Cable Forum
Page 3 of 25 12 3 456713 Last »
Show 100 post(s) from this thread on one page

Cable Forum (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/index.php)
-   Virgin Media TV Service (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=11)
-   -   General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019) (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33707215)

OLD BOY 05-02-2019 19:44
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982215)
The 2018 thread saw a brief reprieve earlier today, much like linear television with Serie A moving from an ailing streaming service to Premier Sports.

I’m fully aware that cable operators bundling OTT streaming technology in their products would utilise different technologies. What I want to know is how that’s discernibly different for the end user than what we have now with live television bundled alongside libraries of on demand content from different content providers.
The discernable difference will be more obvious with time, as the content available to linear channels becomes ever more restricted with the rise and rise of streaming services.

Those linear channels not commissioning their own original content will resort more and more to reality programmes and other cheap rubbish as their access to quality drama from other studios dries up.

Picture quality will also improve with new UHD content. Additionally, as we end up with bundles of streaming services rather than bundles of channels, there should be less rubbish being forced on us, although I cannot rule out lots of new cheap streaming services provided free of extra charge by Sky and VM containing a fair proportion of, well, rubbish!

jfman 05-02-2019 20:03
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982219)
The discernable difference will be more obvious with time, as the content available to linear channels becomes ever more restricted with the rise and rise of streaming services.

Those linear channels not commissioning their own original content will resort more and more to reality programmes and other cheap rubbish as their access to quality drama from other studios dries up.

Picture quality will also improve with new UHD content. Additionally, as we end up with bundles of streaming services rather than bundles of channels, there should be less rubbish being forced on us, although I cannot rule out lots of new cheap streaming services provided free of extra charge by Sky and VM containing a fair proportion of, well, rubbish!
Ah, so it's based on the same assumption as the rest of your "streaming is the future" predictions - that streaming and linear are somehow mutually exclusive and that major content companies won't continue to utilise both. No point in wasting another thread on the same basis, really. Anyone can just find any of the seven topics you've started on the matter.

OLD BOY 05-02-2019 22:26
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982228)
Ah, so it's based on the same assumption as the rest of your "streaming is the future" predictions - that streaming and linear are somehow mutually exclusive and that major content companies won't continue to utilise both. No point in wasting another thread on the same basis, really. Anyone can just find any of the seven topics you've started on the matter.
Well, you did ask. If you don’t accept my interpretation of the trend that is becoming obvious, or the BBC’s own assessment of where it will be in the mid-2030s, I guess you are entitled to it. No doubt you will attempt to justify your conclusion at some point.

Raider999 05-02-2019 22:48
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982219)
The discernable difference will be more obvious with time, as the content available to linear channels becomes ever more restricted with the rise and rise of streaming services.

Those linear channels not commissioning their own original content will resort more and more to reality programmes and other cheap rubbish as their access to quality drama from other studios dries up.

Picture quality will also improve with new UHD content. Additionally, as we end up with bundles of streaming services rather than bundles of channels, there should be less rubbish being forced on us, although I cannot rule out lots of new cheap streaming services provided free of extra charge by Sky and VM containing a fair proportion of, well, rubbish!
Keeping all bases open then.

As Eleven Sports have found out streaming is not a money tree.

Mad Max 05-02-2019 23:33
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35982251)
Keeping all bases open then.

As Eleven Sports have found out streaming is not a money tree.
As OB has pointed out on many occasions, the streaming is not solely for sport!

denphone 06-02-2019 05:31
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35982251)
Keeping all bases open then.

As Eleven Sports have found out streaming is not a money tree.
As per usual like a obfuscating politician he ignores that and continues on his one man band of unsubstantiated delusion.

OLD BOY 06-02-2019 07:15
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35982251)
Keeping all bases open then.

As Eleven Sports have found out streaming is not a money tree.
The streaming was not an issue, though! They have been more successful in other countries.

---------- Post added at 07:15 ---------- Previous post was at 07:13 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982271)
As per usual like a obfuscating politician he ignores that and continues on his one man band of unsubstantiated delusion.
Your gramophone needle has got stuck again, Den. You yourself acknowledged that it was their business model that sunk them.

denphone 06-02-2019 07:27
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982272)

Your gramophone needle has got stuck again, Den. You yourself acknowledged that it was their business model that sunk them.
And that is why despite the huge profits that are made the financial business numbers for Amazon and any of the other streaming giants simply do not add up and never will do when it comes to the big football rights auctions in this country as streaming is fine and dandy for the many excellent series and movies that can be found on there but that is it and that is the way it will always remain despite your insistent flag waving protestations.

OLD BOY 06-02-2019 13:53
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982274)
And that is why despite the huge profits that are made the financial business numbers for Amazon and any of the other streaming giants simply do not add up and never will do when it comes to the big football rights auctions in this country as streaming is fine and dandy for the many excellent series and movies that can be found on there but that is it and that is the way it will always remain despite your insistent flag waving protestations.
You are obsessed with the notion that sport streaming is doomed to failure.

In which case, you might like to take a look at this.

https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2019...e-on-apple-tv/

I'm afraid to tell you that it's happening whether you like it or not. :p:

denphone 06-02-2019 14:02
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982317)
You are obsessed with the notion that sport streaming is doomed to failure.

In which case, you might like to take a look at this.

https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2019...e-on-apple-tv/

I'm afraid to tell you that it's happening whether you like it or not. :p:
Hmmmm you left one country out there OB which will give you a clear clue and that country is the UK as the UK sports rights market is very much different from those abroad as you are quickly finding out.

OLD BOY 06-02-2019 16:41
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982318)
Hmmmm you left one country out there OB which will give you a clear clue and that country is the UK as the UK sports rights market is very much different from those abroad as you are quickly finding out.
It is true that most sport is not delivered by way of streaming yet in the UK, but it is only a matter of time. As I have said many times, we need to get our broadband infrastructure rolled out in this country before streaming takes off.

Clearly, serious bids for the Premier league cannot happen until we have sufficient infrastructure, but if the Government is to be believed, most of this will have taken place by the next bidding round. To imagine that the likes of Amazon cannot compete with the smaller pockets of Sky is ridiculous, frankly.

muppetman11 06-02-2019 16:53
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982326)
It is true that most sport is not delivered by way of streaming yet in the UK, but it is only a matter of time. As I have said many times, we need to get our broadband infrastructure rolled out in this country before streaming takes off.

Clearly, serious bids for the Premier league cannot happen until we have sufficient infrastructure, but if the Government is to be believed, most of this will have taken place by the next bidding round. To imagine that the likes of Amazon cannot compete with the smaller pockets of Sky is ridiculous, frankly.
Yet again you are wrong.

