Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It's owned by ITV, so I don't think that Sky could stop it going onto the BT platform, especially as Sky would no longer be paying for carriage & playout.

From what you've said it sounds ripe for closure, they could just put The Americans onto ITV3, but the sudden FTA tests may indicate that ITV will try to go it alone as a FTA channel.

If ITV get a Freeview slot for it, it would end up on BT's platform by default!

An interesting development, I would rather Discovery bought Scripps than Viacom as they are now embracing the FTA market, whereas Viacom seem to generally prefer encryption of their channels. I think it's only the Viacom music channels that are encrypted now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Good points; I agree entirely about BT.

As for The Americans, that would be good to put on the main ITV channel, as I believe that only the first series was shown there. Given the small audience for ITV Encore, most people would welcome that as new programming.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It was 2 seasons of The Americans on the main ITV channel, before they temporarily decided to drop it, as I recall. I've definitely seen more than one season.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

July List update - July 19th update.

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin Media UK and Virgin Media Ireland.

NOTE: I DO NOT WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA UK OR VIRGIN MEDIA IRELAND 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 UK/Ireland News and links.
Media Boy = Local TV news, other Media news/Things.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin Media UK OR Ireland ===
CBS Reality, Horror, CBS Action, CBS Drama, CBS Reality +1 and Horror +1 are all having an freeview to all Customers on Virgin UK Channels 148, 149, 192, 197, 201 and 202 right now untill December 31st 2017.

=== Sometime in 2017 (Testing or Confirm) ===
-Virgin Media Ireland will launch Cartoon Network HD soon.
-Virgin Media Ireland will launch E4 HD soon.
-Virgin Media Ireland will launch Film4 HD soon.
-Virgin Media Ireland will launch More4 HD soon.
-Virgin Media Ireland will launch SyFy HD soon.
-Virgin Media Ireland will launch Universal Channel HD soon.
-Virgin Media UK will launch BBC Radio Cymru 2 soon.

=== July ===
23rd. Sky Cinema will rebrand Sky Cinema Tom Hanks HD as Sky Cinema Superheroes HD on Virgin UK Channel 404 and Virgin Ireland Channel 337.
23rd. Sky Cinema will rebrand Sky Cinema Tom Hanks as Sky Cinema Superheroes on Virgin UK Channel 434 and Virgin Ireland Channel 307.
24th. Sky Sports will rebrand Sky Sports The Open HD as Sky Sports Golf HD on Virgin UK Channel 505 and Virgin Ireland Channel 434.
24th. Sky Sports will rebrand Sky Sports The Open as Sky Sports Golf on Virgin UK Channel 515 and Virgin Ireland Channel 404.
30th. Disney will rebrand Spider Man Channel back to Disney XD +1 today on Virgin UK Channel 708.

=== August ===
21st. Sky Cinema will rebrand Sky Cinema Superheroes HD as Sky Cinema Greats HD on Virgin UK Channel 404 and Virgin Ireland Channel 337.
21st. Sky Cinema will rebrand Sky Cinema Superheroes as Sky Cinema Greats on Virgin UK Channel 434 and Virgin Ireland Channel 307.

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

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

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

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

=== January 2018 ===
No News...

=== February 2018 ===
No News...

=== March 2018 ===
No News...

=== April 2018 ===
No News...

=== May 2018 ===
No News...

=== June 2018 ===
No News...

=== July 2018 ===
No News...

=== August 2018 ===
No News...

=== Autumn 2018 ===
-BBC Scotland to launch BBC Scotland on Virgin UK Channel TBC.

=== September 2018 ===
No News...

=== October 2018 ===
No News...

=== November 2018 ===
No News...

=== December 2018 ===
No News...

=== Local TV on Virgin Media ===
[COLOR=blue]-All the following Local TV broadcasters may launch soon on Virgin UK Channel 159:

-That's Lancashire
-That's Manchester
-That's Oxfordshire
-That's Solent - CHANNEL TESTING ON VIRGIN MEDIA UK.
-STV2 Ayrshire
-STV2 Dundee
-Made in North Wales
-That's Thames Valley [Berkshire]

=== Unknown dates ===
-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.

