Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I've been noticing this on ESPN HD for the past few weeks now. Every 30 seconds or so the whole image will momentarily blur, then sharpen again.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Media will not launch Sky Atlantic next month.

My insider has been told that Virgin Media have been unable to secure a deal with Sky for Atlantic HD at launch, But talks are still ongoing to get Sky Atlantic at an later date.

However they are continuing to look at adding more VoD content and HD channels over the next few months. Especially the missing basic HD channels.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I think everyone knew that was pretty much a given that it wouldn't be available from launch.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

What about Sky Atlantic SD?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Same applies for the channel in SD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin TV network.

NOTE: I do not work for Virgin Media so all the information on this list is subject to change.

BOLD = New

Colours on my list are as followed:

Media Boy = New Info just added.
Media Boy = Virgin Media News.
Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: = It an Media Boy EXCLUSIVE and you can only see it on my Blog or on this thread.
Media Boy = Other Media news.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== 1st Quarter 2011 ===
Ginx TV may launch on Virgin Media.

=== January ===
11th. Virgin Media to work on their ''On Demand'' network overnight from 00.01 to 09.00 on Tuesdays to Thursdays until February 18th.
31st. Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Media are to move Challenge + 1 from the XL to M Package today on Virgin Channel 140.

=== February ===
1st. LIVING will be rebranded as Sky Living on Virgin Channel 109.
1st. LIVING HD will be rebranded as Sky Living HD Virgin Channel 110.
1st. LIVING +1 will be rebranded as Sky Living +1 on Virgin Channel 111.
1st. LIVINGit will be rebranded as Sky LIVINGit on Virgin Channel 112.
1st. BSkyB are to close Channel One at 6am Virgin Channel 119.
1st. BSkyB are to close Channel One +1 at 6am on Virgin Channel 120.
1st. LIVING Loves will be rebranded as Sky Living Loves on Virgin Channel 159.
1st. LIVINGit +1 will be rebranded as Sky LIVINGit +1 on Virgin Channel 160.
1st. Channel One Player will be remove from Virgin on Demand today.
11th. Sky3 to showcase the ''Best'' of Sky for three days until February 14th at 6am on Virgin Channel 180.
14th. Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: FIVE, FIVE HD and FIVE AD will be rebranded as Channel 5, Channel 5 HD and Channel 5 AD on Virgin Channels 105, 150 and 855.

=== Spring ===
The BBC will rebrand BBC Radio 7 as BBC Radio 4 Extra on Virgin Channel 910.

=== March ===
Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Northern & Shell will rebrand Fiver and Five USA sometime this month.
Virgin Media will introduce TiVo co-branded set-top boxes (In all areas).

=== April ===
No News...

=== May ===
No News...

=== June ===
No News...

=== July ===
No News...

=== August ===
No News...

=== September ===
No News...

=== October ===
No News...

=== November ===
No News...

=== December ===
No News...

=== Before 2012 ===
-Disney/ABC Television Group is to rebrand Playhouse Disney as Disney Junior on Virgin Channel 727.
-Sky Sports red button interactive service.
-The BBC will close BBC Asian Network.

=== Unknown dates ===
-BBC to add 21 hours per week to their HD Channel on Virgin Channel 187.
-BBC iPlayer will offer subtitled content.
-Channel 4's ''4oD'' will offer HD content.
-Diva TV will be rebranded as Diva Universal on Virgin Channel 164.
-Sky Arts 1 HD and Sky Arts 2 HD will become available on Virgin Media.
-UKTV on demand will launch.
-Virgin Media will cease all analogue television transmissions.
-Virgin Media will introduce an enhanced TV interface

=== The following channels are rumoured to be launching or in talks with Virgin Media (But still not confirm by Insiders) ===
List was last updated on January 17th 2011.

-BBC ALBA
-BET
-BET +1
-Bio HD
-CBS Drama
-Colors
-Comedy Central Extra +1
-Crime & Investigation Network HD
-Disney Cinemagic HD
-Disney XD HD
-Eden HD
-Eden +1
-ESPN2 (May launch in 2011)
-ESPN America HD
-ESPN News (May launch in 2011)
-Good Food HD
-HISTORY HD
-ITV2 HD
-ITV3 HD
-ITV4 HD
-KidsCo
-Luxury Life HD
-MGM HD
-Nat Geo Wild HD
-NickToons Replay
-Pop Girl
-Premier Sports
-Quest +1
-Rush HD
-Russia Today
-Sky Atlantic
-Sky Atlantic HD
-Squirt FM
-Universal Channel HD
-Vintage TV
-Yesterday +1

=== Channels THAT still to appear in all areas ===
List was last updated on December 1st 2010.