Premiership Football is delivered over satellite , cable , IPTV and streamed through the likes of Virgin TV Anywhere , Sky Go and the BT Sport app.

Streaming is nothing new it's already being done.

OLD BOY 06-02-2019 17:16
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35982327)
Yet again you are wrong.

Premiership Football is delivered over satellite , cable , IPTV and streamed through the likes of Virgin TV Anywhere , Sky Go and the BT Sport app.

Streaming is nothing new it's already being done.
Well, I know that, but we are talking about sport being provided by one of the big streaming companies as the sole means of distribution. That's what Den is railing about. But you know that, right?

muppetman11 06-02-2019 17:36
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
It's nothing to do with the complexities of streaming it's about business models.

Amazon include Prime video as one of many incentives to entice people to take an annual Prime subscription. There is not a chance in the world that they'll pay the billions Sky does just for rights in the UK.

It only captured games this time because nobody else deemed the packages worth meeting the reserve price.

If Amazon really wanted to it could blow Netflix content spend on TV shows out the water however they don't why is that ?

OLD BOY 07-02-2019 07:33
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35982332)
It's nothing to do with the complexities of streaming it's about business models.

Amazon include Prime video as one of many incentives to entice people to take an annual Prime subscription. There is not a chance in the world that they'll pay the billions Sky does just for rights in the UK.

It only captured games this time because nobody else deemed the packages worth meeting the reserve price.

If Amazon really wanted to it could blow Netflix content spend on TV shows out the water however they don't why is that ?
It's about business models, technical issues with streaming such as latency and broadband coverage.

The fact that Amazon did not think the time was right in the last round of Premiership bidding does not mean they will never make a serious bid. It may not be Amazon, of course. It might be Disney or one of the other big players out there.

denphone 07-02-2019 07:43
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982382)
It's about business models, technical issues with streaming such as latency and broadband coverage.

The fact that Amazon did not think the time was right in the last round of Premiership bidding does not mean they will never make a serious bid. It may not be Amazon, of course. It might be Disney or one of the other big players out there.
Disney owns ESPN and well where are they now in the British sports rights market?

Ultimate.Conj 07-02-2019 09:02
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
To be fair, Amazon, Netflix or someone else will probably fight against Sky and bid for football rights. It might not happen now or even in 5 years time, but I think it will come. It's such a lucrative market not to be apart of.

Sky/Virgin and other tv companies are probably lucky that these huge, mega rich streaming companies do not bid sooner. I'd certainly consider my Virgin package if the football wasn't included. Having both Amazon & Netflix subscriptions inc the football would probably still be a lot less than I am paying now.

Afterall, when Sky lost La Liga rights, it showed us that they are not as powerful as they once were. I can't imagine BT wanting to give up the Champions League/Europa League rights back to them too easily either.

The premier league and football league certainly wouldn't care who bought the rights, as long as they get their money.

jfman 07-02-2019 09:08
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Can someone do the calculations on how Netflix/Amazon etc return a profit to cover the costs of £1.5bn a year for UK Premiership rights? Until then I’m bored of hearing about it.

Similarly the end of linear TV can someone do calculations for the point it ceases to be effective for a major rights holder (Sky) to cease linear in favour of a 100% streaming solution. Bear in mind bandwidth is so cheap Sky broadcast the movie Groundhog Day fourteen times in succession on February 2nd/3rd and hundreds of channels broadcast to tiny audiences.

Without either of these meaningful calculations it’s baseless speculation.

OLD BOY 07-02-2019 09:57
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982385)
Disney owns ESPN and well where are they now in the British sports rights market?
That proves nothing, of course, Den.

---------- Post added at 09:57 ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982389)
Can someone do the calculations on how Netflix/Amazon etc return a profit to cover the costs of £1.5bn a year for UK Premiership rights? Until then I’m bored of hearing about it.

Similarly the end of linear TV can someone do calculations for the point it ceases to be effective for a major rights holder (Sky) to cease linear in favour of a 100% streaming solution. Bear in mind bandwidth is so cheap Sky broadcast the movie Groundhog Day fourteen times in succession on February 2nd/3rd and hundreds of channels broadcast to tiny audiences.

Without either of these meaningful calculations it’s baseless speculation.
Do the calculations? How do you suppose we do that? Even if we had detailed costs to hand of existing operations, whether something is profitable or not depends on your strategy. It would not surprise me if there were loss leading initiatives in the minds of some streaming companies.

Forecasts are always speculation to some extent, but this one is hardly baseless. If you keep a close eye on everything that's happening out there as well as viewing trends, it is pretty obvious how this is all going to pan out.

If you were standing on a railway line, would you remain there if you saw a train in the distance on the basis that it would never hit you because it was too far away? Of course not, and just because sports streaming hasn't yet taken off in the UK doesn't mean that it never will.

jfman 07-02-2019 10:43
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
I’ve never disputed that streaming will take off. It is you that’s projecting the binary future that streaming and linear TV are mutually exclusive, and that streaming is some kind of revolution rather than an evolution of content delivery.

Sky/Comcast presently deliver their sports offering through streaming on Now TV, TV from Sky on PlayStation/Xbox apps and Sky Go.

It’s quite easy to do the calculations really. Netflix charge £8 per month. If we ignore other additional costs for now £1.5bn. To solely recover this cost they would need 15 625 000 individual subscribers and haven’t yet covered the rest of their costs (and tax obligations) let alone made a penny profit on their investment. Incidentally with the two screen package that’s enough Netflix for one device in every single household in the United Kingdom.

Your railway analogy is meaningless. More appropriate would be the question would I remain on the line if I knew the train would run out of diesel before it hit me. In that case I would.

BenMcr 07-02-2019 11:17
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Changes to UKTV are getting closer:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...-darren-childs

Quote:
The chief executive of UKTV, which owns channels including Dave and Gold, is quitting before a £1bn breakup of the broadcaster.

Darren Childs, who has driven ratings and seen profits surge from £29m to more than £90m in the past eight years, will leave on 1 July and is already being touted as a potential candidate for the chief executive vacancies at the Premier League and Premiership Rugby.

His departure comes as the BBC is poised to seal the biggest media deal in the corporation’s history. The corporation’s board is meeting next week and is expected to approve a deal to take control of the bulk of UKTV, which broadcasts 10 free-to-air and pay-TV channels, including a one-off payment of as much as £250m.

