Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have seen October/November launch for them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Great line up Media Boy, I notice you have indicated that Eurosport and History HD have a deal done icon next to them, I take it then that we will be definetly be getting these two channels added soon?:)
Just as a side issue, have you heard anything more on the "Military History" channel joining VM?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Yep.
It's everything, you have to remember that your license fee doesn't just go to the terrestrial channels, it goes to every single channel the BBC do, do they have an obligation to ensure everyone can get them, as everyone is paying for them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Which will be fulfilled with the Digital Switchover and the rollout of Freeview HD :) Woop winter hill freeview HD in December :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Someone posted an rumour last week on an web site* I was looking at they said ''Military History to launch on Virgin in September'' but I have not seen or get any news since.

*I forgot the name of the web site so I cant post an link.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I think I remember reading that, not sure if it was here DS or somewhere else, either way hopefully MH will be a channel that VM will pick up in time.
As you said though it looks that at present they are going full steam ahead on HD, keep it going VM.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Well, it all depends really. The most likely outcome is that you'll get ITV HD or nothing at all. Remember S2? Scottish's answer to ITV2? In the end, all it did was syndicate ITV2 with an annoying opaque DOG covering the ITV2 one.

The BBC's commitment to the public covers everything broadcasting under the BBC banner in this country. This is why they couldn't launch "BBC Style", "BBC Arena" and "BBC Horizons" as they had hoped to in the mid nineties. As a workaround, they sought a commercial partner (Flextech, now VMTV) and formed UKTV - the channels launched otherwise exactly as they would have, complete with BBC 1997 Corporate presentation.

ITV is a different kettle of fish - more or less all their PSB interests are in the main channel. The issue arises with the use of the ITV brand name - which can only be used to describe the franchised ITV of old (in terms of broadcasting at least). This is why GMTV is automatically entitled to the 6 - 9:25 slot on ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV. On ITV2 and ITV3 GMTV sell the slot to ITV plc, allowing them to run it as a 24 hour service. Having had their own (unsuccessful) go at multichannel, Scottish and Ulster now also have an arrangement with ITV plc, allowing them to run the digital channels nationally. STV could (in theory) at any time, take ITV2 back and relaunch S2.

However - ITV don't have to make any service available universally other than the one(s) they are franchised to produce. It is usually in their commercial interest to do so, but it is not required. Examples:

• CITV is not available in Wales on Freeview
• For years and years ITV2 (and ITV1 for that) were not available on Sky due to the ITV Digital tension.
• Towards the end of its live the ITV News Channel only broadcasted during the day on Freeview
• ITV4 was not available on Sky at launch (officially)

Recently there was talk over ITV making its services pay only - I'm not sure how they'd do this without rebranding, because as I said the ITV brand is protected. men&motors, an ITV channel, is still a 'pay' channel but is unaffected.

The only thing I can think of that disproves this logic is the shortlived ITV Sport Channel...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Yes but will it be STV HD or the national ITV HD in Scotland, given that you have indicated that there will be an S4C HD service in Wales?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

S4C Digidol is completely separate from Channel 4, unlike S4C Analogue which carries most of Channel 4's English peak time programming overnight. Channel 4 is available digitally in Wales, along with 4HD where applicable.

I'm pretty sure that ITV HD does not simply syndicate ITV1, it provides a full HD service like BBC HD - carrying programs from ITV2 and ITV4 occasionally. Therefore ITV HD in Scotland is just as likely to happen as any other ITV digital channel.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

My Birthday is going to be good this year as Virgin Media will be announcing its Second Quarter 2009 results on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 8am UK time.

See you all on Monday after I go to an Wedding in Aberdeen.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Enjoy yourself media boy - thanks for all of your work on the updates. You deserve a break.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

If Eurosport HD is indeed a done deal then i'm well happy... shame it's ot intime for the US Open (tennis) but hey ho!

You've taken your time VM but well done in FINALLY taking the HD issue seriously.

As Fred said, thanks to MB for all his work on the HD and all other issues. :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

what would be good would be if VM gave the channels a free weekend to start with then all those with V+ boxes just for the PVR could see how good they look and might upgrade

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

av a gud bday

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No it doesn't.

At it stands ITV HD is a red button option which only works on Freesat if ITV itself is showing something in HD. The rest of the time I don't think it broadcasts