Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have been watching various forums for the last 12 months or so, thought it was time i joined and aired my views, VM offer a (in my opinion) a top notch internet service (i have the phone too never had any probs with that) the tv service is pretty good too we have on demand and catch up so there is always somthing to watch....... however if we start comparing the tv service to sky then I realise how much better skys offerings are, hd wise,but you have to pay for it. I have been with telewest/virgin for moons and have been waiting paitently for HD (Coming soon "sigh") I moved house in feb and i decided i was going to the dark side however after virgins latest promise on hd at the time I decided to stay with them and got my self a really good deal but a new 12 month contract...

I will be honest I have lost all faith in vm to deliver the hd channels and with it looking like setanta going under, and the price it will cost me to add sky sports to my existing package. Im gonna take the plunge and go for sky, there isn't that much in price difference and I'll get plenty of hd (including sports)

Now my next debate is gonna be fun Im going to ask/demand virgin release me from my current contract on the grounds I was mis sold it, I was promised more hd channels would arrive by the end of march. Hence the reason i stayed on. ( I bet that phone call won;t be recorded though)

Let the fun begin...

p.s. good luck you virgin fans I hope they do get there hd channels for you don't hold your breath though. |Virgins main bread winner and sales arm is broadband the tv service is a weak second, (go to the states and check out there cable tv services (comcast) its all we ever dreamed and more )

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

There we have it then... no room for Eurosport HD , FX HD, etc... we'll be watching Makeover shows in HD instead... marvelous...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I found that article very difficult to understand. What portfolio will be subject to a bidding war?
And if the VM owned channels are in such great shape, why were they wanting to sell them off?
They neglected to put a time frame on the start of Living HD, probably a good idea as it takes VM an eternity to do anything regarding hd channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

And there the point other have made before that even virgin adding hd channel will not satify people unless it all the ones sky have virgin can never win can they?

I for one would liek Living HD but prefer some of the UKTV HD channels to

---------- Post added at 10:52 ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 ----------

the vmtv channels

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Bet they get more viewers watching Living HD than Eurosport, FX, National Geo combined

I'm amazed how many people watch all these nature programmes all the time and hence have the need for HD, whereas no one watches BBC1,2, ITV and 5 due to the lack of HD

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

well at least that shows there are no capacity issues. I have to say I wouldn't watch Living HD either I would prefer Eurosport HD but it is heading in the right direction so any addition is better than none

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

And theres the rub andrew, if vm did get say 6 HD channels people would then be saying its nice but still not as many as sky, vm cannot win one way or the other .

Also i would add despite a voiceiferous few on forums, the majority of vm tv customers are not too bothered about HD,i read somewhere a huge percentage of vms tv customers are on the lowest (free package) anyway,and not many take the sports/movie premium channels on sd, so how many would be prepared to pay extra,not a lot would be my guess, and virgin know this hence no rush.

I myself would not be prepared to pay extra like sky customers as i consider £62.50 more then enough for tv,broadband and phone package of any kind per month,let alone paying another tenner on top.

Having said that vm should come clean about intentions ie no more of this coming soon cr-p,then customers would know where they stood one way or another that want HD and it is important to them.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

grrr, living bloody tv, wish they announced eurosporthd instead:(

atleast they didnt announce living2 as that is for people who believe in ghosts.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

but virgin media have not annouce living hd it virign media tv thatg annocue they plan to launch the channel that does not mean it necessiarily will be on virign although i would bloody hope so

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

As this is a new channel does that mean Virgin could have this as a cable exclusive - at least until the channels are sold?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I think unlikely as they will need it on sky to get the viewer numbers up but hay never know they might do it

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

A little more about VM HD by Virgin Media managing director Johnny Webb.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...002417.article

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Once again people miss the big picture. Unless you're (not you) an idiot you know we wont be getting SKY channles HD any time soon... so if "you're" just whining about that then tough...

The MAJOR point is the shabby was we've been treated as PAYING customers when it comes to HD... we will be getting them, oh no we wont... maybe now... nah wait a bit longer etc ect...

There are also plenty of other HD channels not owned by SKY and its subsidiaries...

I can fully unserstand VM using their own channels to launch HD linear offerings as it will be cheaper... but if thats all we get then i and others will feel rightly cheated.

