Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

My comment was about why buy it. What DO you hope it will offer to the UK customer base :confused:. Me as long as it carries on as it is I will be happy - Watch a couple of hours of TV per day at the most. Like the choice in general.

I have no problem with it being taken over and take neither a negative nor a positive stance over it. Businesses only takeover another because it will - they hope- make them money. Den please do not confuse reality with negativity.

Happy with my lot
I guess not - Only two houses, four cars, ( Sold one of each recently) work as & when I choose. Holidays in UK & EU ( that way the dog comes too) Go to USA two to three times a year. Do not have to use N.H.S or council run anything -thank the lord , feel sorry for those that do. Pay far to much in direct tax ( 50% - 45% from April ) Whats to be happy about :D

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

I'm reading up on what he owns and will post later. In some cases, its as complcated as it can be.

He had/or still has interests in viacom, discovery, chellomedia (owner of cbs channels on vm) direct tv, a&t&t, comcast, it goes on and on.

I'll post a profile on John Malone later if I can get my head around it all.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

One thing that may well come out of this , is channels - lots as you say with in "his web " Would put Virgin in a good position to host them I would have thought. :cool:

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Don't if this has been mentioned but will this have any effect on Virgin Mobile ?

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

So nothing changes at Virginmedia apart from their debt liability goes from £5.7billion to more or less £10billion?

An they're now part of a group with combined debt of £30billion +. Nah I've obviously got that wrong.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Not as far as l know Marty but perhaps someone with a greater knowledge might know more.

---------- Post added at 16:52 ---------- Previous post was at 16:51 ----------

All big companies have quite considerable debts and this is no different in many respects.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

And some have more unsavoury baggage that others, ie there owners ;)

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Probably why world is mess due to these type takeovers with nothing more than fresh air debt. Banks must love these takeovers. Crikey whats stop cableforum getting 40bn loan buying liberty if found bank stupid enough. Whats to stop small business making a lost killing competitor down the road with collateral debt buyout.

Sounds to me another case like man utd. Globalisation will be death of capitalism if keeps using debt to hoover up companies..

I think malone seen VM as great way using it portfolio solid brand name to clear significant debt liability off liberty books. Was liberty in trouble so moving 3bn debt across makes liberty balance sheet better. I am no doubt few bones will be chucked ocassions to keep customers happy. He has too else it losses turnover.

Some will say we should not be wery comets fiasco says we should question every takeover more than we do.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

I agree, thankgod BskyB is owned by BskyB, I hope John Malone turns out to be pure and whiter than white for you lot. As he is soon to own Virginmedia. I'm glad Murdoch never bought sky.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

if the buyout goes ahead will all the prices go up for TV phone and broadband and what about al the l tv channels will that keep the all

what is there website

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

But remember Murdoch still owns 39% of Sky and if he can get his hands on the other 61% by hook or by crook he will.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Seems mister Malone is aiming to make savings of $180million/£115million but says no customer facing roles to be cut.... An so it begins.

---------- Post added at 17:36 ---------- Previous post was at 17:36 ----------

So? He doesn't own it and that's that.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Prices will not go up for another year as one would expect and as for the TV channels one would expect some more will be added in due time.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

I see no reason for the prices to go up at all because of the buy out .What would be the point in buying a company simply to outprice yourself on the market .The existing price structure at VM is finely honed to keep in step with it's main competitors i see no reason why that would change .What i can see happening is more investment in the network .Compared to other countries in the LG group our cable network is pitiful and severely hampers the potential for profit

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Hopefully they will bring it more in line with the rest of Virgin Media. At the moment it seems to sit off on it own with a separate website and billing system. The only real advantage for a Virgin Media customer is the deals. When you should be able to have everything on one bill. They could do VIP packs that include mobile too.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

seems to be mixed bag you got google UPC just got this eire one.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=54

oh remember our pet hate on vm coming soon liberty just as bad.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...579482&page=11

reading few threads we seem to have got company now no better than VM which has bit NTL to it nothing likely will change. With added now uknown of its future.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Or totally separate it from VM and flog it off,Liberty Global do not currently have any mobile phone companies and may not have any desires to get one ,time will tell

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

l am not sure they will flog it off as its doing pretty well in the current market.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Currently being discussed on Sky News Jeff Randall.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Yes l have recorded it so l will have a little listen when time allows sometime this evening.:)

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

That could certainly be good reason why he purchased vm sell this asset to say O2 as example. Possible a quick profit and wipe part of his debt acruled. How much do you think VM mobile is worth when VM took it was valued 500m.

