Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

Why don't Virgin just pull their channels from Sky when the contract expires and see what the fallout is from Sky viewers? If Sky can beat down the price they want to to pay to Virgin for its channels surely Virgin can do the same to Sky and up the price for its channels when renewal comes round!

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

Because Sky is a larger distribution platform than VM - VM can't afford to lose about two-thirds of its audience reach. To be honest Sky can't really afford to lose VM's Sky One viewers either but the effect is a little less severe for Sky. Both companies know that the only viable long-term solution is for all channels to be available on both platforms, but their middle-management marketing people seem to be having too much fun bigging up the dispute at the moment for them to be able to come to an agreement on anything.

A little gentle persuasion from Ofcom would be no bad thing at this point.

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

It's called choice. While I am not bothered about Sky 1, there are people who do want to watch Sky 1, but may not want (or be allowed to have) a satellite dish.

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

Also VM probably realise they'd lose a shed-load of money in advertising if they pulled the channels from Sky. A fact which Sky might just be waking up to.....

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

Because Sky's deal with VM to carry channels such as Living was only signed recently so it's probably got 2/3 years to run! Whilst I don't miss Sky One as I hardly watched it we do miss Sky Sports News in our house as we are huge sports fans. There is no other sports news service to rival it. I can't stand it anymore and am getting a cheap freeview box for the TV in the kitchen which I was going to do at some point anyway. Whilst BBC News 24 is ok I like having the choice of Sky News as well.

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

This is quite true Stuart C and hopefully there will be an end to the bully boy tactics now that offcom are getting involved. :tu:
I feel sorry for VM as they are only trying to provide some better services with the products all round. I'm confident they will get there. According to the news article on this site they is going to be 20m b/band available by May-June of this year with VM.

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

I agree with Stuart. There's also a danger that this could be the start of a complete split; it could end up with us all having to have 3 distribution platforms to receive all the channels we want. I don't mind paying for the channels, I'd object strongly to having to pay for more than one platform. I'd also not want to pay 2 platforms for the right to view the same channel. It's high time for the regulators to "influence"' a few heads together.

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

Yes, I suppose Virgin have more to loose than Sky if they did pull their channels, they do have more than Sky don't they?

The lack of any interactive on Sky Sports is a disappointment, as I found out today when I finally went 'digital'. I see why Sky lure people away from VM by not letting VM have those services!!

Re: Use your influence to end Sky-Virgin row, Ofcom told
 

And your point is? Obviously not everyone watches every channel, but nonetheless many did watch Sky One.

---------- Post added at 11:46 ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 ----------

Aside from the cost to VM, this just causes another set of customers to be adversly affected.