Re: Virgin Media News
 

Take the channels off Sky?

Its not an option.

Fact is, you cant have Premier League games EXCLUSIVELY to a platform (Cable/Satellite) because then they would get taken to court.

Virgin did it to Sky, because of the Monopoly. That would mean Virgin have a monopoly of packages of Premier League games, as well as German Bundesliga, Golf etc...

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Illegal downloaders will be Banned?

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/comp...-ban-p2p-users

Dont think so.

Fact is, for companies to find out if we are downloading illegal content would mean searching through confidential files on our computers, looking for specific names of sites and/or files... and thats illegal in itself.

Fact is, even though Im not condoning illegal downloading, the whole selling point of getting triple play bundles, is downloading an watching content... illegal or legal.

This is simply a PR stunt to make the company look like its combating piracy, even thought there is not legal sure fire way of doing it... especially given you can download LEGAL films and music on the net now.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

its mainly that recent green paper, about as much use as toilet paper

Scare tactics by the media atm...

think about it, EVERY ISP has to use serious SPI hardware to monitor billions of files per day, and even then BitTorrent would be excluded (and similar) because its "packets" of data, not complete connections with files in, so this would be hard to trace anwyay. each isp would need databases for each customer (see where this is going) ?

I wouldnt worry about it :) - most ISPs cant run the service at a reasonable speed without this, if it does get in, maybe it will kill the likes of AOL and Tiscali tho :)

And most ISPs would need new kit / better training so that they could even define p2p apps by how they "look" rather than by port - (as i think Enta still use port restrictions?) and new services like 4od and BBC iplayer will make things very difficult :)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Sky Appealing the Decision

The ITV Shares thingy-ma-bob. Sky think the CC got it wrong, and, as expected, they will appeal the decision, ivene if analysts say they havent got much of a chance.

Another wonderful waste of Sky Subscribers Money. First buyingshares in a flagging company, and now paying to appeal decisions etc and court costs if they lose.

What have Sky Viewers seen as SKy waste this money? Nothing...

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...-decision.html

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Apart from further wasting money which should be invested in their now branced out business, but of course - you can read all about them in the many Media companies sLy owns. (recouping the costs? :) )

Virgin files appeal on Sky/ITV ruling
 

Virgin Media today appealed the Competition Commission's ruling on Sky's stake in ITV - saying the regulator and the business secretary made "significant errors".


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...tv-ruling.html

info from digital spy

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin Media to Challenge the Competition Commission on ITV Ruling

This also says that Virgin Media is taking this complaint to Ofcom's Investigation of the Pay TV Market (The one that kicked off because of the Sky Basics) which mounts pressure on Sky.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...rss&feed=media

---------- Post added at 18:51 ---------- Previous post was at 18:42 ----------

Virgin Media to be SUED... by Cat Owner?#

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/gener...r_lost_cat.php

Apparently, the dosy mare didnt lock her cats up in a safe place, and allowed them to run around whilst the Installation was going on.

Virgin Media DID lose the lock, and not close the gate behind them, and that is the reason the £300+ cat has been lost.

Shes suing for the price of the cat, as Virgin have replaced the lock and refunded postage costs.

Whacky, eh?

Re: Virgin Media News
 

hi there,
what i would like to know is when are we going to get more hd channels, what with sky pushing on with new channels with or with out hd, evening freeview are now pushing aheard with hd, so why is vm getting so far behind, is it R.B. is more interrested in the internet side of things.
tex

Re: Virgin Media News
 

R.B, Richard Branson has nothing to do with the day-to-day running of Virgin Media. Neil Burkett, acting CEO for Virgin Media has stated that their strength is in Broadband, but they are also strong on content with their VOD service. Whether HD content on Virgin Media will improve is anyones guess at the moment.

Que The BlueRaja.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Id say, from what Neil Berkett said, more HD Content via VOD is the way.

Not channels, Im afraid.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

DirecTV Sale Finalised.

Not really Virgin Media news, but kind of related.

Sky's owners, News Corp. have agreed to release DirecTV, the US' Satellite Broadcaster, to Liberty Media, ran by John Malone.

