Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

2000 posts and still going strong. Thank's Media Boy and everyone else for making this a great thread to follow!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4 HD tests appear in Ex-CW areas.

VMTest1 = Channel4 HD

15.0Mbps, 1920x1080i, 2.0 192kbps MP2 audio, maybe AC3 for some shows

I hope to have pics for you all to see of Channel 4 HD tests soon...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:O does that mean we are getting 4HD sooner than next week?
*hopes. :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I do not know - I am try to get more info.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Excellent news on 4HD, hopefully we'll get that soon.

I want ITVHD more though, but only for the football.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ITVHD wont ocme until December when it freesat contract runs out

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

When you say that the tests are going on, can anyone view them and if so how?

Thanks,

Liam

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Its not easy firstly you need a hd box or receiver (yes i mean dvb-c card as well even though there against tc) then you need ot program the numbe rin on the epg and pres sok sometimes it let your view it sometimes not, to check for the tests other ways is on teh samsung box preferably the hd one

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

LOL

Thanks Andy - think I will leave it tho. The only box i understand is the Virgin V+ Box!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Update: Channel 4 HD is also testing in Ex-ntl and Ex-Telewest areas as well.

Here is an pic of the test: http://i27.tinypic.com/e185ee.jpg

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

o yay, hollyoaks fittys in hd :D, hehe this is my lame contribution to the post, good to see the hd channels coming through, makes me happy :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have been told that Virgin appears to be testing 7 HD testing on their Ex-Telewest network.

The 4 HD channels that we know of are testing on Ex-Telewest as well.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

This is where i am glad i kept my vm services going even though we went to sky hd,finally hd coming in a matter of days or weeks at the latest a great vod service this is how virgin media suppoesed to be makeing the most off their system.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

good work media boy do you think they will launch more hd channels next week?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:shrug:

But I think Channel 4 HD will be given Virgin Channel 147 when it do launch.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The "ex" ntl/cw/telewest stuff is really irrelevant now. Any new channel launches will launch to everyone.

Finally there's stuff "coming soon" to talk about, makes a nice change doesn't it after all this time?:)

Might be more stuff "coming soon" too, why stop at 7 hd channels? If VM are gonna do a launch, they might as well do it properly.;) :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

history hd eurosport hd channel 4 hd fx hd nat geo hd living hd thts 6 whts the other one i wounder

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You forget MTVNHD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

lol yea i knew i forgot one thts it thn good food hd and maybe espn hd if we lucky tht would keep me quite for some time

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ESPN HD is *almost* a dead cert, but it may launch a month or two after its launch on Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i think Mediaboy is just saying that they are appeaing in all areas for testing, i think befor ebecause no one on xtw had a samsung box it was impossibel to tell if they where testing,

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

....yep, I know. I was one of those that explained to him ages ago how the networks were organised.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

My God this is all too much for me. I feel faint.

For years we have travelled through the desert seeking the HD oasis then just as we are about to take our lifes last breath the skys open from above and quench our dry gritty throats. :bigcry:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Look out for:

Virgin Media are to move some channels about on their EPG Channel lineup - by the end of this year.

---------- Post added at 23:52 ---------- Previous post was at 23:34 ----------

ESPN may launch on XL pack.
I saw this rumour on ''twitter'' tonight:

An poster ask Virgin Media on Twitter:

Virgin Media says:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Are you sure it is 4HD, where is the 4HD DOG? BTW if a channel is testing in all 3 platforms it usually means it's getting ready for a launch soon.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The picture loks cropped to me. Is the HD Dog usually on top left???

Where's Eurosport??? :( :(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The 4HD Dog only appears on true HD programmes, during upscaled there is no DOG.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Off topic a bit but is it technically possible for the V+ box to direct channel 104 to the HD version and not the SD version? or is the V+ and standard box EPG linked?