NO. Channel Name
917. Radio: RTE Radio
920. Radio: WRN Europe

NOTE: Channels are only broadcasting in Ex-Telewest areas right now.

====== Media Boy Information =====
Media Boy - Keep it real and FREE on Cable Forum.

=== Media Boy Blogs & Extra TV info: ===
Virgin Media Blogs:
See My Virgin TV Blog here - http://virgintvmediaboy.blogspot.com/
See Virgin Media on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
See latest news about Virgin on Demand via ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/vmondemand
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

=== Ask Media Boy ===
Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN MEDIA FROM?
A: I get all my info from Virgin Media workers (NOTE: I called them ''An Insider''), Virgin Media viewers, my blogs and Web Sites (NOTE: When I used web sites I will post an link to that web site).

Q: I HAVE GOT NEWS BUT I WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE MY USER NAME?
A: All you need to do is pm me right now and tell me and I will post your news on ''Coming soon to Virgin TV'' for you.

Q: WHY AM I NOT GETTING ''RTE RADIO'' OR ''WRN RADIO'' FOR?
A: RTE Radio and WRN Radio do not broadcast in Ex-ntl and Ex-Cable & Wireless areas - yet.

Q: NOW THAT BSKYB HAS TOOK OVER VIRGIN MEDIA TELEVISION WILL ANY CHANNELS CLOSE ON VIRGIN TV?
A: Yes Sky has closed Bravo and Challenge Jackpot down and Channel One will soon follow. But us Virgin Media viewers will see some channels moving about as we have now got Sky1 HD and maybe getting Sky Arts 1 HD and Sky Arts 2 HD soon.

==== Deals with broadcasters ===
When deals with broadcasters run out Virgin Media need to sign new one to keep that Channel on Virgin TV.

Here is an list of channel that Virgin may get when they old deal runs out with that broadcaster:

NOTE: To start broadcasting soon = That channel has still to start broadcasting on Sky, Freesat or Freeview.

=== TV and Radio Channels: ===
=== Own by AETN UK ===
Bio HD
Crime & Investigation Network HD
Crime & Investigation Network +1
HISTORY HD
HISTORY +1

=== Own by ABC Television Group ===
Disney Cinemagic HD
Disney Cinemagic +1
Disney Junior + (Soon to start broadcasting).
Disney XD HD
Playhouse Disney + (Soon to be rebranded as Disney Junior +)

=== Own by ARY Group ===
ARY News
QTV ARY

=== Own by BSkyB ===
Sky 1 +1 (Soon to start broadcasting.)
Sky 3D
Sky 3 +1
Sky Arts 1 HD
Sky Arts 2 HD
Sky Atlantic (Soon to start broadcasting.)
Sky Atlantic HD (Soon to start broadcasting.)
Sky Livingit HD (Soon to start broadcasting.)
Sky Movies Classic HD
Sky News HD
Sky Sports HD3
Sky Sports HD4
Sky Sports News HD

=== Own by CBS International and Chello Zone ===
CBS Action
CBS Drama
CBS Reality +1
Horror Channel +1

=== Own by Channel 4 Television Corporation ===
More 4 +1

=== Own by CSC Media Group ===
Bliss
Chart Show TV
Dance Nation TV
Flava
Kix!
NME TV
Pop Girl
Pop Girl +1
Scuzz
The Vault
Tiny Pop +1
True Enterainment
True Movies 2

=== Own by Discovery Networks Europe ===
Animal Planet +1
Discovery Home & Health +1
Discovery Knowledge +1
Discovery Science +1
DMAX +1
DMAX +2
Investigation Discovery
TLC (To start broadcast in the UK in 2011.)
Quest +1

=== Own by ESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company/Hearst Corporation) ===
ESPN2 (May launch in 2011)
ESPN America HD
ESPN News (May launch in 2011)

=== Own by GMG Radio ===
Real Radio

=== Own by Independent Media Corporation ===
AAG
GEO News
GEO UK

=== Own by ITV Digital Channels Ltd ===
ITV2 HD
ITV3 HD
ITV4 HD

=== Own by MGM Channel (UK) Limited (BSkyB and MGM) ===
MGM HD

=== Own by NBC Universal Global Networks ===
Diva TV +1
Universal Channel HD

=== Own by NBC Universal, Corus Entertainment, Cookie Jar Group ===
Kids Co (Soon to start broadcasting.)

