Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Very doubtfull,They cant even manage to obtain the currently disney hd channels as it is:(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Of course it is up to you folks how these boards are organised, but personally it would be good to continue with a separate thread for all VM news, articles, press releases etc only. And all discussion on these and rumours can go into the other thread. I really don't see what is confusing about that.

It has been nice to see the mods have been "tighter" of late and not let things get out of control as they have been for so long. Almost reminds me of Frank's original forum. Why ruin things now?

3 stickied threads like this would be nice:

Change log - no discussion
VM News, Announcements & Articles - no discussion
Coming Soon - all discussion about above and rumours

Re: Coming Soon Discussion
 

Good to see that ESPN are trying to increase their sport portfolio for the UK, but they have left SKY unopposed to sports right recently, best example Football league. Sorry at the moment there is nothing of value to watch on their main channel until the football season starts up again:(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

You might not but it would seem others are because the two threads are being used for the same thing and team members are having to constantly move posts from each of the threads. It makes no sense having posts in two different locations on the same subject - let's keep things nice and simple, one thread, one place, one discussion.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Can we have a sticky post for Media Boys post one update though, so we can use this as a point of reference to then discuss!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Seconded - The Coming Soon thread at times became unreadable as there was so much waffle being posted in there the actual coming soon info was 30 pages ago!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Ha ha.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Why not have a separate thread for each new development? That way people can pick the ones they are interested in.

Re: Coming Soon Discussion
 

l still think ESPN are shopping in the poundshop with regards to UK sports rights at the moment and they seem not want to get into a auction with SKY at the moment.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Makes sense - Happy to go with that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

At least my laborious hours spent being subjected to the Disney Channel will now be in glorious HD LOL :D

I know what you mean it seems strange VM haven't even captured Disney Cinemagic in HD as it does show some first run Disney movies.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Asian Melia customers to get offer in the post to get month FREE if they recommend a friend.

Virgin Media are currently mailing Letters to all Asian Melia customers with an offer of an free month of viewing.

To get it all they need to do is recommend a friend.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I see a Harry Potter app has now appeared in the TiVo apps menu. Not had a chance to explore it yet but I imagine it's something to do with the latest film that premières this week.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes l have just seen it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I first mentioned it here?

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35...-post4435.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Well done Devil.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

just what in too tv choice xl and we got there sky anytime been addy in by channel

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Just sky living at the moment but im sure others will follow.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes same here and lets hope more follows quickly.

Re: Coming Soon Discussion
 

Thats because ESPN and SKY have a close relationship in the uk denphone anybody who thinks ESPN in the uk is going to take on SKY sports is only entertaining wishful thinking,do not belive me just look at the evidence so far.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...cup-sky-sports

From the article in the link.

Wolff says ESPN is happy for Sky to be the senior partner in the UK. "There will be markets where we bid against each other; there are other territories where we will not. You could have a very good second position in a market if that's the best business model you can build at that time." He adds: "We have a complex, multifaceted relationship with Sky [but] complex relationships aren't new to us. We just have to manage that."


Now does that sound like a company that is going to bid against SKY for major sporting rights in the uk.

Re: Coming Soon Discussion
 

But it would be good for competition if someone took Sky on.

Re: Coming Soon Discussion
 

Agreed denphone but ESPNS relationship world wide with SKY is too close,and who else is big enough to do it SKY are too dominent and so it will remain i am afraid,that is why Murdoch is so desperate to own the whole lot ie mega money.:(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

ESPN are making a loss over here which is not a surprise seeing as its free for us and still much cheaper than Sky Sports on other platforms so its unlikely they're going to be spending big money regardless of their relationship with Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I agree , their main market is the US and things won't change anytime soon , apart from maybe winning two EPL packs when the rights are agreed next , meaning 46 EPL games instead of 23.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

For me ESPN has turned out to be a real disappointment. I'm happy for the Amercian sports fans on this site as the coverage of basketball, Amercian football etc will be right up their street. I think I was expecting too much from them. I really hoped they'd be as good as Setanta Sports. Setanta aimed way too high, but they did give SKY a few bloody noses when it came to snapping up content.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes l have to say as well that ESPN in my mind at the moment in the UK seem to be shopping in the bargain basement in their purchasing of certain sports rights and we shall see in the next year or two whether they are prepared to take on SKY.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I have just been told that more things will be added to Sky Anytime. But no launch dates was given.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

