Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

That went if l rightly remember a long time ago.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

It might get a few more subscribers but they would lose more revenue overall. For that reason, I'm out. (Some existing Sky Sports pack subscribers will downgrade to just SS3, SS4 or SSF1. I assume this would be far cheaper than the bundle say £10pm).

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

well we heard it all before that they coming and they never have and cant see it changing this time and decided to change post as you all hated them ones :LOL:

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Did it? Thanks Den.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I said last year that the sports hd channels would possibly launch this year :p:

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

You must remember that Dave has a track record of pessimism and like a leopard he is not going to change his spots now.:)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

And Technix on DS has a reputation for good tip-offs...

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

don't know where to put this so forgive me if wrong place new on freeview channel 75
http://www.popfun.co.uk/corp/parents/

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

+1.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Just received a tweet from Notts Tv, saying they are in final negotiations with Virgin Media to carry New local tv channel.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Brilliant news. Thanks for the heads up! :)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Anyone know when the Hobbit desolation of Smaug is on Netflix or on demand, Daily Mail shows it as this week, but no sign as yet?

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

The film gets released on sell thru on Monday so wait until then Purps.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Not sure on Netflix but its available as PPV on some services from April 7th , Sky Store is showing as this date however I can't help with other services but I'm sure they'll be similar.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Cheers chaps

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

If you register with this service they'll email you when it's available across all formats except Netflix who asked them not cover their library. http://movies.tanktop.tv/filmlist/

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Should be on Netflix next week,they signed a deal for all 3 parts to be exclusive to them

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I knew they had the subscription rights but wasn't sure when it arrived , thanks for the info. :tu:

The other services have PPV access.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Just noticed that SKY are moving a lot of sports content onto SKY 2. Additions to the SKY 2 line up include:

Soccer AM
Champions League Weekly
The Fantasy Football Club
FL72 Review
Football Gold
Boots 'n' All
Ringside
Revista de la Liga
The F1 Show
WWE Superstars (Not sure if this has always been on SKY 2)

I've also noticed that they've introduced programming that isn't a direct repeat of shows from SKY 1 that have been shown in the last few days like XIII and The Pacific.

So why is this interesting? About 10 months ago I was part of a research group with SKY in regards to a new proposed channel for a male audience focused on sport and American "adrenaline" and entertainment programming. One of the proposed names for the new channel was SKY Bravo.

I think we are seeing the new channel taking form in front of our very eyes with SKY 2 being re-branded as SKY Bravo in the very near future.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I think you could be onto something there!

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Well Chads crystal ball has a habit of good predictions.;):D

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Sportswomen seems a new show also now showing on Sky Living as well as Sky Sports.


On channel 121 would see it 3 pages in on the Sky EPG , isn't ITV Encore going to take channel 123 taken currently by Sky Living +1 it appears there could be a shakeup , wouldn't surprise me if we saw a channel going as well.

Do they need to negotiate with other platforms if a channel simply rebrands ?

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Many thanks Chief :)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I wouldn't think so.

On the SKY EPG you'll potentially have a channel called Bravo and a channel called Encore with an empty slot in between the 2 of them. I think SKY Arts, under a new name, could be inserted in between the 2 channels as part of a re-branding exercise. With names like Bravo and Encore I wouldn't be surprised if SKY Arts became something like "Performance". Sounds very artsy fartsy.

---------- Post added at 11:50 ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 ----------

And bad ones too :D

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

This may indicate that Sky couldn't get VM to sign up to a new 'Sky Bravo' channel after all, and this is a good workaround for Sky. If so, it would indicate that no deal on the Sky Atlantic channel may now be in prospect after all, as VM would almost certainly have tried to link these two issues.

Hopefully, an alternative means of getting HBO programming on the TIVO (not first run stuff of course, which is covered by the exclusivity agreement between Sky and HBO) will be forthcoming before much longer 'on demand', although many have already accessed this material by various means.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I think you could be right.