As some might remember, John Malone was said to be interested in Virgin media last year, before the Credit Crunch scuppered the Cable Co's chance of being sold.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...lised.html?rss

---------- Post added at 20:41 ---------- Previous post was at 20:40 ----------

Anyone find it ironic, that News Corp. want nothing to do with Satellite TV in the US, but its the complete opposite in this country?

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Don't find it ironic really, Cable is much stronger in the US than satelite.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

the comments on that page are actually quite funny!:D

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Funny as chuff - just shows how f*cked this country is - may as well call it USA. ;)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

thanks tv boy for keeping up the good work.;)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I've already gone into the Murdoch vs Malone saga before on this forum, so what repeat, except....

Malone built up a sizeable stake in Murdoch's News Corp company to such an extent that Malone tried to wrestle control of News Corp away from Murdoch. Murdoch took measures to prevent this, the so called "poison pill". But while Malone still had a sizeable stake in News Corp, he was still a considerable threat to Murdoch. So, Murdoch has finally sold his stake in Direct TV to Malone in return for his share of News Corp's shares.

Murdoch has spent the last 20 years building up global satellite ventures that would've eventually all have been merged into one company to create a "Global Sky" type business, the only one in existence.

Murdoch has spent a lot of time and money on his satellite business', now only to have to sell his most important part of it only a few years after finally getting it (Direc TV). Murdoch will not see any irony in this what so ever.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

SKY BASICS.

From New Media Markets - 27 February 2008.

Too bad its a subscription News service Website......

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Utter rubbish. Same thing has been said at the last two quarterly conference calls - 'in talks' - doesn't mean its going to go anywhere.

Realistically it suits Virgin to have the facade of being 'in negotiation' when it gets to court or OFCOM rule on the market.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I know, but I thought it might shut all the Sky One lovers up for 5 mins. ;)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Better investment in city in the firs place plus the reason that News Corp Offloaded Direct TV to John whatsisname is that he and muroch senior are bitter "business" enemies and John had made a significant investment in Newscorp which could have been a pain in RM butt. Swap that holding for the Direct TV

Both sides win-win

---------- Post added at 11:41 ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 ----------

teach me to read the whole thread and not be so long since visiting site

his explanation was right!

Re: Virgin Media News
 

DS JUST reporting that Sky/Virgin are "negotiating" again...

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...e-dispute.html

It still says that negotiations are still "some way off"...

Re: Virgin Media News
 

gotta be good news to virgin customers hasnt it really! for people who have sky just because they cant bear to miss their favorite programmes on sky1 and watching sky sports news.

im included in this because i subscribe ,being honest purely because i love lost lol ,ill save twenty odd quid a month if vm gets sky basics back

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Quote:

Equity groups 'to launch bid' for Virgin Media

Story from DS.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...2BSegmentation

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Project Coaxial? How original! :P

---------- Post added at 01:14 ---------- Previous post was at 00:08 ----------

Just a reminder about the topic we have for the new Code Drop on the V+ Boxes.

Ive recieved some information about improvements and so forth, which I have posted there.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...l#post34504486

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Carlysle Group out of the running for Virgin Media.

http://www.reuters.com/article/indus...33188920080311

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin appoint new managing director of strategy.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=3998

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Liberty 'could buy Virgin channels'

International cable giant Liberty Global would consider buying Virgin Media's television channels, it has said.

Liberty's chief strategy officer Shane O'Neill, also head of its European channels group Chellomedia - (TV Boy) who own Zone Horror - told The Sunday Telegraph: "If [Virgin Media TV] came on the market we would be duty bound to have a good look at it."

Liberty Global is chaired by US media tycoon John Malone.

Info from The Sunday Telegraph/Digital Spy.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Would that be a good thing or bad...????:confused::)

I think a good thing..we would hopefully get the sky channels back.;)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Murdoch slams BBC for stifling competition

News Corporation's Europe and Asia CEO James Murdoch has hit out at the BBC for "crowding out" and "squashing" competitors with its iPlayer catch-up service.

In a Q&A after the UK Marketing Society's annual lecture in London last night, Murdoch said the iPlayer was "a pre-emptive intervention in a marketplace otherwise hugely competitive and moving very fast."

Murdoch added that the iPlayer had "hoovered up" otherwise productive resources and "squashed other competitors." He said: "I'm not saying it is a bad product, but I am saying it does crowd out competition and innovation. But we have it now, so there you are."

