Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

So if that is the case then why are you still a Virgin Media customer? as the mind boggles as to why you are still with them seeing you are a purveyor of everything streaming and nothing on the TV linear channels..

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I stopped watching Ginx after they switched their focus to eSports. I can understand it's an increasingly significant part of gaming, I'm not saying they shouldn't do it, I just would like other types of gaming programming.

The daftest thing for me was the programme of theirs I watched the most, Videogame Nation, wasn't shown on their own channel but Challenge. Sadly they cancelled the show a while back.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

The ITV HD regions on the website used by jfman shows the ITV HD Wales & Granada regions migrating to MPEG4. Is this an indication that some other regions will have to wait for ITV HD to migrate to MPEG4 until the correct regional variation is made available?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Oh, Den, I've lost count of how many times I have answered this regular question from you!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Wikipedia says GINX is owned by Sky and ITV. So they part owners do NOT even have GINX in HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

That's it, then. Time up for Vintage TV.

https://www.a516digital.com/2018/10/...istration.html

The company behind Vintage TV has called in the administrators.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

According to this Racing UK is now available in HD on Virgin Media channel 536.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

And just like some of our politicians there is a contradictory answer to the same question.

---------- Post added at 13:12 ---------- Previous post was at 13:09 ----------

They obviously want to go HD before the new 80lb gorilla starts throwing its weight around in the New Year.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

It is now HD with HD dog (as opposed to a horse)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Radio Times has revealed that Sky Cinema Family will be shown as Sky Cinema Animation from October 20th to November 4th.

---------- Post added at 19:40 ---------- Previous post was at 18:59 ----------

Viacom will rebrand MTV ROCKS as MTV Xmas from November 9th to late December.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Not in Glasgow ex-Telewest, but it’s clearly going that way.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Ah OK, I’m in Livingston, ex-TW, which, I guess, must be a different part of the network.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

It is here now too, I’m sure it wasn’t last night though. :)

---------- Post added at 21:41 ---------- Previous post was at 21:36 ----------

Your confusion is the difference between data and analysis.

If it started raining outside and I told you to look out the window, you wouldn’t claim that I should credit the Earth for my observation you could equally verify.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

No confusion, the website you mentioned seems to consist of pre-analysed data rather than raw data tables. I didn't see what the fuss was about. Your explanation seems to equate meteorological analysis to looking out of the window, the mind boggles. :rolleyes:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

A516Digital has seen information on the BBC Web site that revealed that BBC Scotland will launch on Sunday 24th February 2019.

https://www.a516digital.com/2018/10/...unch-date.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Didn't MTV Classic rebrand as MTV Xmas in previous years? Obviously not on Virgin but wherever it was available.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

It will be the first time on Virgin Media UK.

Was on MTV Classic on Virgin Media Ireland last year.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

That's what I thought, thanks.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Eleven Sports?

http://en.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.php...&sec=0&lang=en

http://en.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.php...&sec=0&lang=en


This channel is coming soon...

Live: La Liga Football

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Good news re: Eleven it's what I've been waiting for! 2 questions though?

1) Is it confirmation a deal is done?

2) How long on average from testing to going 'live'?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I would have thought the most obvious question was

How much will it cost?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Probably a penny short of a tenner.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Proves my point - an extra tenner to watch something that was included within the sky sports empire last season.

In the good old days you subscribed to sky sports and watched all the sport you wanted (or that was available)

Along came the interfering EU and declared sky couldn't have a monopoly ( in the guise of competition) so we had other companies entering the market - end result the cost to the subscriber who wants to watch what he used to has shot through the roof.

Competition, maybe, but not in the consumers interest.

The only way competition is fair to the consumer is for all sports to be available to all broadcasters who then compete on price to offer a value service to the consumer.

End result would be lower prices to the consumer (and lower wages to the Wendy ballers) - this is how competition is supposed to work, not a never ending spiral of cost.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

"The BBC will launch BBC Two Wales and BBC Two Northern Ireland in HD at the end of November, but while BBC Two Wales HD will be available on all main digital TV platforms, the HD service for Northern Ireland will only be carried on Freeview, YouView* and iPlayer."