=== Channels ONLY in Virgin Media Ireland areas ===
List last updated on January 5th 2017.

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 VIRGIN MEDIA IRELAND BUT NOT ON VIRGIN MEDIA UK:

Documentaries/News:
-History HD
-Crime + Investigation HD
-RT

Lifestyle:
-Fashion TV

Music:
-MTV Classic

Kids:
-Disney Channel HD

Specialist:
-EWTN

Radio:
-UCB Ireland

Channels only in Virgin Media Ireland areas.

©copyright 2017 Media Boy 2006 - 2017. 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 Sources - 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 UK and Ireland - http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/
Follow Virgin Media UK on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
Follow Virgin Media Ireland on ''twitter'' here - https://twitter.com/VirginMediaIE
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

=== Ask Media Boy ===
Last updated January 5th 2017.

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN MEDIA FROM?
A: Media Boy HQ gets all info from Virgin Media UK viewers, some Virgin Media UK workers (I called them Virgin UK Sources) 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 VIRGIN MEDIA IRELAND AREAS' AND INFORMATION ON VIRGIN MEDIA IRELAND ON THIS THREAD IS FOR VIRGIN MEDIA UK?
A: Virgin Media Ireland is now part of Virgin Media and are both owned by Liberty Global. And you voted for Media Boy HQ to join both Virgin Media UK and Virgin Media Ireland threads from January 2016.

Q: WHY AM I NOT GETTING ''DISNEY CHANNEL HD'' FOR?
A: Disney Channel HD is only broadcasting in Virgin Media Ireland areas right now.

==== See you later ===
List last updated on July 19th 2017.

Next update: TBC.

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

©copyright 2017 Media Boy 2006 - 2017. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

If they do decide to get rid of ITV Encore, let's hope that The Americans is put back into ITV as opposed to ITV3 so that all those that want to watch it can get it in HD.

This channel has turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, it's a shame as I had high hopes for it.

Just been looking through MB's post, it doesn't look like VM are in as much of a hurry to achieve channel parity between VM UK & VM Ireland as they were with NTL & Telewest.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Media Boy sources has give us an new DNP order within the last 24 hours.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Just what we need, it's getting very quiet around here. :p:

I may have some news for later, when the data has been sorted.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Sources are telling me that vm may bid for scripps, didn't vm once sell their share?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

What do Scripps currently own

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

IIRC VM originally sold their 50% stake to Scripps.

This was after they had decided to pull out of owning content themselves and this stake was sold before selling their wholly owned channels off to Sky.

---------- Post added at 19:22 ---------- Previous post was at 19:18 ----------


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scri...ks_Interactive

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Food network is a channel i enjoy tbh as love diners drive-ins and dives.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Recent changes on the Virgin Media network:

I could list multiple service name and EPG name changes associated with the changes to Sky Sports channels but won't bother as we all know what happened there. Initially, Sky Sports Main Event took the Sky Sports 1 pack codes and Sky Sports Cricket took the Sky Sports 2 pack codes. Shortly afterwards all of the Sky Sports channels were rolled over into a single pack (all packs have separate codes for SD and HD channels).

Multiple pack structures remain in place for Sky Movies.

The extra BBC Red Button channels were removed from the network and parked on dormant SID numbers in the Service Description Table. For anyone interested, SID 3904 BBC Red Button HD was parked at SID 3954. BBC Red Button 2-6, SIDs 4408-4412 were parked at 4458-4462 respectively.

STV2 on TS 101 SID 10151 (the former STV Edinburgh) has been removed from the Edinburgh and Falkirk networks and replaced with STV2 TS 101 SID 10140 (the former STV Glasgow), which was already carried on the Glasgow & Uddingston networks. SID 10140 has also been added to Virgin Media's Dundee & Perth networks. A single feed of STV2 is now carried across the whole of the VM network in Scotland. So much for "local" television, A criticism of the state of local tv and not of Virgin Media.