BSkyB's own catch-up service, Sky Anytime, runs on the same technology as the BBC iPlayer, the VeriSign-owned Kontiki platform.

Murdoch was asked whether he regretted BSkyB's £940m (US$1.47bn) purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV, now that its shares have plummeted and competition authorities may force BSkyB to cut its holding to less than 7.5%.

"All shareholders would look and say the shares are worth less than what they were, and that's frustrating as an investor," said Murdoch, although he defended ITV, adding there was "potential over the long term for value to be realised" from the commercial terrestrial broadcaster.

"Over the long term ITV is still very attractive," he said.

Story from C21 Media.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Setantas racing world to close.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=4640

Police and virgin carry out more raids.
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Home-raide...-TV.4030656.jp

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Racing World was not on Virgin to start with but all the US Racing will move over to Racing UK.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

ITV inflicts more pain on Sky

BSkyB has reported a loss for the past nine months due to the plunge in value of its stake in ITV, as speculation that it has been approached to offload this to RTL in return for channel Five was revived yesterday.

The UK satellite TV company recorded a pre-tax loss of £118m (US$232.3m) for the nine months to March 31 as a result of a £474m impairment charge relating to its 17.9% shareholding in ITV.

Sky said in February it would take a £343m blow to its finances for the quarter ending December 31 last year due to its rapidly depreciating ITV investment. A further £131m has been heaped on in the three months since.

But revenue for the past nine months rose 10% to £3.71bn. Revenue for the past quarter rose to £1.25bn from £1.2bn for the same period a year earlier, with the company nudging nearer nine million customers on the back of 56,000 net additions.

The company said that it had signed up another 262,000 customers to its DVR service Sky+, putting it in 3,393,000 households, or 38% of its overall base. 465,000 Sky customers now have high definition, up 43,000.

Sky Broadband added 229,000 customers, taking it to1,428,000 while the Sky Talk telephone business grew 180,000 to 1,095,000. Average revenue per user hit an all-time high of £424 while churn stood at 10.5%, its lowest for four years.

BSkyB CEO Jeremy Darroch said it was a strong set of results: "We are delivering for customers through a combination of great quality, value and service. As a result, more customers are choosing Sky, they are more satisfied and they are taking more products than ever before," he said.

Darroch would not comment on whether Sky would consider swapping its stake in ITV for Five after rumours that RTL Group was interested in such a deal in conjunction with Haim Saban first emerged earlier this month.

Speculation on this was revived yesterday when ITV MD of global content Dawn Airey quit suddenly to join RTL as chair and CEO of Five, a broadcaster she was previously CEO of before moving to Sky.

In January the UK Competition Commission instructed Sky to reduce its 17.9% stake in ITV to less than 7.5% - a move it subsequently challenged and is awaiting a high court ruling on in June.


http://www.c21media.net/news/detail....&article=41464

Info from C21.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Bskyb looking to buy cable channels.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...yb.virginmedia

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I know this is a long shot but if that where to happen do you think we might get the sky channels back..?????:confused:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

You are confusing content with distribution - the channels (content) may be bought, but the distribution (Virgin Media) is still separate, and the case is still going through the courts.

So, in short, probably not.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Does that mean that Sky will buy the Virgin channels then deny access to those channels as well...

Re: Virgin Media News
 

No way they will get them for £600m, when they are worth £800m.

I think Id refuse to sell to Sky, also, just to fuel the fire.

They have screwed Virgin over, so why dont Virgin lure them in with an offer, but reject it (no doubt another company would buy them for the "real" price.)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

With the current court case, BERR investigation, I can't see any way that the Observer article is correct, it lacks any factual statements and quotes a "city source".

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The words pot, kettle and black come to mind:rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

UK terrestrial Channel 4 has secured headline sponsorship for the ninth season of über reality show Big Brother, with telecoms company Virgin Mobile returning to back the series.

