Cable Forum - VM General News Thread

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Re: VM General News Thread

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67782869

As already mentioned by MB in the coming soon thread, Warner and Paramount are in merger talks.

As I said in the earlier posts in this thread and this thread:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...ht=john+malone

John Malone (ultimate owner of VM, Discovery (as it was) and now Warner Discovery) is looking for the last big deal.

As I used to say on this site, old media is dead in the water. Rupert Murdoch knew this and sold out, the signs outside the Hollywood companies in the future will read: Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix and possibly one other like Sony.

If this merger happens, it won't stop there, I would then expect the merged entity to be gobbled up by someone like Microsoft. John Malone can then put his slippers on and enjoy his retirement. Oh wait, there's all the cablecos and mobile to deal with first...

Still plenty more companies to load up with debt.:rolleyes:

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36166972)

I feel WBD/Paramount may need to sell Warner's or Paramount Kids channels to get the deal pass.

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36166972)

John Malone (ultimate owner of VM, Discovery (as it was) and now Warner Discovery) is looking for the last big deal.

Ultimate owner of Liberty Global, which only owns 50% of VMO2.

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36166972)

I completely agree. It must be obvious to everyone by now that the streaming revolution is here to stay and will gobble up all of the TV channels as we know them. Only FAST channels will survive - but for how long?

And Netflix still reigns supreme, despite naysayers predicting its early demise.

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36167005)

Obvious to who?

The biggest sports rights in the United Kingdom sold for a real terms loss and Netflix (and their mountain of debt) nowhere to be seen.

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36166972)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67782869

As already mentioned by MB in the coming soon thread, Warner and Paramount are in merger talks.

As I said in the earlier posts in this thread and this thread:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...ht=john+malone

John Malone (ultimate owner of VM, Discovery (as it was) and now Warner Discovery) is looking for the last big deal.

As I used to say on this site, old media is dead in the water. Rupert Murdoch knew this and sold out, the signs outside the Hollywood companies in the future will read: Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix and possibly one other like Sony.

If this merger happens, it won't stop there, I would then expect the merged entity to be gobbled up by someone like Microsoft. John Malone can then put his slippers on and enjoy his retirement. Oh wait, there's all the cablecos and mobile to deal with first...

Still plenty more companies to load up with debt.:rolleyes:

Interesting times.

But I don't believe Malone does not control or own Warner Brothers Discovery
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/warne...20shareholders.

And he does not does not control or own VM since it merged with O2.

I'm sceptical of a WBD-Paramount merger coming off. Both are heavily in debt and need to focus on getting their own houses in order. Not to say that Amazon couldn't swoop for Paramount but I don't think they would want its broadcast TV assets.

The deal that has just happened is that Lionsgate Studios is listing via reverse takeover by a blank cheque company. I'm not sure if Starz has a healthy future as a separate company.

Quote:

“The newly-merged entity, Lionsgate Studios Corp., will be a publicly-traded vehicle able to raise fresh capital and merge with existing businesses,” The Hollywood Reporter’s article states. “Its biggest asset will arguably be its vast library of movies and television franchises. Rosenblatt Securities put a $5.2 billion value on Lionsgate’s library in May, meaning it’s worth more than how the whole studio is currently valued. The media networks business, which mostly comprises Starz and its 28 million global subscribers, would remain in the existing publicly-traded company.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...144912450.html

Re: VM General News Thread

BT/EE has announced they will axe mid-contract price rises linked to inflation from this summer after Ofcom threatened to ban the practice.

The change will come after this year's hike and will see customers told clearly in "pounds and pence" the planned increase to their monthly bill from next year.

No doubt others will now follow in the weeks ahead

Re: VM General News Thread

Virgin Media has been named the most-complained about broadband, landline phone and pay-TV service in the UK, getting 32 complaints per 100,000 broadband customers between July and September 2023.

O2 was named the most-complained about pay monthly mobile service.

Re: VM General News Thread

Lets face it that still is not many and I wonder how many of those are user error. Anyone in IT know there is always a number of PEBKAC issues

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaymoss (Post 36168909)

Lets face it that still is not many and I wonder how many of those are user error. Anyone in IT know there is always a number of PEBKAC issues

But it takes multiple calls to sort one complaint, in my case 9 calls and 3 v6 boxes, two engineers to sort it out. Its not that you never have problems it's how you deal with them , in virgins case badly :dozey:

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim (Post 36168919)

That is lack of trained call centre staff. In my experience that is not unique and most IT based call centres are pretty much the same. FAQ sheets and no real clue

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin-D (Post 36168908)

So 99.968% of their customer base did not complain.

I think they could live with that number.

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre (Post 36168929)

So 99.968% of their customer base did not complain.

I think they could live with that number.

Bar those that didn't bother to complain, or couldn't get through on the phones to do so.

The comparison with others in the same industry is the main point. You've got to go through a cancellation process to get any sort of decent CS from VM, it shouldn't be that way.

Re: VM General News Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 36168935)

My BB has a 99%+ uptime and never really had much of a complaint other than they have to go through the FAQ when you can tell them it is before the router and beyond the ability of me to fix in the home

Re: VM General News Thread

Virgin Media have launched Gig2 Full Fibre for areas in their nexfibre XGS-PON network.

It will cost £84 per month or £90 per month with symmetrical speeds.