Other changes involve the download services supporting VM equipment and are beyond the scope of this thread.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Pretty sure some grumpy gits will faint at that news on here.:Yikes::eeek:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

:o:

---------- Post added at 11:11 ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 ----------

To be honest, I don't think that small local channels will work. STV should be financially viable as it will take in a larger area, and this should be the model for local TV around the country.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

:sleep::sleep::sleep:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

The whole project has been a total waste of money, it was badly planned from the start. These channels are now reducing their commitment to local content, with many using content from other channels as a sustaining service.

STV has added additional extra local franchises but taken that as an opportunity to kill off one of their 2 initial services, replacing it with a networked service serving the "city" of Scotland.

Not quite local any longer. STV's ITV Network franchise has 4 regional opt-outs but the, supposedly, local STV2 channels are networked across the whole of Scotland.

It would probably have been better to set up a network of regional channels using existing infrastructure, such as the BBC's terrestrial network. Planning for city multiplexes, attempting to match local channels to relatively small areas where a spare frequency happened to be available wasn't the best method.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Have to agree with you. Made In Teesside shows so little local programs they should be sued under the trades description act. Made In Tyne & Wear which I get on Sky is just as bad. Last night for example it was showing America's Got Talent,not even a British program! They didn't even remove the Tru TV logo from the screen!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Totally agree.

As it stands a channel like Talking Pictures might as well have wrapped themselves as a local TV channel and shoved bits of local news read from the local newspaper as a filler instead of the Glimpses series that they use at present (although I find some of these interesting).

That way they could have tapped into the subsidies available- at least they would be providing their own material.

I guess there's a possibility that a new channel might deploy this strategy (unless theirs a rule preventing a local TV station from becoming a quasi national channel).

Perhaps this is why the local channels on satellite are FTV encrypted and geographically restricted by VM??

Having said that, aren't they all available online??

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Not much thought seems to have gone into how these channels should fill the schedule for a 24 hour period. Sheffield Live TV carries audio from Sheffield Live community radio and a photo slideshow for much of the day. An odd solution as the remit of the community radio station is different from that of the tv station. It would have made more sense to have created a local tv network which these channels could opt in and out of to fill the schedule. A bespoke network could have content more appropriate to the nature of the channels.

With the current content, encryption makes little sense. Perhaps if the channels covered local sports but they don't seem to do that.

VM seems to match coverage to terrestrial coverage as far as possible but that's not a perfect solution.

Yes and no. That's TV tend to make their channels available on Freeview only, with no streaming. Made TV has live streaming of some areas, with streaming for some others "coming soon". Some of the independents are available online and I believe that STV2 is available via the STV Player.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Morning MB, Everyone

Have you heard from your sources anything about Insights TV UHD coming to VM? I saw an article back in June, was wondering if discussions have taken place?

Would be quite exciting to start seeing some UHD content come through.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

In discussions with Virgin Media is all I can make out at present, UC.


https://www.ibc.org/delivery/insight...h/1995.article

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Cheers, OB.

Yeah, that's the article I saw too. Sounds like discussions were going well from Insight point of view.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

VM is one of a number of platforms insight HD are talking too, we think a vm deal is very close.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Thanks, theone.

Do you think it will be included in the XL TV pack(Full House)?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Does anyone think an announcement may be coming for the autumn season giving us a whole range of new content? It feels to me that a number of things are starting to come together. VM has announced late last year that they will be bringing in new stuff with the V6 in mind, including the film store, and now we hear about the kids material, Insight, and of course not forgetting Amazon, who were said at one time to be about to launch on the platform.

If they did this in one big hit, it would be very attractive for potential new subscribers just before Christmas and would please existing customers no end!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Hope springs eternal OB..;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Hope you're onto something, OB.

