Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Smart move by Sky. VM could do the same if it had its own content to offer.

Then again, I guess VM could still offer its bundles by this method and link it in with their broadband deals, although such a link could not be extended to those parts of the country VM doesn't reach.

Having said that, they could still provide their full channel offering with a new VM streaming stick or box connected to the internet and maybe link it with a discount offer relating to their mobile phone part of the business. In that way, you would be able to get VM TV packages anywhere in the UK that was connected to the internet.

I don't see Discovery being able to make it on its own with their type of programming on a new subscription based Discovery On Demand platform, but as part of a larger offering, it would remain attractive to subscribers. If Sky dig in their heels and Discovery becomes reliant on the smaller players like Virgin Media and BT, I don't think it will be viable any more. Extending Virgin Media to the rest of the country could be a solution.

These times are becoming very interesting!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Me too. A little odd seeing as I cancelled it in December. And then only in SD. Its hardly going to make me nostalgic, and think ahh the good old days of fuzzy TV, lets shell out that £50 a month again

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Don't forget that Lionsgate produce more than just feature films.

https://www.lionsgate.com/channels/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I'm not sure Sky and Virgin Media have the same business approach to expansion. Sky are very much a content provider, so are keen to have their channels and content available as widely as possible, but don't have much scope if a dish can't be installed.

Virgin Media aren't currently at the same content level, although there are moving to head back in that direction. Currently TV and TiVo / V6 are there to persuade customers to take out services using the VM network. There wouldn't seem to be much advantage for VM to offer to resell TV without that connection.

And as Virgin Media are doing a network build, then they have other ways of extending their offering into new areas.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Yes, good points. And there is plenty of scope to extend into other urban areas, which should increase income to the level at which it makes good sense to go back into content.

I guess the idea of extending Virgin Media into country areas away from urban conurbations is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future, unless they move into the satellite broadband arena. If they can tap into Government subsidies, this could just be a viable option.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I know, lots of tv too.

This news today, as someone has already said, is directly relevant, I believe, to your linear channels discussion thread.

Netflix is a game changer, a disrupter. More stuff is going on demand. Something has to give somewhere...

Figures from Disney revealed last year, that interest in premium sports is declining at least on their ESPN service in favour of younger people preferring to "consume" box sets on demand. If this trend continues, this has major ramifications for all the big media cos, including Murdoch's.

This move by Discovery, is, I think, not for the interest of consumers like they're spinning, but, a positioning move as part of their masters' grand plan.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Perhaps the Discovery V Sky thing might affect VM customers after all.

If negotiations fail and Discovery lose 70% of their viewers, it may not be financially viable for them to carry on eg Current TV.

Having said that, I believe that the original Discovery Channel was cable only in the UK until joining the Sky Multichannels package in 1993.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

l somehow doubt this will affect Virgin Richard.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I think Richard came to that conclusion because Discovery will lose a substantial proportion of their UK income if they were no longer available on the Sky platform. We could see fewer channels from them as a result, but I doubt that Discovery would disappear from our screens altogether.

However, they do now have a financial shortfall to address, so it will be interesting to see how they go about that.

I do wonder, though, whether this might be part of a grand plan, the true nature of which will be revealed at a later date. What that is, is anybody's guess, but I suspect it is designed to be some sort of Murdoch repellant.

---------- Post added at 17:26 ---------- Previous post was at 16:56 ----------

This may be a clue to Discovery's whole strategy, which involves the exclusion of Sky from the scene. Given that Virgin Media has been promised continued access to the Discovery channels, this could put them in a very good position in the content game.

http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/d..._joint_venture

Discovery and BAMTech announce European joint venture


Eurosport owner Discovery Communications has agreed a partnership with digital technology and streaming specialist BAMTech to create BAMTech Europe.

BAMTech, a subsidiary of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) digital business, will work with Discovery on a new joint venture to deliver better digital reach and performance to rights holders, broadcasters and the operators of OTT platforms across Europe. The new company's first partner will be Eurosport Digital, which has signed a long-term deal to incorporate BAMTech's back-end services into all of its services, including Eurosport.com and the Eurosport Player, a subscription-based direct-to-viewer channel.

The partnership also allows for a collaboration on future rights partnerships, including current and future rights held by BAMTech, which has major long-term deals in place with the likes of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the prospect of future joint acquisitions.

The deal comes months after The Walt Disney Company spent US$1 billion on a one-third stake in BAMTech, with an option for further investment in the years ahead, and with Discovery keen to push subscriber numbers on its Eurosport Player towards the one million mark.....

...BAMTech was spun off from Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) in August 2015, having supplied white-label digital streaming services to the likes of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the premium US entertainment network HBO.....

“Discovery has been investing internationally in new business models and brands for decades, resulting in the most extensive global footprint in media,” said Discovery Communications president and chief executive David Zaslav. “The formation of this world-class technology provider, BAMTech Europe, with our partners at BAMTech, accelerates Discovery’s long-term strategy to bring our premium content to more viewers across more screens than ever before.”

Bob Bowman, the MLB president for business and media, added: "The collaboration of Discovery’s breadth of live sports content, including the Olympic Games, and BAMTech will bring European fans access to these valuable events like never before. Discovery has been a global leader in media and will be a great partner in expanding BAMTech to Europe, with an eye to developing new models for delivering content in the best interests of customers. We can’t wait to get started."

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Well we have had project purple and project Ethan from Sky and it seems they might require a even bigger project as their rivals and enemies start to park more tanks on their lawn.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

Good find OB. Things are getting interesting!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

It's ok these companies swinging their parts at each other but the bottom line is it will be the consumer who suffers in the end.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

There is no doubt about that!:(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

I'm pretty sure Sky aren't the first platform in Europe to accuse Discovery of asking to much for their channels and Talk Talk completely removed them.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/...canal-digital/
http://www.digitaltveurope.net/63676...sian-platform/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)
 

There are certain people who think the sun shines out of Malones backside and he can't do no wrong so SKY,BT,TT will always be the bad guys.
This Discovery fiasco could backfire big time on Malone, i wouldn't be surprised if VM kiss goodbye to Sky/fox owned channels when the current deal is up.