So how much now 2-3bn ? Would it significantly raised in value.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Depends on which company you work for as to who you see as the devil ;)

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

I wouldn't think Virgin Mobile is worth 2-3bn or any where near it really ,as far as mobile networks go it is quite small in this country ,i have no idea how the Virgin Mobile USA brand is doing assuming LG get that as well

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Shame he came in too late for the latest round of football rights. I do hope that it means that Virgin can compete on a level playing field with Sky. Not only that but more HD channels and more Sky content.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Mike Fries basically said there not here too take on BSKYB on the content front its all about delivery especially Broadband.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Unfortunatley that will never happen i feel, Sky never play by the book

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

There will be no bidding of any sports rights in the next few years at least from what l know but as to regards to extra HD channels and more Sky content then yes maybe.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

A quick look at the LGI website shows they have mobile phone operations in Belgium and the joint presentation today talks about a combined mobile customer base of some 4 million. Mobile is highlighted as an addition growth opportunity, so I can't see Virgin Mobile going anywhere soon.

Cheers

Grim

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Trust me, you don't know what you're talking about

---------- Post added at 20:38 ---------- Previous post was at 20:36 ----------

Been confirmed it will carry on as VM

---------- Post added at 20:40 ---------- Previous post was at 20:38 ----------

Now that is a sensible post, you see, you can do it if you try .

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

O2 wouldn't want it, their parent company is struggling as it is. Plus Virgin Mobile is really just a reseller of EE, so they would have all these customers on a network they have no control over and have to pay for the privilege to use.

I don't think EE would be allowed to buy it because of competition rules, although they might get away with it because the customer base is quite small.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

I asked on Twitter whether it would mean SKY Atlantic coming in HD, along with all the other SKY HD channels now they have been taken over and they said you never know what's coming. I'm inclined to think it is just a line they are spinning to stop customers walking out on them. Hopefully it does mean a lot of new content coming. Doubt it, but you can hope.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

virgin media, in the NTL days used to own UPC Ireland. They still work very closely together as UPC maintain the Virgin Media network in Eire.

It's possible the two could be closer linked again at a senior level.

---------- Post added at 20:49 ---------- Previous post was at 20:48 ----------

The deal won't be finalised for around 3 months

---------- Post added at 20:50 ---------- Previous post was at 20:49 ----------

give me strength..........

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Personally l think we will get the remaining Sky channels in the next 6 months as remember the old deal is up for renewal soon.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

From what I've read the shareholders have 6 weeks to make a decision on the deal is this true?

@Den when does the contract come up for renewal?

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Interesting read:
http://www.istockanalyst.com/finance...placed-analyst
I wonder why Liberty are seeking the Dawn.......I'll get my coat. ;) (Horizon can't be that good if Liberty are seeking alternatives).

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

I gave up reading his posts after his first one today was all knee jerk with no substance. I see he has continued in that vain all day :rolleyes:

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

l have not got the exact timeline but sometime in the summer from what l was told but don't quote me on it as remember l am often wrong.:)

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

News Corp are the majority shareholder in BSkyB, and three of the BSkyB board are also senior Executives of News Corp (David DeVoe, James Murdoch, and Arthur Siskind).

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Thanks,

June 4th 2010 was when they signed the deal for Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 2 HD to its subscribers, along with all the HD Sky Movies channels.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

l know the Sky Basics deal was for 9 years l think.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Looks like Liberty Global will be exempt from paying UK tax for at least 15 years

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Virgin Media don't have a network in Eire as far as I know

They do in Northern Ireland, but the ROI company was sold, lock stock and network to Liberty.

---------- Post added at 21:18 ---------- Previous post was at 21:17 ----------

One tax, there are many others they will still be paying ;)

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk...lw105-VRB.html

---------- Post added at 21:40 ---------- Previous post was at 21:36 ----------

The people on Twitter work for Customer Services, so can tell you no more than if you rang 150 and asked them.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Ah ok, so basically for NI connectivity only

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Hi all,

I have not read all the comments, but just wanted to add that being in debt is not always a bad thing. Debt can sometimes be cheaper than equity as interest payments are deductible from taxable profits, so you pay lower taxes.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes, but you always have to make debt repayments whereas you can withhold dividends if need be. NTL's problem throughout the late 90s and early noughties was that it had too much debt, such that there wasn't any money for important investments that were essential to keep the offering fresh and appealing to customers.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Well I'm happy to put you right, Virgin Media have a core fibre network that runs through Eire, and we also have a core fibre ring in Dublin.

So now you know.

---------- Post added at 23:09 ---------- Previous post was at 23:03 ----------

No. We have fibre network in Eire, connecting to businesses in Dublin.

Think beyond our cable offering. we are a major carrier and business provider. we do much more than TiVo and broadband.

---------- Post added at 23:10 ---------- Previous post was at 23:09 ----------

No. We have fibre network in Eire, connecting to businesses in Dublin.