Could be a very good Autumn/Winter season if these things start coming together.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

No..............:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Good old Max forever the pessimistic Victor..;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

hahaha brilliant :D:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Even in UHD it wouldn't tempt me to watch much from Insight.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Be interesting if VM add it into a package or it's a subscription video service.

If it's in the XL Pack for example, I'll probably have a browse around. Not sure I'd pay extra for it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

We really do need proper uhd content from sky anything else is a cheap substitute

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I thought they would have had the Premiership Football in UHD this season.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

From info we have it should be in the M+ pack as Insight are trying to get on bt tv too, they aren't interested in talking to talktalk but want to go on both skygo and nowtv.
We imagine on skygo and nowtv it will just be HD.

---------- Post added at 19:55 ---------- Previous post was at 19:53 ----------

What you're saying does tie in with info we have, we have been told the final quarter of this year things will happen on vm tv platform.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Sky Atlantic VIP is to start on Sky. This will allow VIP customers to view new series before they are shown on Sky Atlantic.

A VIP customer is someone who has had an account for three years or more.

This could pave the way for Sky Atlantic to come to VM etc, whilst allowing Sky to still keep a form of exclusivity for their own customers ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Oh massive exclusivity all 24 hrs of it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I think the SKY Atlantic VIP channel launches properly next Wednesday. I watched a show on it tonight called Rock and a Hard Place. It was pretty good.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...07/1.jpg:large

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

no way are sky gonna let anyone have UHD football they gonna keep it just like SA

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Totally agree. They're trying to maintain and create as many unique selling points as possible. In the ever evolving world of pay TV you've got to offer content and exclusives your competitors can't. BT have adopted this approach with their 4k content and AMC.

I'm sure at some point Virgin will come up with their own game changer exclusive to their platform.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I had assumed that it would be a sort of Sky Atlantic A for Sky VIP customers and a Sky Atlantic B for non VIP customers/other platforms and that it would be something along the lines of how ITV Encore was to have been ie new series on the premium version that are shown sometime later on the B version.

They could also get away with showing the old GOT series etc on the B version as many won't have sent them. Maybe agree to let customers out of contract have it early as a retention tool at no extra cost to themselves.

Is it definitely going to effectively be a +24 channel?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

My understanding when I signed up for SKY VIP a couple of months back was that I'd get to see shows "exclusively" ahead of their actual broadcast on SKY. It didn't specify it was going to be SKY Atlantic content however that looks like the road they've gone down. Don't think it's planned as a +24 channel. Should get a better idea later today when I can look forward on the EPG.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Good grief you do seem to have become more rebellious lately me dear.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It will come, but not immediately. Sky will want to milk this for all it's worth to sign up new customers before allowing VM to get it.

I would imagine it will take two to three years before the Sky premium channels may appear on Virgin. And if VM have acquired exclusive rights of their own in the meantime, this will serve to oil the wheels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

like it does for BT you mean when trying to get sky channels it didn't help them at all

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

No news on that channel.

---------- Post added at 11:47 ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 ----------

No comment.

---------- Post added at 12:18 ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 ----------

Asia TV Web site is reporting that Star Life OK is to rebrand as Star Bharat in August.

Star Life OK is on Virgin UK Channel 804.

https://www.bizasialive.com/life-ok-...bharat-august/

---------- Post added at 12:52 ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 ----------

Here some bad news for you!!!

a516Digital is now reporting that Viacom has enters a race for Food Network owner.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, members of the Scripps family will make a decision over the fate of their company next week.

http://www.a516digital.com/2017/07/v...d-network.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

So how come UHD football is on BT then?
I'm just pulling your leg mate i knew what you meant i agree i don't think SKY will allow their UHD footie on any other platform, i don't think BT will allow theirs on other platforms either.

---------- Post added at 13:17 ---------- Previous post was at 13:17 ----------

A box that actually works? :p:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

How about the 5 month late virgin store, some UHD content worth watching and getting some missing channel

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

That is a completely different story!