Those with HD boxes would get channel4 HD on the normal channel and SD viewers would get a better quality SD picture as the V+ box would downscale it?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Virgin has stop testing Eurosport HD right now.

But it may launch in October or November with History HD as well.

---------- Post added at 09:58 ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 ----------

I think Virgin want to keep SD Channel 4 on Virgin Channel 104 as that Channel 4 is your local Channel 4 AND Channel 4 HD is broadcasting from London.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You have to bear in mind that the HD channels are not direct replicas of the SD channels. Is BBC HD a version of BBC One, Two, Three or Four? None of the above. It is (currently) selected transmissions of BBC programming.

Also, the 101 .. 105 SD channels are regional but the HD variants are national (may not apply to Five, I'm not sure). It will be different for the likes of MTV, Living, Nat. Geo., History, Discovery etc. They will be HD equivalents of the SD channels.

{I hope all of that was correct. I don't have FreeView, FreeSat or Sky to compare with. I don't even have HD yet! Until I can no longer get valves for it, I'm stickin' with my Bush 405 line B&W set. :D}

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Another reason is that if using the V+ you may want to save space by recording the non HD programs off SD C4 and only record the HD ones off HD C4. I suspect the C4 upscaling may do a better job than the v+ but I would guess the difference is not worth the extra space the upscaled recordings would take up in the V+ box.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Can the average Joe public find these testing channels?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Dear Footie Fanatics,

Is it really that much better to watch footie in HD? Do you get the 'being there' feeling from the High Definition and Surround Sound? I'm beginning to think it is just that you have such big screens that anything, footie or otherwise, looks awful in SD because the pixels are the size of dice and it's hard on the eyes when there is so much movement in the picture as is the case with football and other action sports. Snooker with cube-shaped balls might not seem so bad, as the camera is fixed on the same area for long periods but with football, it is following the ball and panning and zooming a lot. Does being able to see every blade of grass enhance the experience?

Please don't flame me. It's an genuine theory and honest question.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

m'ok :(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Football wise i would say when you have seen one match you have seen them all now documentrys are a different story always something different every time.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You should try watching Preston or any game in the championship, no one knows what will happen next lol.

In answer, yes i think it does look a lot better in HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

A poor game of football isn't entertaing no matter what the definition is. I forgot I was watching in HD once until I noticed dandruff on Alan Hansen's jacket at half time. There are some advantages to SD ;)

The best game of football I haver seen was the european cup final in 1967 - and it was in B&W :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It does look stunning in hd i watched the majority off the games last season in hd but the wow factor went after a few games.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

but they did manage to stuff us 6-0 last season and they got into the playoffs!:D:D:D:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

HD is built for Sports, Movies/Special effects Sci Fi ect and Documentaries.... why the hell they waste their budget on stuff like Hollyoakes i have no idea.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

puppies look better?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

lol... i guess ;) and you can probably tell easier if they're fake rocks!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

VMTest1, VMTest2 and VMTest3 has now been removed from Virgin Channels 891, 892 and 893 in the Ex-Telewest areas.

But they will still be testing in the main office of Ex-Telewest as they are in the main offices of Ex-CW and Ex-ntl.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Indeed they're gone.

---------- Post added at 15:23 ---------- Previous post was at 15:18 ----------

Well I am looking forward to watching Hollyoaks in HD :) I love the show. Would mean I have to stop watching it for a day as I watch the first look episodes on E4!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I thought that 4hd is effectively a simulcast of Channel 4, with upscaled SD where there is no HD available?

The only channels I'm sure of that offer full regional variation in the UK are BBC One and ITV1. BBC Two used to be able to on Analogue, but has only 4 Digital streams (Network/England, Scotland, Wales and NI), as this clip demonstrates (45 seconds onwards). ITV1 will probably do the same once they shed their regional requirements.

I can't find any evidence that Five dont have regional opt-outs, but I doubt they pay for 13 streams on DSAT so probably have settled for a national one. Same with Channel 4, although if they take on ITV's regional obligations then they would certainly need that ability.