Think beyond our cable offering. we are a major carrier and business provider. we do much more than TiVo and broadband.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Happy to be corrected, and I don't think in just TiVo or broadband terms. But I have never seen or heard ROI mentioned when talking the company talks about 'our network' at any point.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes, but back then we didn't have the revenues to finance the debt.

Until this deal we had a debt of around 5-6 billion but revenues far in excess of that.

As an investible opportunity I think we have matured, this is the next logical progression. as a VM employee I think it's a real opportunity and may open up a few career doors.

---------- Post added at 23:17 ---------- Previous post was at 23:14 ----------

Well I'm sure you've seen high level network maps and stuff?

We have a cable that goes across the Irish Sea from Lytham to Dublin.........................

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

It's had a lot of bugs, but what new software doesn't. Fries was saying how wonderful it was at Davos a few weeks ago, so this is interesting.

Thanks for posting this info here.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Lol Newry is marked so badly on that map, about 30 miles off and in the wrong country.

Re: Virgin up for sale?
 

Slightly late to the party on this one, but I'll offer some insight since I'm studying the topic at the moment.

Regulatory frameworks in the EU and US are not compatible. The Patriot Act overrides Safe Harbor and major US providers have already said they'll honour US government requests for information on EU data subjects. Yes that would put them in breach of EU data protection laws, but in the US there is no requirement for notification of 3rd party disclosure, so there's no real way of knowing.

Edit: Here's a good article that explains things pretty succinctly.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

The press release says that it is in talk with Liberty, not that it is a done deal.

Where the problem lays again is that VM are not telling the customer everything, this is not a whinge, but it appears again that the customer is the last to know what is happening.

Its good for the customer, that at last we will have another group overseeing what happens at VM.

Maybe they will throw out the dead wood of the company, and bring back the CS centres from India and place them back in the UK, and give jobs to the unemployed.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

From a customer point of view, nothing is happening. At this stage it's purely a financial transaction.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Are you still reading the press release from the day before regarding the talks or the one yesterday confirming the deal?

Nothing will change from a customer viewpoint, so there is nothing else for them to tell customers. VM will still be ran as it is now. For the forseeable future its BAU.

VM already are giving jobs UK people. Andrew Barren was at the Bellshill call Centre a few weeks ago and announced new jobs for the centre.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

As stated by myself & others here it all about the "money"
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e390f1a-7...#axzz2KDkCVvIR

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

A certain number of job losses are inevitable in any acquisition, but these are usually confined to head office functions that no longer need to be duplicated in both the acquiring and the acquired companies. That's not news.

What would be news would be if Liberty announced it had a radically different idea about how the VM business should be run and went about sacking service delivery staff in pursuit of that. But there seems to be no suggestion of that happening for the foreseeable future.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Agree 100% Chris as you say that this is normally the case and we know the first to go is Neil:)

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

By his choice though.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

How much money will it save off the wage bill though:confused:

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

I think the Virgin Media HQ (Not the UK one) in the good old USA will close as part of this deal with Virgin Media new owners.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

My guess & its only that :dozey: Not a penny

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Nice pay off of about £53 mill and a lot in shares, he could say that he would give it all back (like ffffffffffffffffffffffffff):D

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Personally think whatever he gets paid he's earned.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

The Shareholders I am sure would agree with you. Hope you were in what I guess is a share saving scheme.:)

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes there is and there are about 4,300 staff in it from what I have read but could be more?

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Good luck to them - I wonder if Carl had shares :D I do so miss his wit & sweet kind comments.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Now now Victor l never knew you was that close.:romance::naughty:

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

You have to admit he livened up this site. By the way have you tried to Google his name . It that really our old "friend". Tried mine - it was interesting - but not me !!. Glad to see I maintain a low profile ;)

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

VM only has one HQ and its in Hook. There is no US based office for VM.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

This what worries me anyway took liberty to use another link cant read FL.

http://www.euroinvestor.com/news/201...arket/12196832

Now even experts say this risky move. With economic climate we face this really big risk.

Interesting this coment by rating agency

I shocked leverage asset purchasing is still allowed. Do banks learn. What happens if it defaults or uk investers wary wont get involved.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

You should never make statements of fact when you're not in possession of the facts.

VMs New York office is

6th Floor
65 Bleeker Street
New York
NY 10012

VM have always had a base in New York as did NTL before it.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

It may be an office but its not VMs head office or HQ that is Hook.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes but you said


Just putting you right

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes you do not have to make dividend payments, but surely most companies exist and make profits (otherwise it would be useless to be in business) and so the interest deduction is a better/more profitable option?

