Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I'm not sure about that Carl, as we had NTL here.

It has now been confirmed that the Sony Movie Channel will be FTV on Sky.

It looks like Sky are putting them on the one year probationary period to see what the ratings are like, before giving them a cut of the subscription money.

Hopefully, as Sony will obviously want to maximise their ratings* and the fact that SET is on VM, it will appear on VM.

*Unless BARB figures are broken down per platform and any cable viewers won't push up the satellite figures. Does anybody know if this is the case?

Maybe that's why we got SET, to push the figures up as that channel also appears to be on a probationary period. Perhaps Sony let VM have SET for free to help the aggregated figures (purely speculation on my part.)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

One would have thought that the same might apply to a certain Sky Atlantic :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Yes one would have hoped so but alas it seems there is still nothing on the horizon.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

why people go on about SA the most over hyped channel ever as ratings show it crap apart from game of thrones nothing worth watching

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That may be your opinion but obviously some others don't share it; and their opinion is just as valid as yours. There are two or three new series on there that I like the look of and wouldn't mind watching. Not to mention some older stuff.

Yeah there's a few series on SA that I'd like to check out.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

yes agree with that part Carl but vast vast majority of sky customers dont watch it as showed by the very crap viewing figures so guess most share my opinion and as MM has pointed out before sky not worried about the figures or it would have been on VM long ago

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I agree. Sky Atlantic and the missing ITV channels are the black hole in Virgin Media's offering.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Please let's not talk viewing figures and quality as the two do not go hand in hand otherwise Justin Bieber would not be a mega star and Eastenders would not be watched by millions.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Seconded.:tu:

Yeah I'm still hoping we get them one day SA HD and the ITV HD channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Perhaps the legendary MB can give us some good news soon regarding these channels.

Yeah hopefully I think we'll get the ITV HD channels first.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Again, that's just subjective opinion though. We could go on like this all day, so let's not. Okay? :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

My wife likes the look of the new "Awake" series about to start on Sky Atlantic, double page article in the Daily Mail Saturday magazine didn’t help so I am under pressure at home why we are with VM and not Sky! Understand it has had top ratings in the USA so expect Sky viewers will be watching/recording in decent numbers.

It only takes a few top rated series to be on a channel for that channel to be in demand, there may be other rubbish and daytime SA is like any average channels, but put a couple of leading series on the channel and the demand is there.

Just remember the issue VM had with “Lost” viewers on VM when they were in dispute with Sky and Sky One was removed. That is the impact of a single popular series.

So come on VM, do a deal with Sky on SA even if it is SD only and those ITV 2 to 4 HD channels feel really overdue now with increased sport content, etc.

VM are starting to feel second rate again in terms of content. You can have all the features you like on Tivo (I have one) but unless you can watch what you want it is worthless.

One hope I had with Tivo is that it becomes provider independent so content viewing can be from either traditional subscriber channels or Internet based content providers. Not even achieved that yet for films i.e. Netflix, Lovefilms. Appreciate other content providers will take more time and there are the legal issues as well but in the mean time access to content is key!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Of course, we don't know what the real issue is why VM doesn't have the channel. No doubt Sky fans will agree that it's VM's fault and vice versa for VM fans. Therefore it's probably a bit of both ;)

(Ouch! I think I just got a splinter in my ass from sitting on this here fence!:D)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I think Sky personally see Sky Atlantic HD as a place to offer unique content to its own customers , they probably see it as a USP for the platform in much the same way VM see TIVO on their platform , that said Sky Atlantic HD in Germany it's to be added onto another platform.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2012/...b-goes-all-hd/

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

If you have a connected tv like i do and iam getting a little peeved with sky i swear they want to take over the world.

http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...esence-1078598

:mad::mad:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Well it did not exactly entice many customers in the last 3 months so one suspects its a policy that has not exactly worked out as Sky planned.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/s1...-atlantic.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

On the contrary Den it's growth in a challenging market , they also did well with customers upgrading to HD at an extra £10.25 a month probably due to Sky Sports F1 HD's inclusion in the HD pack.