Raider999 07-02-2019 11:19
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj (Post 35982388)
To be fair, Amazon, Netflix or someone else will probably fight against Sky and bid for football rights. It might not happen now or even in 5 years time, but I think it will come. It's such a lucrative market not to be apart of.

Sky/Virgin and other tv companies are probably lucky that these huge, mega rich streaming companies do not bid sooner. I'd certainly consider my Virgin package if the football wasn't included. Having both Amazon & Netflix subscriptions inc the football would probably still be a lot less than I am paying now.

Afterall, when Sky lost La Liga rights, it showed us that they are not as powerful as they once were. I can't imagine BT wanting to give up the Champions League/Europa League rights back to them too easily either.

The premier league and football league certainly wouldn't care who bought the rights, as long as they get their money.
I don't think Sky 'lost' La Liga - they rightly didn't bid high as it wasn't a priority for them, hence Eleven Sports won the bidding.

Amazon and Netflix are bound to significantly increase their subs if they capture Premiership Football rights, unless they do it as a loss leader - however I can't see that happening as they seem to have no trouble getting new subscribers without Sporting rights.

Personally I think they will stick mainly to what they currently do, only adding the odd sporting coverage when they can pick up a bargain.

Additionally streaming sports will rely on widespread high speed broadband coverage - whilst this has been promised, there is no firm date for everyone to have this and no signs of it happening in the near future. In fact the promise of high speed broadband on trains has recently been reneged on.

Ultimate.Conj 07-02-2019 11:25
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982400)
I’ve never disputed that streaming will take off. It is you that’s projecting the binary future that streaming and linear TV are mutually exclusive, and that streaming is some kind of revolution rather than an evolution of content delivery.

Sky/Comcast presently deliver their sports offering through streaming on Now TV, TV from Sky on PlayStation/Xbox apps and Sky Go.

It’s quite easy to do the calculations really. Netflix charge £8 per month. If we ignore other additional costs for now £1.5bn. To solely recover this cost they would need 15 625 000 individual subscribers and haven’t yet covered the rest of their costs (and tax obligations) let alone made a penny profit on their investment. Incidentally with the two screen package that’s enough Netflix for one device in every single household in the United Kingdom.

Your railway analogy is meaningless. More appropriate would be the question would I remain on the line if I knew the train would run out of diesel before it hit me. In that case I would.
What if it's an electric train? :D:D:angel:

Netflix have nearly 150m subscribers worldwide raking in over $15bn in revenue a year. They could afford it if they wanted too. Maybe there is a little more too it than just buying the rights.

jfman 07-02-2019 11:48
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj (Post 35982407)
What if it's an electric train? :D:D:angel:

Netflix have nearly 150m subscribers worldwide raking in over $15bn in revenue a year. They could afford it if they wanted too. Maybe there is a little more too it than just buying the rights.
I’m quite sure many media companies could leverage existing assets in order to fund the rights. However nobody is going to sacrifice profits without an underlying business model to monetise the rights and see a return on investment. At £1.5bn a year risk the return would have to be substantial.

I could sell my house and afford more luxurious things than I ordinarily could. That doesn’t make me necessarily wealthier in the long run.

cheekyangus 07-02-2019 12:49
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
I agree with Raider999, I don't think Sky lost La Liga. Same way they didn't lose ATP Tennis. They've only got so much space to fill, existing rights get more expensive and certain sports have inconvenience scheduling, they either clash with higher rating events or take too much time to show. They also need to give the illusion of variety, so they can't just show football.

BT Sport is the same. It's juggling budget, audience perception and scheduling. Eurosport takes a different approach, it predominantly shows sports that take large chunks of schedule to do properly, hence cycling, tennis and snooker.

Notice how Sky sponsored a pro cycling team for years but never showed an interest in broadcasting it. There are a lot of events and they can take many hours to even show just one. Sky knew they didn't have the space to schedule it and the audience wasn't necessarily big enough to justify a dedicated channel (remember the Bike channel that existed but folded in recent years).

-------

Sorry for going off thread topic.

Still no sign of the STV HD 103 switch. Guess either the information was wrong, or it was postponed due to technical difficulties.

I suspect if Discovery end up with the 3 channels mentioned in that article they will end up closing them, or their own channels with similar subject matter.

cheekyangus 07-02-2019 15:24
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
According to TVWise Smithsonian Channel will be coming to Freesat, so I think that pretty much means it it be on all Virgin Media packages.

Based on combination of information from TVWise and a516digital it will HD only on all platforms except Freeview, which will be SD.

Really looking forward to this channel.

RichardCoulter 07-02-2019 16:55
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982417)
I agree with Raider999, I don't think Sky lost La Liga. Same way they didn't lose ATP Tennis. They've only got so much space to fill, existing rights get more expensive and certain sports have inconvenience scheduling, they either clash with higher rating events or take too much time to show. They also need to give the illusion of variety, so they can't just show football.

BT Sport is the same. It's juggling budget, audience perception and scheduling. Eurosport takes a different approach, it predominantly shows sports that take large chunks of schedule to do properly, hence cycling, tennis and snooker.

Notice how Sky sponsored a pro cycling team for years but never showed an interest in broadcasting it. There are a lot of events and they can take many hours to even show just one. Sky knew they didn't have the space to schedule it and the audience wasn't necessarily big enough to justify a dedicated channel (remember the Bike channel that existed but folded in recent years).

-------

Sorry for going off thread topic.

Still no sign of the STV HD 103 switch. Guess either the information was wrong, or it was postponed due to technical difficulties.

I suspect if Discovery end up with the 3 channels mentioned in that article they will end up closing them, or their own channels with similar subject matter.
Sky deliberately didn't bid for second tier sports rights as they want to divert the money to other programming, such as drama.

---------- Post added at 16:55 ---------- Previous post was at 16:53 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982433)
According to TVWise Smithsonian Channel will be coming to Freesat, so I think that pretty much means it it be on all Virgin Media packages.

Based on combination of information from TVWise and a516digital it will HD only on all platforms except Freeview, which will be SD.

Really looking forward to this channel.
The Smithsonian Channel is currently testing in both SD & HD on Freesat; it won't be coming to Freeview until at least the Spring.

FTA channels tend to go in either the lowest Player package or the higher Mix package.

cheekyangus 07-02-2019 17:12
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35982451)
FTA channels tend to go in either the lowest Player package or the higher Mix package.
Yeah, I know, I just didn't know it was going to be a FTA channel until today. Given its UK distribution common connection to LoveNature I thought it was more likely to be Pay. I'm glad it's FTA though, means I get it via multiple methods in the house and there's a backup if VM TV has technical difficulties.