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

http://www.964eagle.co.uk/news/busin...ffice-is-safe/

http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk...ice-locations/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Media


Pointless argument hopefully averted.:)

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Non of which is contradictory to what I've said???

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

No but it's not contradictory to what others have said either.So lets leave the pointless but off topic argument alone.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes it is,

Look, this will be my final post on this.

A statement was made this was incorrect. As there is an office in New York.

And that is it. All that needed to be said was "oh really, I was unaware" or nothing at all.

Then you weigh in, posting nothing of use.

Better if you had stayed out of it.

Pointless argument? Maybe, but can't any of just accept you're wrong once in a while and move on?

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

That is the case.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

We were all chatting in work about this at dinner yesterday and the consensus is its a good move.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

A deal which results in an extra $3bn of leveraged debt on VM's books, also causing a credit watch note for potential downgrade, is a good move?

Do you want to buy some magic beans?

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e390f1a-7...#axzz2KIERWWX2

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

I hope you're right. I suppose it all depends how 'hands off/on' Liberty are.

I've no idea how much Cisco charge for the bits of kit that go in the 'exchanges' but I imagine their not quite an off the shelf item so how much discount is available for bulk prchases. CPE bits however I'm sure could be considerably cheaper if you've >20 million customers than 5 million.

Rival TV companies might be more willing to do business with a pan-european company than national comapny, but do English language channels do as well in Europe as foreign language channels do here? I know there are such things as subtitles and dubbing but I'd imagine the cost of multilingal subtitles is quite expensive.

So I think what I'm trying to say is that there could well be a positive impact on the technoligy and less on the TV channels, but an improved more robust future proofed network can't be a bad thing.

Cheers

Grim

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Liberty have been around for a long time, so reckon thay know what they are doing. I would also add that the existing shareholders who get cash and shares in the new company wil not enter into a deal that will lose them money.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

I work for the company you dont, we see what it means from an internal view.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Yes totally agree, same here

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

This is a great deal for Liberty, this is not a great deal for Virginmedia. I'm thinking sub-prime. Virginmedias share price increased, credit rating increased, income increased, cash increased, churn decreased,- and now they've been bought out in a debt financed deal that sees VM increase its debt by almost 3 billion/

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

So what?

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

If it wasn't a good deal for vm, the shareholders would not accept it?

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Indeed and the staff would not be buzzing about it. This is a good deal and VM will get stronger by it.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Hello again Sirius,
Long time since I've been around properly :D

The problem is (after reading through all 20 pages of posts) is that everyone seems to be guessing on what will/might/could happen and nobody really knows, Liberty wouldn't be buying a company like VM and then divulge all their plans to all and sundry especially to idiots like me.

Most VM staff like yourself will have a different slant on the takeover as they will know more and have a better understanding of what has/will and is going to happen.

IMO from what my head tells me it will be a good deal for many reasons for VM customers but we will just have to wait and see

anyway as a long standing happy VM/NTL & Nynex customer I'm just going to sit back watch and learn more on a subject I know little or nothing about, and will just see what happens when it gets reported by yourself or other VM guys on here.
and thanks for your help & advise in the past.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

Your most welcome.

As i have pointed out, the members of staff i have spoken to in the dept i work in seem to be buzzing about this, we don't see there being many changes in the area we work in, we are not front line or customer facing and just get on with planning business and network upgrades. What we do see is a much larger company with a better ability to supply what we are asked to supply. The doom merchants on this forum and those with a vested interest to support Sky because they work for them will say different. They don't work for VM on a daily bases and mainly comment from that big chip on there shoulder. ;)

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

And you don't have a vested interest in supporting VM? You are about as biased as you can get, short of Neil Berkett himself rocking up and joining in the discussion.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

He is an employee, so isn't it logical he is supportive of the company he works for.

Why is that a problem?

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

l see you don't like balance then as he is just giving the other side of a reasonable debate and l see nothing wrong with that.

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

I used to work for O2 but was a customer of T-mobile and Orange. I never stood up for the company as when people asked me my opinion they got the truth ( that was in the Buisness depat or just general customer service )

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

I was under the impression part of the aquiring vm was marketing as liberty advertise as the worlds largest cable provider and this deal sort of cements that statement for the time being

They are pretty far spread internationally, Europe is not a new market to them... if they re-invest just a little in the infrastructure they could blow bt and sky out of the water completely in terms of internet services, and the financial muscle to do it is definatly there

Like many things here.. the uk is literally screaming out for investment in its infrastructure at every corner

Re: US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media
 

I was surprised to see Liberty-cable only have 25 million customers over 14 countries with 50 million homes passed, well I guess it's 62 million million homes passed now they own Virginmedia. But yet Sky have 12 million customers in 1 country.