Availability on Virgin Media is still to be confirmed.

https://www.a516digital.com/2018/10/...or-new-hd.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I doubt that very much, if anything £4.99.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Good news for those receiving those channels. I hope we don't have to wait much longer before the other BBC variants switch to HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

l think you are being rather optimistic there alwaysabear.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Probably included in full house bundle.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I wouldn't be surprised if VM did that. The BT Sport wholesale deal VM has done with BT is unique and it must be attractive to sports fans. Including Eleven Sports will prove popular, I think, particularly as more sports are offered by the channel as it establishes itself here in the UK.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I reckon free for six months then £5.99pm. Just including it free doesn't make VM any money and the uplift in subscribers would be negligible.
If Eleven Sports expands its content, it could prove a useful substitute for VM to include in the Full House Pack if BT Sport becomes a bit pricey for VM.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

That's what I was thinking (especially if the rumours about some or all of the BT Sport channels coming out of Full House are to be believed).

Eleven Sports are currently sending out emails offering a one year subscription for £39.99 (compared to 12 x £5.99, this is going on for half price). Perhaps they are below expected subscriber numbers and/or want to encourage any VM customers to sign up before it launches in Full House??

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Or maybe the takeup is just poor anyway and is nothing to do with VM.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

l suspect as one totally expected the take up of Eleven Sports is pretty poor.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I think it will launch in time for el classico next week.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

They've missed it - Forest Green Rovers versus Cheltenham Town (1-1) was played yesterday ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

With BT extending their deal with Virgin in July what’s the source of the rumours that those channels will leave the full house package?

Granted I know many feel passionately that they shouldn’t fund it through their subscription- but it seems far more like wishful thinking.

Customers who pay by far the most to Virgin will have a field day with retentions.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

If it's a stand alone channel there is no reason to believe it will be different to the online price of £5.99 per month.

Indeed it will need a stand alone price anyway for those who don't have the big packs and want to subscribe.

Hopefully they'll package it in with the big TV packs as well for "free".

The BT deal worked for both Virgin and VM at the time. I believe the deal was £3 per subscriber....but BT Sports were just starting out then and may believe they can command more or go along as a standalone channel only now they have established themselves.

I was gobsmacked at the 4 million+ viewers for the Champions League final...Sky have been around for years with football and don't get that many.. I then remembered a huge chunk of those viewers are us Full House/VIP Virgins getting it "free".

Eleven worth about 75p per month at the moment I'd say. Doesn't sound a lot but multiply that by number of Full House/VIP subscribers and it's probably a lot more than they would get standalone and definitely more than they'll be getting now via their sorry online effort.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

There’s no evidence that the BT/Virgin deal doesn’t work at present other than an unsubstantiated internet rumour. The evidence is that they renegotiated terms in July when BT Sport 4K launched.

If they were going to change the terms that was the natural point, and before the start of the football season. BT are trying to reduce their exposure to sports rights on their business- their wholesale deal with Virgin remains entirely consistent with that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Everyone got it free not just Full House/VIP

BT's coverage of the final was free to ALL Virgin Media customers, ALL Sky customers and also free for anyone with internet in the UK via Youtube.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

STV fell off air on Friday due to a power cut, with the fault being so severe that they weren't even able to show an apology caption.

Other Scottish and London ITV feeds were supplied upon their return. Are there any Scottish cable viewers here? I'm just wondering how VM reacted to the situation.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...oup-television

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Indeed, and when Sky showed the Champions League final it was on a non-exclusive basis with most viewers watching on ITV1. Viewership of that event in total is significantly down.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I doubt anyone can remember. That article is nearly 10 years old ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

https://twitter.com/a516digital/stat...954332161?s=21

There was a seperate incident on Saturday.

If STV supplied ITV during national programming I doubt anyone would have noticed the difference, and Virgin were likely oblivious.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

$ky don't reduce prices when they lose rights --- thats the bigger issue!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Ooops, correct link:

https://www.a516digital.com/2018/10/...black-out.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I agree with you, however

Does anyone? No!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Prices certainly don't go down that is for sure.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Is it more expensive ?

Sky Entertainment and Sky Sports in HD is currently £40 a month on Sky and available to new and existing customers.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

The problem is the market doesn’t have “perfect competition” - and it can’t. OFCOM should have shown some teeth and regulated Sky’s pricing.

That didn’t happen, supernormal profits happened now everyone wants a piece but the market still doesn’t exist to drive down supply side prices.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Too be fair Sky have reduced their Sports package it's widely available for £20 per month now before it used to be nearer £40.

Not out the kindest of their hearts mind, but because their subscribers were falling or they preempted a fall.

Losing the Champions League was a big blow and it has been a coup for BT.

I remember at the time lots of people saying they weren't bothered about the CL and that BT were making a mistake, interest will dwindle etc but it's still as prominent as ever.

It does rely on The English teams doing well OC.

I wasn't ware the final was Free to Air however those figures are still huge for a non mainstream channel (i.e 1-5).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I agree if you shop around there are plenty deals about , I've seen my TV bill come down over the last few years and in many cases been able to switch to deals that have offered me more for less.

