Cable Forum - General Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

I was told a few months back (think I posted it on here) that no negotiations for this channel took place bètween SKY and VM as it is being "wound down".

Sky have since made it a part time channel and it has been suggested that Sky are performing a 'dignified exit strategy'.

In plain English they want to slowly phase it out hoping that nobody will notice that the almighty Sky actually made a mistake and were left with expensive egg on their face.

hahah this sums up sky so much well done.

muppetman11

19-09-2014 18:19

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35730172)

VM are now the only platform to my knowledge that have said that they are committed to 3D (via VOD).

Has the VM 3D VOD library improved over the last few months? I'm really just trying to gauge if they kept to their word or not (or if there just isn't the material available to show).

No they are not , Sky puts some of its 3D content on its On Demand service. Sky are stopping its 3D sports coverage which is understandable when you consider its probably costing the most with only minimal amounts of people watching.

The Sky 3D channel will continue for the time being with documentary and movie content , at any point they could quite easily move this content to On Demand only.

I've never understood the mindset to knock a firm for trying something I'm sure its not the first service they've canned I seem to remember a music service , with the right content 3D is excellent however sadly there's been a lack of this I guess the glasses are also an issue for some.

Chad	19-09-2014 19:36

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

BT Sport Extra coming to Virgin Media sometime soon:

http://recombu.com/digital/news/bt-s...-bt-tv-viewers

"At the moment, only Sky TV and BT TV customers with a BT Sport subscription can get BT Sport Extra. The new channel will be coming to Virgin Media customers in the coming weeks but no date has been announced yet."

DaMac

19-09-2014 19:50

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

No HD option, what a waste of jizz.

RichardCoulter

19-09-2014 20:17

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35730205)

To my knowledge Sky have not given any recent statements regarding their commitment to 3D (be it VOD, linear or otherwise), whereas VM have committed to a 3D VOD service.

My contact seems to believe that the days of the Sky 3D channel are numbered.

I'm not knocking them for trying something new, i'm knocking them for their arrogance as a company and complete inability to admit mistakes without spin. My contempt for this company is such that I gain pleasure when learning that something has gone wrong for them.

Many of their own customers have complained that Sky will never admit mistakes or apologise properly, even when it is undoubtable that it is Sky who are at fault. Instead letters dripping with spin are received such as "we are sorry that you feel like this"; as if it is the customers fault for feeling unhappy that they have been wronged by Sky!

muppetman11

19-09-2014 21:13

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

The huge difference being Sky weren't just buying another broadcasters 3D content to add they shot live footage and broadcast a channel pretty expensive if viewing figures are low.

As for a commitment from Sky I've only seen the following

Quote:

A spokesman for Sky said: "Sky 3D viewers tell us they love the channel. We’re being more selective with what we chose to broadcast on Sky 3D, with a focus on movies and entertainment such as the Oscar-winning Gravity 3D and David Attenborough’s latest 3D documentary series coming up at Christmas."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...-schedule.html

Anypermitedroute

19-09-2014 21:34

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaMac (Post 35730224)

No HD option, what a waste of jizz.

Basically at the moment, we are living in our Concorde era, once BT takes over champions league bAck to old piston engines

OLD BOY

19-09-2014 21:40

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35730234)

But it wasn't a mistake, Richard, it just didn't catch on. Sky should be congratulated for embracing new technology to bring an innovative service to its viewers. I certainly wouldn't criticise them for that, and they shouldn't be embarrassed at all.

theone2k10

19-09-2014 21:52

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35730266)

I'm one of Skys biggest critics but i totally agree with this, Sky had the courage to try something and should be proud they at least tried.

pengedragon

19-09-2014 22:19

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad (Post 35730222)

would prefer a channel number rather than red button, what are the chances ?

mhatter67

19-09-2014 22:53

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35730268)

I'm one of Skys biggest critics but i totally agree with this, Sky had the courage to try something and should be proud they at least tried.

Unfortunately 3D was never going to catch on at home in a big way while you had to where glasses to watch it!

Anypermitedroute

19-09-2014 22:54

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhatter67 (Post 35730283)

Unfortunately 3D was never going to catch on at home in a big way while you had to where glasses to watch it!

Spot on, probably just a little too early and companies needed time to truly refine the technology so that additional phericals were not required

RichardCoulter

20-09-2014 05:01

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35730266)

It is good that they gave new technology a chance, but investing in new technology that failed to take off was a business mistake. The knack is to foresee what will be successful and what won't be in the future.

Instead of admitting this (and everybody makes bad decisions at times), they seem to be trying to discreetly rid themselves of the 3D channel by stealth.

Firstly, they tell VM that it is not up for carriage negotiation (even though Sky have tried unsuccessfully to increase it's viewing figures), then it is reduced to a part time channel and then we learn about the cessation of football coverage.

DaMac

20-09-2014 07:27

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anypermitedroute (Post 35730264)

Basically at the moment, we are living in our Concorde era, once BT takes over champions league bAck to old piston engines

Ive tried watching champions league matches in sd back when we didn't get all the HD channels, some of the away matches are just unwatchable. Like you say i bet Kenneth Wolstenhulme will be commentating on some of them (I know he is dead).