Am I not right in saying that BT don't carry Sky Sports in HD to this day? They also have fewer Sky Sports channels.

BT and Sky are at war, whereas VM and Sky have a much better relationship these days.

EDIT: Sky Sports Main Event HD is on BT YouView and UHD boxes.

---------- Post added at 13:58 ---------- Previous post was at 13:53 ----------

You will need to be patient, but it is just possible that some big changes will be announced for the autumn/winter period.

But I would not have thought that Sky UHD anything will arrive just yet, but some other UHD content is a distinct possibility.

No concrete information yet, but watch this space!

---------- Post added at 14:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:58 ----------

Here is a bit more detail on that story.

http://www.digitaltveurope.net/72285...ipps-takeover/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Our two work like a cat chasing the mouse whilst catching it every time.:p:;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

To be fair, my two V6s work superbly. Not had an issue with them at all (touch wood lol) Have been able watch recordings from either box with no problems. Both are connected over Wi-Fi.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

That's history now, theone. The V6 has changed everything. It's just the content and UI that needs addressing now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

UHD content will come to VM but it will take time IMO.

SKY and BT certainly won't be sharing for sometime as it's a big USP. It is the one thing that tempts me to move to BT.

I think the mostly likely UHD content for VM will come from Discovery, I fully expect to see a Eurosport UHD in time for their Olympics coverage. I think the liberty global connection will ensure VM are at the front of the queue.

I guess the other area is UHD on demand content.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Looks like it's not going to be a 24 hour early preview channel:

"OK it works like this

This channel will show selected programmes for about one hour in the evening around 2100, but usually only on Wednesdays. It is also on tonight at 2000.

The service will only be on air once or twice a week.

Everyone who has been with Sky on the same account CONTINUOUSLY for 3 years or more will get this automatically.

Customers who qualify for this are now regarded as "VIP" and accounts will be flagged accordingly and dealt with by a different team in CS.

The official launch of this new arrangement is 3 August 2017. This channel is a replacement for channel 889, "Sky Insider" which has already been doing the same thing for Sky staff for many years. Channel 889 is due to close soon but no date is known for this.

Hope that will clarify the situation."

Indications are that it will indeed be used as a retention tool:



---------- Post added at 14:23 ---------- Previous post was at 14:15 ----------

Indeed ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Haha :D

---------- Post added at 15:39 ---------- Previous post was at 15:39 ----------

That's what the :p: was for.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

That should have been priority before any new box!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Maybe it's the economics of it all, MM. No point in putting expensive UHD content on there for early adopters only. However, given that the V6 audience has increased substantially since its launch, now might be the right time.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Richard I'm well aware how it works , I don't need to read a thread to find out. ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Thank you for the post.

It sounds to me like another cheap gimmick from Sky. This certainly wouln't encourage me to stay if I were a direct Sky subscriber.

I record everything first and watch at my leisure anyway!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

They still like to think of MTV as a premium product but VIVA is FTA. That said, Viacom are also embracing the FTA market since the purchase of Channel 5 and with the launch of Spike.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Here is what SKY told me on Twitter about SKY Atlantic VIP

"There'll be up to 6 new shows each week so keep checking the app to see what’s new"

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Like I've said Ballers Episode 1 is on tonight 24 hrs before it airs on Sky Atlantic.

New Rock and a hard Place was on last night and airs tonight on Sky Atlantic.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Didn't even know about sky vip until i saw your post lol, i checked the app and there it was for now i'm silver but still got a free dvd worth £13.99 i opted for john wick chapter 2, the twitter team told me to expect more rewards and keep a eye on the app and my email inbox.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

You said that you thought that it was a channel showing material 24 hours before non VIP customers; it appears that this is not the case.

---------- Post added at 18:07 ---------- Previous post was at 18:05 ----------

Maybe some shows will be shown 24 hours early on it then??

