Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I was mainly replying to mersey :)

Yeah, I know what you mean. HD is a priority for VM, but they have to find a balance with price too. They can keep adding HD, but the package price will have to rise and not everyone wants that.

Have VM announced EPSN America as "coming soon" though? It's only on forums that negotiations are talked about. VM wouldn't say anything as it could be commercially sensitive.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

But quite a few on here only post something that shows VM in 100% positive light. Commendable at times (from those who work for the company), but doesn't really add to a balanced discussion.

Sky have very many underhand ways, but today without their content VM would not be providing a viable TV service. VM need Sky more than Sky need VM in today's market.



You've completely missed mersey70's point on the current take-up of V+ - a quarter of the current customer base take it. So why will there be a stampede to get TiVo? Have the other 3/4's of the customer base decided V+ was rubbish and TiVo will win them round?

It gives the average Joe's TV watcher nothing more that they are interested in - they wan't to turn their TV on and channels to appear (apparently as many as possible, or at least the ones that they consider to have the best content). If the content starts drying up and Sky start going exclusive (which appears to be already kicking-off again in ernest), then TiVo isn't going to sway these average Joe's.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I have e mailed ESPN and VM about this and so have others and I am pretty sure ,but cannot be certain as it was back in August when I wrote, that I got the information.
Information may or may not be commercially sensitive ,but VM are terrible at communicating with there customers eg Red Button and Sky basics HD, we were told 7 months ago they would be coming soon ,so far we have Sky HD1, we have had no formal update from VM to there customers as to when these services will be available if at all!

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I have great respect for you DF but you are totally wrong. I am absolutely no bias towards any platform, read my posts which surely prove that. I genuinely couldn't care less who provides our services so long as we get the channels we want at a price that suits my family. For now that is VM.

But I note you didn't answer my questions which is fair enough being a staff member, I respect that.

So I will sum up. If 3/4 of VM customers currently have no V+, a PVR which is way cheaper than Tivo and in addition to that I would bet a lot of non V+ customers are not higher tier subscribers either so want to avoid the additional V+ charges for non XL subscribers, or just have no need for a PVR at all so have a V or V HD box instead why on earth do VM think they are going to shell out for Tivo, sign a new contract, maybe pay an additional Tivo sub and possibly have to subscribe to a higher tier of service?

I seriously doubt they will, not all because of a top notch set top box and that is all it is, a set top box. By all accounts a very nice set top box but if they don't want, or more importantly don't need a V+ now I doubt they will want, or need, Tivo either.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Aah, the old "free" scam, which really means that it is included in the price. ;)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Exactly, and it is only 'free' for a period of time I think I have read since making that post but it would only cost £1 to add to an existing subscription though, once you have paid around £20 or so for at least one pack!.

ESPN is included in XL, but it isn't free though. Of course it isn't.

BT used the ESPN trick too. Although both decent value though if you want ESPN.

All platforms play similar cards but it's easy enough to see through.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

If you are totally unbiased Mersey70 I don't know why you always seem to be concerned when anyone criticises Sky, or saying as you have that as a VM customer you have no right to criticise Sky. For instance jumping on someone for suggesting that Sky might have a hand in the removal of ondemand packages from lower tier when Sky has form for that sort of thing.
Personally I was never worried about the situation regarding Sky until the Sky basics dipute. Before that I used to swap regularly between platforms and liked having the choice. After that I could see the way the wind was blowing and that one platform had become too powerful and that with Murdoch's political influence nobody would do anything about it.
I think us VM customers have every right to criticise Sky especially when they use there far greater content buying power to try and force people to their platform.
I also think that VM customers should criticise VM especially when they give the impression that something is coming soon and doesn't arrive. Quite honestly I have very little to criticise them for personally. They give me what I want for a reasonable price.
Sorry if this is a bit personal but I wonder if you are as unbiased as you say. I will admit I am biased against Sky for the reasons stated.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

You are free to hold that opinion but if you read through my posts on here, DS and the VM forums on a number of subjects you may not have come to that conclusion but to be frank i'm not mindful to convince you as it is just that, an opinion.

I do think that a lot of VM customers should look a bit closer to home before slating other platforms and programme providers though as that is who you are paying your hard earned money to, but that is just my opinion.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Fair enough. :)
Agreed. I think we should also praise them when they make improvements though. A constant negative commentary is as unhelpful and unnecesary as making no criticism. The new tivo box being a case in point.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Praise as in the excellent catch up services, that they have come on leaps and bounds with HD and that as a bundle VM offers far better value than Sky could offer me. It's all there in my posts, some of which are in this very thread.

I don't believe I said Tivo will be rubbish or anything like that, all I think is that it will be a niche product if the far cheaper and established V+ is anything to go by.

But you are free to hold your opinion, but so am I.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I'm done... I've made my point :) :sleeping:

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Me too, i'm done.

Great thread.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Spot on mate, that'll have the apologists gnashin their teeth. 7 freakin months with sod all, pathetic!

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Are you sure about that? All I can find is

# For an incremental wholesale fee, Virgin Media will, for the first time, have the option of carrying any of Sky's basic HD channels, Sky Sports HD 1 and Sky Sports HD 2, and all Sky Movies HD channels.
# Virgin Media will also have access to red button interactive sports coverage and the opportunity to deliver selected standard definition programming over the internet.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Red button was always said to be early 2011. I know Richard1960 contacted the ceo's office months ago and that is what he was told. I hope for his sake it isn't delayed. :)

People who want sky Arts HD may have more cause for complaint though as it was announced as coming months ago although I dont know whether they mentioned any time frame.