---------- Post added at 10:55 ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 ----------

I would say it's a pretty decent business move.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Unfortunately, Sky seem to be the only ones with the money to do this sort of thing and they are positioning themselves well for the future by acquiring established Companies that are already in the market.

---------- Post added at 11:24 ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 ----------

I would have to agree .

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

But how much will it take until someone says stop and give other company a chance.
It seems so wrong for sky to buy and buy and buy its like a bully in a play ground.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Yes and like all bullys in the playground there is always the chance that its comeuppance will come sooner rather then later.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I am not happy about Sky doing this ,but hey what can we do, unless Government take a stand via ofcom, which seems unlikely we have to live with it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

How's this any different to Amazon buying Lovefilm , Tesco buying Blinkbox or Walmart buying VUDU.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

unlike the above Sky want to take over the world.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

And Tesco don't?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Lets face it all Corporations are the same given the chance.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Iam generally on about tv.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I meant that, as a third party channel who wants a share of the satellite subs, they would want to bulk up their viewing figures for the benefit of Sky, as opposed to advertisers (although higher viewing figures wouldn't harm the ad rates either.)

Let's hope so :D

As for SA, when it does arrive, you can be sure you won't have missed anything as they will be repeating the programmes/series ad infinitum.

I can't think of anything that we didn't eventually get to see after the Sky Basics row was resolved.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I have not seen any news about channel launches in the last two months.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I'm just hoping that when Sky Now launches, one of the options will be a standalone subscription to Sky Atlantic. Apart from moving to Sky, that sadly appears to be the best chance to get SA.

I think it would make sense for Sky to do that as any potential VM or BT defectors will have already gone and it gives them extra revenue from those not prepared to move to Sky just for SA. But it's probably whishful thinking on my part.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

What ever I think of Sky ( any supermarket for that matter) We live in a free market economy. They only supply what people are willing to pay for. If enough people walk away they go bust - remember Ratiners.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Although to be fair, no one at Sky has made any 'foot in mouth' comment that Gerald Ratner did. He was, arguably, the architect of his own downfall. Or maybe their stuff really was c*** :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Of course all the Sky are bad Tesco are evil blah blah doesn't hide that fact that bog all is coming to virgin as far as we know. Very poor year so far Virgin:td:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Maybe this will cheer you up Henke as from what l have heard is there are several big things on the horizon and plenty of small things on the horizon too but please don't ask me any more then that because the source involved did not go into details but was adamant that there is plenty stirring in the wind for the rest of the year.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

????:erm::shocking:

Wow so something MIGHT be"coming soon to virgn tv" :cool:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Let me guess HANG MAN 2 :p:

Ok joking aside All I really want is Full Red button services ( Yes I know) & reminders would be nice.
SA not bothered .

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Now now Itshim less of the pessimism.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

:LOL::clap:

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:27 ----------


I thought that was quite optimistic ( well for me anyway:p:)

Home alone to night - Castle , Once upon a time & CSI await along with a bowl of Jelly beans - I am in heaven !!! Then off to the Sun for a week.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I take it you mean Den :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Ahh there's nothing like the master telling off one of his former apprentice's.:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Only pulling your leg Den , I would never doubt a man of your calibre :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

hopefully 2nd 3rd and 4th quarters are lot better than the first

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

We teachers can only help the work going on, as servants wait upon their master.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Sky currently own the content and the means to deliver it. Here's hoping that there is distinct split between the two for all companies.

Once Sky the provider isn't linked with Sky the content holder then the latter will want to get the content out to as many outlets as possible.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Heres hoping. :Sun:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

wishfull thinking sadly sky would never allow that

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Which is why I am sure they will try and move all their new US stuff onto the channel and off the others that they have to offer to other providers. (Living, One, etc.)