HD is great for sport, nature etc not for "The Worlds Fattest Weight Loser" or "Celebrity I'm an Idiot" and the rest of the dross they show on Living...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Living isn't a bad channel, you know full well they show other stuff other than what you said. It might not be the best channel, but I'd rather it in HD than not in HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Nook, they do indeed show other stuff... i just picked the best of it ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

If you think that's the best they show, then I feel sorry for your taste in television.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Living HD yeeee haaaaa,

I have found out the full hd line up for virgin, It's bid up tv hd , bid up tv +1 hd, Itv2 + 1 hd (endless run of total recall) and last but not least setanta golf Hd.......... It's a reliable source its from the figment of my imagination :)

I read a post were some one said the majority of vm custs have the basic package, I suggest the Vm police pay these people a visit. Im sure they will uncover a lot of dodgy Boxes ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Don't be sorry for me mate... be sorry you don't understand and the use of " ;) " or light humour...
BTW there's a lot of that on Living HD...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

That will at least bring Setanta upto normal SD quality :walk:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Trust me, as somebody who is incredibly sarcastic, it's not easy to convey sarcasm over the internet. You made a good effort, but ultimately failed due to the winky meaning multiple things.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

LOL... Coming after an obvious sarcy comment the wink smilie obvioulsy meant only 1 thing.... you're attempt at a put down is just as bad as my sarcasm lol....

Anyway, back on topic... HD eh! tut... wish there was more on VM....

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

now now nook29 and mobes put the hand bags away, were all in the same boat wanting HD channels on VM.

Living the dream !!!!!!!!!!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You guys moaning at the annoucement of Living HD, its one of the most watched channel in the collection of VM channels so that will be why they are going to be releasing a HD version of it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You don't need viewing figures for a HD channel though.

The only reason viewing figures are important are for ad revenue, HD channels don't generate more ad revenue, people without the HD version will just watch the SD one, so you don't gain any audience to generate any extra revenue from offering a HD version (the people who won't watch SD are VERY rare, so are pretty insignificant).

There's a huge difference between an HD simulcast of a channel and a completely different channel, sky proved with the sky basics debacle that they need to offer their channels on VM, but they know they don't need to offer their HD varients because it brings them zero extra ad revenue, people just watch the SD ones instead.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I had this pink elephant fly past my last night with VM HD channels written on it, that how much faith l have in VM when they promise HD, everyone wants them on VM, but all we get is a load of lies, this was 'promised' to us before Xmas, When l believe in pink elephants, then l will believe in HD on VM.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

LOL

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It was never promised before christmas. All they said was that they will have some channels by end of 1st Quarter.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i think virgin 1 hd first looks beter qualty on my v box

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

There is no Virgin 1 HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

There is no Virgin 1 HD and on a V Box you can't get HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Wow living hd.......I bet all you HD lovers are happy now ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

v + sorry :(

---------- Post added at 22:45 ---------- Previous post was at 22:43 ----------

i mean i reckon virgin 1 h will come first before any other hd channel ever since the realunch the picture qualty looks better on v + box

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i thought VM were selling their channels such as LIVING?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

they are to sky

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

no that aint true, they are sellign them sky are bidding does nto mean sky willg et them

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

you know sky will get them easy and i think they will get the 50percent of uktv they always destroy compertion and ofcom can't do a thing about it

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

surely if Sky are bidding it shows the channels are profitable and so VM should keep them. Also haven't they learnt anything from the Sky basics fiasco. With no channels to sell in return VM will have no negotiating power at all

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

yer virgin media is in debt of 6 bill thts why there selling them ino there profitable but when yu have big debt yu must have no choice surely

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

That aint being sold with the VMTV package, besides UKTV/BBC Worldwide has first refusal, so we dont have to worry about VMs share being sold to Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Man I'm on the vinegar strokes oooohhh hoooooo oooooooo awwwwww.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Living is one of the worst. It has those utterly retarded 'psychic' shows, where idiots get to 'talk' to a dead person, or as it's also known, get conned on a TV show. Oh and 'ghost' hunt shows too.