More deals are being made to existing customers in return for recontracting.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

One thing boosted the viewing figures - the fact that an English team (Liverpool) were in the final.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Same here, I got a £20 monthly reduction this year for exactly the same package I have had for years.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Sky have always heavily discounted retentions and new customer offers. That’s not evidence of a price reduction. Television only ARPU would deliver a true representation.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

The last few deals I've had have been offered on their website and been available to new and existing customers I've rang quoting the deal and switched to these deals part way through contracts to reduce costs.

If the customer looks about the deals are out there with all providers.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:51 ----------

That's a good saving on your Virgin package :tu:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

This is probably in the wrong thread, but since Sky is being discussed, does anyone know when their "dishless" service will arrive?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

As has always been the case (discounts).

But if the point of discussion is whether the price of Sky Sports is decreasing then the headline price is going up and Sky’s ARPU is going up. The overall costs relating to and charges for Sky Sports are going up.

If everyone phoned for a retention deal then very quickly they’d stop offering it as the business model would fail.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I've been with sky for nearly 5 years now. I'm paying £1 a month more now for the same package I had 60 months ago. Heavily discounted through out. Used to have to call at the end of each contract term but for the past 2 years they've came to me with offers. Latest one was sky sports and sky movies in HD for £25 per month. New 18 month contract but price fixed for 36 months. Everytime my broadband contract is nearly up they email me a new deal to stay. Its effort free and saves me the hassle of shopping around. I don't know if they profile their customer's but it's as if they know if they ever try to move me to a full price package I'd simply leave.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

The last statement from Sky was it was launching in July 2019 in two areas of which neither are UK.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

"Latest one was sky sports and sky movies in HD for £25 per month"

If virgin offered that I would take it in a heartbeat.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Most of it was Sky Sports discount.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Of course if Virgin are paying Sky more but subsidising you the price of Sky Sports has still gone up.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Eleven Sports poised for first UK carriage deal with Virgin Media, can't access full article but seems to confirm what we have seen from the testing

https://www.sportcal.com/News/Search/122656

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

good news :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Well if that is the case that is good news.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Hey everyone, sorry my first post is so long but this is the full article

Eleven Sports is poised to sign off on its first carriage deal for its channels in the UK in an agreement with Virgin Media, the digital television and telecoms provider.

Having launched its over-the-top subscription service in the UK and Ireland in August, Eleven Sports has been in negotiations with the likes of BT, Sky and Virgin about wholesale agreements.

A deal with Virgin is set to be the first to be announced and the final technical details are currently being settled.

The addition of Eleven Sports 1 HD and Eleven Sports 2 HD on Virgin Media could help to apply some pressure on BT and Sky, as the Aser-owned broadcaster continues talks with the pay-TV duo.

Coverage of LaLiga and Serie A represent the two flagship rights agreements for a broadcaster that went live in the UK with coverage of golf’s US PGA Championship and has since added the LPGA tour to its portfolio. Rights to the Netherlands’ Eredivisie and Sweden’s Allsvenskan were also acquired from IMG, the agency that has taken a small stake in the broadcaster’s UK and Ireland operation.

Rights to mixed martial arts’ UFC have also been acquired from 2019 in a long-term deal.

Virgin Media told Sportcal today that it has “had discussions with Eleven Sports but no deal has been agreed.”

Speaking earlier this month on the subject of the lengthy carriage negotiations, one pay-TV operator told the Telegraph: “We can just make them sweat. If we’re not losing many customers because we don’t have that content, then they will need to come to us with a good price. If they don’t we can just pick up rights when they go bust.”

In response, Marc Watson, Eleven Sports’ executive chairman and group chief executive, said: “We don’t need to do those deals but we would like to because we think it makes sense for customers and at the end of the day it is the customer that is the boss.”

On Eleven Sports’ positioning, he remarked: “In the UK what we see is a gap for an independent premium sports service because there isn’t one.

“There’s one tethered to BT, there’s one tethered to Sky and both of them are very premium, meaning that they’re quite expensive. There’s a gap for an independent player making the service available to everybody at an affordable price.”

Sky and BT’s premium sports channels are already available on the Virgin Media platform (on a subscription basis) but the likes of Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2, At The Races and FreeSports are within the basic-tier package.

Eleven Sports 1 houses the broadcaster’s soccer content, whereas Eleven Sports 2 has been marketed as offering “live premium fight sports, eSports and extreme sports for dedicated fans, plus football overspill from Eleven Sports 1.”