Virgin Mobile signed up to sponsored the show's eighth season last year and also sponsored Big Brother Celebrity Hijack this year. It took over the headline sponsor slot after The Carphone Warehouse dropped out in March last year, following the infamous Celebrity Big Brother racism row.

http://www.c21media.net/resources/de...&article=41617

Info from C21.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The Link doesn't work

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Sorry about that.

http://www.c21media.net/resources/de...&article=41617

---------- Post added at 12:00 ---------- Previous post was at 11:56 ----------

Also:

UK cable firm Virgin Media added 36,800 net cable TV subscribers in the first quarter of 2008, marginally up from the same period in 2007. Churn fell and the company boasted record triple-play penetration.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/05/18.gifVirgin admitted that the cable TV additions were lower than expected, particularly given the previous quarter's Christmas-inflated figure of 61,100, but said this was "partly due to alterations to acquisition offers in order to emphasise higher-priced TV tiers."

Churn, the level of subscriber disconnections, fell to 1.2% (compared with 1.6% in Q1 2007), which Virgin said was the lowest level since 2004. That record triple-play penetration figure stood at 51.3%, compared with 42.9% in the same quarter last year.

Virgin's new VoD services now numbers 1.6 million users on a monthly basis, representing a reach of 48%. Average views per user per month in the quarter were 24 compared to 23 in the previous quarter and 11 a year ago.

In total, average monthly views were 36 million in the quarter, up 10% on the previous quarter and up 155% on the same quarter last year, Virgin said.

http://www.c21media.net/news/detail....&article=41645

Virgin1 lines up rude awakening

UK cable network Virgin Media Television's entertainment channel Virgin1 has unveiled three "provocative" one-off factual commissions for The Rude Season, a summer line-up of primetime programming.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/05/18.gifShock doc My Free Boobs (1x60', working title), produced by Amaze TV, explores "the rising internet phenomenon" of social networking sites that offer women the opportunity to raise funds for breast implants by attracting male benefactors willing to pay for them.

Meanwhile, Happy Birthday Viagra (1x60'), also produced by Amaze TV, will mark 10 years since the UK's National Health Service approved the titular drug for use as a treatment for male impotence.

The new season also includes The Sex Lives of Twins (1x60'), produced by Endemol-owned Cheetah Television, which will take an "in-depth" look at "compelling and real stories," including the "growing trend" of identical twins who date the same person.

Virgin1 acting director of programmes Daniela Neumann said: "Virgin1's upcoming season embodies the very essence of original content that we're undertaking this year. Smart, informative and enquiring, these shows will push boundaries and really get people talking. These programmes are fundamentally intelligent docs on sex and sex lives today."

My Free Boobs, commissioned by Virgin1's senior commissioning editor Lucy Pilkington, and Happy Birthday Viagra, commissioned by Virgin1's senior commissioning editor Rebecca Johnson, are both being exec produced by Amaze TV's Sham Sandhu.

The Sex Lives of Twins, also commissioned by Pilkington, will be exec produced by Cheetah's Catherine Welton.

All the info is from C21 Media.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin 1 lines up Rude Season
Virgin 1 has commissioned three original documentaries for a Rude Season.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a9551...de-season.html

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin are really aiming for the classy end of the market there. Just as well Nuts TV isn't on cable or it would have some real competition. Now they just need an ultra right wing tabloid 'news' channel to call their own and make up for the missing Murdoch mouth piece that is Sky News.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

They could offer that fair minded chap Rush Limbaugh his own show, with Richard Littlejohn as a deputy and guest appearance's from Gary Bushell all under the watchful eye of Melanie Phillips. Just imagine the impartiality of this lot...:doh::doh::doh:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I really like how the cable companies have refined the TV channels, I mean Sky has so much crap! They are far too many news channels. News News News News and more News!!!!!

Its enough to turn someone crazy!

I mean there is:

Sky news
BBC news
Fox News
NBC News
CNN
Euronews
BBC Parliament

And loads more

And there also way to many shopping channels.

A clever way of Virgin Media getting more control over Sky is if Virgin acquires ITV shares as they planned as well as acquiring Discovery Europe. That way they can control which channels Sky has, Virgin could end all contracts it has with Sky and all the channels could be terminated on Sky and there wouldnt be a worth paying Sky a subscription. Then customers would turn to Virgin Media instead. It would probably take Sky customers a month before they get fed up of Sky.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I think thats what many were hoping for when they originally put their name forward for ITV, albeit to help the relationship with Sky, not to make it worse.