Does anybody remember when BBC One had only 4 digital streams, and instead of regional news we got "UK Today"? BBC Choice also had 4 and used to have different programming in the nations too! It didn't last long!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Ch 4 hd is simulcast of ch4 we tend to watch ch4 hd more with it being upscaled just at the moment with bb being on the films are now limited roll on when its finished.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The Jewellery Channel new hours from August 1st.

The Jewellery Channel is thrilled to announce its new hours of operation with effect from 1st August ‘09.

Our operation hours begin from 6am and ends at 2am.

Our Virgin Media hours have been extended to cover 6am to midday on Virgin Channel 150 (Before Five USA starts broadcasting).

Info from Shopping Telly.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Lovely stuff lol:erm::erm:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I'd be interested to know what the viewing figures are for channels like this lol.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Do BARB even look at this sort of channel??

Sam

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Not currently possible. It would require both network and STB software changes. (Also not desirable, as others have mentioned)

There are two versions of Five - London and everywhere else.

A lot higher than certain channels I could mention :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

As it's sole purpose is to sell things I think the amount of money it generates will have more bearing on its survival as apposed to the number of viewers.
None of the selling channels seems to be featured on the BARB summary but unlisted channels do seem to account for a considerable percentage of viewers.

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyViewingSummary?_s=4

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Occasionally. Look at Ideal World in this week from April
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyV...]=200904060125

QVC hasn't been listed for months, but is far and away the most popular shopping channel.
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyV...]=200801060127

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Oh go on. Mention them. Name and shame.

At some point VM will have to consider the channels that are wanted but not currently available versus the ones that they are carrying but are not watched by many.

However I take the additional point made about channels which have a low viewer number but, as trading channels, make sufficient through sales to warrant their presence on the VM network.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

There's 3 types of channel on Virgin Media:

1) Channels Virgin Media pay nothing to carry - typically channels they have to carry (Public Service Broadcasters) or "spin offs" from them, such as the ITV and Five channels.

2) Channels Virgin Media pay to carry - for example the Sky suite of channels. These are the services which Virgin Media will market to customers.

3) Channels Virgin Media get paid to carry - these aren't really channels which Virgin can market, but the carriers will pay VM to give them better market reach. These are normally shopping channels.

The problem is the balance between 2 and 3 - 3 provides guaranteed income, whereas 2 requires marketing etc. to realise profit.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Spiders links certainly give some food for thought.

Ideal World with an average weekly share of viewers amounting to 0.1% was on a par with the viewing figures of Sky Movies (family), and a lot of the Discovery series of programs. While QVC with an average weekly share of 0.2% put its weekly viewing numbers on a par with Sky Movies Premier and both Satanta Sports channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Channel 4 HD May launch next week.

Channel 4 HD may launch on Virgin Media next week with MTVNHD, FX HD and Nat Geo HD.

They will launch on any of the following days:
Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.

NOTE: I have got no information on they Channel numbers. But I think they will be on

EPG: Channel name
147. Channel 4 HD
158. FX HD
232. Nat Geo HD
304. MTVNHD

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Virgin Media are getting on my nerves now, Why can't they launch 30 HD channels on the same day? Why do they have to be so 2008?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Great news on Channel 4 HD, all seems to have happened very quickly.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Why not Wednesday, Friday Saturday or Sunday :confused:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have been told the following tonight:

-Virgin in talks with Broadcasters for 10-15 HD Channels.
-Virgin are looking to launch more VMTV & UKTV HD Channels like Bravo HD, Living2 HD, Home HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

OMG! Someone smack me. :eeek:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

If 10-15 is true, then there must be some exclusives coming, either that or it includes the channels such as Bravo, Living 2 etc.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Channel 4 HD may launch next week - and not as 1st posted sorry.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Just lately virgin are getting more and more things, nice one, great news on even more hd if true

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

This is what I've waited for all this time!

