Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35857942)

People also need to understand the economics. VM TV has what - about 3.7m customers. Whereas Sky and Freeview each has over 10m. Broadcast FTA on Sky and you may as well buy a Freesat EPG slot and pick up a couple of million more customers.
The TV channels were neglected for a while by VM but that is no longer the case.

What they do need to sort out are the essentials of:
- Network coverage: in hand
- New box: in hand
- 4G mobile: unknown
- wifi network via Superhub: status unknown, launched in some LGI countries

Then desirables would be:
- Remaining HD channels
- Amazon Prime
- Price freeze
- 4k carriage announcements

Originally Posted by telegramsam (Post 35857974)

A price freeze is a must as far as I'm concerned because the cost is spirialing out of control fast. To the majority of us the "we're improving our services" just doesn't wash anymore. How can services be improving when On demand is at it's worst since Virgin took over from NTL.

Originally Posted by Frazz (Post 35857994)

I thought the Tivo update was supposed to improve the running of the Tivo,mine is slower than ever since the update

Originally Posted by jj20x (Post 35858019)

Incorrect! It's not my opinion that new channels will appear after VM add channels. I have no opinion on when and if new channels appear. It was a statement of fact, channels come and go all of the time. For example, Blaze will arrive shortly on Freeview. Again, it's not my opinion that Blaze will appear, it actually will appear.

Originally Posted by jj20x (Post 35858019)

Aha! that would indeed be your opinion...

Originally Posted by jj20x (Post 35858019)

Incorrect| As I stated previously, the only way a channel can appear on Freeview is to negotiate a contract with one of the multiplex operators, generally Arqiva (for COM5-COM8) or to a lesser extent SDN, which is limited in that it only operates a single multiplex (COM4). There is no freedom of entry to Freeview, in your terms, Arqiva and SDN are the "gatekeepers" for their respective multiplexes and channels have to negotiate with one of these multiplex operators. The PSB multiplexes are totally closed platforms and don't make space available to independent broadcasters.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858024)

More chance platting treacle than a price freeze.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858024)

Virgin media yesterday's technology today.

Originally Posted by vm_tech (Post 35858020)

I have something to say but I'm gonna keep my mouth shut for now as nobody else has mentioned it on here....

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858023)

Your opinion is very much welcomed just as much as anybody else's opinion.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858023)

Your opinion is very much welcomed just as much as anybody else's opinion.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858036)

Hopefully one hopes it is good news which will cheer some of the Victor's on here up.;)

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858024)

I suspect it's a joyful January price rise :)

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858026)

Apologies for any confusion and I didn't mean to cause any offence. I intended to get across that it was your opinion that VM were not proactive and I suggested some ways in which they might be seen as proactive.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858040)

l possibly have a idea of things but as my partner says often enough its wise to keep your mouth shut dear.:):D

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858026)

Apologies for any confusion and I didn't mean to cause any offence. I intended to get across that it was your opinion that VM were not proactive and I suggested some ways in which they might be seen as proactive.


Agreed, but I can't see any other reason as to why E! would not be on VM except money eg it's not technological, it's not that the two companies haven't done other deals.

I think we just have different opinions of the definition of an open platform.

Thanks for an interesting debate. :)

---------- Post added at 19:50 ---------- Previous post was at 19:40 ----------

lol. I genuinely can't see one next year except the Sky premiums rise to keep those poor footballers away from the food banks. :)

Ha ha. Only because VM have blacklisted you from rejoining. :) But I do wonder how VM will tackle the roll-out based on some opinions of the current hardware.

---------- Post added at 19:52 ---------- Previous post was at 19:50 ----------

Interesting, I mentioned everything I could think of. Cloud storage or is that clould cuckoo land? :)

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

Agreed, everyone's opinion is valid and it would be rather boring if we all agreed on everything. ;)

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858038)

Here's what I expect to read so I thought I would help theone out by writing his post for him:)


But seriously, vmtech has got me intrigued! If it's not the things I listed then I'm at a loss to think what else it could be. :)

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858036)

Hopefully one hopes it is good news which will cheer some of the Victor's on here up.;)

Originally Posted by vm_tech (Post 35858062)

I imagine it will be made public in the next couple of days. It is good news :)

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35857942)

Then desirables would be:
- Remaining HD channels
- Amazon Prime
- Price freeze
- 4k carriage announcements

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858069)

One of them is on our Do Not Post list.

Originally Posted by jj20x (Post 35858070)

It's the price freeze isn't it? :p:

Originally Posted by Bananaman_007 (Post 35858067)

Virgin claim they are serious about mobile then why have they not got 4G?

