggesting since last years announcement.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I have been assuming that UHD and the expanded Sky content will be available from August, but I've not seen any confirmation of this anywhere. The deal was made in July 2019, so I would be surprised if we had to wait much longer, frankly.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

You would have thought so.

---------- Post added at 10:20 ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 ----------

Me neither.

---------- Post added at 10:21 ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 ----------

How much longer is one supposed to wait?.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

A total red herring - sky know that certain games will be in UHD based on time and date etc - it isn't decided on which particular game is when.

It doesn't matter what game is in UHD - just, for example, the 4pm kick-off on a Sunday is in UHD.

This time last year we were expecting some Sky football matches in UHD from The start of last season - we don't seem to have progressed in a year.

---------- Post added at 11:34 ---------- Previous post was at 11:33 ----------

I'm surprised we haven't already got it.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

The original announcement stated the UHD content would be available from this year:
https://www.virginmedia.com/corporat...d-the-industry

Wasn't there also quite a gap between the previous deal being announced and Sky News HD and Sports News HD actually launching. I can't remember whether it was a year though, like this.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

August is a targetted month for UHD to launch on vm.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

been assuming that too OB hopefully we see it then

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

You guys do know this is Virgin Media where coming soon gets stretched. :D

Indeed stretched so far as to be dropped from the thread title.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It depends on your definition of soon, jfman. For example, I would certainly say that 2035 was not 'soon' but some on here think it was yesterday! :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Sky Q over the internet is "coming soon", don't forget!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Also BTs new tv box coming soon too since March 2018 apparantly lol.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

But not as soon as they thought:

https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/sky/148401-sky-x

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I did a search for "Sky UHD" on twitter last night and it came up with a post from a guy called @blackrebelpete who said that during last weeks test match, Virgin were showing the cricket in HD on Main Event and showing the cricket on Sky Cricket in UHD.

I find that hard to believe. How would he be able to measure the screen resolution and as far as I'm aware, nobody has mentioned any testing yet.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I know on my TV if I press information on the manufacturer's remote control (not the V6 one) it tells me info like 720p/1080i/1080p for the current source.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

My TV has a button which when pressed lets you know what resolution, frame rate, bit depth, whether it's HDR or has Dolby Atmos or digital so could be he got it like that

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It isn't true. If a channel suddenly became UHD, people who have one of the (non-UHD capable) TiVos would be pretty unhappy.

Maybe Sky put a UHD DOG on it in error, or to promote their UHD service?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

With Sky's parent company (Comcast) now moving ahead with its Streaming service Peacock and Sky saying its moving a lot over to IP including linear its probably a case of the company moving in a different direction.

For instance their offering could be made available on more devices and all in an app similar to Now TV now however with a wider channel and content offering.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

My sources say that Sky Arts will be FTA (Launching on Freeview?) from September.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Sources like all the papers? ;)

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...o-air-bbc-four

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Or even Sky themselves? LOL

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/artic...to-air-channel

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I started a thread on Cable Forum Freeview/Freesat area re: Sky Arts this morning.
https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33709249

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Does it really matter who posted it first?
It isn't a competition MB is just passing on information that they have recieved.
For all we know There might of been a DNP on it until today.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Sky are not broadcasting the cricket in UHD even on their own platform.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It's the way he words what he posts . My source really .So up himself :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Tbh i took the "my source" as tongue in cheek humour.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

A source is a very broad term. It could be a person, a newspaper, a website etc etc.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Could this be the nail in the coffin for Challenge or Pick on Freeview or altogether

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

No SKY Arts is replacing the former Pick+1 slot.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Look at his posts it's not. I think he really thinks that all posters here believe him . Abe Lincoln really said it all about this *******

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Sky Arts might take the channel number (92) on Freeview, but the stream Pick+1 was on was taken up when the COM8 multiplex was closed and some of the channels on it moved onto COM7 where Pick+1 had closed days before.

They will need to find a new stream. And as Sky said it will be widely available it wouldn't be on one of the temporary multiplexes, like 7 and 8, as they have/had limited coverage in both the geographical and HD receiver required sense.

Nothing to do with Virgin Media carriage all this though. All that would happen on VM is a change of package tier.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Virgin Media Ultra HD channel has no EPG listings after Sunday. Is this a bad sign?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Why is it a bad sign OB?.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Because when I usually access the EPG to look for recordings, they are always listed for about two weeks ahead. Now it's just two days. I am hoping that the channel doesn't close down.

Maybe it has something to do with the new UHD service from Sky, which might be starting as early as next week. I have been thinking for a while that August might be the start date for our UHD programmes from Sky. Perhaps Sky agreed to supply UHD and extra programming on condition the the Virgin Ultra HD channel closed. Or maybe Virgin only launched the channel in the first place to make up for the lack of UHD entertainment on VM.