RichardCoulter 07-02-2019 18:12
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982456)
Yeah, I know, I just didn't know it was going to be a FTA channel until today. Given its UK distribution common connection to LoveNature I thought it was more likely to be Pay. I'm glad it's FTA though, means I get it via multiple methods in the house and there's a backup if VM TV has technical difficulties.
Yes, FTA channels are always useful should VM go down.

jfman 07-02-2019 18:27
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Would I be right in saying that once the Smithsonian launches the UK will have more linear TV channels than at any point in history?

RichardCoulter 07-02-2019 18:28
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982491)
Would I be right in saying that once the Smithsonian launches the UK will have more linear TV channels than at any point in history?
On VM or in general?

jfman 07-02-2019 18:29
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Both I suppose, for the purpose of the thread the VM figure would be helpful.

denphone 07-02-2019 18:31
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982491)
Would I be right in saying that once the Smithsonian launches the UK will have more linear TV channels than at any point in history?
;)

RichardCoulter 07-02-2019 18:35
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982493)
Both I suppose, for the purpose of the thread the VM figure would be helpful.
I'd say yes for VM as extra channels were added due to the UKTV dispute, the UKTV channels were returned, extra channels have been added since and there's more to come.

jfman 07-02-2019 18:42
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
If someone were to be pedantic I suppose Virgin have closed SD simulcasts.

Media Boy UK 07-02-2019 21:36
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
From Saturday Sky Cinema Drama will be called Sky Cinema Valentine until February 18th.

RichardCoulter 07-02-2019 21:51
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982501)
If someone were to be pedantic I suppose Virgin have closed SD simulcasts.
True, I suppose it depends on what's defined as a channel. Media Boy might know if the total number of services has increased or decreased as he sometimes takes note if this.

Media Boy UK 07-02-2019 21:57
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35982550)
True, I suppose it depends on what's defined as a channel. Media Boy might know if the total number of services has increased or decreased as he sometimes takes note if this.
As of today 295 total channels are broadcasting on 44 streams.

Virgin did add up to 3 channels to total channels last Wednesday (We feel it new STV HD streams as we has to reset some STV HD shows due to Virgin moving the STV HD channel to Channel 81 and is now called "Old STV HD")

Info was seen on TiVo last Wednesday.

Mad Max 09-02-2019 20:58
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35982549)
From Saturday Sky Cinema Drama will be called Sky Cinema Valentine until February 18th.


lmfao

ScottishSteve 10-02-2019 16:09
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
I just had a message pop up on my home screen that the STV HD swap will now happen this Tuesday
It states that STV SD will not be available after this time but recordings will be available for 12 months.

cheekyangus 10-02-2019 17:25
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottishSteve (Post 35982847)
I just had a message pop up on my home screen that the STV HD swap will now happen this Tuesday
It states that STV SD will not be available after this time but recordings will be available for 12 months.
Beat me to it. :D

Interestingly it says not to worry about Series Links. Previously, to my recollection, this wasn't the case in these type of circumstances. So have VM worked out how to amalgamate them?

RobboEdin 10-02-2019 17:36
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982859)
Beat me to it. :D

Interestingly it says not to worry about Series Links. Previously, to my recollection, this wasn't the case in these type of circumstances. So have VM worked out how to amalgamate them?
Not my experience. When BBC 1 HD moved from 108 to 101 in Scotland, all my series were correctly migrated.

denphone 10-02-2019 17:38
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobboEdin (Post 35982860)
Not my experience. When BBC 1 HD moved from 108 to 101 in Scotland, all my series were correctly migrated.
Same here.

garethf1927 10-02-2019 17:44
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982859)
Beat me to it. :D

Interestingly it says not to worry about Series Links. Previously, to my recollection, this wasn't the case in these type of circumstances. So have VM worked out how to amalgamate them?
First post!

Well I had series links on both copies of Crime + Investigation HD. A couple of weeks ago they swapped around and then when the one of 274 disappeared the series link moved to 222 so I wonder if there is now a way to amalgamate them

RichardCoulter 10-02-2019 18:01
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by garethf1927 (Post 35982862)
First post!

Well I had series links on both copies of Crime + Investigation HD. A couple of weeks ago they swapped around and then when the one of 274 disappeared the series link moved to 222 so I wonder if there is now a way to amalgamate them
Let's hope so.

truTV will be closed after today and will be replaced by a channel called 'True Crime'.

cheekyangus 10-02-2019 18:18
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35982866)
Let's hope so.

truTV will be closed after today and will be replaced by a channel called 'True Crime'.
I hadn't heard Sony were bringing back True Crime, it was only February last year it was renamed Sony Crime 2 and then Sony Crime 2 was axed in November.

OLD BOY 10-02-2019 19:19
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35982866)
Let's hope so.

truTV will be closed after today and will be replaced by a channel called 'True Crime'.
I hadn't noticed that, but I won't be sorry to see the back of TruTV. The schedules were very poor and unimaginative. The new channel is an improvement certainly, but still not one that I would watch.

RichardCoulter 10-02-2019 19:20
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982875)
I hadn't heard Sony were bringing back True Crime, it was only February last year it was renamed Sony Crime 2 and then Sony Crime 2 was axed in November.
It does seem odd doesn't it.

ozsat 11-02-2019 05:13
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Uising Series Link+ means they are not fixed to a channel - so channel renames, moves and even closures do NOT break them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 35982859)
Beat me to it. :D

A series Link to a channel will break if the channel is removed.

Interestingly it says not to worry about Series Links. Previously, to my recollection, this wasn't the case in these type of circumstances. So have VM worked out how to amalgamate them?

denphone 11-02-2019 08:04
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982879)
I hadn't noticed that, but I won't be sorry to see the back of TruTV. The schedules were very poor and unimaginative. The new channel is an improvement certainly, but still not one that I would watch.
But don't you have Now TV, Amazon and Netflix for your TV viewing.;)

cheekyangus 11-02-2019 11:08
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozsat (Post 35982903)
Uising Series Link+ means they are not fixed to a channel - so channel renames, moves and even closures do NOT break them.
Generally my Series Links haven't been set to All, so I've never assumed, especially as VM have indicated us to manually change links in the past. If I've known about a channel change I've often changed it to All in advance, but most of mine are set to specific channels by default.

OLD BOY 11-02-2019 12:58
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982911)
But don't you have Now TV, Amazon and Netflix for your TV viewing.;)
As you know, I subscribe to all of them and also to the pay tv channels. If Amazon was included I would be able to search and playback my selected programmes from just one box. Without this, and a speedy uptake of new streaming services such as Disney + as they come along, I cannot see myself continuing with the pay tv channels for much longer as they are getting to the stage where they are no longer good value for money.

