Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

From what I can gather, it'll be a matter of days before it's shown on ITV. The rest of the programming is repeats similar to ITV3, so I don't blame VM for not paying for it initially.

I say let Sky pick up the bill for the set up costs, whilst VM can save some money, which (in theory) should help to keep our TV bills down.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

Is Made in Bristol now on Virgin Channel 159 in some Bristol areas?

Made TV has confirmed that Made in Cardiff is now broadcast in Cardiff on Virgin Channel 159.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

ITV Encore is not available to us currently because it is exclusive to Sky until late 2015. I believe that we will get the channel at about that time, although VM haven't confirmed this yet.

You surprise me Richard with your comment that first run programmes may be repeated on ITV 'within days' of being broadcast on ITV Encore. I would have thought it would be at least 6 months before they would do that. If your comment is true, this will be our first 'minus 1' or 'minus 7' channel in all but name!

Such an arrangement will certainly devalue the new channel and if your report is true, I would not be surprised to see the time lag increased after a while.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

I think ITV could get away with drama being aired a week or so before showing on ITV but if shown six months afterwards then ITV could be in danger of appearing to look like a slightly newer ITV3.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

I would expect ITV1 to show new dramas as well though, and air the ITV Encore repeats on days which do not tend to get the audience, particularly Saturday evenings.

If BBC did the same and put on a premier channel, it would never have to show those dreaded summer repeats ever again! Incidentally, this could be a deal to address the forthcoming reduction of the licence fee.

If ITV Encore is to be regarded as a premium channel for ITV, then the arrangement described by Richard will not achieve that. I would not be too bothered if we did not get ITV Encore at all if that's how it would work. I always watch programmes after the event anyway.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

Bristol 159 is now on.I live about 6 miles from city centre and is on here as well.

I live in South Gloucester.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

Thanks for info.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

I'll be blunt. Who in their right mind for that this channel would make people sign to Sky? ITV Encore? It can stay on Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

I think I understand what you mean. It's probably the other way round. Why would someone leave Sky for Virgin if that means losing Sky Atlantic and ITV Encore? These two channels might just tip the deal in favour of Sky if everything else is equal. Plus it gives the reassurance to Sky subscribers that they're with a premiumm service that gets channels well before the other platforms.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

At the moment, with a format based on repeats, it's certainly not a "must-have" channel. I'd be amazed if ITV has managed to sell this channel as a premium product to Sky on the basis of 7 days exclusivity. Especially considering that the article suggests that there will be only 2 commissions in the first year, both to be limited to only 6 parts.

On the basis of what ITV is offering, I can't see the set up costs being that much. Similarly I wouldn't expect the price to Sky or VM to be astronomical. After playing catch-up in the game of acquiring channels last year, VM is now in danger of losing ground again.

---------- Post added at 18:38 ---------- Previous post was at 18:34 ----------

A delay of only 1 week would probably give the channel no significant value at all. Which didn't seem to be what ITV had in mind in their 5 year plan.

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:38 ----------

As it stands, perhaps. Going forward, we don't know how many new commissions ITV have planned for Encore or how popular they will be with potential viewers. In the unlikely event that it commissions material of a similar quality to Sky Atlantic, the demand will be there. If the commissions are sufficiently popular and exclusive, ITV Encore may become a mainstream channel. VM shouldn't really have mainstream channels missing from its line-up. At the moment, ITV Encore isn't mainstream but VM should closely monitor this channel and make sure that they offer the channel before it becomes a "must-have".

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

VM does not really get much of a say in the matter. It's not that it's not prepared to pay ITV's asking price but it's because Sky has signed an exclusive deal for ITV Encore for a set period of time with ITV, rumoured to be 18 months.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

A) I do not really care about Sky Atlantic - the day time lineup look poor to me.

B) ITV has always says that ITV Encore will have its own commissions in 2015.

C) If Virgin sign an deal to carry CSC Media/Sony and Tru TV I will be more than happy to miss the two channels on both ITV and Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

That suggests that Sky is actively seeking out partners and VM have their nets set out downstream, only catching what Sky doesn't want to keep for itself. Perhaps a more pro-active approach and better communication with channel suppliers would encourage such channels to be made available from the start. Maybe it is time to set the nets upstream...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

Virgin Media like to do things the Telewest way - wait until the deal is up with the broadcaster (If the broadcaster do not want to talk) before going after new channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4
 

The daytime line-up is poor but that is the filler material that will make up the bulk of any channel's content outside peak hours. The main selling point of Atlantic is the high quality of the peak time HBO content. Although probably not at the price Sky want to extract from competitors to carry it.

Yes, but they didn't say it would only be 2 6-parters. ;)

It remains to be seen whether the original commissions will be popular and make the channel a "must-have".

Tru TV is dreadful and CSC/Sony content is largely cheap, aged, downmarket material. It would probably be useful to have these on VM to increase viewer choice when other channels are showing their "filler" content. But, overall, not a great catch.

---------- Post added at 19:12 ---------- Previous post was at 19:10 ----------

Allowing Sky to get their foot in the door with exclusive deals simply because VM simply isn't open to discussions. A more proactive approach is needed.