---------- Post added at 13:28 ---------- Previous post was at 13:26 ----------

No as Sky own the channel aslong as they stay within guidelines they can rebrand it as often or to what they like without asking or negotiating with anyone else. Not 100% certain but i think they would have to notify Ofcom so the license info can be updated but that's about all i think.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Do VM not keep ITV content on catchup for longer than 7 days ?

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

No.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Well the Sky Sports deal with Virgin Media is due up this Summer.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...deal-with.html

---------- Post added at 11:03 ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 ----------

MB HQ was thinking that way too last night.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Thanks Den my parents were after watching The Widower but their TIVO box only had the last episode so they couldn't watch it. Any idea why it's only 7 days ? Most other devices seem to offer 30 day.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

l know before when Virgin had ITV's VOD content other then catch it was on there for quite a while but when a new deal was signed as far as l know it was only for catch up and for 7 days and unless anybody else know different l think that's remains the case.

l think there has been a clear strategy with ITV for quite a while to monetise quite a bit of the content and thus l think this is the reason why we don't see that anymore

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

It's 3 episodes are available via ITV catchup on the web, if you are able to hook a laptop up to the TV.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Not so sure that's an issue Den as it appears all episodes are available on other platforms , maybe its a blip not sure.
I've just noticed that cheers mate I'll let them know , it's showing all 3 episodes on both my YouView and Sky box with the first episode set to expire in 9 days.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

All three are on my retail YouView box too. It's strange that a premium service (Virgin) has fewer episodes than a free one (YouView). Hopefully, Virgin will add more content at the next contract renewal, I assume ITV charges Sky and Virgin whilst the content on YouView may be part of ITV's payment-in-kind for the platform.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Well you tell me why it ain't on Virgins platform MM because as far as l know ITV content has been 7 days on catch up only for quite a while and unless MB has some new information l don't think that is going to change.

---------- Post added at 18:25 ---------- Previous post was at 18:22 ----------

Was there not a new contract signed about a year or so ago with ITV Andrew ?.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

That's one for Media Boy. :)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

It's quite annoying actually. First we fell behind with linear channels with the start of the digital age but we were good with on demand, and now we are letting others do better in that area as well.

I hope that Liberty's strategy of bringing us maximum content comes into play as contracts are re-negotiated. I'd hate to think that we are losing our way again with the TV offering from Virgin.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

ITV 30 day on demand was axe on Virgin Media last March (2013).

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...on-demand.html

ITV did launch ITV2 - ITV4 HD Channels on Virgin Media that same month.

---------- Post added at 11:06 ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 ----------

Confirmed: Sky Basic NOT up until 2017.

Technix has confirmed the following:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=1236

Virgin Media did sign an new deal last year for Sky Movies and Sky Sports last year (rumoured to be up this year)

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...deal-with.html

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

New deal usually means another price rise, I suspect a lot of people will be unsubscribing from Sports/Movies if that's to be the case this year

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Sky put the cost of Sky Sports and Sky Movies up every year on all networks (Even Sky) in October.

You will find that:

Virgin only make up to £2 per viewer base on what that Viewer has got the rest goes to Sky.

And Virgin signs Sky Sports and Sky Movies deal on per head basis (If viewers numbers goes up Virgin will pay more).

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Hopefully it will be down on last year then, Sky Sports collection has gone up by £8.25 in a matter of a few years

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

One thing I know will happen the cost of Sky Movies and Sky Sports WILL go up in Smallworld areas.

Smallworld areas are paying £3.25 per month less for both Sky Sports & Movies

http://www.smallworldcable.com/Cable-TV/Sky-Movies

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Combining this information and the info from Technix gives us a renewal date of 30 June 2014 which is as you said earlier - the summer :)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

But if you press that link to my blog story about Sky Sports you will see it happen in April 2013.