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858072)

They've got it in Ireland. There were rumours that VM were holding off from a deal because it made them less attractive to a tie-up with Vodafone, then there were rumours of a deal with Three (whom VM uses in Ireland), then there were rumours that the EE deal had another year to run and VM didn't want to renew with EE because EE was promoting BT Sport.
Who knows the real situation? I think 4G is VM's biggest weakness. But saying that, Sky has still not launched its mobile service, so credit where it's due.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858074)

VM will get 4G when 5G launches.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858075)

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858099)

If l was to hazard a guess then l would say several months rather then years before the rest of the channels appear on VM UK TG.

Originally Posted by thegrid (Post 35858102)

Thanks for that. Just hoping MTV Classic comes back. It always was a favourite of mine.

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 35858105)

.... was mine too.

It seems we may only get new channels when Liberty signs deals with channel providers that cover all/most of Liberty's other cablecos in Europe as well as VM.

Originally Posted by thegrid (Post 35858096)

I know this is probably a long shot but is anybody aware of any timescales for the missing channels that are currently broadcasting on VM Ireland being launched on VM UK?

TIA. :)

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858126)

Unless Den know more (@Den PM Us if you cant post online) we have no timescales - it took Virgin Media UK to SIX years to get the same channel lineup in all areas of Virgin Media UK.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...-channels.html

And Virgin Media only rebrand UPC Ireland as Virgin Media Ireland in October 2015 - so we may not get the missing channels until 2021.

Since October 2015 RT (Russia Today) has been added to Virgin Media Ireland.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...v-ireland.html

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858128)

I recon Den is a VM secret agent :p:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858111)

Yes, I think Media Boy mentioned this in connection with the Channel 5-Viacom set-up. He suggested that Channel 5's offerings including Spike were negotiated by VM whilst the Viacom channels were negotiated by LGI. That makes sense so I guess there's still some pan-European deals to be conducted with A+E and Viacom to mop up the remaining channels.

Originally Posted by passingbat (Post 35858147)

Well, I have heard that he likes his martini cocktails, shaken, not stirred! ;)

Originally Posted by BenMcr (Post 35858171)

Although it's not a TV app, it's a wider account app ;)

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858111)

That makes sense so I guess there's still some pan-European deals to be conducted with A+E and Viacom to mop up the remaining channels.

Originally Posted by vm_tech (Post 35858020)

I have something to say but I'm gonna keep my mouth shut for now as nobody else has mentioned it on here....

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858175)

Sky Cinema Greats to go back to 80s next week.

Radio Times has reported that Sky Cinema Greats will show Movies from the 1980s all week from Monday.

---------- Post added at 17:30 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------



Liberty Global and A+E Networks did extend pan-European deal in November 2015.

http://www.tvbeurope.com/liberty-glo...european-deal/

Then Liberty Global and Discovery signs an new deal last month.

https://www.libertyglobal.com/pdf/pr...artnership.pdf

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35858243)

Looks like they failed to sign up for Blaze, which starts on the 20th.

Freeview & Sky only thus far. It's currently testing FTA, so if this remains the case, Freesat viewers will have access to it too.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858194)

The new iPhone coming to VM?

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858249)

Let be fair to Virgin Media here the last deal with A+E Networks who own Blaze was sign with Liberty Global in November 2015 and Blaze was just confirmed in May 2016.

Up until last night we did think it was an new name for HISTORY.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35858243)

Looks like they failed to sign up for Blaze, which starts on the 20th.

Freeview & Sky only thus far. It's currently testing FTA, so if this remains the case, Freesat viewers will have access to it too.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858255)

That would be a downgrade.TBF when i first heard about it i thought it was going to be a H2 rebranding.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858272)

It will be interesting to see if it does appear on VM, still possible.

Originally Posted by foxnewsfan (Post 35858296)

Does anyone think with rising prices particularly with VM that one day we will only pay for what we watch for example I don't watch or have any interest in the music channels or foreign channels but I have to pay for them in the package.

Gradually I'm being priced out and there comes a point when enough is enough it's only the broadband speed that's holding me in right now.

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj (Post 35858302)

Liberty Global Media will buy F1.

Could this be to LG/VM's advantage to be used as a bargaining tool against Sky and BT..or possible VM to have their own F1 channel instead of Sky.

These things take time I know, but could work out to be a very good move....price rise to follow of course lol

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj (Post 35858302)

used as a bargaining tool against Sky and BT

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj (Post 35858302)

Liberty Global Media will buy F1.

Could this be to LG/VM's advantage to be used as a bargaining tool against Sky and BT..or possible VM to have their own F1 channel instead of Sky.