Only my wife prevents me from doing that now as she is frightened to death about accessing different inputs on the TV without me being there!

jfman 11-02-2019 16:10
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982931)
As you know, I subscribe to all of them and also to the pay tv channels. If Amazon was included I would be able to search and playback my selected programmes from just one box. Without this, and a speedy uptake of new streaming services such as Disney + as they come along, I cannot see myself continuing with the pay tv channels for much longer as they are getting to the stage where they are no longer good value for money.

Only my wife prevents me from doing that now as she is frightened to death about accessing different inputs on the TV without me being there!
You’re in danger of offering evidence against the death of linear TV with your technophobe wife.

Essentially here you are accepting that the convenience that Virgin (and Sky) offer is worth something and that there’s a proportion of people who don’t want six or seven different subscriptions to different services accessible via different apps/sticks.

denphone 11-02-2019 16:12
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982931)
As you know, I subscribe to all of them and also to the pay tv channels. If Amazon was included I would be able to search and playback my selected programmes from just one box. Without this, and a speedy uptake of new streaming services such as Disney + as they come along, I cannot see myself continuing with the pay tv channels for much longer as they are getting to the stage where they are no longer good value for money.
Not much chance of Amazon coming and even less chance of Disney coming l suspect.

---------- Post added at 16:12 ---------- Previous post was at 16:11 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35982931)
Only my wife prevents me from doing that now as she is frightened to death about accessing different inputs on the TV without me being there!
We all know who wears the trousers in your household then.;)

OLD BOY 11-02-2019 16:36
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982952)
You’re in danger of offering evidence against the death of linear TV with your technophobe wife.

Essentially here you are accepting that the convenience that Virgin (and Sky) offer is worth something and that there’s a proportion of people who don’t want six or seven different subscriptions to different services accessible via different apps/sticks.
I don't see how you make that out. I am on record as saying that in the future, pay tv channels will die off and instead we will have bundles of streaming services offered by the likes of VM.

If we had that in place now, we wouldn't need Rokus and Fire sticks any more and my wife would cope because access would be through the V6.

---------- Post added at 16:34 ---------- Previous post was at 16:31 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982953)
Not much chance of Amazon coming and even less chance of Disney coming l
We will get both eventually, but as you know, Virgin likes to take its time with this sort of thing.

A happy exception will be the Smithsonian channel, due to launch, even on VM, tomorrow!

---------- Post added at 16:36 ---------- Previous post was at 16:34 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35982953)
We all know who wears the trousers in your household then.;)
I do, mate, but I'm hardly going to go out for the evening and leave her unable to watch the telly, am I? I'm not that heartless!

jfman 11-02-2019 16:51
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
The problem with your proposal is it takes away one of the advantages to a streamer: to cut out the middleman and retail direct to the end user.

I haven’t seen the most up to date figures but around ten years ago the sum total paid by Sky to third party channels was less than £5 per month per subscriber. There’s going to be little appetite from Sky to change that dynamic in their pricing structure to third parties for run of the mill tv series and some old movies.

OLD BOY 11-02-2019 17:01
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982961)
The problem with your proposal is it takes away one of the advantages to a streamer: to cut out the middleman and retail direct to the end user.

I haven’t seen the most up to date figures but around ten years ago the sum total paid by Sky to third party channels was less than £5 per month per subscriber. There’s going to be little appetite from Sky to change that dynamic in their pricing structure to third parties for run of the mill tv series and some old movies.
Well, clearly, if the rate offered is not worth it to the streaming service, then there wouldn't be a deal.

The fact of the matter is that Netflix is already on VM, Sky and BT; Starz Play is on VM; Hayu is on VM (not sure if it is on Sky or BT yet, but I think it is on Sky) and Amazon is on BT.

This would not be happening if the amount offered was not attractive to those streaming services. This will be the only way to watch TV eventually.

jfman 11-02-2019 17:27
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Those services aren’t being bundled though.

OLD BOY 11-02-2019 18:02
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982971)
Those services aren’t being bundled though.
Well, imagine that VM was able to make all those streaming services easily available through their platform, which would give them access to about 4m customers. The advantage to these streaming services would be to be able to capture customers who would not have otherwise subscribed. Ok, some of them would have subscribed anyway, but when it is part of your package, you are far more likely to want to see what's there, aren't you?

It works for BT Sport.

jfman 11-02-2019 18:24
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Well I’ve Amazon and Netflix apps on my smart TV, TV from Sky and Now TV apps on my PlayStation. I think the vast majority of those interested in such services can use/will have other devices to adequately do so by now.

I don’t see Virgin with the annual challenge of price rises running to hand out pounds per month per subscriber to a number of fledgling streaming services.

BT Sport (Setanta and ESPN before it) was unique situation where it could tangibly be demonstrated that Virgin subscribers were very unlikely to pay for an additional standalone sports channel so a wholesale deal suits both parties.

Are Virgin subscribers disproportionately less likely to have Netflix/Amazon Prime where the numbers make sense for a wholesale deal? I’m not convinced. If Virgin subscribers are equally as likely as the general population to have Netflix a wholesale deal would have to far exceed existing revenue that’d be lost.

OLD BOY 11-02-2019 18:30
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982986)
Well I’ve Amazon and Netflix apps on my smart TV, TV from Sky and Now TV apps on my PlayStation. I think the vast majority of those interested in such services can use/will have other devices to adequately do so by now.

I don’t see Virgin with the annual challenge of price rises running to hand out pounds per month per subscriber to a number of fledgling streaming services.

BT Sport (Setanta and ESPN before it) was unique situation where it could tangibly be demonstrated that Virgin subscribers were very unlikely to pay for an additional standalone sports channel so a wholesale deal suits both parties.

Are Virgin subscribers disproportionately less likely to have Netflix/Amazon Prime where the numbers make sense for a wholesale deal? I’m not convinced. If Virgin subscribers are equally as likely as the general population to have Netflix a wholesale deal would have to far exceed existing revenue that’d be lost.
It's exactly the same principle as works for our existing TV channels.

There are still very many VM households who do not have a Netflix subscription.

jfman 11-02-2019 18:40
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
If VM subscribers are no more/no less likely than the general population Netflix would get around 1.6m cancellations as a result of bundling with Virgin. Just to cover this cost Virgin would have to pay £150m a year, or around £3.20 per month per subscriber. There will be no third party provider on the VM or Sky networks on anything like that with the possible exception of BT Sport who bring hundreds of millions of pounds of sports content to the table.