---------- Post added at 17:34 ---------- Previous post was at 17:31 ----------

I kant tipe wiv my fingers xossed :p:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That will never happen in my opinion , VM was at one point a broadcaster and a platform as are Comcast , Time Warner , DirecTV the list goes on.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

totally agree MM sky will never let that happen

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Where are the great regulators Ofcom when you need them.:td::(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

the torries are in bed with the murdochs den if it wasnt for for milly dowlers phone being hacked murdoch would have 100% control of sky by now and things would be much worse doubt torries will let ofcom do to much to sky sadly

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I think they probably want to do that, but I suspect that they won't for fear of too many complaints, especially with ofcom keeping an eye on them.

It is good to see the UK branded channels picking up new US dramas; Watch, Alibi, Really and even Dave (Suits).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

They will not do that , Sky One won broadcast channel of the year , that alone shows their commitment to it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

With all the eyes on the tories relationship with news corp ATM, I doubt that they will influence ofcom on the 'fit and proper' bit; at least this time, anyway.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

apart from the sports channels there with holding and we paying for MM and guess Den means SA too not that im bothered about that one

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

They will not influence them and this is not the thread for this?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

The masters loyalty knows no bounds it seems.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Get ready for what is coming:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

As I said, I agree they won't. I bet they'd like to though. They seem to have a new found interest in creating new british drama, so they could put that on Sky One.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Credit where credits due Carl I actually found that quite funny :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

It took longer to figure out and type too. :) And only "quite" funny? :eek: :( :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

There is the outside Carl:D:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Digital Spy: 'Antiques Roadshow' goes digital in BBC's first 'companion experience'.

The BBC's much-loved Antiques Roadshow series is to go digital with a new multiplatform game, marking the corporation's first ever public launch of a 'companion screen experience'.

A "Guess the value" game will accompany the new series of Antiques Roadshow in September, tapping into viewers' pastimes of guessing the value people's antiques will get from the experts.

Available on PC, tablet, mobile or via the BBC Red Button.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...xperience.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Brilliant can not wait till it shows Whitefriars Glass

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Yes l have seen that you are into that so let the excitement build.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Yes true when I'am spending s***loads of money on glass. Must have over £5000 worth of glass at the moment with more to be delivered .

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

You and your partner should be proud of your collection as our pride and joy is our DVD collection.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Got the price wrong as my partner has said it is about £15,000 and more to come. Den could you buy me this item mate:erm:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIQUE-WHI...item3a7395cffc

Sorry way off topic now back on it?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

l will have to bring out the monopoly money to buy that.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

The Guardian is reporting that ESPN will be bidding for more and better Premier League games.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...?newsfeed=true

I wonder (if they are succesful) if this means that we will be getting more footy in the XL pack or if ESPN will become too pricey to be included in XL.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

The what now? :confused: :nono::help:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Personally l expect ESPN to win two of the six packages and l expect it also to be still included in the XL pack because anything otherwise would be very foolish indeed as this is one advantage amongst several other things where they have a advantage over Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I can also see ESPN winning two Premier League packages. I would also like to see them win the NFL rights off SKY this summer.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Yes it would be great if they could win the NFL rights but lets see what transpires in the summer.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Whilst Sky's coverage of matches has been good, their support programming has been almost been non existent. ESPN would seem to be the natural home of the NFL in the UK as far as pay TV is concerned.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

This is excellent news.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

It would be nice for once if someone outbid Sky. :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Highly unlikely with Sky's bottomless pit full of money.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

It's been suggested Al Jazeera might be bidding this time which could mean less football if they're succesful. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

l suspect with Al Jazeera its all talk and not much else.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Hope so ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Al Jazeera isn't all talk in France where they have won the French league rights and are launching two new sports channels but I agree with your previous comment that the important thing is that Virgin continue to have Premier League Football in the XL Pack.

ESPN winning two of the six packages (if that's how the Premier League markets their games this time) would probably be the best outcome.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

My worry is that Al Jazeera do get into the act and we will have at least 3 TV stations to watch the football. That will be no good for anyone.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That was my worry, I knew they had got TV rights in France not sure about anywhere else. Certainly can't afford to pay out for another sports package if it came to that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That would be a disaster for the avid football fan, it really is a worse case scenario.:(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

l doubt whether that will happen though.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Why? Aren't people always complaining about Sky's power and dominance? Won't this help with this issue?