So maybe Virgin has signed the new deal with the missing Sky Sports HD channels coming as part of deal for all we know.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I can see Virgin reinstating this soon, the pressures of ITV Encore and BT TV under a new chief executive should get Liberty Global reaching for its cheque book.

---------- Post added at 12:30 ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 ----------

Yes, I think you may be right. :)

---------- Post added at 12:35 ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 ----------

It's important to note that there is a limit to what Sky can charge for sports, it does not simply bid for sports rights then add a margin on top. Its largest expense is the Premiership whose costs went up by 71% at the 2012 auction. However, it's not increased subscription costs for Sky Sports by anything like this because it knows from research a lot of people would simply stop subscribing so its number of subscribers would reduce.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

April List update - April 8th update.

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin TV and SmallWorld networks.

NOTE: I DO NOT WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA OR SMALLWORLD SO ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS LIST IS STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Colours on my list are as followed:

Media Boy = New Info just added.
Media Boy = Virgin Media or Smallworld News and links.
Media Boy = Other Media news/Things.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin Media or Smallworld ===
???. ??th. (Put channel here) is having an freeview to all (Put package info here) ?? package on Virgin Channel ??? right now until 6am on (Put end date here).

=== April ===
14th. Sky Movies Greats rebrand as Sky Movies Superhero on Virgin Channel 410 and Smallworld Channel 309.
14th. Sky Movies Greats HD rebrand as Sky Movies Superhero HD on Virgin Channel 440 and Smallworld Channel 337.
27th. Sky Movies Superhero rebrand as Sky Movies Greats on Virgin Channel 410 and Smallworld Channel 309.
27th. Sky Movies Superhero HD rebrand as Sky Movies Greats HD on Virgin Channel 440 and Smallworld Channel 337.

=== May ===
No News...

=== June ===
2nd. STV to launch STV Glasgow on Virgin Channel 159 (STV West areas only.)

=== July ===
No News...

=== August ===
No News...

=== September ===
No News...

=== October ===
No News...

=== November ===
No News...

=== December ===
No News...

=== By 2015 ===
ITV to launch ITVBe on Virgin Media and Smallworld.

=== Autumn 2015 ===
-The BBC may close BBC Three on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may close BBC Three HD on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC launch BBC One +1 on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may add an extra hour per day (to 8pm) to CBBC and CBBC HD on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.

=== Local TV on Virgin Media ===
-Local TV broadcaster Made in Bristol hope to launch sometime in 2014 on Virgin Channel 159.
-Local TV broadcaster Made in Leeds hope to launch in Summer 2014 on Virgin Channel 159.
-Notts TV has confirmed that they are in talks with Virgin Media
-Local TV may launch on Virgin TV in some areas on Virgin Channel 159.
-Local TV Channels may also launch on Smallworld in some areas.

=== Unknown dates ===
-News 18 will soon launch on Virgin Media (No news in Months).
-Media Boy HQ has seen info that says an TV Channel is set to be close by it owner on Virgin Media.
-Rumours has reappeared that Sky to close Sky Livingit and Sky Livingit +1.
-The BBC to axe BBC Radio 4 LW on Virgin Channel 911 ''in the long term''.
-The BBC hope to launch English regional variants of its existing BBC One HD service as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland editions of BBC Two HD - but still need to be approved by the BBC Trust.
-Virgin Media may renumber all of the Smallworld channel numbers.

=== Channels ONLY in Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas ===
List last updated on February 21st 2014.

ONLY TV CHANNELS THAT ONLY BROADCAST IN THE UK ON OTHER NETWORKS WILL APPEAR ON THIS PART OF THE LIST.

