Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

Even if it were just around the corner you still need to evolve consumer behaviour radically to make linear tv not commercially viable. It’s all the same companies pushing the same content at you in a slightly different way.

Hayu, cited above, is owned by NBCUniversal and we know where that web ends.

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:05 ----------

Like any public sector organisation vision and delivery are two different things.

14 years ago VOD launched and it’s biggest proponents NTL and Telewest sold that as the end of linear TV.

Those out of work? The disabled? People who just find the current EPG convenient?

Users who wanted to eliminate watching broadcast television altogether could through timeshifting on DVR or existing libraries of on demand content. To that extent streaming isn’t bringing anything new to the table, it’s just delivered using different technology from on demand.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

Linear TV will cease to be viable when the income from advertising no longer supports it. I'm not sure what you mean with your Hayu comment.

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:35 ----------

They meant the beginning of the end. It takes a while to catch on, and of course the amount of on demand content was very limited until recently. Now it is becoming the preferred means of viewing in a fast growing number of households.

---------- Post added at 17:42 ---------- Previous post was at 17:38 ----------

I can't believe you said that! Are you saying that people out of work are incapable of understanding how digital TV works? I would say to you that most disabled people are capable of coping with the technology and most of those who cannot will have carers to help them.

---------- Post added at 17:47 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

Yes, they could, but you are ignoring the simple fact that the programmes accessible through the streaming services are becoming ever more popular, at the expense of the conventional TV channels.

I'm not sure why you keep making the point about just being delivered by different technology. We all know that, but the fact that this alternative means of delivery provides an amazing amount of good content seems to pass you by. It is better because it's there when you want it and there are no adverts. A massive positive for viewers compared with commercial ridden scheduled TV!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

I think it’s obvious what I mean with the Hayu comment. Anything that ends with Comcast isn’t radically changing any market beyond it’s own financial interest which is as one of the largest pay-tv operators in the world. Exactly the kind of content owner it’s costs next to nothing to maintain a linear presence.

The evidence doesn’t support that there’s many fundamentalists out there who exclusively use on demand or streaming.

You said that people in work can cope with new technologies I was simply asking you about groups you chose to omit.

I’ve seen people in later stages in life with dementia who barely have the capability to switch a television on and press “up” through the limited number of channels until they settle on something.

So yes, I think it’s a perfectly valid question to ask if television is no longer delivered in this way (which I don’t accept it will anyway) how they will cope. It’s a far too simplistic assumption that someone in work today will retain that level of cognitive function throughout retirement with increasing life expectancy. It’s also far too much of an ask on their families to have someone there all the time (either through funding or giving up their own time).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

RE: Smithsonian Channel

It's so good to see a channel launch at the same time on Virgin Media as Sky, Freeview and Freesat. It's been common for Virgin Media customers to be waiting ages for new channels to launch, often months or even years!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

This is more down to the channel pushing their launch than anything VM have done. I notice the channel appeared in all the major TV listings mags last week as well, which is also not usual. They also pounced on the vacant COM7 Freeview HD slot they originally weren’t interested in only a few weeks ago.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

More BBC channel swaps have just been announced:

From Tuesday 19th February:

BBC4 HD moves from 163 to 107

BBC News HD moves from 604 to 601

CBBC HD moves from 710 to 701

CBeebies HD moves from 711 to 702.

https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-t...W7-fullhouse-A

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

With the exception of regional opt-outs, is there any reason why Virgin cannot discontinue all the SD channels where there are HD alternatives? Seems like BBC4 and BBC News are following BBC2 in dropping the SD channel - Gold was the first to do it. That would free up a load of space!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

Also the BBC Scotland HD will be added to Virgin UK Scotland 162 by next Sunday.

In Scotland viewers will see the following by next Sunday:

102. BBC Two Scotland (Closes at 6am on Monday)

Later in the week:

BBC TWO HD will move from Virgin Channel 162 to Virgin Channel 102.
BBC Scotland HD will be added to Virgin Channel 108.

---------- Post added at 18:20 ---------- Previous post was at 18:15 ----------

We think it safe to say when deals are up we will see more SD Channels being axe but Channel 4 and Channel 5 AD Channels will not be axe.

We would love to know if Virgin will drop Channel 4 +1 for their HD Channel.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

One of the main reasons is they are often on different TV packages to the SD versions. E.g. Film4 HD is on Mix and above, standard Film4 is on every package.

I'd imagine there is extra revenue the broadcaster would be giving up, they'd have to decide whether the potential increase in viewers would make up for the lost revenue.

Also if too many channels switched their HD versions down to lower packages there would be less in the more expensive packages to justify the package's existence.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

With Virgin doing "House keeping" Media Boy HQ think HISTORY HD may soon move from Channel 299 to Channel 272.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

I suggested that many months ago, as it would make a lot of sense.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

since i decided to stay with Virgin what is the latest on sky Atlantic coming to us along with sky channels in UHD via the red button or something and not forgetting the new horizon4 ui :-)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

My eyes are on the expiry of the Sky/VM deal this summer. However, we've not heard anything about this yet, other than Sky's statement that Sky Atlantic will be on all major TV platforms in 2019.

The Horizon UI will replace what we have at the moment on the V6, but no date has been announced. I'm not expecting anything imminently, to be honest.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 

Saying and doing are two different things OB.

---------- Post added at 09:24 ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 ----------

Your assumption is probably correct.