You know ESPN hasn't really had much chance to bid for the major rights yet?
Judge them when they actually get a chance to bid on EPL rights rather than just inheriting what Setanta already had.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Well we shall see next year when l think the EPL rights come on the market again.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

My guess would be ESPN will end up with probably two packages,keeping SKY happy they still have the bulk whist doing enough to say the PL coverage is dispersed between a couple of providers,and therefore the EU will be happy.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

You could well be right Richard but it would be nice if ESPN bid for some of the other sports rights.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes i agree fairly recently a year or two ago Sky renewed their contract for cricket coverage with the ECB Sky won the television rights unopposed ESPN did not even make a bid i think,guess they could bid for more sports but seem unenclined at the moment to do so,wether that will change in the future remains to be seen,but in general i agree with you denphone it would be nice if they did.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

They need more channels to begin with. American sports are often being broadcast on standard ESPN and not America so there is already an excess of content for one channel.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes thats a very good point i wonder why they could not have the american sports on ESPN america,leaving the standard channel to broadcast more uk/european content.

But they as you suggest need more channels to make a proper job of it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

That would make sense however a lot of fanatical US sports fans who sub to VM wouldnt be to happy if all their HD sport dried up , at least now they can watch a fair bit on ESPN HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

The reason that they show American sports on ESPN as well as ESPN America is firstly that not all ESPN viewers can receive ESPN America (DTT viewers, for example) and secondly that for sports such as the NFL and NBA they only have the rights for the UK and Ireland and the version of ESPN America that we get also goes to several other countries where they don't have the rights.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Then they should launch ESPN America Extra (HD) to avoid the licensing issues and also add much needed extra schedule space. Plus since only Sky Sports 1 & 2 are available on Freeview and BT, they have fans of pretty much every other sport (maybe except Rugby) left to satisfy, so launching all their channels on every platform would be a great decision in my opinion.

I'd love to see ESPN on Demand as well, they already have exclusivity on football highlights for mobile, so maybe it could happen.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Very true time to get ESPN america HD on VM me thinks.:erm:

But to be fair ESPN perhaps need to launch another channel for uk/european content,its a bit bad when the cricket rights come up Sky seem to be the only bidders bidding against themselves no doubt!:D Even if the BBC lets say were to bid the rights are well out of their reach,you might have thought ESPN might have shown some interest but they would perhaps need another sports channel first.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I suppose they have to balance sport acquisitions against subscriber revenues. BSKYB get at least 20.00 per subscriber for their sports channels were as ESPN get 9.00 from Sky subscribers or 12.00 without sky sports and we don't know how much they make off VM per subscriber as this is integrated into XL.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

ESPN could try and get F1 and MotoGP now that the BBC are cutting costs. Get the NASCAR from Premier Sports (or even buy them out and rebrand) and whatever ITV 4 shows plus the WRC they already have and they'd have a motorsport line up that Sky couldn't challenge.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes thats true and i had that also in the back of my mind as well as ESPNS public interviews, as the reason when the EPL come up for re-newal or other major sports Sky obviously will be in the box seat,as you say because of the revenues they generate in the uk ESPNS being much lower as they charge less and their sub base is far smaller.

Mind you if they really wanted to compete unlike setanta they have a wealthy owner disney and could take a serious hit for a few years whlist building up a uk sports portfolio,by adding a couple of channels and upping their subs slowly as they go,thereby giving sky a real run for their money sadly though this will not happen.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

when is prem sport coming 2 vm

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Once they can afford the EPG slot.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes definitely F1 as the only other company that will probably bid for it would be Sky as ITV l believe would not pay the price that Ecclestone wants.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Bernie Ecclestone has stated in the past he wants a mass market for F1 that is why it is not already on Sky he prefers terrestrial tv for F1 ,i did hear that C4 were interested in F1 now the BBC are cutting costs.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

l am not sure C4 can afford it though.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I've heard about C4 as well but I can't imagine them doing it. T4 has been on weekend morning for years and I doubt they're going to drop that group of cheap repeats for some of the most expensive sports rights especially when C4 aren't exactly known for sports at all except horse racing.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

When ITV lost interest in formula 1 Eccleston let the BBC have it for a comparitive snip,would not be surprised in that sport wether mass advertising revenues from it being available to a mass audience on FTA TV is worth more then selling to sky, Bernie Ecclestone is very much against selling to pay tv channels. If he was it would be on sky now as he would have sold the rights to sky instead of the BBC.

