Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Indeed, I wonder how long it will last before we see news of a takeover by Made TV or That's TV. Note that That's TV is basically carried on Freeview only and that the newer Made TV franchises such as North Wales & Teesside don't have carriage on Sky.

As the period of cross funding from the BBC ends for the older local tv franchises, it will be interesting to see how the original commitments to local content are allowed to fall by the wayside. Also, with funding restrictions, how long will the franchises carried on multiple platforms be able to continue to do so?

---------- Post added at 23:33 ---------- Previous post was at 23:31 ----------

"Coming soon to Virgin TV.. the departure of cash-strapped local tv franchises" perhaps?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Indeed, I bet that it's the loss of BBC funding that has led to it being taken off Sky.

Sky Living Ireland HD closed at 10:20am yesterday morning on Sky, but there has been reports that it is still being shown on VM Ireland. Can anyone verify this? It could be plausible as VM HD channels are line fed and this wouldn't cost Sky anything in extra capacity.

---------- Post added at 01:16 ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 ----------

For those missing Bike TV, Ofcom has just awarded a new satellite & cable licence for Ride TV. Maybe it's a similar channel or something totally different :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Does ride tv have a ticket to ride?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Without its wheels it can't even do its wheelies.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

There is an American cable channel with this name, but it has nothing to do with bikes.

https://www.ridetv.com/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Notts TV is still on VM channel 159,I was watching it this morning. They are also streaming live on their website https://nottstv.com/watch-notts-tv/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

The channel isn't about to go under. The problem seems to be the cost of satellite transmission.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Of course but the removal from Sky suggests that cost cutting is now under way, which raises the question, what will be the next cut?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

The vast majority won't bother with Sky, as they will not only have to pay for the satellite slot, but must join Sky's encryption system due to rights issues with some of the programmes they rebroadcast. There are no local channels on Freesat for this very reason.

It must be a massive outlay for just a few thousand viewers. London Live is the only local channel I know of that uses Sky, & with a potential audience in millions rather that thousands this is the only one ever likely too (Excluding possibly STV2).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

As I stated earlier, the Made TV franchises also use Sky but the newer areas such as Teesside and North Wales have not been made available on Sky.

BBC funding of "diary stories" is £150,000 in the first year of operation, reducing to £110,000 in the second year and £40,000 in the third year. As this source of funding dries up and local content commitments are reduced, there will no doubt be further cutbacks.

With many local services merely relaying national commercial services such as TruTV for most of the day, there is little point in using limited resources to repeat this over multiple platforms. It will be interesting to see how these channels develop over the next few years. With local content being reduced to a few hours a week, on demand and internet distribution would probably have been more sensible than the current model.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Possible sign that the rumour that GOLD is to go HD could be true.

Apparently, UKTV are currently testing an (encrypted) channel on satellite using Eden, but with EPG listings for GOLD HD!

Hopefully they will make GOLD SD FTA and put it on Freeview (which might explain the confusion over an advert that appeared to suggest that it was advertising GOLD as being on Freeview) and keep the HD variant behind a paywall.

If true, I wonder if we will get GOLD HD on VM? We only got the full selection of UKTV channels just before VM sold off their stake in them.

Anyone know when the carriage deal is up for renewal?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Having spoken to contacts at both Confetti & Inclusive Digital today (they use our facilities quite regularly for filming) it is exactly that, the cross funding has now ended so they have had to look at all platforms on a cost/value basis.

As Nottingham is a predominantly Virgin Media area and the majority of viewers use either the VM platform or Freeview (their words not mine), the exorbitant fees (their words again) charged for satellite carriage (I'm guessing by Sky for guide listing?) have been deemed unsustainable.

Seems Notts TV is here to stay, just not on Sky.

Cheers
Phil

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Notts TV are in the third year of operating so BBC funding will be considerably less than it has been in previous years and due to be withdrawn completely over the next few months. It makes sense that they are taking the opportunity to make any appropriate cuts.

Mustard TV didn't cope so well with the situation in Norwich. It has ceased producing new local content and is only broadcasting repeats of older material until the takeover by That's TV is complete. That's TV normally use Freeview only, the exception being the Cambridge franchise, another area they have bought out. It will be interesting to see what happens to VM coverage with these acquisitions.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Does anyone actually watch Local TV what a complete waste of time and money.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Been very disappointed with local TV in my area for the very reason they show little to no actual local TV programs. Made In Tyne & Wear for example (which incidentally is on Sky ) shows America's Got Talent! Hardly made in Tyne & Wear is it!