=== Own by NGC Europe Limited ===
FX +1
Nat Wild HD

=== Own by Rainbow Media ===
Rush HD
Sundance Channel HD

=== Own by Scripps Networks Interactive (Run by Chello Zone) ===
Food Network
Food Network HD (Soon to start broadcasting).
Food Network +1

=== Own by Sony ===
NOTE: The following channels will become part of the ''ViewAsia'' package if Sony can sign an new deal Virgin Media:
ARY Digital^
B4U Movies^
Colors
MAX^
SAB
Sahara One
SET Asia^

^ = On Virgin Media right now.

=== Own by STAR TV ===
STAR Gold
STAR One

=== Own by TIML Radio Limited ===
Absolute 90s

=== Own by Turner Broadcasting System Europe ===
Adult Swim Channel (Soon to start broadcasting).
TCM 2

=== Own by Twenty Four 7 Ltd. ===
Luxury Life
Luxury Life HD

=== Own by UKTV ===
Eden HD
Eden +1
Good Food HD
YeSTERDAY +1

=== Own by Viacom ===
BET
BET +1
Comedy Central Extra +1
MTV Classic
MTV Shows (Soon to be rebrand as MTV Music.)
MTV Music (Soon to start broadcasting.)
MTV +1
Nickelodeon HD
NickToons Replay

=== Own by Zee Entertainment Enterprises ===
ZEE Cafe

©copyright 2011 Media Boy 2006 - 2011. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Hardly a shock there, lets hope some other new HD arrives and not just the odd VOD show.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

The catch up facility on VOD is good but the HD and TV choice on demand is pathetic, same stuff been on it for months and months. Pathetic re Atlantic but hardly a surprise:mad:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

How exactly is not getting Sky Atlantic pathetic? What are you expecting VM to be doing here?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I was being very brief in my responce.

I think if both Sky and Cable (as 1 company)had the same start time, then things may of been very different.

Certainly BSB was poorly run and managed, but lets not forget that both Sky and BSB were about to go bankrupt. A merger was the only answer for these two.

---------- Post added at 12:00 ---------- Previous post was at 11:53 ----------

suprised at Sky for not letting a competitor have it?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Because they should have seen this sort of thing coming during the negotiations when they sold off the Virgin chammels to Sky. They should have made any new Sky BASIC channels part of the deal.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

But it has nothing to do with the sale of VMTV, Sky would have laughed in their face. Also don't you need to have the Variety Pack to get Sky Atlantic? Wouldn't that NOT make it a basic channel?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

After August it goes in to the Variety pack on Sky. All subs get it until then.

---------- Post added at 12:26 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------

Sky would never have agreed to that. Not for the VMtv channels.

VM got a lot out of that deal.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

How do you know? Sky obviously wanted the Virgin channels.


The question, that we'll never know the answer to is, did Virgin ever bring new channels up or were they so dumb, they didn't even think about it?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

That would be business sensitive.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Sorry matey but after disagree,VM seem to got squat out of the deal.Yes they may have got hd premium channels but at a cost of £7 and lets not forget didnt get all sports channels,Sky 1 by time all the good programmes have been ripped away to Sky atlantic wont be worth squat either.Loss of channels and not getting new ones,Way its going the 9 year carriage deal will be worth squat either.About time Vm admitted they took a huge risk selling to sky and already we are seeing the results of it and its only january,Things will get far worse if murdoch takes full control and vm will have no power to do anything about it.Tivo aint gonna be worth squat if the channels aren`t there,I myself will not risk tying myself to a 18 month contract for it and spending silly money.

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 ----------

Lets face they were desperate to sell the channels,Sky new it and screwed them over yet again and vm still are not relising it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

They were not desperate to sell - Sky gave the best offer, by a long shot.

Amongst other things.....