It's a channel aimed at simple minded people with IQs in single digits.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Exactly, all those posters saying what a great channel Living is and that it shows better programs than "I lost a quarter pound of fat off the left cheek of my arse" and "ghosts are eating my cornflakes" I'd sure be interested in hearing what these great programs are?
As regards the usual VM cheerleaders saying "told you so" concerning Living HD I'd just say this, wasn't it Berkett himself who said, "we are looking to offer sport and movies in HD on VM".
Is it any wonder after so many false dawns that when we finally hear something concerning HD channels we are told about the "powerbrand" station Living HD...what about Nat Geo, Discovery, History and the like? these are the sort of channels that show things worth watching in HD.
On a finishing point I wonder if its occurred to some people that if VM had any sort of decent HD offering they might very well have a lot more interest from your average SD customer? just like Sky did when they dropped the price of their HD box, one million plus now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Nice grammar!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

last i checked it got csi which is the top rated show in america

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It also has Ghost Whisperer, which is a really popular show.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Hey has anyone else noticed that there 3 more channels gone off the epg ? I havent been able to figure out which but it says on the normal v box that the total services now are 297 when the other day it was 300

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I watch Grey's Anatomy occasionally on Living. Not my favourite series, but it's infinitely better than the shows you have been listing.

Might also be worth noting that nobody said Living was a great channel, just defended it from the mindless bashing that a few select members seem to enjoy.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Thanks for the input! Now say something relevant instead of pointlessly slagging someone off for their 'grammar'.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ino poor grammar get over it ! a rush hd programe has launched ondemand wounder that will be one of the channels rush hd

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

How many other channels also have this show? It seems to be on everywhere.

And if they decide to refuse ... ?

No; it just shows they have an audience, not that they're making money from them. Maybe $ky see a way to make them profitable as part of their set of channels, by cross-selling or something; or maybe they just want to asset-strip the contracts and shut the channels down. Time will tell...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

All gone quiet on the "Suprise" front :rolleyes:

Did they run out of 50p's for the meter??

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Virgin Media have 6 bills, i would have thought that they get more than 6 bills. I mean I must get about 6 per month, what with council tax, virgin media, electricity.
Though how does a bill equate with debt, and what does 'ino' mean and who is yu ?
is that Johnny Yu from the film last dragon ?

Is he in big debt ?

Does he hold Virgin bills ? Do Virgin bills = Shares ?

If that is true then who is johnny Yu in debt to ?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

one word okay as in i don't get it

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Someone that I know has a "dodgy" box, which I do not agree with seeing I pay £100 to Virgin, but anywho, there have been a few test channels on there, simulcasting the adult stills (SD), this is on the ex-telewest area in Newcastle.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i think the other poster was taking the mick :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

This week list update now online - see post one.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Jetix will rebrand in autum to disney xd, should be noted teh programming on jetix is already chanign to disney xd programming

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Disney XD already exists in the US and France and targets boys aged 6 to 14, but is also “girl-inclusive”. It will be the first channel of its kind in the UK when it launches in around August.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...002475.article

Info from Broadcast.

---------- Post added at 12:32 ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 ----------

Virgin Media plans music downloads service

Universal Music joins forces with Virgin Media for service allowing unlimited downloads for a monthly fee.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...rsal-downloads

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Do you think Virgin Media's "nice surprise" might be the bundling of this service with it larger TV packages? Because that would be a nice surprise!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

If they have it will be the XL package only or maybe XXL package if they decide they need a new one jsut like they did for 50mb

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Any news yet, or a date when it is going to be announced.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Actually, much of that content seems to have been relegated to Living2 whereas Living (and +1 and +2) has a balanced mix of comedy, drama. documentary and music news (http://www.livingtv.co.uk/shows/tv-schedule.php). I primarily watch the drama (e.g. CSI, Criminal Minds etc.) but watch 'Nothing to Declare' and 'Passport Patrol' as 'easy viewing' when I'm doing something else.

I haven't watched the comedy on Living for a while but it's a mix of things I watched as a kid (e.g. Bewitched), things aimed at a teenage audience (e.g. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) and the rest are just not my style of comedy. In summary, at certain times of the day, typically evening, it's great and at other times I have better programmes to watch elsewhere.

Overall a http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/im...ons/icon14.gif!

Some of the content on Living could benefit from HD but I would prefer to see Discovery, History and Nat. Geo. in HD first. I'm not a sports fan but can see the advantage of HD there too.

I have to admit that I don't have a HD TV or V+ Box yet but may get the latter soon just for the PVR capability. As the UK goes digital I expect more people will take up HD, economic 'climate change' permitting, and I'll probably join them at that stage when more content is available and the choice and cost of HD TVs is more favourable.