Now, if Virgin took the shares, which is very risky, given that ITV just lost Sky £400m, they could, in essence "Blackmail" Sky for CERTAIN things, whereas actual distribution of the channel remains in place because its a Publicly Advertised Company or something like that... Basically, ITV HAS to go to Sky customers, just like Sky Sports has to come to us (even if it is for a fixed price.)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Thats so right!

However, Virgin Media and its customers don't have to have Sky sports, they could use in-house services such as Setanta ect...

Only reason why Virgin Media kept Sky sports is because there is a medium sized demand for it. Same with Sky movies,however, if Virgin introduced movie channels offering on demand features too for half the price of Sky Movies, then there would be no need for Sky Movies.

However, since Sky1 and Sky news has lost around 4Million potential viewers or 5 million if you include Freeview and Topuptv, advertisers will soon find that its no longer worth advertising on such channels and revenue will drop. Furthermore, the other Sky channels show far too many repeats too such as Sky Real Lives, its shows repeats from ITV's schedule from 2001, and even worse, they have been aired on ITV2 several times too!

But if a viewer survey was to go out to all digital viewers on all networks incl Sky,Tiscali,Wight cable,Smallworld and Freeview, I wonder which channels would be most popular? Virgin's or Sky's.

With Virgin's channels,there is a lot to look forward too:

Greys Anatomy
Most Haunted
Maury
Jerry Springer
Steve Wilko's
Americas Next top model
Britains Next top model
So you think you can dance
6th sense colin fry
The Fix
The Riches
Terminator
Street Crime
Desmonds
Queer eye for the straight guy
Startrek

And many many more

And Sky...........

Lost
Simpsons which you can get on Channel 4
Filth Files
Airline From ITV 2001

And a few more worthless things.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

And the award for most blinkered view of Sky vs VM 2008 goes to....

You forgot to mention on Sky (off the top of my head)

Battlestar Galactica, Bones, Gladiators, Road Wars, Ross Kemp plays a hardman, Colour of Magic and a bunch of others.

Personally I find Virgins lineup to be mostly guff with the occasional gem whereas Skys is still mostly guff but with slightly more gems.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I don't think VM could offer a movie channel that would be as good as Sky Movies due to the fact that alot of films are produced by 20th Century Fox and the same with alot of the must see shows which are by Fox and so go straight to Sky first.

VM could offer a HBO TV as a linear channel for the VOD offering similar to Virgin Central. Yes it would just be the VOD stuff but alot of viewers aren't even aware what VOD is and as far as they are concerned if it isn't listed in the paper it isn't on TV

Re: Virgin Media News
 

BSkyB is preparing for a courtroom showdown with arch-rival Virgin Media today in a bid to prevent the disclosure of confidential business documents.

At a hearing last month, a judge threw out Sky's application to prevent three of Virgin Media's lawyers viewing documents it was set to hand over as part of the pre-trial disclosure process.

Mr Justice Lewison rejected the application by Sky, saying it would be "extremely disruptive of trial preparations". He ordered Sky to pay Virgin Media's costs, put at £30,000. Sky immediately said it would appeal.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...4/cnsky114.xml

Info from Telegraph.

---------- Post added at 10:32 ---------- Previous post was at 08:40 ----------

Virgin rapped for "cheapest Setanta" ads
Adverts claiming that "the cheapest way to get Setanta Sports" is to subscribe to Virgin Media's cable TV service were misleading, the Advertising Standards Agency has ruled.

The national press adverts stated: "If you don't want to know the cheapest way to get Setanta Sports, look away now."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...tanta-ads.html

Story from Digital Spy.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

BSkyB loses Virgin appeal

Within minutes of hearing the case yesterday, three of the country's top judges threw out Sky's appeal and ordered the satellite broadcaster to pay Virgin £40,000 in costs.


Sky has handed over 8,800 documents, 7,900 of which are confidential, to Virgin's legal team.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...5/cnsky115.xml

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The Court of Appeal has rejected a request from Sky regarding a pre-trial disclosure package pertaining to the firm's carriage dispute case with Virgin Media.