ALSO THE FOLLOWING LIST OF CHANNELS IS CURRENTLY BROADCASTING ON SMALLWORLD CABLE OR UPC IRELAND BUT NOT ON VIRGIN MEDIA:

Entertainment:
-Pick TV +1*
-MTV +1*

Documentaries:
-History HD**
-Nat Geo Wild HD**
-CI HD**

Lifestyle:
-Travel Channel +1*
-Food Network +1*
-Ideal Extra*
-Fashion TV**

Movies:
-Movies4Men*

Music:
-MTV Classic***
-Channel AKA*
-Now Music*

News:
-CCTV News*
-Sky News HD**

Sports:
-Sky Sports News HD**

Kids:
-Disney Channel HD**

Specialist:
-EWTN**

Radio:
-UCB Ireland**

*Only in Smallworld areas.
**Only in UPC Ireland areas.
***Only in both Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas.

©copyright 2014 Media Boy 2006 - 2014. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

==== Virgin Media's Deals with broadcasters ===
Full list now at: http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/p...adcasters.html

This part of list has now moved to my blog - follow link.

=== What is Media Boy on about??? ===
Here is what I mean when I post the following on Cable Forum:

Virgin Insiders - means just that.
'Do Not Post' order - means an Virgin insider has given me some info on things that set to happen but has told me not to reveal it right now.

=== Media Boy Extra info: ===
Liberty Global - http://www.lgi.com/
Media Boy Blog - For all things Virgin TV - http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/
Follow Virgin Media on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
Follow Smallworld Fibre on ''twitter'' here - https://twitter.com/smallworldfibre
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

=== Ask Media Boy ===
Last updated February 3rd 2014.

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN MEDIA FROM?
A: I get all my info from Virgin Media viewers, some Virgin Media workers (I called them Virgin Insiders) and Web Sites (NOTE: When I used web sites I will post an link to that web site).

Q: WHY HAVE YOU ADDED 'ONLY IN SMALLWORLD AREAS' AND 'ONLY IN UPC IRELAND AREAS' WHEN THIS THREAD IS FOR VIRGIN MEDIA?
A: Virgin Media, Smallworld and UPC Ireland are now ALL own by Liberty Global.

Q: WHY AM I NOT GETTING ''MTV CLASSIC'' OR ''DISNEY CHANNEL HD'' FOR?
A: MTV CLASSIC and Disney Channel HD is only broadcasting in Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas right now.

==== See you later ===
List last updated on April 8th 2014.

Next update: TBC - unless:

A) If Virgin Media are set to launch more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV or Smallworld areas.
B) If Virgin Media are set to move more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) about in Virgin TV or Smallworld areas.
C) If Virgin Media are set to close or repackage more then TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV or Smallworld areas.

Did I miss anything??? If I did tell me and it will appear on the next update.

©copyright 2014 Media Boy 2006 - 2014. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Indeed once our contract finishes later this year we will be changing our package in order to get better value for our money.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Now TV Movies at its current £9pm is less than half the price of a Sky Movies SD subscription on Virgin. Granted, it's another box but it's a £120 annual saving. Competition for sports and movie rights is often said to drive up subscriber costs. However, the competition from Netflix has actually driven down the costs of Sky Movies in this situation.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

New sports channel could launch in UK by end of the year according to a source (50/50 on this) it will focus mostly on American sports, NBC apparantly are involved.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

One suspects it will be another subscription channel if it happens.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

That's very much what I've been thinking.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Part of me is thinking they could just be on about WWE Network as i think NBC have something to do with the servers it uses. I'm not 100% certain on that though.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Update: New look blog now online...

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I seem to recall a news article that said Sky were only willing to commit to a one year deal with Virgin. This was because, at that point, there was no deal between Virgin and BT and perhaps didn't want to commit to a too favourable a deal over the longer term.

Given the agreement Virgin and BT eventually came to, it will be interesting to see how that effects negotiations this time round :)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Given that it is April already one would surmise that negotiations for a new deal from June are already taking place but as like before expect them to go up to the wire as usual.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Guardian did report that Sky Sports and Sky Movies is up sometime in 2014.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...eal-sky-sports

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 17:01 ----------

Or maybe signed???