Of course, VM don't actually carry Al Jazeera...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

You're right of course. Because football in the UK is basically owned by Sky, so they will decide who gets what, nobody else.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

The Premier League has issued an invitation to tender for the domestic UK broadcast rights for the 2013-14 to 2015-16 football seasons.

It says 154 matches will be shown live on TV each season from 2013-14 - 16 more than currently broadcast and more than 40% of all top-level matches

The extra 16 live games comes as matches are moved away from Saturday 15:00 kick-off times, due to Europa League involvement or police advice.

No 15:00 kick-offs can be shown live.

The 154 games will be split into seven packages comprising five packages of 26 matches and two packages of 12 matches. No one buyer will be allowed to buy more than five packages or 116 matches.

The current rights are held by Sky and ESPN, and a challenge from Al Jazeera is also expected this time round.

"This creates a more attractive and compelling offering for both broadcasters and fans; whilst allowing the continued protection of the Saturday 3pm 'closed window' and minimising further displacement of Premier League fixtures," said the league.

Another sales process will be conducted for two "near live" packages each containing 226 matches, and an internet-based clips package for all 380 matches.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I believe the word they were looking for was "expensive". Especially if they do "spread the wealth" so to speak, and give them all some of the packages.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

There may be some truth to this. I think there is a European competion ruling that means Sky can't have all the packages. I may be wrong here, it was a while ago, but I think that Sky were not expecting to get five of the six packages last time but that Setanta's bidding strategy went wrong and their failure to get two packages led to their demise.

Perhaps there are, at least, two packages up for grabs and as ESPN seem fairly cosy with Sky they may get them and save Sky a bit of money.

Of course Disney and Al Jazeera have deep pockets so if either were really serious....who knows.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That will never happen in my opinion , they both don't have a big enough existing subscriber base , if ESPN were to win 4 or more packages I believe it would no longer be able to offer it to VM subscribers inclusive with XL when contracts are renewed. I can see Sky picking 5 up and ESPN taking the remainder.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Thanks Chad. So Sky could get five packages (4 more games) and ESPN two packages (12 more games). That would keep everybody happy.

Al Jazeera the wild card to keep the bids high?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Firstly it's important to realise how close ESPN and Sky are to each other. Indeed, Sky actually produced ESPN's Premier League coverage when they first picked up the rights from Setanta. When you consider that there are seven packages on offer, ESPN have openly said they'd like two of them, and the most Sky will be allowed is five, it's not much of a jump to imagine that they would do well to cooperate throughout the bidding process.

Secondly, Al Jazeera cannot simply be discounted. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to live football elsewhere in the world and, it has to be said from my experience of their Champions League coverage, that they're actually pretty good at it. What will be interesting, however, if they are able to stop ESPN getting the 2 packages that they want, and Sky getting the 5 that they'll need if they want to continue to be considered as the home of English top flight football, is how they end up delivering what they get. I cannot see Al Jazeera getting people to subscribe to yet another sports package in the current climate unless they have a significant number of matches, and I can't see them getting that if Sky and ESPN have their way. So, assuming they found a way to follow the ESPN model of slowly gaining a foothold, they'll also need to find a way of providing their new channels for free to customers who are already paying for other Sports packages.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Spot on MM as l this is what may happen Sky 102 = (3x26 + 2x12)ESPN 52 = (2x26) or Sky 116 = (4x26 + 1x12)ESPN 38 = (1x26 + 1x12.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

If we end up with either 38 or 52 games free in the xl pack, ESPN maintain their commitment to the FA Cup and the Europa League, and we end up with ITV 4 HD, then Virgin will be a very attractive proposition for football fans.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Translated: "Sky's customers, who they rip off on a daily basis...". Shocking.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That would be an excellent scenario.

Digressing a bit, but still on a positive theme, I have just received a phone call from Virgin. They are increasing my broadband from 20 to 60 meg next week and sending me a free Virgin Superhub, they are also putting me on one of their new collection packages improving my phone package and saving me a bit of money.

All things Virgin are looking up!