Sky had sought confirmation that the lawyers who saw the documents would not also be working on two other ongoing matters involving both firms. Virgin is employing legal firm Ashursts for the carriage case, its appeal against a Competition Commission ruling on Sky's stake in ITV and the Ofcom review of the pay TV market.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...n-dispute.html

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I don't want to get involved in a slagging match, of Sky and VM, but this whole business, wants to make me puke, Most of the channels on VM have to go through certain legal matters, as this would invlove Sky, so no one would win, with VM taking Sky to court is a total waste of money, we now have the news, that the trial is going to be next year, l say again, WHY does VM have to waste OUR money in going to court, to prove or win what, It is up to ANY business, to get a good price for its products, Sky has more channels, becuase, that is what the channels want, they want to be with Sky, VM will only have the channels, they feel are nessersary on there network, which is wrong, VM have to have channels that benefit there customers, I don't think Sky are trying to rip off VM, we all know that this is a bitter dispute, started by Sir Richard, when he tried to buy ITV, and Sky pip him, and he has a sore nose, why the hell don't they just sit round a table and sort the matter out, instead of lining some rich lawyers pockets, Arh.Arh

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Sky were charging too much for the channels and Virgin did not feel they are worth that much. Nothing to do with the ITV thing.

The court case is looking like it might be in court this summer not next year.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin Media managing director of brand and marketing James Kydd is to leave the company next month.

Kydd, who has been at the company since 2006, was a driving force behind its relaunch as Virgin Media. He has overseen as series of high profile campaigns aimed at building brand awareness.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2..._to_leave.html

Info from Broadcastnow.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

[ot]
oooh marketing director is leaving.

Maybe they will stop doing marketing campaigns where they dont have a cable network.. and focus on reconfiguring / upgrading the UBRs so they can cope, and pushing more people onto free space of the UBRs :)
[/ot]

love this thread <3

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The following is from ufitm - From an e-mail HE got from Neil Berkett.


Q1 Are there any more news channels coming this year, also when will the line up of ex telewest become the same as there is more on that line.

Quote:

A1. We will be launching more channels later in the year, and the channel launches will be a mixture of those which will harmonise the services across the platforms and some new content for all customers. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide details around the nature of this content at this point, but you should see it arrive over the coming months.

Q2. When are you going to add more to your HD line-up as on BBC HD. I like watching the nature and natural history programmes and the sport; It makes you feel like you are there.

Quote:

A2. Virgin Media remains committed to delivering wide-ranging, high quality programming, functionality and on demand services to our customers. In this respect we will continue to talk to content providers to ensure Virgin Media offers customers a compelling content line-up.

Quote:

I hope that you've been checking out all the HD content in the on demand service, both in the TV choice section (e.g. Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Band of Brothers, Sopranos and more, and the 20-30 HD movies available on demand at any one time).

Q3. When the 50 MB speed internet starts will it be a upgrade for the 20 MB users?

Quote:

A3. We are currently finalising plans for our 50MB service and will be confirming full details about availability closer to the time. However what I can tell you is that because our 50MB service will be a new service based on a new technology it will not be possible for customers to access 50MB services with their existing modems. We will be letting customers know about how to access these new modems and upgrade their service nearer to time to launch 50MB.

Q4. When will be getting the Virgin Media email addresses?

Quote:

A4. In the coming months we will be making @virginmedia.com email addresses available, just like you’d expect.

Quote:

Before we do, we will send you an email giving you all the information you need, and letting you know if there is anything you need to do. When we do make @virginmedia.com addresses available, you will still be able to keep the old addresses you have been using, or get a Virgin Media address, or both- the choice is yours. For the time being, there is no charge to our current services like spam and virus protection, web mail access, automatic reply and forwarding, and enough e-mail addresses for all the family to use. Check out www.virginmedia.com/email for the latest news and useful email links.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

BSkyB has applied for permission to appeal a ruling that it must reduce its 17.9% stake in ITV to below 7.5%.

Now the company intends to take the case to the Courts of Appeal, a move requiring approval from the CAT.

"I think some people who are talking about tactics and why we would want to go to further appeal are forgetting that in this case we believe we are right," a senior Sky source told the Financial Times. "We think there is no reason to believe that this stake affects competition in the UK market and we believe that the decision as it stands affects our freedom to invest."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...tv-ruling.html

Info from Digital Spy.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin's 50Mb broadband arriving December 15?

Mystery event looks certain to be launch conference

Virgin Media looks set to launch its 50Mb broadband on December 15 after inviting journalists to a mystery event.

