Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

My comment still stands we have still had no official update from VM to their customers about Red Button, Sky Arts HD!
VM are bad communicators.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I had an email from Cindy Rose months ago confirming VM were in talks with ESPN for ESPNA HD but no more info.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

This is a reason why l won't go over to VM on a bigger agreement, as you don't know what they are doing and don't tell there customers anything, Without the red button its not worth changing at the moment, l will stay with Sky until VM sort themself out.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

The last update regarding SKY Arts HD was made as part of the following press release on the 05th August 2009 relating to Comedy Central HD.

http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...823&highlight=

"Virgin Media continues to expand its HD line-up with 26 channels launched so far, including E4 HD, ESPN HD, Film4 HD, Living HD, Sky Sports HD 1, Sky Sports HD 2 and a host of Sky Movies channels in HD. With further HD channels due to launch over the coming months, including Sky1 HD, Sky Arts HD and, now Comedy Central HD, Virgin Media will soon offer over 30 HD TV channels."

That was 5 months ago. Sure the release states channels are due to launch in the coming months and doesn't give a specific time scale however to me coming months means 3 or 4 months. What would have been more accurate is to suggest the channels will be coming in 2011.

If Virgin announce something, but the plans change, the decent thing to do would be to release a further announcement advising plans have changed etc... Too often we're told something will launch within a certain time frame, or something will come soon, then we're left hanging without any further updates. That's probably why this site is so popular, and the Coming Soon thread is the most read. People like to know what's happening, but the people we pay our money too aren't keeping us up to speed.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

20 July 2010 was the first time I read VM say Sky Arts HD specifically was actually coming but it could have been earlier "The addition of Sky Sports HD1 and HD2 follows Virgin Media's deal with Sky to bring its customers a wide range of new HD channels and Red Button interactive services*. The deal also adds Sky 1HD, Sky Arts HD** and Sky Movies HD channels for the very first time, which will take the total number of HD channels on Virgin Media to 30".

However it was announced with the footnote 'Timing for Sky 1HD and other Sky Basic channel launches in HD will be confirmed in due course" so to their credit they have delivered with Sky1 HD.

As far as I am aware VM have never said that Sky Sports News HD and Sky News HD were launching. Or ESPN America HD, in fact nothing other than Sky Arts HD and Red Button, they have delivered everything else that was announced. I know Bravo has closed and Channel One is going (on all platforms) and that we are not getting Atlantic but what VM got in return for the sale of VMtv the lineup now looks far more competitive to a potential new customer than it did a year ago, how competitive though remains to be seen as it's channels that sell subs not kit and always has. There are still some gaping holes which will no doubt be highlighted.

VM have done well but even so that press release was nearly 6 months ago now so let's hope it will not be too long now. I am totally convinced it will be channel additions and services like red button that will drive subscriptions.


http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...279&highlight=

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Sky's strategy for Atlantic channel is to attract freeview non subscribers. Perhaps after this advertising campaign we may see the channel on Virgin.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/orga...antic-x-factor

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I emailed the CEO's office again today with a general question about Sky Basics, they didn't say much but did say that they are currently in negotiations for Atlantic.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

From what I have heard, Sky are asking a higher price than VM are prepared to pay for us to have the channel at launch. VM may be holding out for both SD and HD versions - dunno.
Having watched the opening episodes of Boardwalk Empire, it would be a shame to only get it in on Virgin in SD, but it would be better than having to watch it by other means.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

This would appear to be the case but as I always say that is just my opinion. I just wanted it cleared up that Sky are not actually withholding the channel, merely that VM cannot agree to terms, possibly on costs.

Given this is a very high end channel it cannot be cheap to provide, and let's remember we don't pay extra for basic HD on XL. Sky's own customers will of course be paying extra for it in HD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Seems to be the only way to get any information from VM;) Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I know we are never going to agree on this Mersey but there is absolutely no evidence that Sky want, at least at the present time, any rival platform access to have access to this channel. During the Sky basics dispute sky said all the time that they were willing to negotiate. Negotiations were taking place right up to the last minute. It is completely different this time. Of course VM are going to say they are trying to get the channel but Sky have been telling everybody, weeks before the channel starts broadcasting that rival platforms are not going to get the channel. That is pretty conclusive evidence to me.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

And not conclusive to me.

I don't know what Neil Berkett's team could be negotiating if what you say is indeed correct. I have no reason to doubt his word.

He seems a pretty upfront sort of guy to me.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Both Cindy Rose and Neil Berkett reply to emails , this alone deserves respect don't forget these people are busy executives.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I couldn't agree more.

I like facts and information from the horses mouth, like I received today.

I have absolutely no reason to doubt Mr Berkett, other's can if they wish.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

VM will of course tell there customers we are trying to get this channel. They don't want people who want this channel to leave. What we are not seeing from Sky is a company who thinks they are negotiating with anyone. Quite the opposite. They are quite up front about the fact that this channel is going to be an exclusive at least at launch. They have said to VM customers on twitter that they are not going to get the channel at launch. What companies say who are willing to let their channels appear on a platform is, you had better talk to your platform about this and get them to agree a deal with us.
Sky are being totally up front about it being only available on their platform. They of course want customers of other platforms to know it's exlusive to Sky for an obvious reason.
Also if you think that Sky is such an open platform company that they actually mean the opposite of what they are saying, how come VM subscribers are paying for the Sky sports package and £7 HD premium channel charge but not getting sports 3 & 4 HD? Why did VM have to sell their channels to Sky to get VM sports subscribers access to the red button content they were already paying for? Sky have plenty of form for this.