I suppose this is all rather academic for VM customers as we aren't likely to get it, but the standard version of SA could now be a possibility.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Ballers S3 Ep 1 on tonight 24 hours before it airs tomorrow on Sky Atlantic
Rock and a Hard Place was on yesterday 24 hrs before it airs on Sky Atlantic.

Checking the app tells you this. Chad has already stated how much content will be on. I don't mean it's a channel showing all Sky Atlantic content 24hrs before it airs just selected content.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Thanks for clarifying.

A new sports channel is said to be launching on one of the temporary Freeview muxes on 31/8/17.

It is to be called 'Freesports' and designed "to bring all your favourite sports to Freeview".

Setanta are believed to be behind this. Aren't they owned by Eir Sport now?

Wonder if VM will pick this up?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Wikipedia (Only info we can find) say that Premier Sports is own by Premier Media.

Setanta was took over by Eir some years ago (Eir is something like BT).

We found that Premier Sports do broadcast Eir Sport (With Irish ads) when broadcasting live football.

---------- Post added at 20:39 ---------- Previous post was at 20:22 ----------

Maybe Freesports will launch on Virgin TV later this year with Premier Sports HD.

We think due to Premier Sports launching on Virgin Media in October 2013.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...l-premier.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Cheers MB. I wonder if Premier Media is a trading name for Setanta?? They may have wished to distance themselves from the Setanta branding following the collapse of Setanta UK.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

If Television is like the real world. The owners can go into administration one day then buy an channel number on Sky from an administrator and relaunch under an new name that an later date.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

ITV Channels maybe set to be drop by Virgin Media.

http://www.a516digital.com/2017/07/i...drop-with.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/...ll-ad-revenue/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Looks like we will be getting Freesports on VM:

http://www.a516digital.com/2017/07/n...to-launch.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

That will not happen MB.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Given that advertising revenues are falling, any closure of the ITV channels on VM will surely reduce them further. Not the best strategy for ITV I've ever heard.

Maybe VM need to add TV Player to their apps, or maybe You View, to avoid these charges and ensure that Virgin viewers without an aerial can still receive ITV programming.

---------- Post added at 08:47 ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 ----------

I wouldn't bet on it, Den, but I think if such a move significantly dented audience share, ITV would do an embarrassing retreat.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

ITV delude themselves of their own inflated importance OB.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

The choice of name is amusing because back in 2003/4 a company called CBM said they were going to launch a channel on Freeview devoted to lower profile sports called Freesport which clearly never launched despite the talk.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It's happened before with the Sky channels so it could easily happen again

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Agreed, itv is not the quality it once was.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Not here it won't...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Didnt the article say Liberty Global are major shareholders of ITV if thats the case surely they would not want to upset their shareholders by forcing Virgins hand or would it not be take the money out of one hand and give it to the other??

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Borrowed Chad's Crystal Ball have we ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

No because l still have got your old one oh great sage..;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It's a very reliable source :erm:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Certainly an interesting stance by ITV if it goes ahead.

I'll just be watching ITV through their ITV Hub on Smart TV instead and I'm sure many others will too.

A bit of a false threat IMO

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Apparently, because of this, Sky are re-evaluating what they pay for ITV Encore exclusivity and VM what they pay for ITVBe HD exclusivity.

I think the pay TV companies are bracing themselves to pay a retransmission fees at a certain level, but negating this cost from subsidising other ITV channels.

It may mean that we get ITV Encore and Sky get ITVBe in HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I didn't think ITV could withhold ITV1 from any platform?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

No it won't happen. Its a total bluff. ITV would lose MILLIONS by doing this in terms of ad money which they live on.

VM are basically saying "dont be stupid we arent paying that" and ITV are looking for a quick pay day. No way will this ever occur. If it does i will buy a hat and eat said hat live on webcam in front of everyone.

Its all a game for both parties and we'll see who blinks first.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Now that would be a sight well worse seeing Vince :D whilst driving millions of traffic towards CF ready to watch your historic moment of infamy.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Viacom is reported to have pulled out of the bidding process for Scripps, leaving Discovery as the favourite to take over.