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=1230

But no Virgin insiders I know can back that rumour up.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Would Virgin get a better deal from Sky now that it has a deal for BT Sport?
If a deal expires on 30 June expect Virgin to sign a new deal at 11:59 pm. (Followed by a deal for Sky Atlantic on 31 June:) )

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Oh dear you have been looking into Chads crystal ball too much Andrew.;):D

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

That's impossible!!

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

If the SA deal could be done on 31 June - I'd pay the carriage fees myself.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1
Would Virgin get a better deal from Sky now that it has a deal for BT Sport?
If a deal expires on 30 June expect Virgin to sign a new deal at 11:59 pm. (Followed by a deal for Sky Atlantic on 31 June )
That's impossible!!

I think that was the point!

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Whoooooosh, another one...........:D:D

---------- Post added at 18:28 ---------- Previous post was at 18:27 ----------



Hehee, you've missed it as well OB.........:D:D

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

lol, Old Boy was right :)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

June 31st does not exist in any year whilst the current calender is in use.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Thank you H_H......:)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Hers the first £5 towards it.:)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

why you giving out £5 Den

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

l took it from my money bottle which l have been saving for the last few months.;):D

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

OMG

Sky Movies and Sky Sports only cost £37.89 per month in UK money (€46) on UPC Ireland.

http://www.upc.ie/television/premium/skysm/

Anyone moving to Ireland?

Fix post after using Bing. It cost more than Virgin Media.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

So why are customers in this country being charged over £40 a month for sports and movies.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

EUR 46 is about £37.70 at current rates - not quite such a difference. Presumably fluctuates from time to time, contract may have been set when Euro was higher.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Smallworld are saving £6.89 base on UPC Ireland viewers.
Virgin Media are saving £3.64 base on UPC Ireland viewers.

---------- Post added at 19:26 ---------- Previous post was at 19:25 ----------

I cant work Euro money out that well.

Fix total using Bing.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

MB Views: Virgin Media started to join Smallworld to network?

Look like Virgin Media has been busy in Smallworld areas here is the new channel lineup for Smallworld areas from March 2014:

Smallworld Channels removed?

136. Watch +1
163. Pick +1
208. Good Food +1
231. Ideal World
232. Ideal Extra
350. MTV Music
351. MTV Base
352. MTV Hits
353. MTV Dance
354. MTV Rocks
355. MTV Classic
356. VH1
357. Viva
505. CNBC
508. Euronews
510. CCTV News
514. Al Jazeera English
533. Eden +1
538. Yesterday +1

Smallworld Channels added:

123. Sky 1 +1
136. BBC1 Scotland HD
350. MTV Base
351. MTV Hits
352. MTV Dance
353. MTV Rocks
354. VH1
355. MTV Classic
356. VIVA
357. MTV Music
534. Drama

Old lineup (Until Wednesday): http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/p...tv-lineup.html

New lineup: http://www.smallworldcable.com/SMALL..._list_2014.pdf

NOTE: Channel lineup for Smallworld base on links.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Better vote "NO" then!

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Because people continue to pay it.:)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Totally agree. The actual figures in the end after correcting the €£ exchange rate were VM £34.25, UPC £37.70. (This comparison excludes base packages, line rental, broadband, HD etc.)

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Remember £20.78 of that is the regulated price for Sky Sports 1&2 http://media.ofcom.org.uk/analysts/regulated-prices/

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

You aren't forced to pay it !!!!! You choose to pay it big difference.

Try exploring alternatives like other people do or better still manage without.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

its a good point and i am strongly thinking of removing movies and sport and look at alternatives

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Quality post mate, take a bow......:D:D

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

We are tied into our contract until November but rest assured the winds of change will be coming to our package from then onwards.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Agreed. I'd urge everyone to look at exactly what sporting content they watch during the course of a month. If it's mainly the Premier League perhaps you can get by with just Sky Sports 1. If you might watch a couple of events like f1 one month but then not much the month after perhaps a couple of Now TV day passes are the way to go (Sky Sports f1 generally have a full replay of qualifying within 24 hours of the end of the grand prix, so one day pass this weekend just gone, carefully activated just after 1800hrs on Saturday, got me a replay of qualifying that evening followed the next day by the GP2 sprint race, Everton v. Arsenal and then the full f1 grand prix). Now TV is also only £8.99 per month for Sky Movies, including on demand.