The OTT service has been priced at £5.99 ($7.78) per month in the UK and €6.99 ($8) per month in Ireland.

The broadcaster recently sparked controversy among soccer authorities by streaming live coverage of LaLiga during the UK’s Saturday afternoon blackout window (of between 2.45pm and 5.15pm). Eleven has since relented, citing “respect for the wishes of our partners,” and following “intense pressure from stakeholders within the football establishment.”

Sportcal

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Good news lets hope it arrives for El classico.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Thanks Tony

Reading that you can see why SKY and BT are happy to not do a deal in the hope they go bust and pick up rights on the cheap.

However knowledge of this provides a great opportunity for Virgin to strike a really good deal and given their recent track record (i.e. UK TV) I suspect they will get one too.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Hopefully Virgin drive the price right down. Eleven are obviously in a distressed position, struggling to monetise the rights they hold.

A new poster trying to justify 75p per XL subscriber per month to me screams Eleven posting to try and steer negotiations. Considering much of the content was viewed by the small thousands of viewers while on much larger platforms I’m not sure it justifies £15m a year.

BT bring to the table Premiership rights and Champions League rights worth hundreds of millions per year to the table and content viewed by millions.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

To stop all the PM - Media Boy HQ has NOT been given any info about Eleven Sports from Media Boy Sources.

---------- Post added at 14:14 ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 ----------

Radio Times has reveal that from Saturday:

•Sky Cinema Hits will be known as Sky Cinema Spooky until November 1st.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Interestingly, or not, the tests are now hidden. So no EPG data or channel name are being broadcast. Hopefully Eleven haven’t bit off more than they can chew in negotiations. After this weekend the value of their limited and niche content (to Virgin) drops again until next season.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

http://en.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.php...&sec=0&lang=en

Three unknown channels has been found called Project1, Project2 and Project3 showing Sky Sports Golf, Challenge and Pick and are broadcasting in MPEG4.

---------- Post added at 18:28 ---------- Previous post was at 18:22 ----------

We have been on digitalbitrate and can confirmed that Eleven Sports testing names of Foggy1 and Foggy2 is still on that web site but the EPG data now says "Coming Soon - This channel is coming soon".

http://en.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.php...&sec=0&lang=en

---------- Post added at 18:30 ---------- Previous post was at 18:28 ----------

Someone at Virgin must love The Last of the Summer Wine when they pick the names for the Eleven Sports tests.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

http://en.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.php...&sec=0&lang=en

They aren’t showing in the graphs, and have gone red on the main index page which is usually a channel has ceased broadcasting (it’s in the historic scans, but not the most recent).

The maximum date rate for the multiplex in the graphs isn’t at the max (shown by a flat line) pointing towards the tests being hidden.

Foggy1 hasn’t shown up since the 22nd as shown by “last updated on...”.

---------- Post added at 19:11 ---------- Previous post was at 18:50 ----------

The project channels, again removed, I would imagine were just duplicates to test the MPEG4 compression rates alongside broadcast MPEG4 channels before deciding on an acceptable bitrate.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

We are going to stop using that web site. We was thinking maybe Virgin Media was testing them for Sky Sports Racing HD, Sky One +1 and Pick +1.:walk:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

In fairness there nothing wrong with that site it just dumps data. It’s when people start guessing...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

:D :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

If Virgin have hidden the test for commercial reasons I’d imagine any launch will have a “free trial” - there’s no time for Virgin to market there service on the basis of being able to see Real v Barca.

I’d imagine a launch like Sky Racing HD or a plus one wouldn’t be commercially sensitive and it’d test under it’s real name proper to launch. Minor changes to contracts wouldn’t be held back for the Stock Exchange for example.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I suspect it is too late for the Barcelona v Real Madrid game - surely an opportunity missed?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Probably.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

In technical terms Virgin could sign a deal at breakfast and have it on our EPGs by dinner. The problem is they need to ensure any deal is good for them: which means upselling.

Eleven are equally trying to get direct subscribers using the same significant event so don’t want to “lose” direct customers as a result of any deal with VM.

In some respects it might suit Virgin to “walk away”, indicating to third parties they are serious when it comes to negotiating.

My prediction is it’ll appear on Saturday morning, free for all subscribers for one month, XL therafter and publicised on channel 100. I accept that’s a pure guess.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

If its not on VM for El Classico the value of the product will drop IMO.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Exactly

Game is on Sunday so they have an extra day!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

El Classico used to get 500K+ other big games 200,000-300,000+. In addition they have UFC rights...not my thing but the yoof of today love that stuff. If BT started at £3 per month then 75p sounds about right to me.