Although the company has thus far declined to give a firm date for the launch of its 50Mb service, it has always maintained that it would be before the end of the year.

Now, journalists have been told to 'hold the date' on December 15 – where the company will almost certainly show off the fastest broadband in the UK.
http://www.techradar.com/news/networ...dec-15--490060

Info from Techradar.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Sky must not avoid pay-TV regulations say rivals.

BSkyB should not be allowed to use Project Canvas as a loophole to avoid proposed pay-TV regulations, its two main rivals have claimed in a submission to Ofcom.

In a joint submission to Ofcom’s pay-TV review, published on the regulator’s website this morning [28 October], BT, Virgin Media and Top Up TV, have urged Ofcom to make sure Sky does not have a means of avoiding proposed new regulations.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/r...007402.article

Re: Virgin Media News
 

According to this article OFCOM has published a response to the consultation but doesn't really say what it is http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/5007406.article

Re: Virgin Media News
 

BBC Worldwide would be allowed to buy Virgin Media's UKTV stake

BBC Worldwide will be allowed to acquire Virgin Media's 50% stake in pay-TV joint venture UKTV to help secure the financial future of Channel 4, despite a ban on all other merger and acquisition activity imposed by the BBC Trust today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...gin-media-uktv

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Guardian: Discovery Networks and Scripps in running for Virgin's UKTV stake.

Virgin Media is thought to have narrowed down the long drawn-out search for a buyer for its UKTV stake to two interested parties, US broadcasters Discovery Networks and Scripps.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...ktv-stake-sale

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Scripps Networks 'closes on UKTV deal'

US cable broadcaster Scripps Networks is reportedly close to acquiring a 50% stake in UKTV, the operator of Dave, Watch and Good Food, in a $500m (£319m) deal.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...uktv-deal.html

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Broadcast: Scripps poised for UKTV deal.

Media Boy highlights -

Scripps Networks Interactive is on the verge of buying Virgin Media’s 50% stake in UKTV, and the British broadcaster is preparing to follow the deal by launching a VoD player.

Scripps’ acquisition is “all but done”, according to one UKTV insider. An announcement is expected imminently.

Another factor in the deal was whether BBCW would grant VoD rights. Several sources indicated an agreement is now in place, and that UKTV is “well down the line” with plans to launch an on-demand player before the end of the year.

The player is likely to launch via the UKTV website, as well as via Virgin Media’s cable-based TV on Demand service and website.

UKTV, Scripps, Virgin Media and BBCW all declined to comment.

Full story here: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...030056.article

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Good to see your still posting news MB, I've been following your blog for some time and was sad to see that you have decided to close it but it makes sense if you're going to continue your posts on this forum instead.

Keep up the good work!

Re: Virgin Media News
 

l think its wise that Virgin are getting out of the channel owning business and it will be a nice added extra to have the UKTV VOD on Virgins cable service.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

If any of the Media Boy Blog followers are reading this can they to go my blog and remove they name from the follower list by July 28th.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Really? I think since Virgin Media sold off Virgin Media TV, there is less to watch and more to pay. That 50% ownership of UKTV was revenue that could help keep the cost of Virgin Media services down, now that is going, Virgin Media will get one lump sum which it will use to expand its network and then raise the cost to customers to cover the yearly profit that it once made from UKTV.

And the BBC owns the remaining 50% profiting from the advertising when it claims that ''we do not have adverts on our channels and therefore we impose a licence fee upon you'' To be honest i've never paid for a TV licence and never will, the BBC should have adverts on or else make them pay-tv channels and therefore be included in your Virgin Media or Sky bill. £145 per year is a lot of money just to watch Eastenders!

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The BBC wouldn't work as a Pay-TV company despite the fact its great reputation for quality programming. Adverts may be a solution but personally I'd rather pay my license fee than have Go Compare every 15 minutes into the F1 or Doctor Who. Plus they offer much more than Eastenders seeing as they operate at least 7 channels and countless radio stations all with a large viewing/listening percentage.

Plus without innovations like iPlayer, all the channels would be lagging behind and I doubt you'd have catchup for anything.