Luckily for me my Sky contract is up in 8 days so I might get to save some money instead of paying for both services.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ITV1 do not supply to Scotland, stv occupy channel 103. There are frequent variations (I believe mostly to do with stv not being willing to pay ITV's prices). "stv HD" seems a bit unlikely. :rolleyes:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Don't forget folks, as I've said before, that VM has been doing tests, they are just that tests...! Don't expect tons of HD channels soon/next week for the simple reason there isn't the capacity for them - just yet. Once analogue is shut down completely - then it's full steam ahead. A little bit more patience is needed, which granted with VM, would make even a saint go insane.:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Ha ha ha ha ha, classic stuff. I may produce a monkey from my anus next week. MAY.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Well said nick same here fella.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:bsmack: will this do :erm:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You would think they would start advertising before the switch on. I'm guessing the adverts will start soon, if the switch on is soon.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Why market it? just i dnt see the point

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Well, i hope VM will be streaming this in HD ;)

LMAO

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Presumeably you'll get the national version of ITV HD.

So much for devolution.
The sassenachs are coming! The sassenachs are coming! :ninja:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ITV HD will not appear on Virgin until next year - Due to ITV deal with Freesat.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I never understood this 'deal' with freesat. Who is paying for it? Freesat is a free service, it's not supposed to be a commercial affair like Sky/Fox.

And ITV as a public service broadcaster with priviledged access to bandwidth on all platforms should be bound by the same rules as the BBC - they should provide their content to all.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

didn't realise BBC HD was available on Freeview??? - when did that happen??

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Only for ITV, all otehr channels itv 2, citv itv hd ar enot bound by those regulations

my guess is itv are part of the freesat group made a commintment to make it freesat exculsive for a x period of time to try get peope to sign up since it wouldnt be on sky, i dnt think they really care about it being on cable or freeview as it isnt seen a threat to freesat but sky is

acutally bbc are under no obligation to provide cbbc bbc alba etc to everywhere else only the terristal channels ie bbc 1 and bbc 2 i dnt think they have to for bbc hd but i could be wrong, but it is in ther ebest interest to have it in as many platofrms as possible

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The BBC ARE under obligation to provide all their channels as they are all public funded, the communications act in the must carry section states "any service of television programmes provided by the BBC so far as it is provided in digital form and is a service in relation to which OFCOM have functions".

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You got a link to that? just i was sure it was only the terrestial cahnenls they must provide asi stress the word must, but they should be getting all other channels on all platforms but they wher enot under obligation liek the terristal ones

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Like it :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Here is the list of HD Channels that Virgin are in talks for (That I know of).

Ok here is the list; ^ = Deal done.

Bio HD
Discovery HD
Disney Cinemagic HD
Eurosport HD^
History HD^
ITV HD (For 2010.)
Nat Geo Wild HD
Crime and Invest HD
Luxe HD
Rush HD
GOOD FOOD HD

There will also be other UKTV and VMTV channels.

They will try get these when they are about to launch

FIVE HD
S4C HD

Also I think Virgin Media has put all new SD Channels ''on hold'' (like BBC Alba) as they are working on HD Channels and to give everyone the same lineup right now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

That's a really good selection of channels. I especially like the idea of high definition tomatoes and celery ;). Good on VM getting the Eurosport HD, first HD sports channel woop! Will probably ring up and enquire about getting a V+ installed this week :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No information on when Eurosport HD and History HD will launch then?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have seen October/November launch for them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Great line up Media Boy, I notice you have indicated that Eurosport and History HD have a deal done icon next to them, I take it then that we will be definetly be getting these two channels added soon?:)
Just as a side issue, have you heard anything more on the "Military History" channel joining VM?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Yep.
It's everything, you have to remember that your license fee doesn't just go to the terrestrial channels, it goes to every single channel the BBC do, do they have an obligation to ensure everyone can get them, as everyone is paying for them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Which will be fulfilled with the Digital Switchover and the rollout of Freeview HD :) Woop winter hill freeview HD in December :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Someone posted an rumour last week on an web site* I was looking at they said ''Military History to launch on Virgin in September'' but I have not seen or get any news since.