---------- Post added at 00:00 ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 22:18 ----------

In Aylesbury, ex-NTL, ex-CWC, Bromley platform on a standard Pace V Box I have 301 channels (31 streams) down from, most recently, 305 and, at one time, 309 channels (if I recall correctly). I guess less is more as they say. ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Any more thoughts on this? Do we know what we lost?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

They say autumn, but defo before Christmas

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

it was adult on demand channel, sicne i do not follow them i can nto say which ones, just noticed there wa dropped on them

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Living HD will launch later in the year as part of a rollout of high definition channels from Virgin Media Television.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...gin-media.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

LOOK AT THE LAST SENTENCE PMSL!!!!!!

"Virgin Media did not confirm whether the channel would be carried on its digital cable service."

CLASSIC, CLASSIC VIRGIN MEDIA!!!!!!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The reason for that is a very very very dum one, they have to negetoite with themself to carry it :S

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

That's possibly the best thing in heared in years... LMAO!!!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

what if the big suprise is virgin are going to dump the tv platform and go with BB and phone and isptv :shocked: stranger things have happend

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Then i for one am B****d as i can't physically get Sky or Freeview...

It wont happen though!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I heard that Virgin Broadband customers are going to be allowed to download unlimited music tracks from certain labels for a nominal monthly fee.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Wouldn't that be shooting themselves in the foot somewhat, as they pretty much do that with their TV service currently, it being carried over the data cable network in such a way that it doesn't interfere with other data traffic.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

suprise = You get to select the style of music you would like when on hold to customer services. I chose option 3 indie/rock

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I do hope you are joking about this, sounds like one patronising surprise, though in fairness it isn't often I get put on hold when calling VM.

I wonder if perhaps there is no surprise, and this source which media boy has was actually talking about that rebrand which Virgin 1 has got, and everyone read to much into it, and now it has become so overhyped mediaboy is scared to come out and say "OK, we've had the surprise, I was stupid to put it in a centence about customers hearing news regarding hd, cos now everyone thinks it is that."

Even VM's twitter page states that nothing is coming up regarding hd.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

WOW awesome to the MAX....if its a "Powww..erbrand" channel that is really pushing the envelope.;)
Apparently Living HD is an "absolute priority" for VM's push into HD, all very nice I say but one little thing is niggling away in the back of my mind, if Living HD is a priority what on earth are they going to call the likes of History, Nat-Geo and Discovery?
Or are the other HD channels going to be made up with the likes of "Rush" and "Luxe", with the above stated channels just a fantasy for VM viewers.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Sadly i am not joking about the choice of music thing. It really does go along the lines of press 1 for dance press 2 for rap press 3 for indie/rock etc. I doubt this was the suprise though. Maybe this is the unlimited music launch we have been hearing about of late :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

just wanted to ask is virgin going 2 be getting a hd epg screen

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You are confusing VMtv and VM. They are only loosely related. Living HD is a priority for VMtv, because it is one of their channels, unlike History, NatGeo and Discovery. This tells you nothing about the priorities for VM.

On the other hand, Living is more popular than the other three put together, so maybe it should be a priority :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

They may do someday but the current one is ok for now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

As IT has been said many times you want HD SWITCH TO SKY.Virginmedia are not really bothered about Hd if they was dont you think they would have more than one channel of hd virginmedia are more intrested in we have the fastest broadband hype.The time virgin get a lot more hd channels sky will be on super hd. if you want broadband try virginmedia if you want HD switch to sky simple really ...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i think not, Super HD as you put it wont be out until 2050, virgin will ad more hd channel but it wont be as many as sky, if you want movies and sport in hd go to sky if you want selection of hd and are willing to wait stay with virign if oyu need hd go to sky. virgin will have a good selection of hd channels within a few years, the reason they wher enot btohered before one small percent of cusotmer had v+ and two sky signed most of the broadcaster up to exculsive deals which where 1-2 years long.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Very optimistic Andrew (do you work for Virgin ??) They will have a good selection in a few years !!!!!!!!!, by the time virgin get a good selection of hd we will have people living on the moon.........

