Cable Forum - General Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

When you can watch OD/Netflix etc via an app on a tablet and throw it to your TV, then why do you need VM? A lot of TV's these days have apps built in to watch OD/Netflix etc, then why the need for VM. The Kids use their computers to watch OD in their rooms or their phones, then why the need for VM.

The only way it makes sense is if it is exclusive to VM and has original content and we know what we think of Sky who do that!

So what do VM offer that differentiates?

They have women on the phone with a gorgeous Scottish accent. :p:

Bit of news for you all Discovery Science HD is on the way to all major pay tv providers in uk.
No date given as of yet.

kgollop

23-06-2014 10:41

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh (Post 35709076)

With a better user interface they might get more people using the existing on-demand content. Netflix is like a video shop with helpful notes on the titles and an assistant who remembered what you liked before. Virgin On-Demand is a pile of DVDs left in the middle of the floor, some of them missing their cases.

Couldn't agree more, the interface is worse than the V+ used to be. I use Netflix all the time, but the only time I ever use the VM VOD is when the end of one of my recordings gets cut off and I check to see if it's on catchup so I can see what I missed. It's great that it's searchable, but sometimes you just want to browse and it's really unfriendly. I'm surprised they haven't brought out an app to be honest.

Media Boy UK

23-06-2014 10:42

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35709106)

They have women on the phone with a gorgeous Scottish accent. :p:

Bit of news for you all Discovery Science HD is on the way to all major pay tv providers in uk.
No date given as of yet.

Will Discovery do have an 'TLC +2' hour channel on Sky so if true DS HD may just take over it EPG Slot on Sky.

ase001

23-06-2014 10:47

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35709102)

namely VM's desire to keep you in its ecosystem as much as possible and not unsubscribe to its TV service.

You've hit the nail on the head, that's the problem they are not doing a very good job! How I wish they would, I have no desire to abandon VM! If they are serious then why aren't they in frame to buy all if not part of channel 5?

I think it's time for VM to resurrect the Virgin channel again;), shame they sold it:dozey:

Media Boy UK

23-06-2014 10:49

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by ase001 (Post 35709110)

Virgin Media owners LG did the same thing.

theone2k10

23-06-2014 10:53

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35709108)

Will Discovery do have an 'TLC +2' hour channel on Sky so if true DS HD may just take over it EPG Slot on Sky.

I think that's what will happen MB mate.

andy_m

23-06-2014 11:28

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35709104)

Yes but obviously the details of the deal are not in the public domain. Smart TV manufacturers have similar arrangements. It's simply a form of sales and marketing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35709105)

List of channels NOT on Virgin Media as of June 19th.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/p...adcasters.html

I don't think that's a huge list, and when you consider the number of variants I really don't think there's much in the way of actual content missing, albeit might not be available an hour later or in hd.

On a slightly technical note, who owns small world? LG or Virgin.

OLD BOY

23-06-2014 11:49

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy_m (Post 35709120)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu (Post 35709010)

Sadly, this is typical VM. They dont care about the customer, but in the end its us that pay for it.

Its Like VM directors sit in the coffee lounge at the golf course and saying, we will decide what we want and the customers can go to hell.

And you would moan if the prices went up, Arthur. Look at Media Boy's list of channels we haven't got. Is there really very much on there that you are dying to see? There's no point in having channels just for the sake of it.

---------- Post added at 12:49 ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy_m (Post 35708958)

With the power of the broadband network that Virgin has isn't broadband where they should be focusing their time and money, especially given the arrival of infinity? It's one thing to fall behind in TV when you're not first and foremost a TV company, but to fall behind in the broadband market would surely be the beginning of the end.

I don't think it's a case of focussing on broadband or focussing on TV. VM offer a quad play package and they need to be competitive in all these areas.

Ultimate.Conj

23-06-2014 11:50

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35709131)

I agree, Andy. Apart from the obvious one or two exceptions, there's nothing of any great moment on this list anyway. Some of them have not even started broadcasting yet, so people can't blame Virgin for that!