Also, BBC and BBC Worldwide are two separate companies so the reason there are adverts on UKTV channels is the same reason they don't hand out DVDs of the shows, and probably why shows like Doctor Who and Top Gear can even afford to be made.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The licence fee is a bargain

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Well there's more HD to watch - without the sale, we wouldn't have any of the Sky HD channels.

For that alone, the sale was worth it. Plenty of cable companies worldwide don't own any content (Time Warner Cable in the States being a good example) and those companies do just fine.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Depends on what you think is more worth it, picture quality v programme quantity, for me it's programme quantity - I'd happily trade HD channels to get Sky Atlantic on VM even if only on SD.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Time Warner cable are part of the group that owns Warner Bros so I am sure they have plenty of content within easy reach, from Warner Bros TV.:D

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Indeed you are correct

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

Re: Virgin Media News
 

That's just a minor detail. ;)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Not to mention that if the BBC carried adverts it would destroy the advertising market in the UK.
The BBC channels are the most watched, as such they'd have the highest advertising fees, and people would rush to advertise on them. The advertising market isn't infinite, there's only so much advertising spend to go round. That means that the other channels would get less income, budgets would have to be cut, and we'd have an inferior service overall.

Channels are feeling the squeeze from advertising at the moment, can you imagine how much worse it would be if they were competing with the BBC for advertising draw?

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Virgin Media News: Virgin Media sells UKTV stake to Scripps for £339m.

For more info to go this thread: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...e-scripps.html

Re: Virgin Media News
 

The Mail on Sunday: Furious BBC tells Virgin to pull 'Dr Who advert'.

The BBC is demanding that a Virgin Media television advert featuring David Tennant is pulled off air because they say it is trying to cash in on the success of Doctor Who.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1rf9QISQV

Re: Virgin Media News
 

I thought the advert was brilliant and how petty are the BBC.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

l am afraid its typical BBC who are a shadow of what they used to be as they are run by nobodys who know nothing about running a once great corporation.:td::(

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Pathetic from the BBC. No character reference is made whatsoever, it's all suggestion and innuendo.

So if Virgin wanted to do an advert with Lord Alan Sugar where he shoots Richard Branson from a cannon and declares "You're fired" then they would try and stop that too?

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Total waste of space organisation.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

It shows David Tennant using the TiVo search facility to look himself up, and then selecting the Dr Who show. Clearly visible is the name of the show, the graphic used to represent it on TiVo and the info "come join the doctor etc...".

I agree it's a bit petty from the Beeb, but it is a shade more than "suggestion and innuendo" in all fairness.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

:shocked: Clearly my powers of observation are not as good as they used to be:D

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Your powers of observation are okay, they have edited the advert and left the spoken reference out. I saw the advert again earlier this evening.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Curiously, according to Google News, this "story" only appeared in the Daily Wail and The Mirror. I wonder why? :rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Less alike papers ( in the main stream) I cannot think of. What is your point :confused:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

And :rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Both of which hate the BBC and are always running stories against them.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Must start buying them in that case:shocked:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Good

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Dont think that the BBC is getting a great amount of support here.

Drama is fine.Quiz's some great "food " shows OK - News, current affairs I feel are very poor not to say somewhat biased.

Anyway but on thread. rant over:sleep:

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Bias, like beauty of course, being in the eye of the beholder :)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

So true, that is why I try to watch Euro news at least once a week ;)

Re: Virgin Media News
 

Well how would you rate a tv provider that decides to change the channel a sporting event is being transmitted on at half time and does not tell any one IE first half on BBC1 second half on BBC2. Professionalism does not fit the BBC.

Considering the amount of money they raise in there tax i would expect a decent level of professionalism from them. And before you say it i know its not a tax but it might has well be as it is forced on anyone who owns a TV even if they do NOT watch the BBC

I would not shed a tear if they where made to have a card so they only get money from those who watch them.

Re: Virgin Media News
 

It is a tax however it is dressed up , as is NI but thats for another place & time:D

Re: Virgin Media News
 

BBC shows are a very small percentage ofmy viewing, but I still support them as I think that it's important that we have a broadcaster that puts out a broad range of shows. I also think the licence fee is the best way to fund them. They are professional on the whole; yes, they make a few gaffs here and there, is room for improvment (sticking to shedule timeings for one) but which broadcaster is perfect?