The public figure during the Sky Basics dispute in 2007 was Sky demanding 90p per month for context.

OLD BOY 11-02-2019 19:56
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35982990)
If VM subscribers are no more/no less likely than the general population Netflix would get around 1.6m cancellations as a result of bundling with Virgin. Just to cover this cost Virgin would have to pay £150m a year, or around £3.20 per month per subscriber. There will be no third party provider on the VM or Sky networks on anything like that with the possible exception of BT Sport who bring hundreds of millions of pounds of sports content to the table.

The public figure during the Sky Basics dispute in 2007 was Sky demanding 90p per month for context.
No, that's not how it would work! There would be a method of transferring customers. Netflix may not reduce their subscription rate - it may be that the subscription rate charged to Virgin is the same, but Virgin package it with another service that would be provided at a discount. Sky have done this by packaging Netflix with Sky Box Sets, and charging less for Sky Box Sets.

There are different models that can be used, but you get the idea. Hopefully.

jfman 11-02-2019 20:09
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983001)
No, that's not how it would work! There would be a method of transferring customers. Netflix may not reduce their subscription rate - it may be that the subscription rate charged to Virgin is the same, but Virgin package it with another service that would be provided at a discount. Sky have done this by packaging Netflix with Sky Box Sets, and charging less for Sky Box Sets.

There are different models that can be used, but you get the idea. Hopefully.
So essentially you are proposing the streamers rely on Virgin/Sky subsidising them.

That’ll be a short lived experiment overall. While Sky have bundled Netflix taking a £2 hit on the top package (box sets with Sky Q) there’s limited scope to do the same with Amazon and others on the same basis.

I hope the other models stand up better to scrutiny.

ScottishSteve 12-02-2019 00:24
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
The STV swap has half happened

At midnight STV & STV HD disappeared from the listing.

Crazy timing right in the middle of a programme when there is 4 hour of night screen from 1am

I’m sure STV HD will pop up again soon in its new home

OLD BOY 12-02-2019 08:58
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983004)
So essentially you are proposing the streamers rely on Virgin/Sky subsidising them.

That’ll be a short lived experiment overall. While Sky have bundled Netflix taking a £2 hit on the top package (box sets with Sky Q) there’s limited scope to do the same with Amazon and others on the same basis.

I hope the other models stand up better to scrutiny.
No, but they can improve their income by having more subscribers. As I said, the principle has already been established with the bundling of channels at a cheaper price. To suggest that none of the streaming services are prepared to enter into wholesale deals is not a wise thing to say on here, really.

Incidentally, did you know that the Hayu app was 'free' to Full House and VIP subscribers? Just one example of what can be achieved.

garethf1927 12-02-2019 09:50
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottishSteve (Post 35983041)
The STV swap has half happened

At midnight STV & STV HD disappeared from the listing.

Crazy timing right in the middle of a programme when there is 4 hour of night screen from 1am

I’m sure STV HD will pop up again soon in its new home
Interested to know how this worked? Have planned recordings moved over as they did when the copies of Crime Investigation closed last week?

nodrogd 12-02-2019 11:26
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by garethf1927 (Post 35983067)
Interested to know how this worked? Have planned recordings moved over as they did when the copies of Crime Investigation closed last week?
The changes to introduce the STV HD region codes happened 2 weeks ago (judging by the linked thread in the community forum), so this should just be a channel number swap:

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5...E/td-p/3923471

Raider999 12-02-2019 11:40
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983055)
No, but they can improve their income by having more subscribers. As I said, the principle has already been established with the bundling of channels at a cheaper price. To suggest that none of the streaming services are prepared to enter into wholesale deals is not a wise thing to say on here, really.

Incidentally, did you know that the Hayu app was 'free' to Full House and VIP subscribers? Just one example of what can be achieved.
So effectively, linear channels disappear and are replaced with a menu of streaming options. Don't see the point in that personally.

I think you underestimate the number of technophobes, like your wife, who just like to switch on the to and look at the EPG to see what is currently on.

It has reminded me of a friend who told me his father wouldn't even use the recording facilities on sky - he continued to use his vhs recorder because that was what he knew!

As I have said before, I don't believe the 'super fast broadband is just round the corner' propaganda - the vast majority of the country will still be waiting for it in 10-15 years time.

OLD BOY 12-02-2019 17:00
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983081)
So effectively, linear channels disappear and are replaced with a menu of streaming options. Don't see the point in that personally.

I think you underestimate the number of technophobes, like your wife, who just like to switch on the to and look at the EPG to see what is currently on.

It has reminded me of a friend who told me his father wouldn't even use the recording facilities on sky - he continued to use his vhs recorder because that was what he knew!

As I have said before, I don't believe the 'super fast broadband is just round the corner' propaganda - the vast majority of the country will still be waiting for it in 10-15 years time.
And yet it's the landscape that the BBC is planning to address as part of its vision for what happens following the next licence fee review.

15 or so years is a long time and much can happen in that time. You've only got to look at how TV has changed since the old analogue days, which was pretty recent. We didn't even have VOD in those days!

Most people in work currently do not have problems with new technology. A person who retires this year will be 80 in 15 years' time. Besides which, if I am right, and satellite and cable services of the future have all the main streaming services integrated, they will be pretty user friendly by 2035, which is the date I've suggested by when the linear channels will be no more.

jfman 12-02-2019 17:14
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983081)
So effectively, linear channels disappear and are replaced with a menu of streaming options. Don't see the point in that personally.

I think you underestimate the number of technophobes, like your wife, who just like to switch on the to and look at the EPG to see what is currently on.

It has reminded me of a friend who told me his father wouldn't even use the recording facilities on sky - he continued to use his vhs recorder because that was what he knew!

As I have said before, I don't believe the 'super fast broadband is just round the corner' propaganda - the vast majority of the country will still be waiting for it in 10-15 years time.
Even if it were just around the corner you still need to evolve consumer behaviour radically to make linear tv not commercially viable. It’s all the same companies pushing the same content at you in a slightly different way.

Hayu, cited above, is owned by NBCUniversal and we know where that web ends.

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:05 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983098)
And yet it's the landscape that the BBC is planning to address as part of its vision for what happens following the next licence fee review.
Like any public sector organisation vision and delivery are two different things.

Quote:
15 or so years is a long time and much can happen in that time. You've only got to look at how TV has changed since the old analogue days, which was pretty recent. We didn't even have VOD in those days!
14 years ago VOD launched and it’s biggest proponents NTL and Telewest sold that as the end of linear TV.