I don't know what else to make of this, unless the guys who keep the EPG up to date are simply falling behind.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Just checked my epg (I'm in London) and the same; no info after Sunday :confused:

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Strangely enough, there is data for the following Saturday.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

So there is!! Strange!!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It's probably not closing, the VM EPG has been going downhill for months.

For one day, it shows the late local news as starting and continuing until 6am the following morning!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

In view of the later EPG programmes listed, I'm inclined to agree. But....:D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

You think it might be succumbing early to your prophecy and closing? :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

We (Media Boy) ask our sources to not give any information with an Do Not Post (DNP) order on it as we get it on the neck everytime we post an DNP order.

We are just passing on raw information from Media Boy Sources. Note we may called them "My Source" at times when we are using an phone to post.

---------- Post added at 17:02 ---------- Previous post was at 16:57 ----------

Here some news bits from Media Boy Sources***:

-No price increases on Virgin Media this year.
-Horizon will likely to launch in UK near of 2020.

***We was given this information on Tuesday but did not see it until today.

---------- Post added at 17:15 ---------- Previous post was at 17:02 ----------

Pick +1 was axe from Freeview in late June just before the Football started on Sky One and Pick.

Forces TV has moved on to Pick +1 slot on COM7 on Freeview.

I feel that Challenge or Blaze slot on Freeview will become Sky Arts.

I can see Challenge being axe by Sky with shows moving to Sky Two or Pick.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

No, I'm just trying to make sense of it. With programmes on the EPG reported to be on there for the following week, it looks to me like an EPG issue.

---------- Post added at 17:20 ---------- Previous post was at 17:17 ----------

The Horizon information is probably true, it was announced some time ago. Nice to have it confirmed though (I could have given you this free of charge had you asked!). ;)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I’ve had emails and texts earlier this week to say my price is not increasing in 2020

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Nice to see that your sources have proved correct. :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

But it got listings for August 8th.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Agreed, 'twas a light-hearted jest.

My original prediction was that this would happen with VM and LGI moving to a Tivo-like Horizon platform with Liberty Global licensing some aspects of the platform from Tivo so no features were lost. However, the dismantling of Liberty Global did not stand this prediction in good sted.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

You'll be getting triple price rise in 2021 :p:

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Source?

:D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

No doubt about that lol

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

HP :p:

---------- Post added at 02:27 ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 ----------

:D:D:D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It wouldn't be bad if it was a sign that they were making way for Sky UHD ;)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Only just got around to checking and the VM UHD channel on my box has listings every day. So it has either been fixed everywhere or it is a regional listings error.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Sometimes certain channel listings seem to lag behind others l find.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Pick TV HD has been replaced by the SD version

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

well here we are in August hopefully this is month for sky UHD

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Well that is all there is at the moment as nothing has said on when it might arrive Dave.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

yes i know Den just as new premier league season was supposed to start this month that was my thinking of it

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Premier league isn't starting until September 12th. https://www.skysports.com/football/n...-date-new-kits

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

With little time between now and the start of the season. Sky will be starting to advertise for next season's games.

I'd hope we hear something in the next week or 2.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

i know that but without covid it would have started this month that why i said it was supposed to start this month

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Ah yeah i see what you meant now, yes the prem was originally due to start on the 8th of this month.

---------- Post added at 18:32 ---------- Previous post was at 18:31 ----------

Might be all games on tv again the way things are going.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

That would be nice.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

If it's anything like Scotland, which started their new season today, clubs could do a Virtual Season Ticket for all the Home games that are not on Sky. And the Away sides have the right to do PPV for those matches, so away supporters can see those.

I saw a match today like that. Casting it to the TV.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I thought they said all the games wouldn't be on TV (Sky, BT etc). Maybe they will be streamed.

At Oxford United, they have said ST holders would get the game on iFollow. I guess all EFL will be the same. EPL may do the same

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It was the case for Forest fans. Season ticket holders got to watch the games on iFollow. The last few games were torture for me!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

You must be glad County didn't make it?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

On the contrary,I was cheering for them yesterday. Forest fans and Notts County fans have always got on great unlike rivalry in other cities. I've got lots of Notts County friends. We get on great together at work and in the community. I would love to see Notts County get back in the Football League. It's Derby County that we don't like.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Ofcom web site has revealed that Sony was given an new broadcasting License for "Sony Crime". https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your...cences/updates

No other info was given.

3rd time lucky.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Depends on how you count them.

Surprising. I thought if they tried again it would be another brand, like AXN (but FTA), and covering a (slightly) different demographic.

Good find Media Boy though. :)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Following a change on satellite, Sky Sports Racing HD's bitrate has more than halved from an average of 12.8Mb/s on 12.324V to only 6.1Mb/s on 12.188H.

Do we know if there has been a corresponding cut on VM, either because there is a way to check bitrates or due to worse picture quality?