No matter what any of you say or think my personal view is virgin need to pull there finger out stop the HD coming soon crap and make it happen.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i think virgin will have ultra hi def hi vison in 2070

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

doubt sky will have it then, the lastest estimate for UHD is 2050-2080 for recording equipment, broadcasts will either have to be by 10Gigabit connection or with a serve update to DVB-S, DVB-T and DVB-C standards, as the bitrate for that is through the rough so they estimating japan will have broadcast by 2100

but bear in mind that technolgoy can advance very quickly this is esitmate on the current technology advancments

---------- Post added at 13:45 ---------- Previous post was at 13:44 ----------

I am not being optimistic just know trends, and the trends are now virign want to broadcast HD will see when they finally launch teh HD they are poplour so will then try to get the rest of the non sky hd channels and onece the ofcom review is dopne and assuming they say hd should be on the rate card thye will probally add them to

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Virgin are trying to make it happen. Business deals can take time.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

We all appreciate that contractual agreements take a period of time to formalise. What we don't appreciate is constantly being given indications as to when more HD channels will be released. An example:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...ing-c4-hd.html

another example:

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2008/...nch-on-virgin/

Do I need to continue? It's all very well saying "Business deals can take time", of course they do! What Virgin ridiculously insist on doing is announcing the forthcoming arrival of HD channels flippantly, fail to give their employees a consistent message about the situation and then completely and utterly FAIL to deliver on anything they have proimised in relation to HD. Virgin: If you can't give us HD, stop telling us you can! You big bunch of Ronaldos.

Basically, if you want HD, go to Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

There is one flaw in that arguement. Channel 4 HD? As far as I know (which is pretty much what I've read on here) VM have the rights to put this on the EPG, but for whatever reason (Bandwidth will no doubt be mentioned) they have failed to give us even this.

Andrew... let me guess, they want to release a bunch of HD channels together, rather than one at a time.

That ain't a pop at AndrewCrawford23, more a comment on how predictable and repetative this thread has become... for which I'm a part of as much as anyone.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

They can give us HD though. What a ridiculous post.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Applaus, applause... EXACTLY it!!! That's the biggest point in all of this... that they spout their mouth off and then fail to deliver. It's not good buisness practise yet they've done it at least twice...

Thank goodness someone else gets it... :tu::tu::tu:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Acutally that only thing i agree with when anyone complains about it, i have on many attempts since they have said they want to launch HD contacted a few people i know and i never get a naswer to that one question, i asked on twitter same thing no answer or commerically senstive, i asked neil berkett never got a answer also asked where our 2nd hd channel is he said we had in dec 08

as i said before contray to what some people say i do critise virgin just i am more defneding them because a lot of the time i believe people are reading things wrongly or twisting things to suit there own needs

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have just seen on WOTSAT, that there is a bidding war between C4 and Sky for a package of seven HD channels to come onto VM, wait for it - towards the end of the year, and due to the war between Sky and VM, (you know the one l mean - basics) it has now becomwe a price war to the highest bidder.

So, my argument is quite simply this, VM have been stringing us all along, about HD and by the looks of it, we will get, what we have now - NOTHING. And before people say, l am critical of VM, you are damn right. We deserve HD channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

WE DO NOT DESERVE HD CHANNELS, we have the choice of who to take tv with, if you do nt like there selection you say no thanks i will go somewhere else, and if you can not you either agree to having less or you go without.

and what ch4 got to do with a bidding war for virgin?

and by the way wotsat is not virign they have not said end of the year and they have not said autum, twitter does not count before anyone says anything i will only say they said autum if its in the 2nd quarter results

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

This HD question has become absolutely meaningless imo, promised dates that never materialise, and always these mythical HD channels are just over the horizon.
As regards "it takes time for deals to be completed", I think that's a given that most reasonable people would except, but "again" on 15/12/08 Berkett said, "if need be VM could gear up in 3 to 6 months" concerning future HD...yet more hot air on his part.
I honestly think each of us VM customers who want decent HD content need to consider their future with Virgin, that is if you have the luxury of that option...tragic really considering it was VM in a previous guise, that offered Britain's first HD service.
I imagine that the majority of us that want these channels might begrudgingly be a bit more sympathetic "if" we were not fed such rubbish on the subject, give us a realistic date and stick to it don't go silent for months on end only to announce days before the supposed launch it isn't going to happen...that's what needles people.
Keep us properly informed VM!!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

l have taken, what was said on WOTSAT.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

We DO deserve them - the majority of people were SOLD HD by Vrigin Media. Remember the ads? HD: VM1 : Sky0

Or is this another sweep under the carpet thing. Stop lying for VM - they don't give a damn, they are up for sale for crying out loud, they will NOT upgrade any channels they will sell up as they are.