*I forgot the name of the web site so I cant post an link.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I think I remember reading that, not sure if it was here DS or somewhere else, either way hopefully MH will be a channel that VM will pick up in time.
As you said though it looks that at present they are going full steam ahead on HD, keep it going VM.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Well, it all depends really. The most likely outcome is that you'll get ITV HD or nothing at all. Remember S2? Scottish's answer to ITV2? In the end, all it did was syndicate ITV2 with an annoying opaque DOG covering the ITV2 one.

The BBC's commitment to the public covers everything broadcasting under the BBC banner in this country. This is why they couldn't launch "BBC Style", "BBC Arena" and "BBC Horizons" as they had hoped to in the mid nineties. As a workaround, they sought a commercial partner (Flextech, now VMTV) and formed UKTV - the channels launched otherwise exactly as they would have, complete with BBC 1997 Corporate presentation.

ITV is a different kettle of fish - more or less all their PSB interests are in the main channel. The issue arises with the use of the ITV brand name - which can only be used to describe the franchised ITV of old (in terms of broadcasting at least). This is why GMTV is automatically entitled to the 6 - 9:25 slot on ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV. On ITV2 and ITV3 GMTV sell the slot to ITV plc, allowing them to run it as a 24 hour service. Having had their own (unsuccessful) go at multichannel, Scottish and Ulster now also have an arrangement with ITV plc, allowing them to run the digital channels nationally. STV could (in theory) at any time, take ITV2 back and relaunch S2.

However - ITV don't have to make any service available universally other than the one(s) they are franchised to produce. It is usually in their commercial interest to do so, but it is not required. Examples:

• CITV is not available in Wales on Freeview
• For years and years ITV2 (and ITV1 for that) were not available on Sky due to the ITV Digital tension.
• Towards the end of its live the ITV News Channel only broadcasted during the day on Freeview
• ITV4 was not available on Sky at launch (officially)

Recently there was talk over ITV making its services pay only - I'm not sure how they'd do this without rebranding, because as I said the ITV brand is protected. men&motors, an ITV channel, is still a 'pay' channel but is unaffected.

The only thing I can think of that disproves this logic is the shortlived ITV Sport Channel...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Yes but will it be STV HD or the national ITV HD in Scotland, given that you have indicated that there will be an S4C HD service in Wales?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

S4C Digidol is completely separate from Channel 4, unlike S4C Analogue which carries most of Channel 4's English peak time programming overnight. Channel 4 is available digitally in Wales, along with 4HD where applicable.

I'm pretty sure that ITV HD does not simply syndicate ITV1, it provides a full HD service like BBC HD - carrying programs from ITV2 and ITV4 occasionally. Therefore ITV HD in Scotland is just as likely to happen as any other ITV digital channel.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

My Birthday is going to be good this year as Virgin Media will be announcing its Second Quarter 2009 results on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 8am UK time.

See you all on Monday after I go to an Wedding in Aberdeen.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Enjoy yourself media boy - thanks for all of your work on the updates. You deserve a break.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

If Eurosport HD is indeed a done deal then i'm well happy... shame it's ot intime for the US Open (tennis) but hey ho!

You've taken your time VM but well done in FINALLY taking the HD issue seriously.

As Fred said, thanks to MB for all his work on the HD and all other issues. :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

what would be good would be if VM gave the channels a free weekend to start with then all those with V+ boxes just for the PVR could see how good they look and might upgrade

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

av a gud bday

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No it doesn't.

At it stands ITV HD is a red button option which only works on Freesat if ITV itself is showing something in HD. The rest of the time I don't think it broadcasts