I am sure he would package it so C4 could afford it if they really wanted F1.

---------- Post added at 19:39 ---------- Previous post was at 19:34 ----------

C4 did make a good fist of cricket coverage a few years ago before sky hoovered up all the live rights exclusively,C4 could show F1 on more 4 i suppose its available on freeview and well as satellite and cable.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes and they do not even pay for that because bookmakers did to start with and now Sheikh Mohammed now pays for it as far as l know with them advertising his brand.

---------- Post added at 19:42 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Lets hope they do bid for F1.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

If F1 has to leave the BBC which i hope it does not,then C4 would be better for the majority then sky,so yes i hope they would bid as well.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes l totally agree with you.:clap::clap:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Oh great!! F1 with lots of adverts throughout the race. Thought those days were over when the BBC got the coverage. I really hope the BBC can keep hold of it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Agreed, all sport would be better on terrestrial if only :erm:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Even better, they just scrap BBC Three and pay for the F1 with that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

But with a reduction in their license fee the odds on them keeping it are receding.

---------- Post added at 19:53 ---------- Previous post was at 19:52 ----------

No there are some interesting programmes on BBC Three.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Such as? I'm sure Family Guy is costing them a bomb with FX and Sky breathing down their necks. One or two of their comedy drama shows could be on BBC One. Embarrasing (sp?) Illnesses could be broadcast on BBC One also and it seems everything else is a throwaway documentary. The only downfall (in my opinion) is loosing a channel that could be used for sport when there is lots on and even then (to the dismay of) BBC Four (viewers) it could just be put on there.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

They have had some excellent music programmes on there as well as having some good factual and documentary programmes as well.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Regardless, they're planning to stop showing all the super-cheap-to-broadcast US shows on weekday afternoons plus they already show BBC News at nightime despite the fact 97% of the UK can watch the BBC News channel. There are multiple hours of schedule that need to be filled. Drop F1 and there's 6 hours every two weeks to be filled, some of it primetime.

So some money needs to come from somewhere and for the next few years, it can't be us.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

They could put a lot of their archived programmes on BBC 3 and BBC 4 in my mind.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

They sell programs to BBC Worldwide for DVD, International channels, SeeSaw and repeats on UKTV. How much is left, I don't know.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

The BBC have huge archives and there is a lot that has not been shown yet.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

If they cut BBC Four then I doubt BBC Three would be the place for anything from the archives. Vice versa though and it pretty much works perfectly so maybe you have something there.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

ESPN were rumoured to be very interested in super league and look what happened http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011...-league-rights

ESPN really need to up their game , one they could take BSKYB on with is NFL by trying to capture the Sunday games.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes l agree that there are many sports rights including NFL that they could get so we shall see their intent in the next 12 months.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I would love that to happen ! I could save myself some money by waving goodbye to Sky sports.:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

If ESPN were to capture 46 premier league games a season , NFL on Sunday and Monday I would more than likely join you :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

You would be welcome like a King awaiting coronation.:):D:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Can't be bothered reading through all the back posts because it would take ages, but is it true that Sky and Virgins TV line up will come more into line in September and we will also be getting Sky Atlantic ?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Well your guess is as good as mine on this.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Very unlikely,Vm seem to have give up on new content and if murdoch takes full control of sky its very unlikely we will see any new channels from sky again.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Think the summer is crucial to Virgin. They really need to step up to the plate and make an effort to catch up with Sky regarding tv output. If not I can see many more turning away from them. If they can significantly close the gap, added to the fact they have TiVo it will put them in a strong position. Sadly past history does not suggest that they will.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

l think that you are going to be pleasantly surprised in the next year or two by Virgin and remember history is in the past and we are now in the present.