If you absolutely want permanent access to all the sport channels and absolutely have to have full hd and 5.1 for your movies then it costs what it costs, but if you're flexible with some of those things then there really are some very competitively priced options available.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I tried that mate, I asked to get the movies taken off my package, but when she calculated it I was only going to save about £6/£7 per month due to the amount of discounts that i already receive, I'm on the VIP package.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Guess it's a case of how useful the money you would save - £80 per year - v what you get from Sky Movies.

---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 14:00 ----------

Good advice, the movie savings are substantial. Sports fans shouldn't rule out substituting Sky Sports with BT Sport @ £15pm/free with VIP especially as it has the Champions League from next year and great rugby union coverage. Use Now TV passes for those must-see fixtures.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

April List update - April 9th update.

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin TV and SmallWorld networks.

NOTE: I DO NOT WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA OR SMALLWORLD SO ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS LIST IS STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Colours on my list are as followed:

Media Boy = New Info just added.
Media Boy = Virgin Media or Smallworld News and links.
Media Boy = Other Media news/Things.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin Media or Smallworld ===
???. ??th. (Put channel here) is having an freeview to all (Put package info here) ?? package on Virgin Channel ??? right now until 6am on (Put end date here).

=== April ===
14th. Sky Movies Greats rebrand as Sky Movies Superhero on Virgin Channel 410 and Smallworld Channel 309.
14th. Sky Movies Greats HD rebrand as Sky Movies Superhero HD on Virgin Channel 440 and Smallworld Channel 337.
27th. Sky Movies Superhero rebrand as Sky Movies Greats on Virgin Channel 410 and Smallworld Channel 309.
27th. Sky Movies Superhero HD rebrand as Sky Movies Greats HD on Virgin Channel 440 and Smallworld Channel 337.

=== May ===
No News...

=== June ===
2nd. STV to launch STV Glasgow on Virgin Channel 159 (STV West areas only.)

=== July ===
No News...

=== August ===
No News...

=== September ===
No News...

=== October ===
No News...

=== November ===
No News...

=== December ===
No News...

=== By 2015 ===
ITV to launch ITVBe on Virgin Media and Smallworld.

=== Autumn 2015 ===
-The BBC may close BBC Three on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may close BBC Three HD on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC launch BBC One +1 on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may add an extra hour per day (to 8pm) to CBBC and CBBC HD on Virgin Media and Smallworld subject to approved by the BBC Trust.

=== Local TV on Virgin Media ===
-Local TV broadcaster Made in Bristol hope to launch sometime in 2014 on Virgin Channel 159.
-Local TV broadcaster Made in Leeds hope to launch in Summer 2014 on Virgin Channel 159.
-Notts TV has confirmed that they are in talks with Virgin Media
-Local TV may launch on Virgin TV in some areas on Virgin Channel 159.
-Local TV Channels may also launch on Smallworld in some areas.

=== Unknown dates ===
-News 18 will soon launch on Virgin Media (No news in Months).
-Media Boy HQ has seen info that says an TV Channel is set to be close by it owner on Virgin Media.
-Rumours has reappeared that Sky to close Sky Livingit and Sky Livingit +1.
-The BBC to axe BBC Radio 4 LW on Virgin Channel 911 ''in the long term''.
-The BBC hope to launch English regional variants of its existing BBC One HD service as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland editions of BBC Two HD - but still need to be approved by the BBC Trust.
-Virgin Media may renumber all of the Smallworld channel numbers.

=== Channels ONLY in Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas ===
List last updated on April 9th 2014.