Quote:
Most people in work currently do not have problems with new technology. A person who retires this year will be 80 in 15 years' time. Besides which, if I am right, and satellite and cable services of the future have all the main streaming services integrated, they will be pretty user friendly by 2035, which is the date I've suggested by when the linear channels will be no more.
Those out of work? The disabled? People who just find the current EPG convenient?

Users who wanted to eliminate watching broadcast television altogether could through timeshifting on DVR or existing libraries of on demand content. To that extent streaming isn’t bringing anything new to the table, it’s just delivered using different technology from on demand.

OLD BOY 12-02-2019 17:47
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983100)
Even if it were just around the corner you still need to evolve consumer behaviour radically to make linear tv not commercially viable. It’s all the same companies pushing the same content at you in a slightly different way.

Hayu, cited above, is owned by NBCUniversal and we know where that web ends.
Linear TV will cease to be viable when the income from advertising no longer supports it. I'm not sure what you mean with your Hayu comment.

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:35 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983100)

14 years ago VOD launched and it’s biggest proponents NTL and Telewest sold that as the end of linear TV.
They meant the beginning of the end. It takes a while to catch on, and of course the amount of on demand content was very limited until recently. Now it is becoming the preferred means of viewing in a fast growing number of households.

---------- Post added at 17:42 ---------- Previous post was at 17:38 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983100)



Those out of work? The disabled? People who just find the current EPG convenient?
I can't believe you said that! Are you saying that people out of work are incapable of understanding how digital TV works? I would say to you that most disabled people are capable of coping with the technology and most of those who cannot will have carers to help them.

---------- Post added at 17:47 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983100)
Users who wanted to eliminate watching broadcast television altogether could through timeshifting on DVR or existing libraries of on demand content. To that extent streaming isn’t bringing anything new to the table, it’s just delivered using different technology from on demand.
Yes, they could, but you are ignoring the simple fact that the programmes accessible through the streaming services are becoming ever more popular, at the expense of the conventional TV channels.

I'm not sure why you keep making the point about just being delivered by different technology. We all know that, but the fact that this alternative means of delivery provides an amazing amount of good content seems to pass you by. It is better because it's there when you want it and there are no adverts. A massive positive for viewers compared with commercial ridden scheduled TV!

jfman 12-02-2019 18:03
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983104)
Linear TV will cease to be viable when the income from advertising no longer supports it. I'm not sure what you mean with your Hayu comment.
I think it’s obvious what I mean with the Hayu comment. Anything that ends with Comcast isn’t radically changing any market beyond it’s own financial interest which is as one of the largest pay-tv operators in the world. Exactly the kind of content owner it’s costs next to nothing to maintain a linear presence.

Quote:
They meant the beginning of the end. It takes a while to catch on, and of course the amount of on demand content was very limited until recently. Now it is becoming the preferred means of viewing in a fast growing number of households.
The evidence doesn’t support that there’s many fundamentalists out there who exclusively use on demand or streaming.

Quote:
I can't believe you said that! Are you saying that people out of work are incapable of understanding how digital TV works? I would say to you that most disabled people are capable of coping with the technology and most of those who cannot will have carers to help them.
You said that people in work can cope with new technologies I was simply asking you about groups you chose to omit.

I’ve seen people in later stages in life with dementia who barely have the capability to switch a television on and press “up” through the limited number of channels until they settle on something.

So yes, I think it’s a perfectly valid question to ask if television is no longer delivered in this way (which I don’t accept it will anyway) how they will cope. It’s a far too simplistic assumption that someone in work today will retain that level of cognitive function throughout retirement with increasing life expectancy. It’s also far too much of an ask on their families to have someone there all the time (either through funding or giving up their own time).

Hugh 12-02-2019 18:37
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Back on topic, please - we have a dedicated thread for on demand/streaming discussions.

SonicMaster 12-02-2019 19:23
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
RE: Smithsonian Channel

It's so good to see a channel launch at the same time on Virgin Media as Sky, Freeview and Freesat. It's been common for Virgin Media customers to be waiting ages for new channels to launch, often months or even years!

nodrogd 13-02-2019 15:02
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SonicMaster (Post 35983114)
RE: Smithsonian Channel

It's so good to see a channel launch at the same time on Virgin Media as Sky, Freeview and Freesat. It's been common for Virgin Media customers to be waiting ages for new channels to launch, often months or even years!
This is more down to the channel pushing their launch than anything VM have done. I notice the channel appeared in all the major TV listings mags last week as well, which is also not usual. They also pounced on the vacant COM7 Freeview HD slot they originally weren’t interested in only a few weeks ago.

nodrogd 14-02-2019 22:56
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
More BBC channel swaps have just been announced:

From Tuesday 19th February:

BBC4 HD moves from 163 to 107

BBC News HD moves from 604 to 601

CBBC HD moves from 710 to 701

CBeebies HD moves from 711 to 702.

https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-t...W7-fullhouse-A

Chris James 17-02-2019 17:31
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
With the exception of regional opt-outs, is there any reason why Virgin cannot discontinue all the SD channels where there are HD alternatives? Seems like BBC4 and BBC News are following BBC2 in dropping the SD channel - Gold was the first to do it. That would free up a load of space!

Media Boy UK 17-02-2019 18:20
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 35983237)
More BBC channel swaps have just been announced:

From Tuesday 19th February:

BBC4 HD moves from 163 to 107

BBC News HD moves from 604 to 601

CBBC HD moves from 710 to 701

CBeebies HD moves from 711 to 702.

https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-t...W7-fullhouse-A
Also the BBC Scotland HD will be added to Virgin UK Scotland 162 by next Sunday.

In Scotland viewers will see the following by next Sunday:

102. BBC Two Scotland (Closes at 6am on Monday)

Later in the week:

BBC TWO HD will move from Virgin Channel 162 to Virgin Channel 102.
BBC Scotland HD will be added to Virgin Channel 108.

---------- Post added at 18:20 ---------- Previous post was at 18:15 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris James (Post 35983452)
With the exception of regional opt-outs, is there any reason why Virgin cannot discontinue all the SD channels where there are HD alternatives? Seems like BBC4 and BBC News are following BBC2 in dropping the SD channel - Gold was the first to do it. That would free up a load of space!
We think it safe to say when deals are up we will see more SD Channels being axe but Channel 4 and Channel 5 AD Channels will not be axe.