These things take time I know, but could work out to be a very good move....price rise to follow of course lol

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35858309)

They are a business and as such they'll look for who offers them the best terms both in money and coverage. Many others sports offer standalone digital packages over the Internet so you could well see that.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858304)

No such company!
A separate company, Liberty Media is acquiring F1.
Liberty Global International is not.
I hope that once the exclusive Sky deal expires in the UK (it runs from 2019 to 2024 so after the current Ch4 and Sky deal) then Liberty Media may take a longer term approach and may favour a FTA/Pay TV scenario.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858315)

If virgin media are still around then.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858316)

But what the TV, broadband and mobile landscape will look like in 2024 no one - Malone, Murdoch, MediaBoy... knows. ;)

Originally Posted by paultrademark (Post 35858320)

MB knows, but it's under a DNP ;)

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858315)

If virgin media are still around then.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858323)

And any reason why they won't be?.

Originally Posted by foxnewsfan (Post 35858340)

Yes Fox News hopefully very soon.

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858341)

Rumours say October.

We have seen an launch date of Autumn 2016.

So Wikipedia says that sometime before December.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858343)

l was hoping you was going to say rather the opposite MB.:)

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858344)

As of last week it was testing with EPG but with no broadcasting video.

We think Fox News will be on Virgin UK Channel 626 when launched.

We can confirmed it will say Fox News Channel on the banner.

Originally Posted by foxnewsfan (Post 35858349)

I mentioned no names sir !!

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858350)

Virgin Media's Mr TV talks talent , targets and telco's.

http://www.eurocomms.com/features/11...ets-and-telcos

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35858344)

As of last week it was testing with EPG but with no broadcasting video.

We think Fox News will be on Virgin UK Channel 626 when launched.

We can confirmed it will say Fox News Channel on the banner.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858365)

More like channel 666 :p:

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 35858279)

... it's a combination of H2, History and CI with shows from all three channels. Which begs the question, why bother with pay tv when so much is on Freeview now?

Ancient Aliens coming soon to Freeview via Blaze, very good stuff!

oh and on a different note, the BBC has confirmed that John Malone's Liberty Media, sister company to Liberty Global, is buying F1.

Didn't someone at Liberty/VM say not so long ago, that they wern't interested in owning premium content, especially sport?....

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35858392)

Is it testing on SSE TV? :)

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 35858279)

oh and on a different note, the BBC has confirmed that John Malone's Liberty Media, sister company to Liberty Global, is buying F1.

Didn't someone at Liberty/VM say not so long ago, that they wern't interested in owning premium content, especially sport?....

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35857942)

People also need to understand the economics. VM TV has what - about 3.7m customers. Whereas Sky and Freeview each has over 10m. Broadcast FTA on Sky and you may as well buy a Freesat EPG slot and pick up a couple of million more customers.
The TV channels were neglected for a while by VM but that is no longer the case.

What they do need to sort out are the essentials of:
- Network coverage: in hand
- New box: in hand
- 4G mobile: unknown
- wifi network via Superhub: status unknown, launched in some LGI countries

Then desirables would be:
- Remaining HD channels
- Amazon Prime
- Price freeze
- 4k carriage announcements

Originally Posted by foxnewsfan (Post 35858296)

Does anyone think with rising prices particularly with VM that one day we will only pay for what we watch for example I don't watch or have any interest in the music channels or foreign channels but I have to pay for them in the package.

Gradually I'm being priced out and there comes a point when enough is enough it's only the broadband speed that's holding me in right now.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35858343)

l was hoping you was going to say rather the opposite MB.:)

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35858393)

They were probably lying to put their competitors off the scent, but it does show how sly LG actually are.

Is this F1 deal the news that was said to be breaking in a day or two?

I agree, it's getting more and more pointless subscribing to pay TV channels in the traditional way.

If I use the price rise to rid myself of the awful TiVo, VM won't refund the advance line rental that I paid. Another sly trick that has done them no favours with me in the long term.

I'm going to downgrade, as I believe that the price increase allows me to do this without giving 30 days notice.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35858405)

The problem with choosing precisely which channels you will pay for (rather than buying packages of channels) is that this is your personal choice. In some households, there is a selfish breadwinner who may choose only those specific channels that he or she wants to watch and the tastes of the rest of the family are ignored.

I think we will ultimately dispense with all these individual channels and progress to fewer providers, each showing much more content. The present arrangements are inefficient, and expensive for the consumer.