---------- Post added at 12:48 ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 ----------

And you would moan if the prices went up, Arthur. Look at Media Boy's list of channels we haven't got. Is there really very much on there that you are dying to see? There's no point in having channels just for the sake of it.

It would be nice to have the HD variants of the channels we do already have e.g Universal.

vincerooney

23-06-2014 11:50

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy_m (Post 35709120)

I don't doubt the fact that it is advantageous to virgin to carry these apps, but you said they presumably get a small fee per subscriber. I'm not sure that's true, but I'd be happy to see some evidence for your presumption and stand corrected.

---------- Post added at 12:28 ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 ----------

I don't think that's a huge list, and when you consider the number of variants I really don't think there's much in the way of actual content missing, albeit might not be available an hour later or in hd.

On a slightly technical note, who owns small world? LG or Virgin.

Is this a list of all the missing channels compared to sky? or a list of broadcasters who we already show some of their channels but are missing some? we're missing tons from sky (though most are tat)

OLD BOY

23-06-2014 11:52

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincerooney (Post 35709136)

Are you thinking of the free to air channels, Vince? You are certainly correct in saying that most are tat, and so we are not really missing anything here.

greeninferno

23-06-2014 11:53

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh (Post 35709076)

Good point well illustrated.

OLD BOY

23-06-2014 12:01

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj (Post 35709135)

It would be nice to have the HD variants of the channels we do already have e.g Universal.

Agreed, but they will come. I just wish we didn't have to wait until contract renewal time before VM entered into negotiations!

---------- Post added at 13:01 ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by ase001 (Post 35709097)

I can't remember the last time I watched OD on VM the selection is that poor. I think the previous posts are hitting the nail on the head, when the competition offer decent broadband. VM then have nothing in particular that differentiates it from the competition.

If you then start paring up broadband only providers with appleTV or googleTV or even or your Smart TV then what does VM offer that differentiates?

So unless VM improve TV and OD (please, please) then the next time my contract is up for renewal then VM are not front runners for my future business.

Offering Netflix and possibly other Pay TV add on services doesn't make sense, as long as you have 10Mb broadband or above then most families have multiple ways to view these services other than VM.

I've been with VM since the NTLworld days and all I see is year on year increase in cost and little progress in services. Sorry to all those Tivo lovers but the Tivo is not that brilliant!

Oh, I can't agree with you there! Those of you with multiple devices truly believe that the rest of us are in the same position - we are not, and having Netflix on the TIVO is very good. Ultimately, we should end up with a range of these streaming services, which could form a package (just like the packages of channels you get now). If VM can negotiate lower rates than we would pay directly to those companies for wholesale deals, and we were charged a favourable rate for a bouquet of streaming channels, I would be well pleased. That is the point at which I would ditch Sky Movies.

It is also inconvenient to have to keep connecting different devices to access content. Much better to have it all on one box. And as for Connected TVs, I read the other day that once the offerings (like Netflix) were upgraded, you could be left high and dry because the TV makers and suppliers have nothing to gain from spending money on that when they are in the business of selling new TVs.

So, in short, I welcome VM's new venture into TV streaming services and I think they should make a big effort to get as many of these on board as possible, and at favourable rates.

theone2k10

23-06-2014 12:05

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

TV anywhere app is set to hit consoles in 2015 with xbox one, ps4 and ps3 being the first to get it.
At least VM aren't going to charge us extra unlike greedy Sky http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...5#post73311225

BenMcr

23-06-2014 12:18

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35709141)

It is also inconvenient to have to keep connecting different devices to access content. Much better to have it all on one box. And as for Connected TVs, I read the other day that once the offerings (like Netflix) were upgraded, you could be left high and dry because the TV makers and suppliers have nothing to gain from spending money on that when they are in the business of selling new TVs.

I already am - I bought a 2010 Samsung TV which has access to iPlayer and other 'apps'. However Netflix was only made available for 2011 TVs onwards, and Amazon have now removed themselves from the older Samsung Internet@TV platform.

So having access to Netflix on TiVo is a bonus for me.

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