---------- Post added at 10:18 ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 ----------

Virgin have not given up on new content and suspect there is plenty in the wind for the future.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

See James list

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35241425-post65.html

That's a lot of channels to add to come in line by September :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Good points, well made.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Really hope so

HBO make quality TV and Sky Atlantic is the only place to see the new stuff now

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Surely Virgin can agree a price for Sky Atlantic soon.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

They need to get a hurry on,As said above i think once/if murdoch`s take full control of sky we will never see it.Remember last time a murdoch was in charge they pulled there channels.
They can`t do that this time on current channels due to the long term carrage deal,But they certainly can withold whats missing and future channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

As l have said before, the Atlantic channel was offered to VM when it first came out and VM said it was expensive, so l cannot see Sky changing it now,

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

But as l said before who is exactly telling the truth and who is telling the porkies.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

And as I said before, I think that Sky will drop the price to a more reasonable level once it moves to their variety pack. If the current price was as reasonable as Sky are making out then surely the channel would be available on the other digital TV services such as TalkTalk TV, Wight Cable and UPC Ireland.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Well lets just hope that it is available to other tv platforms soon as there is some good stuff on there.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

A lot of people mention Sky Atlantic , what about Sky Sports 3 and 4 HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Hope your right :erm:

As at the moment I am purchasing the newer HBO content from iTunes , just to see the end of the series I had got into (The Wire)

Hence my upgrade to 30 meg BB to make the download easier

I fondly remember when VM had an HBO channel in the "on demand "section, and we got to see all the HBO stuff before it aired on normal TV

Ah good days :cool:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I think that again, VM are being tight fisted like they always are, VM must know that customers want this channel plus other good rating channels, but they won't budge.

At the present moment they are way behind in customer satisfaction, what will happen when this new company called Real Digital comes out, and they arrange with Sky for the atlantic channel, they have alreasy agreed a fee for the Sports service.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

You mean they've already had to go to the competition commission to get access to sky sports 1 and 2 on the same terms as VM and top up TV?

That they had to go through the competition commission to get those channels shows just how likely it is that they'll manage to get the rights to Sky Atlantic.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

How can you say Virgin are being tight fisted when no one knows the in and outs of any deal or possible deal and also you should remember that you get ESPN on your XL pack and with Sky you have to pay a extra £9 for that and remember you also have a huge library of video on demand as well with Virgin as well.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I bet VM are scared stiff about this new platform :D
http://realdigitaltv.com/index.html#

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I can't think of any HBO shows that were on demand before they aired on TV.

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 ----------

Sounds like what Freesat should have been in the first place.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Yes , the two platforms Sky and VM wil always be the two big pay TV players in the UK, look at the struggle BT Vision has had with it's TV service.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Really

"The Wire" series 2,3,4, series 3 & 4 coming on Atlantic
"Carnival" never been aired yet, just coming on Atlantic
"Big Love" series 1
"Love Me" never been aired
" Taxi Cab Confessions" never been aired
"In Therapy" about to come to Atlantic

There are more, yes there really are

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

The Wire I think was on before BBC Two showed it but it might have already been shown on FX or something.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

BT vision and Sky also have a huge library of Video on Demand.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Sky's on demand is more catchup TV from their own channels it seems by the adverts.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Not true admittedly some is , most OD on all platforms has been on before , the idea of OD is for people to catch things hey may have missed.

http://www.sky.com/shop/tv/anytime-plus/whats-on/

Over 500 movies for movie subscribers and content from numerous channels not just Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Well Series 1 came to BBC 2 eventually, and FX are just starting to show Series 2 now started last week

But I saw Series 1,2,3,4 on HBO on demand over a year ago

Just watching Series 5 (Final Series) via iTunes now

Series 1 in the Projects
Series 2 on the Docks
Series 3 in City Hall
Series 4 in the Schools

All the above were on the HBO channel over a year ago, I know I watched them

Series 5 in the media

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

BT Vision still show some HBO OD content not sure what though.

http://www.btvision.bt.com/tv/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Thanks Muppetman :)

Just finished the last Series of the Wire, so seen them all now

Hope we get Atlantic although not at any price, I can always get the shows I want from HBO via iTunes (at a cost) :(

Still you have to pay for your pleasures in life, don't you :cool:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Sky Atlantic will end up on VM defo , the million dollar question is when. I tend to agree with other posters on here about it arriving when Sky switch it to the variety pack.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Explain why it's not on the other digital platforms then, Arthur. Are they all being tight fisted as well?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Carnival was shown years ago on FX

Didn't FX and the BBC both air the Wire?

Wasn't Big Love shown on C4?