Originally Posted by moox;c-90770710

I wonder if this is a side effect of American ownership where the cable companies routinely play games with broadcasters, knowing that their customers are largely captive.

VM's new owners come from the American cable industry so there may well be the same mindset - and it's backfiring as people begin to wonder whether it's worth going to Freeview/Freesat or Sky/BT/TalkTalk (and taking the broadband/phone with them)

Originally Posted by Dave42 (Post 35957178)

looking more likely this wont get resolved

Originally Posted by Dave42 (Post 35957178)

looking more likely this wont get resolved

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35957181)

Not a chance at the moment Dave.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35957167)

To be honest, I think Virgin have walked away in exasperation. Unless UKTV can come up with an acceptable offer, I don't think any further talks will be arranged.

So my advice to UKTV is to stop winding up Virgin's customers by Tweet and start talking to the BBC about their ludicrous stance on OD content. Only that and/or a reduction in price is going to move these talks on now.

Originally Posted by Dave42 (Post 35957178)

looking more likely this wont get resolved

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35957182)

Yeah. UKTV have said that they are working on getting the rest of their channels added to Now TV.

This would be an ideal solution as those being held to their contracts could still downgrade to the lowest Player pack, get their TiVo fee subsidised by VM and record the vast majority of programmes watched.

Now TV could then be used without contract for accessing UKTV and other pay channels lost from VM both live and on demand; with the addition that Sky Atlantic would become available.

A decision on what to do long term could then be taken upon the expiration of the VM contract.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35957196)

Actually, Dave, this has been resolved. UKTV repeat channels have gone.

---------- Post added at 20:57 ---------- Previous post was at 20:55 ----------



Yes, but do Now TV want to devalue their offering with a whole bunch of channels showing little other than repeats?

Originally Posted by dodgem22 (Post 35957199)

Repeats that some people like watching and not all of the programming is repeats Inside the Ambulance, 999 Rescue squad, Inside the Fire, John Bishop in conversation with, Murder on the Blackpool Express, Rebel, Marleys Ghost, Dinnerladies diaries, Blackadders most cunning moments were new.

Granted the last two were talking about repeats :-)

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 35957201)

You do know that 99% of cable TV are repeats OB? Expensive American trash, or cheap British classics, your choice, or used to be ;)

Originally Posted by dodgem22 (Post 35957211)

Just because you dont like those shows does not mean nobody else does either. Horses for courses etc.

I do like the shows I mentioned yes. Would you be happy if channels that had the programming you enjoy were removed??

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35957196)

Actually, Dave, this has been resolved. UKTV repeat channels have gone.

---------- Post added at 20:57 ---------- Previous post was at 20:55 ----------



Yes, but do Now TV want to devalue their offering with a whole bunch of channels showing little other than repeats?

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35957212)

Not the programmes I watch, old chap.

Hopefully, VM are now starting to aim higher. I have been drawing attention to the deteriorating quality of pay tv programmes and the vastly sperior offerings of Netflix and Amazon for some time.

Clearly, Virgin Media are responding to the challenge, and good on them for that. Unless they do something now, people will opt for streaming and ignore the cable offering.

Virgin need to be cognisant of that, improve the quality of their pay tv channels and increase the number of apps on their service.

They cannot afford to fall behind.

---------- Post added at 22:25 ---------- Previous post was at 22:21 ----------



I am all for Virgin having a comprehensive choice of programming, of course. But not at any price. UKTV are just rip-off merchants.

Also, I would say that most people taking out a pay tv subscription for the first time expect to get rather more than endless repeats of old programmes they have seen before. They can get those already on BBC1 in summer time!

We all deserve better.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35957212)

Not the programmes I watch, old chap.

Hopefully, VM are now starting to aim higher. I have been drawing attention to the deteriorating quality of pay tv programmes and the vastly sperior offerings of Netflix and Amazon for some time.

Clearly, Virgin Media are responding to the challenge, and good on them for that. Unless they do something now, people will opt for streaming and ignore the cable offering.

Virgin need to be cognisant of that, improve the quality of their pay tv channels and increase the number of apps on their service.

They cannot afford to fall behind.

---------- Post added at 22:25 ---------- Previous post was at 22:21 ----------



I am all for Virgin having a comprehensive choice of programming, of course. But not at any price. UKTV are just rip-off merchants.

Also, I would say that most people taking out a pay tv subscription for the first time expect to get rather more than endless repeats of old programmes they have seen before. They can get those already on BBC1 in summer time!

We all deserve better.