VM may well get a line feed of the channel, so may not have been affected.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

richard doesnt look noticeably different on my tv but i've had the same HD tv for a decade and my tv is only 32 inches...i could tell then it finally improved a few months back and cant see any decrease in quality. but without any technical knowledge and a tiny tv im probably not the best to answer this!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Thanks for your feedback anyway Vince :)

I know that Den watches it, so hopefully he'll see my post.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

more than welcome richard :) hope the crazy year so far of 2020 is keeping you as well as possible!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Thanks Richard as l have just seen your post :) as l don't notice any difference personally on Sky Sports Racing.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Cheers, the Government say that I can go outside now, but there's still no vaccine or herd immunity and talk of a second wave coming, so I'm safe and well as I'm continuing to shield.

---------- Post added at 09:38 ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 ----------

Thanks, It's probably due to it being line fed to VM then.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

6Mbps is sufficient for an HD channel. Sometimes channels broadcast at a higher bitrate than necessary simply because they can - they expand to fit the space available. But it doesn't significantly improve the picture quality.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Thanks SP, that makes sense as, IIRC, the only other channels on the old trsnsponder were the Sky Promo loop & a UHD channel. It looks like Sky are clearing it as they continue to try and rationalise their capacity.

It's also been posted by jj20x here at his new home (you're welcome to join) https://www.forumbox.co.uk/forum/thr...020#post100020 that the feed to VM wouldn't matter, as it should be a fixed bit rate and that individual channel bit rates will depend on the weighting given to each channel in the stat-muxing algorithm.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Just seen Sky Documentaries & Sky Nature programs have appeared in the Catch Up TV section. Not sure how long they're been there, but I've not noticed them before today.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

The NBC Sky News collaboration has been cancelled after NBC news changed management it seems in May....not sure if this has been mentioned.

Which is a shame as i do love the american news channels for the sheer comedy of it. fox news never showed up on virgin media and then got cancelled on sky....nbc news failed to appear. sad times.

I used to think american channels would try to come over here. we had ABC at one point if memory serves me correctly and that went. BBC america exists and has done for some time in america. Yet the likes of NBC and CBS never tried to come over here full time.

I'm not even sure if the NBC peacock service will come. it seems odd that for a country like the UK which is so similar to the US in terms of culture and language that the americans havent come over to us directly by now except by buying our tv providers.

Like imagine if NBC had just launched their own channel over here back in the 2000s and just broadcasted friends and frasier on it instead of selling their shows on. Maybe its cheaper? But in that case couldnt they have just sold their channels in particular states to companies and then charged them to show their shows? I dont know i just thought our tv channels would have been americanised more like the rest of our culture

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Fear not, Vince. Your favourite fake news channel is launching next month in the UK as a streaming service.
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/fox...tv-1234731690/

Despite both the shows you mention having first run on NBC, I believe overseas and other distribution rights were with Paramount for Frasier and Warner Bros with Friends. Hence big news in the US when Warner reclaimed Friends from Netfix for its launch of HBO Max.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

From 3/9/2020, Sky Sports Action will be replaced by Sky Sports NFL.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Interesting thanks for this Andrew didnt know about the time warner and paramouth distribution.

"The company’s Fox News Media unit plans to launch Fox News International, a live-streaming outlet that will make programming available from Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network in various countries. The company said the new direct-to-consumer service will cost $6.99 per month and debut August 20 in Mexico, followed by Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom on September 17. The service should be available in 20 countries by the end of 2020."

$6.99?!?! hahaha i'd watch it for laughs but whos going to pay $6.99 when no one barely watched it in the UK when it was technically "free". hahahha. deary me!

hahahah i'm

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Credit to Dansky over on DS for this SKT2 to rebrand to SKYreplay https://amp.sportsmole.co.uk/enterta...ay_410250.html

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

​Virgin Media Sport have cut off their feed to the Sky platform after exactly one year. There is a dispute over payments because eir sport do not believe that they should have had to pay the full cost of what was agreed due to the disruption to sports caused by the pandemic.

The channel initially went to colour bars and silence, but is now showing eir sports HD.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Dangerous move by VM one thinks VM rely heavily on SKY for content SKY may turn around at next negotiations and say "no"

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Will be interesting to see if it is upgraded to HD

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

It's not really anything to do with Sky. They were provided as part of a Eir subscription package, and the dispute is between Eir and Virgin Media.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

The way it was posted looked like VM had pulled VM Sports from SKY.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Virgin Media have pulled Virgin Media Sports from the Sky EPG is probably a better way to put it, in the same way that BT pulled AMC from Sky, but it wasn't anything to do with Sky per sey.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Is the VM Sports thing relevant to this thread? a) it's about Satellite, not Cable and b) it's about VM Ireland which if I recall correctly will remain with Liberty after VM UK merges with O2, so what happens in it will likely have increasingly less relevance to the UK operation other than branding.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

Agreed, it impacts the Eir and Sky platforms in Ireland, not VM cable in the UK.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

No worries mate.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2020)
 

I quite enjoyed the Irish VM channels when we were in Dublin a couple of years ago. Even enjoyed the GA on RTE.