Best thing that can happen is for Sky to buy them out - which won't happen as the only things in the UK that can have a monopoly are banks and Tesco!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I agree, but to be fair to VM, they only recently put on their web site that there would be HD channels coming in the future, and its not very prominent at that.

A lot of the speculation may have arisen from comments that I and others posted about what VM bosses say to the City financial people. Berkett has said and given quite specific timetables that HD would be coming by x time, but this was said only to the City and NOT to the public.

It's all been said before, but there isn't HD on VM for this reason, VM do not have access to it, Sky does and controls it, or most of it.

Sky control the bulk of HD in two ways. Firstly, they own the rights to the bulk of premiership football and other top sports in HD. They also own the rights to broadcast Hollywood films in HD. Secondly, Sky does have agreements with other broadcasters that their HD channels (like Ch4 and Discovery) will only broadcast on Sky's satellite platform and no other.

VM, BT and others have complained to Ofcom a couple of years ago now (things move VERY slowly...) that Sky will not sell to them their HD material at wholesale rates. The Ofcom decision on this is soon and Ofcom may force Sky to sell their HD material to VM, but they, Sky, will fight this. From Sky's point of view, why would they wish to give up a competitive advantage to other companies?

So, the situation has been that VM has not had access to the bulk of HD material, including the lucrative sports and films from Sky.

As for the network (don't forget that VM are billions in debt) they could've switched off analogue tv sooner and spend all the money. But, what would've been the point of that when VM have had enough bandwidth for whatever standard definition channels they wish to carry without turning off analogue. They would only need the enormous bandwidth freed up by analogue shutdown if they were going to launch HD channels, the same HD channels they didn't have access to in the first place...There is actually sense in their (VM's bosses) thinking.

Do people really think if VM could get access to Sky's sports and films HD channels, that they wouldn't launch them as fast as is humanly possible? They don't launch them, because Sky control them.

If I were to guess, I'd say that Ofcom will force Sky to share their HD stuff with VM, BT etc. But Sky will appeal, so it could be some time before we see masses of HD channels on cable. By a "strange" coincidence, VM made the decision to switch off all analogue tv by early next year... VM's bosses calculated when they would get access to HD channels and that's why the analogue switchoff will be completed next year as that's when they will get access to all the HD channels. (me thinks)

Instead, VM has been concentrating on broadband. Eventually, a long way off, even the tv channels (if there's still channels) will be "broadcast" down the broadband pipes. No other company can launch fast broadband like VM has to the masses. There's a few tiny companies with fibre optic speeds, but no where near the scale of VM's network. Even Sky got into broadband, because it knows where the future lies.

VM has just announced a unlimited music subscription downland service. It will only be a matter of time before a legal video download service comes too. By that time and with the recently announced levy on telephone lines, BT will be launching a whopping 2mb service to the countryside and perhaps 50mb in the city (I doubt it). Vm will be on 100mb and beyond by then. And of course, eventually, even HD will be coming down the pipes too, rights permitting.

If you want HD now, sign up to Sky. They have excellent bargains and you'll only be tied into a 12 month contract. I expect that by this time next year, this HD business will be sorted, one way or the other, so check back then.

By the way, if Ofcom do force Sky to sell their HD stuff to VM, Berkett has said to the City that the analogue shutdown could be speeded up and he could do a full HD launch within 6 months, a lot sooner to digital only areas.

Watch out for the Ofcom report on the pay tv industry to give a clear indication of the HD "issue" and when/if, it'll be coming to cable.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/

The report is "coming soon", as we like to say on here.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I will probally get a warning for this, but hay i will only speak the truth, anyone who believe what a sales person tells them are daft, plain and simple sales lie all the time. virgin from the go said they whre nt comete with sky on hd they used the vm1 sky 0 for one reason advetrtising they have itv hd which was good sale, but there ceo has always said until december theyw here not interested in hd.

regardless i say again we do not deserve them it not a god given right that virign must suply them

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Hello everyone

This is my first ever reply on cable forum.

And yes, I have been waiting patiently for Virgin to cable up HD channels in addition to BBCHD.

Bad enough waiting for a train or a bus these days.

Soon perhaps??:D:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:welcome: to the forums! We're all waiting patiently (or not so patiently!)...