I would like to think that all of these acquisitions which involve Liberty Global will actually benefit Virgin Media subscribers.

http://www.digitaltveurope.net/72353...-to-discovery/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Only until 31/8/17 when the law changes.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I thought the law changed this month, not August?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

What law has changed exactly?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It is explained in the following links but it is quite clear that ITV's expectation of a fee from VM is at odds with what the government had originally planned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/...-virgin-media/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/...ll-ad-revenue/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Advertising revenues are falling on TV , clearly to the benefit of others.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/40732036

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

VM could possibly attempt to offset the "copyright" fee with carriage fees, interesting times ahead.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I think that they will probably come to an agreement and pay less than what ITV want as a compromise.

Then when any contracts expire, VM/Sky will stop subsidising channels such as ITVBe & ITV Encore to recoup some or all of the charges.

Freesport have now confirmed that they will be available on all platforms, not sure if this means it will be on VM from launch though on 31/8/17.

It will show rugby, football etc. I was a bit worried that as a free sports channel it would be showing the tiddlywinks final of something!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

As I understand it, the payment ITV wish to receive is a re-transmission fee for the PSB content over which they hold copyright. Originally it was planned to remove a loophole that allowed third parties to stream PSB content over the internet, without payment to the PSB. ITV now seems to have seen an opportunity to extend this to cable.

Although ITV and other PSB broadcasters have expressed a desire for all subscription platforms to pay for the PSB content, it's not so easy to ask Sky for this fee. PSB's providing their own transponders on satellite, and paying Sky for regionalised coverage in the EPG, can hardly claim that something they effectively transmit themselves should carry a "re-transmission" fee. So it doesn't really apply to Sky.

So, they seem to want, not only to get away with not providing their own infrastructure on cable, but to also charge the cableco for the privilege of re-transmitting the service on their behalf. A penalty for operating a closed system perhaps.

The situation is not really what the government intended. They made it clear when the change of law was proposed that they didn't expect it to lead to additional charges. If I remember correctly, it was stated that they would have to take another look at the situation if charges were introduced. Unfortunately, the government now appears to be backing away from that stance and leaving the decision on any new charging structure to the market.

https://www.ft.com/content/037019ae-...f-79eb4891c97d

Obviously, any charges imposed on the cableco would have to be passed on to the end user. So cable viewers get to pay for the PSB's through the advertising budget overheads in any goods they purchase, as with users of other platforms. Then they get to pay again through any supplementary fees charged by the cableco. Not the fairest of charges is it?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

There will be two reactions from customers; those who don't see why they should have to pay for a PSB channel that others can access on Freeview, so would prefer a blackout on Virgin, and those who feel they pay good money to Virgin every month yet would be unable to view the country's most popular commercial channel.

I don't have Virgin TV, but if I did I'd be in the first group. But then I rarely watch the channel anyway.

ITV does need to tread carefully - a blackout on Virgin could do significant harm to their, already faltering, ad revenues.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Agreed. Maybe VM should just put the TV Player app on the system and people could access ITV that way during the blackout, which I think would be fairly short lived.

---------- Post added at 10:24 ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 ----------

I don't think VM would be interested in a compromise on payment to ITV. They would not wish to concede the principle of having to make a payment in the first place.

The charge does not apply to Sky, so I see no reason for them to pull out of their support for ITV Encore.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Yes, ITV confirmed in a conference call yesterday that they believe that this only applies to cable and not to satellite.

My source for the implications for Sky came from this article:

http://www.a516digital.com/2017/07/i...drop-with.html

---------- Post added at 13:12 ---------- Previous post was at 13:05 ----------

No it's not and if ITV get away with it, channel 5 look likely to follow suit from what they've said.

IIRC it was a free streaming site called TVCatchup that started all this by streaming free channels over the internet without the broadcasters permission.

ITV objected to others obtaining advertising income off the back of their programmes, so the Government changed the law which comes into affect on the 31st of this month.