Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Thanks toady for that info.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Traditionally, VM made nothing on the Sky Premium channels and might even have made a loss. They are only there to aid channel parity with (mainly) Sky to try and drive TV customer growth for the channels that do make the company money.

This is why, despite them being made available, VM never used to advertise the Sky premiums.

However, things appear to have changed. VM now advertise the Sky premium channels on their barker channels and VM now participate in the free promotional dates for Sky Sports channels at the same times as Sky customers.

The remaining HD sport channels have been made available to VM and the season ticket is good value. Considering that this is less than what Skys own customers pay (and that VM make nothing on these channels) I am assuming that Sky are subsidising this in some way.

The % of customers on VM who take Sky Sports is much lower than on Skys own platform, so there is a potential for growth to help offset the expected subscriber cancellations. Even if this requires promotional pricing, a discounted subscription is better than nothing. I'm really surprised that VM customers who buy the season ticket aren't tied into another 18-24 contract though.

All this leads me to believe that Sky are now using VM both in their battle against their competitors and to negate the expected loss of subscribers/revenue after the loss of sports rights.

---------- Post added at 18:16 ---------- Previous post was at 18:12 ----------

As per my comments above, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Sky had a lot of influence on these new EPG positions (or even made it part of the contractual carriage agreement).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

I've changed my channel order on Freeview to get into this Sky Sports business. BBC1 is now on 2. BBC2 is now on 3. ITV is on 4. 4 is on 5 and so on. I've put BBC News on channel 1.

Perfect.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

It's odd how no-one is complaining about bbc 3,4 and itv 2,3,4 more4, 4seven, film four not being on channels end in the corresponding numbers. How do people remember those numbers? Anything for people to have a moan at VM about I guess. Seriously, they are just channel numbers. You still have to type in three digits, regardless of the number.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Exactly.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

They can't moan about not having the missing Skysports hd channels now so they've found something else to moan about.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Well i'm assuming VM haven't paid for the mobile streaming rights whereas Sky have for their channels?

Does the BT sport app work over 3g/4g do you know?, i realise Sky/BT own the channels but i'd assume, again, that those rights are included in the PL contract.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Just got in from my late shift. 4 pages to read?! well done its almost like the old days!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Ugh - horrible renumbering - if things are going to be moved they should try and get the +1's at number +1 - easy to find if you missed something, but no, they BREAK the 139-140 Challenge / +1 sensible grouping!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

I'm glad to see someone's into this new fad that Virgin have started :)

Can you imagine trying to explain where the channels are to someone moving over from Sky? It would be enough to send em running back to Ruperts arms.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Sorry MB was there any good reason why Sky Sports News HD wasn't launch yesterday with the other Sky Sports HD channels?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Because it is not a Sky Premium channel. It is part of the basics channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

Well hush our mouths for having an opinion!

Most of of us who questioned the logic (or lack of) regarding the new channel line up prefaced it with thanking VM for getting the channels.

I don't consider questioning as moaning.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

I wasn't moaning either...I thought it was a little strange, but I can laugh about it. It's not going to make me throw the remote in anger or do the worst possible thing.....MOVE BACK TO SKY!!:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3
 

And its not a channel they can charge extra for so its low priority, lg seem to focus more on additional chargable channels and products at min :(