ONLY TV CHANNELS THAT ONLY BROADCAST IN THE UK ON OTHER NETWORKS WILL APPEAR ON THIS PART OF THE LIST.

ALSO THE FOLLOWING LIST OF CHANNELS IS CURRENTLY BROADCASTING ON SMALLWORLD CABLE OR UPC IRELAND BUT NOT ON VIRGIN MEDIA:

Entertainment:
-Sky1 +1*
-MTV +1*

Documentaries:
-History HD**
-Nat Geo Wild HD**
-CI HD**

Lifestyle:
-Travel Channel +1*
-Food Network +1*
-Fashion TV**

Movies:
-Movies4Men*

Music:
-MTV Classic***
-Channel AKA*
-Now Music*

News:
-Sky News HD**

Sports:
-Sky Sports News HD**

Kids:
-Disney Channel HD**

Specialist:
-EWTN**

Radio:
-UCB Ireland**

*Only in Smallworld areas.
**Only in UPC Ireland areas.
***Only in both Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas.

©copyright 2014 Media Boy 2006 - 2014. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

==== Virgin Media's Deals with broadcasters ===
Full list now at: http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/p...adcasters.html

This part of list has now moved to my blog - follow link.

=== What is Media Boy on about??? ===
Here is what I mean when I post the following on Cable Forum:

Virgin Insiders - means just that.
'Do Not Post' order - means an Virgin insider has given me some info on things that set to happen but has told me not to reveal it right now.

=== Media Boy Extra info: ===
Liberty Global - http://www.lgi.com/
Media Boy Blog - For all things Virgin TV - http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/
Follow Virgin Media on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
Follow Smallworld Fibre on ''twitter'' here - https://twitter.com/smallworldfibre
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

=== Ask Media Boy ===
Last updated February 3rd 2014.

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN MEDIA FROM?
A: I get all my info from Virgin Media viewers, some Virgin Media workers (I called them Virgin Insiders) and Web Sites (NOTE: When I used web sites I will post an link to that web site).

Q: WHY HAVE YOU ADDED 'ONLY IN SMALLWORLD AREAS' AND 'ONLY IN UPC IRELAND AREAS' WHEN THIS THREAD IS FOR VIRGIN MEDIA?
A: Virgin Media, Smallworld and UPC Ireland are now ALL own by Liberty Global.

Q: WHY AM I NOT GETTING ''MTV CLASSIC'' OR ''DISNEY CHANNEL HD'' FOR?
A: MTV CLASSIC and Disney Channel HD is only broadcasting in Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas right now.

==== See you later ===
List last updated on April 9th 2014.

Next update: TBC - unless:

A) If Virgin Media are set to launch more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV or Smallworld areas.
B) If Virgin Media are set to move more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) about in Virgin TV or Smallworld areas.
C) If Virgin Media are set to close or repackage more then TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV or Smallworld areas.

Why update today for? Was fixing some text in the 'Channels ONLY in Smallworld and UPC Ireland areas.' part of list.

Did I miss anything??? If I did tell me and it will appear on the next update.

©copyright 2014 Media Boy 2006 - 2014. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

The most interesting passage of the Guardian article was:

In a sign of how telecoms and content are converging, it is thought Virgin and Sky have traded football for fibre-optic cables.

Virgin announced Wednesday that it had struck a deal to rent its fibre 'backhaul' to the satellite group, helping carry internet traffic across its core network, although not as far as customers' homes, for which Sky still relies on BT.

"I find it unbelievable that Virgin won't have a deal with Sky on the sports because they've just done a deal on backhaul and they'll all be connected," said Toby Syfret at Enders Analysis. "There is a better and better relationship between them helped by the aggressive stance taken by BT which it feels it has to attack Sky directly in the content area."

This indicates that there is indeed a link between channel and non-channel deals between Sky and VM. For some reason, there was a view expressed on this forum that the fibre optic deal had nothing to do with channels. I would have thought that the two companies do not have such a blinkered approach, which is good for us!