We would love to know if Virgin will drop Channel 4 +1 for their HD Channel.

cheekyangus 17-02-2019 18:47
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris James (Post 35983452)
With the exception of regional opt-outs, is there any reason why Virgin cannot discontinue all the SD channels where there are HD alternatives? Seems like BBC4 and BBC News are following BBC2 in dropping the SD channel - Gold was the first to do it. That would free up a load of space!
One of the main reasons is they are often on different TV packages to the SD versions. E.g. Film4 HD is on Mix and above, standard Film4 is on every package.

I'd imagine there is extra revenue the broadcaster would be giving up, they'd have to decide whether the potential increase in viewers would make up for the lost revenue.

Also if too many channels switched their HD versions down to lower packages there would be less in the more expensive packages to justify the package's existence.

Media Boy UK 17-02-2019 19:19
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
With Virgin doing "House keeping" Media Boy HQ think HISTORY HD may soon move from Channel 299 to Channel 272.

SonicMaster 18-02-2019 10:17
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 35983482)
With Virgin doing "House keeping" Media Boy HQ think HISTORY HD may soon move from Channel 299 to Channel 272.
I suggested that many months ago, as it would make a lot of sense.

KillerCroc1 18-02-2019 19:56
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
since i decided to stay with Virgin what is the latest on sky Atlantic coming to us along with sky channels in UHD via the red button or something and not forgetting the new horizon4 ui :-)

OLD BOY 19-02-2019 09:18
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerCroc1 (Post 35983658)
since i decided to stay with Virgin what is the latest on sky Atlantic coming to us along with sky channels in UHD via the red button or something and not forgetting the new horizon4 ui :-)
My eyes are on the expiry of the Sky/VM deal this summer. However, we've not heard anything about this yet, other than Sky's statement that Sky Atlantic will be on all major TV platforms in 2019.

The Horizon UI will replace what we have at the moment on the V6, but no date has been announced. I'm not expecting anything imminently, to be honest.

denphone 19-02-2019 09:24
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983695)
My eyes are on the expiry of the Sky/VM deal this summer. However, we've not heard anything about this yet, other than Sky's statement that Sky Atlantic will be on all major TV platforms in 2019.
Saying and doing are two different things OB.

---------- Post added at 09:24 ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983695)
The Horizon UI will replace what we have at the moment on the V6, but no date has been announced. I'm not expecting anything imminently, to be honest.
Your assumption is probably correct.

KillerCroc1 19-02-2019 11:34
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35983695)
My eyes are on the expiry of the Sky/VM deal this summer. However, we've not heard anything about this yet, other than Sky's statement that Sky Atlantic will be on all major TV platforms in 2019.

The Horizon UI will replace what we have at the moment on the V6, but no date has been announced. I'm not expecting anything imminently, to be honest.
Thanks OB cant wait to see what we get from the new sky deal and cant wait to see what the horizon4 ui looks like with the tivo features bundled in :-)

Raider999 19-02-2019 11:53
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
I don't suppose there is any chance of virgin allowing the recording of red button programs in the near future?

Sky have had this feature for several years, via a subsidiary selection menu which appears when you try to record a program that has red button options.

OLD BOY 19-02-2019 12:34
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983712)
I don't suppose there is any chance of virgin allowing the recording of red button programs in the near future?

Sky have had this feature for several years, via a subsidiary selection menu which appears when you try to record a program that has red button options.
I thought Virgin had red button channels in the 900 series on the EPG? I'll check that when I get a minute in front of the telly.

BenMcr 19-02-2019 12:34
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983712)
I don't suppose there is any chance of virgin allowing the recording of red button programs in the near future?
It would be difficult for some of them as I believe they're IP streams not broadcast DVB.

jfman 19-02-2019 12:35
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
BBC red button services had EPG slots howvever Sky/BT do not.

OLD BOY 19-02-2019 12:36
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983722)
BBC red button services had EPG slots howvever Sky/BT do not.
Thanks, jfman, that explains it, then. :)

RichardCoulter 19-02-2019 12:41
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenMcr (Post 35983721)
It would be difficult for some of them as I believe they're IP streams not broadcast DVB.
IIRC, some providers have STB's that are capable of recording IPTV.

ozsat 19-02-2019 13:14
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Red Button stream 1 is in ALL EPGs - VM, Sky and BT
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35983722)
BBC red button services had EPG slots howvever Sky/BT do not.

jfman 19-02-2019 13:23
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozsat (Post 35983732)
Red Button stream 1 is in ALL EPGs - VM, Sky and BT
Sky/BT Sport red button services on the Virgin Media network for clarity.

ozsat 19-02-2019 13:44
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
If you mean the extra sports streams which TiVo can get - then the BT box does too. Sky does not.

Raider999 19-02-2019 14:08
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozsat (Post 35983736)
If you mean the extra sports streams which TiVo can get - then the BT box does too. Sky does not.
Example

Championship football midweek a - 1 main game per day, all other games are on red button. These games are recordable on Sky (via a secondary menu) but as far as I am aware not on Virgin.

nodrogd 19-02-2019 15:10
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983712)
I don't suppose there is any chance of virgin allowing the recording of red button programs in the near future?

Sky have had this feature for several years, via a subsidiary selection menu which appears when you try to record a program that has red button options.
Sky own the firmware on their boxes, so can change it as they see fit. I assume if the same functionality were to be added to Virgin boxes, Virgin would want Sky to pay for the upgrade to the TiVO & V6 firmware, the same as they would to upgrade an app.

Raider999 19-02-2019 16:30
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 35983739)
Sky own the firmware on their boxes, so can change it as they see fit. I assume if the same functionality were to be added to Virgin boxes, Virgin would want Sky to pay for the upgrade to the TiVO & V6 firmware, the same as they would to upgrade an app.
Really, I would have thought they should be improving their service out of the profits they are making from us customers.

ozsat 19-02-2019 17:48
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
It only works in the Sky EPG if the broadcaster sets it up to do it - and only Sky Sports does it and then only on selected programmes.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983712)
I don't suppose there is any chance of virgin allowing the recording of red button programs in the near future?

Sky have had this feature for several years, via a subsidiary selection menu which appears when you try to record a program that has red button options.

ozsat 19-02-2019 21:24
Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)
 
OK - I was thinking of the extra BBC sport streams which are often there.

It is usually only Sky Sports that offer this on their own boxes.

On BT Sports - every extra stream is in the BT EPG so all BT Sport red button options can be record on there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider999 (Post 35983738)
Example

Championship football midweek a - 1 main game per day, all other games are on red button. These games are recordable on Sky (via a secondary menu) but as far as I am aware not on Virgin.


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:20.
Page 3 of 25 12 3 456713 Last »
Show 100 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
All Posts and Content are © Cable Forum