Doubt it will appear tomorrow...but there is more than 1 El Classico a season.

I don't know how Premier Sports can command £9.99 per month with the rubbish they have got, subscribers must be minuscule. Don't know how they survive?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

What???

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

El Classico rated well in households who subscribed to Sky Sports. The likelihood of turning those numbers into a significant number of subscribers is questionable at best.

There is more than one a season but, depending on next years fixture list, they could only have one in the first calendar year. Or for their first £x million if it doesn’t arrive tomorrow.

Premier Sports don’t need many people to pay £9.99 to break even.

Eleven need hundreds of thousands just to cover La Liga.

Hopefully Virgin don’t bail them out with a wholesale deal and they go bust in the near future. A deal with a Virgin after El Classico would be the last throw of the dice for Eleven I suspect.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Are you aware that Eleven have been around in a number of territories for a number of years?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Yes.

Setanta anyone?

These people aren’t charities who will fund loss making operations for years. If the UK version isn’t viable it will close.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Yes and we all know what happened there.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Your signature seems appropriate to that post!

The “venture capitalists” had hundreds of millions at their disposal but when the business model ceased to be viable they walked away, no longer funding losses to gain a place in the market.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

So was espn but they went to the wall fairly swiftly after a brief stint in the UK market. I can't believe eleven sports, a streaming service, still don't have an app available via streaming devices like amazon TV, Roku, apple TV or now tv. No smart device coverage either. If they plan to make any impact they need to get this sorted swiftly.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Indeed, ESPN lacked a business model as a standalone subscription after the loss of Premiership rights and it became more cost effective to sell up to BT and sign a content deal.

You can’t blame them, it was quite rational to smoothly exit the market at that time (almost as smoothly as their entry post Setanta collapse). May have even saw modest profits from the whole stint.

At the end of the day these business are investments and if there’s no sign of returns someone will eventually pull the plug.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

l would also say these companies also have a lack of understanding of the UK market compared to Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

I’m not sure how much is a lack of understanding, or just a lack of profits.

Sky were in a position to buy all but 23 Premiership games, undermining the Setanta business model in the UK. Sky have the customer base to absorb costs from to force up the value of some rights that key competitors rely upon.

I’m of the opinion had Setanta won 46 games and got the six seasons to build their customer base it would have become sustainable. I think ESPN understood the market, took the “baby steps” approach but I don’t think anyone could reasonably have anticipated BT to enter the market in the manner they did.

Eleven on the other hand it’s a total mystery to me. I’m not convinced La Liga has a customer base willing to pay for it or that with creative hype Sky/BT couldn’t make the Bundesliga the new La Liga.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Completely agree there current rights wouldn't even tempt me at the annual price of £39.99 and as you say I can't see them attracting people in any kind of great numbers with what they currently have.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Same.

The further problem is even at that price once you take off VAT etc. they need 450 000 subscribers at that price just to cover the reported cost Sky previously paid for La Liga rights. Or every single viewer to subscribe, which is wholly unrealistic. The business model is completely flawed.

Is the UFC viewer base going to fill the gap? The last event doesn’t suggest so, and that involved their biggest draw.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Their business model is being a content aggregator meaning buy the rights and pimp them out to as many platforms as possible. Obviously their online offering alone they aren't going to come close to breaking even.

That said Virgin/Sky are content platform providers so they do need each other. What would be the point of providing a platform but not putting TV channels on it?

I assume we all have Virgin TV so why anybody wouldn't want Eleven escapes me.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Well it’s not wise as a “content aggregator” to pay unrealistically high fees for content and turn to those you outbid (Sky, BT) to ask them to pick up the tab because you lack a direct to home business model.

I fail to see the value in Virgin subsidising a failing company, lacking a business model, for content that would have largely been on Virgin anyway had they not entered the market.

I’m also concerned that the commercial relationship between Virgin, Sky and BT (the latter also being mobile network who Virgin provide MVNO services through) could be jeapordised by doing so.

If the content is available for pennies per subscriber on a wholesale basis it might be worth Virgin doing a deal as it wouldn’t have a meaningful impact on prices. Even a £1 a month price increase would be too high for much of the subscriber base who have no interest in the content anyway.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Yes it would be nice to have it but whether a deal can be agreed is another matter.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2018)
 

Some on this forum and others are bitterly opposed to the BT content deal, yet they are forking out and taking the risk on about £1bn a year to provide it!

To me that’s an absolute bargain to Virgin compared to entering the rights markets themselves and developing an off network retail strategy to recover the costs.