Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Yes but I was thinking more of the share of subs revenue that UKTV gains from being included in the package.

---------- Post added at 13:16 ---------- Previous post was at 13:07 ----------

Anything is possible with UKTV but I can't see Eden doing very well as an FTA channel. It's the old problem of niche channels only attracting a small number of viewers, which doesn't really appeal to advertisers. I believe that Yesterday +1 is still included in one of UKTV's DTPS (Freeview) licences, so they could easily launch that as a placeholder until they decide what to do.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I was surprised to hear Eden described as a niche channel. I thought the nature programmes were popular, although I know these are not everybody's cup of tea.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Its a matter of taste for some people OB as some peoples meat is another persons poison.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

But it is a niche, it's the way broadcasters subdivide genres to isolate specific segments of the market. It works very well for quality content on pay-tv but not so well for FTA, which needs higher viewer numbers to be attractive to advertisers.

Documentaries as a whole attract around 13-15% of the overall audience. Further divide that into History, Science, Nature etc and the figures start to get fairly low. Then bear in mind that there are several broadcasters competing for the audience within each segment. Not really the mass appeal needed to thrive in the FTA market.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

What?!

Eden has nothing to do with gardening.

It is a natural history and science channel.

---------- Post added at 20:25 ---------- Previous post was at 20:22 ----------

So much weird speculation about Gold doing FTA, people have wanted that to happen for years, but as one of the most established brands in Pay TV there is no reason for it to happen.

UKTV closing the HD version of Eden on Sky has nothing to do with any of their channels going FTA, especially Gold.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

No, but the original speculation was for Gold HD to be starting on Sky, Astra 28.2E scans appear to confirm that speculation.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Yes, and that's got nothing to do with Gold (in SD) going FTA. UKTV have launched HD versions of W, Alibi, Good Food and Eden and none of the SD versions have gone FTA.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

As I've suggested previously, with Gold's inclusion in Now TV's Entertainment pack, it would be a very strange move for UKTV to take the channel FTA.

There are no solid facts to indicate that UKTV will be making any more of its pay tv channels FTA in the short term. That said, previous re-organisation within UKTV, such as the closure of Blighty have concluded with the launch of new FTA channels such as Drama. One to watch but, at the moment, rumours are simply rumours.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Just my opinion but I don't think GOLD will go FTA.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I'm a little surprised that the thread seems more focussed on the FTA issue rather than the obvious question of "is Gold HD coming soon to Virgin Media TV?".

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Ah right, I thought it was part of their nonsensical renaming, referring to the garden of Eden!

Just goes to show that this policy is fundamentally flawed. The reason they named Dave in such a way was because UKTV- believe that "everyone knows someone called Dave"!!

---------- Post added at 15:11 ---------- Previous post was at 15:09 ----------

Indeed, I don't think that any of the UKTV channels are FTA on VM.

I also think that we won't get GOLD HD straight away as it will be a Sky exclusive.

Edit: GOLD HD is now broadcasting off the Sky EPG, it's been said that the upscaled SD material looks rather good.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

FTA doesn't really apply to VM as a closed platform. Sure, certain BBC and radio services exist outside the pack structure and basic PSB channels aren't encrypted, although additional services for adjacent regions are encrypted. Commercial PSB SD channels seem to exist in a strange zone where they are unencrypted but still included in most packs.

FTA status only really applies to open platforms.

More fun and games from Sky? I don't know about that to be honest. How valuable is largely upscaled material with very little native HD content? Hardly a big attraction

Yes, I noted a few posts ago that Astra 28.2E scans had detected the channel broadcasting off the Sky EPG. There have been comments on DS about the quality but, in fairness, certain individuals making those claims would say the same if a grainy old VHS tape was being upscaled.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Del Boy TV in HD? Media Boy HQ need to call Astra UK - not.:banghead::sniper:

Eden HD is still broadcasting on Virgin UK Channel 249.

---------- Post added at 19:09 ---------- Previous post was at 18:02 ----------

Nick Jr Too cooking with Bacon next month.

Nick Jr Too rebrands temporarily as Nick Jr Peppa from October 2nd until November 1st.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

How exciting!! :p: I'd better get the service name for "Nick Jr Too" locked in the database so that this temporary rebrand doesn't flag up loads of irrelevant changes.

Speaking of changes.. I've been informed that "Sky Ocean Rescue HD" has been added to TS ID 39 SID 3904 and that frequency changes have taken place on several VM regional networks*. That update is from raw scan data, no doubt I'll be given further information over the next few hours / days as soon as it has been processed.

*Edit: frequency changes for networks served by the Barnsley & Brighton headends.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

That an new Sky channel name for Media Boy HQ is an SD Channel also testing?

Maybe an Virgin Media Exclusive?;)

Only thing we can find on Sky Ocean Rescue is: https://skyoceanrescue.com/