The other significant passage was this:

By contrast, BT is struggling to agree terms to carry Sky's two main sports channels on its flagship YouView service.

The telecoms group is mounting the biggest challenge yet to Sky's dominance in football by paying the Premier League £738m to show 38 Premier League matches a year for the next three years, and will launch its own sports channels this summer.

BT has a deal until 2016 to carry Sky Sports 1 and 2 on its BT Vision box, but that service is being phased out in favour of YouView.

Now to my mind, Sky is playing a very dangerous game because if it is denying BT access to its premium sports channels, this will make BT even more determined to get the lion's share of the Premiership rights next time around. Sky can't afford to be this obstructive.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Would a sports fan realistically care who wins the rights ? BT Sport is available to subscribe to on BT TV , VM and the Sky platform so its just a case of switching subscriptions , I'm pretty sure the average punter couldnt careless what goes on at a corporate level.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

I don't wish to rain on your parade too much OB, but that article is from 2013 and they are only publishing the views of analyst who (I am guessing) has very little to do with Sky or VM. IMHO, if a deal for channels, content or pricing had been signed with this deal, we would have seen the benefit of it by now.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Unfortunately I'm inclined to agree with you, we've seen no additional Sky channels as a result of the backhaul deal and therefore nothing to indicate a linkage. Time has proved the analyst's theory; welcome as it was at the time; wrong.
I think Sky are in a very strong position whereby they can put the backhaul out to tender as a stand-alone contract. BT, Virgin and Vodafone-Cable & Wireless can all bid for the standardised contract and Sky can take the best price. This makes it easy to retender in a few years' time as it won't be entwined with other contracts.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Yep that is how I see at as well, VM can bid as well as others and a way for Sky to get best deal for their requirements and in return don't have to throw anything else into the ring. VM bidded because for them it still represented a good deal in terms of generating much needed cash.

As for this article 2013, we seen nothing as a result and was speculation and nothing official. Indeed since then we had an official announcement from sky and impending set up of ITV encore, all without a carriage deal with VM, so this sky bravo if it will exist could be a rebranding of sky 2, and perhaps was always the case

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Update:

It may happen by late Summer.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Sky arts 2

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Presumably the Sky channel in question will close on all platforms and not just VM?

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Sky Arts has an new boss but an Sky Insiders has told me that Sky are set to close an channel at somepoint this year.

So maybe even:

-Sky 2 (Due to Sky adding Sports shows to lineup - maybe rebrand as Sky Bravo?)
-Sky Livingit and Sky Livingit +1 (for ITV to use?).

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

BIB got it in one i think.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Confirmed: Sky Sports and Sky Movies deal was up on March 31st 2014.

Technix has confirmed today that Virgin Media's Sky Premiums deal was up over 10 days ago.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=1238

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

History and Nat Geo wild are to rumoured to be repackaged into the TVL pack in June. (rumour only)

Would love to have Sky Sports 3 and 4 in HD. The Masters is on Sky Sports 4, gold looks quality in HD.

I think it's on BBC also so will be in HD on there, but they don't have as much coverage.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Maybe new deal for missing channels from A+E Networks UK?

---------- Post added at 13:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:10 ----------

MB Views: If the rumour on more Sky Sports HD Coming is true MB HQ think we may see them on May 1st.

With Eurosport and Eurosport HD moving before launch of Sky Sports F1 HD.

Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
 

Feels weird to be back! Whats changed since I ditched for Sky at Christmas?

Seems odd, they are both 2 separate providers (A&E / FIC)

As stated in an earlier private message with yourself, there is one channel not on your list which is more likely to go first.

ITV Encore will be taking Sky EPG position of Sky Living+1 - the chances are that they will close LivingIt and LivingIt+1, move Living+1 into the LivingIt slots on Sky and theres 2 EPG positions freed up for ITV Encore/Be