---------- Post added at 09:55 ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 ----------


I'm glad that some are looking forward to the launch of Fox News on Virgin Media, Den, but to me the suspense and anticipation for this channel to arrive rather shows just how desperate the VM community are getting for new channels to arrive!

I mean, Fox News? :shocked:

---------- Post added at 10:08 ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 ----------


Well, Richard, if that's what you think about Liberty Global, good luck to you when you transfer to Sky.

I don't agree with you that the Tivo is awful, it is just slow (it wasn't always thus). The fact that only a proportion of people are having the sort of problems that you and certain other contributors describe indicates to me that this is more to do with network problems in their areas than the Tivo itself.

I am waiting for the new Tivo to arrive before making a decision about what to do. However, I am fortunate in being able to subscribe to Now TV, Netflix and Amazon and so I do have sufficient overall choice to keep me happy.

Having said this, I am disappointed to hear that the user interface on the new Tivos may be the same as on our updated old Tivos. I was hoping for better than this, so my expectations have declined. I may yet decide to move on, but I hope not to have to make that decision. Cable has so much to offer, but the possibilities just haven't been realised. I really do hope that changes so that VM becomes the TV platform of choice.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35858405)

I'm glad that some are looking forward to the launch of Fox News on Virgin Media, Den, but to me the suspense and anticipation for this channel to arrive rather shows just how desperate the VM community are getting for new channels to arrive!

I mean, Fox News? :shocked:

.

Originally Posted by passingbat (Post 35858461)

I'm not sure that you right in that analysis OB. I would like it because hopefully it will give greater coverage of the US elections.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35858474)

Well, I'm all for that, and maybe I am being unfair. The reputation Fox News has acquired is that of a dumbed down comedy news channel.

I've never seen the live channel but I have seen excerpts - maybe they weren't representative.

If it was more like CNN, I would be more supportive!

Originally Posted by foxnewsfan (Post 35858478)

Trouble with cnn it is totally bias to the left (dems) so fox would even it out plus fox morning shows have great guests and cooking sections esp near the holiday dates like Halloween,xmas,thanksgiving and Super Bowl etc.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35858419)

VM are effectively forcing me to stay until next March.

I'm going to downgrade to M/Player instead as there's no point in recording material if attempts to watch it cause so much frustration.

Originally Posted by vincerooney (Post 35858492)

I generally like the comedy gold aspect of it thats why i watched it on holiday every day. It was just filled with very angry old white men ranting passionately.

Originally Posted by theone2k10 (Post 35858527)

Food network is good for cooking shows, it has the superb diners drive-ins and dives.

Originally Posted by jj20x (Post 35858592)

Good to know that people are looking forward to Fox News for the comedy and cookery. :erm:

Originally Posted by Inactive Digital (Post 35858530)

Don't forget that changing your package usually starts a new minimum term, so you'd likely be locked in until at least next September.

Originally Posted by foxnewsfan (Post 35858605)

Theone2k10

Is that easy to do buddy how can this happen for me?

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 35858618)

.... these are the main ones still missing, I've left out the more obscure ones:

Sky1 +1
PickTV+1
MTV +1
4Seven HD
E! +1
TLC+2
BET +1
E! Entertainment HD
Channel 4 +1 HD
Sony Ch +1
Lifetime +1
TruTV +1
Comedy Cent xtra +1
Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic +1
Sky Atlantic HD
ITV Encore
ITV Encore HD
ITV Encore+1
AMC
AMC HD
True Drama
True Crime
True Crime +1
HISTORY HD
Crime & Invest HD
Crime & Investi Ch+1
Travel Channel +1
Food Network +1
Home & Leisure TV
Property TV
Wellbeing Network
Horse & Country
Holiday & Cruise
Fashion One
MTV MUSIC +1
MTV LIVE
MTV CLASSIC
Starz TV
CS Summer
Flava (prev B4)
Scuzz
Heart Summer
CAPITAL TV
Keep It Country
Chart Show TV
The Vault
Chart Show Dance
Sony Movie Channel
Sony Movie Channel +1
True Movies 2
Movies4Men +1
Talking Pictures TV
MUTV HD
At The Races HD
Racing UK HD
Liverpool FC TV HD
Box Nation HD
Premier Sports HD
Front Runner TV
Chelsea TV
Chelsea TV HD
BT Sport 4K
Shorts TV
CNN International HD
Fox News
Al Jazeera Eng HD
Russia Today
Russia Today HD
CCTV News
Disney XD HD
Nick Junior +1
Nick Jr HD
Tiny Pop +1
Pop +1
Disney Channel HD
Disney Junior +1
Disney Jnr HD
Boomerang HD
POP Max
Kix!
Kix! +1
BabyFirst