Sky Movies HD channels - you'd NEVER of got these without this deal

Sky RED button - As above (almost ready on this one)

Sky VoD - as above

Sky1HD - again, Sky would have never of given this to VM without the VMtv sale.

As a consumer you are free to choose what service provider you use, but VM is far from a poor choice.

Sky can't do VOD like VM can, so they only have their own channels as far as content is concerned.

It will be intersting once the Competition Commision has finished it's investigation in to Sky, with-holding VOD rights to competitiors, for movies it can't show.

VM are also persuing a complaint with Ofcom regarding the unfair £7 PER BOX rule that Sky imposes on them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Not to forget that cheque for £167 Million, VM got a great deal.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

They could screw me for £167 million ( only joking ):rofl:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Yep, indeed. :)

VM are investing this back in to the network/platform. This year will be a another good year for VM and it's customers. ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

TiVo app for iPad seems to have been confirmed.

http://kreative-technology.co.uk/wha...a-service.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

he he :LOL:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

:erm: That's why I said we'll never know!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

yeah, Cindy Rose confirmed that too :)

---------- Post added at 13:46 ---------- Previous post was at 13:42 ----------

I know you meant that :)

VM know Sky are not to be trusted. They have form. They tried to strangle VM at birth with the Sky Basics row.

This is a long game for VM... there are lots of things planned for customers. TiVo is just the beginning of this

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

All good points matey and believe me i want to give my hard earned money to vm rather than sky,But i love my telly and especially american shows.Currently i am very concerned about the future of vm from a tv point of view,Sky is looking again to be getting far superior and leaving vm behind,VOD doesn`t do anything for me i have a V+ box i record what i want to watch and not really bothered about old shows but i know its is popular with others.Just tad disappointed that vm didnt pull out all the stops to get atlantic,Think it would have restored some faith with some of us subscribers.I have always supported vm and believed they would one day provide real competion to sky however the faith is waivering at the min.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I'm interested; do you think Virgin ever do anything wrong?

Don't get me wrong, I think Virgin offer a good service, but you seem to defend every single decision they make. No one gets everything right.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

He/She has to as per the brainwashing clause in the contract:erm:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Would you have paid extra for Sky Atlantic? While Sky customers get it for nothing? (for now)

VM will have tried to get this channel, but getting something "at any cost" isn't something any business should do. IMO

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

What's wrong with somebody being passionate about the company they work for? To me that's a good thing.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

It is a good thing, i was trying to lighten the mood :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

True, but blind loyalty has disadvantages. We don't know if the views you express on the forums are what you really think or your company loyalty taking over your views?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Agree

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

and some people constantly slag them off at every given moment. :dozey:

I don't tell other posters that they can't post their opinions, I simply have the right to respond to issues I'm knowledgable about.

There are some posters, who treat the VM Staff on here as fair game to attack.

If you look around this forum, myself and others go to great lengths to help customers, usually in our own time.

I'm starting to wonder why I bother.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

We tend to know our products where as most people posting here do not so what would you prefer supposition or the facts.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

So, is anything actually coming soon?

All that seems to be happening at the moment ia a lot of VM slagging off and what`s not coming.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

The discussion wasn't about products, which I agree VM staff are very helpfull on; it was about Sky buying the VM channels and lack of Sky Atalntic from the launch. If company loyalty is influencing your comments on these, then (to me) they are biased.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

And you do a very good job matey and its much apreciated.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Well said DF and MASQUE you do go out of your way to help all on here.:Yikes:

PS I thought that it was getting round to that time of year again ( open season on all of VM staff ):sniper:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Surprisingly we are quite restrained in our answers as well as we explain it all once again.https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2012/04/8.gif

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Surely the fact that it has been said (on this thread) that Sky Atlantic is not coming to VM at launch, is relevant to this thread discussion?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

It is also says so in the SKY Atlantic thread and it is SKY who are to blame anyway as they have not allowed Virginmedia access to to the channel.

The link to that thread is below.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...l#post35157103

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

And why am I not surprised you said that?

In reality, it's probably both Sky and Virgin who are to blame.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

SKY are keeping access to themselves so who else can you blame and very likely have asked for silly money to ensure that at present you cannot see that channel anywhere else.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Unless you were part of the VM channel sale and Sky Atlantic negotiations, that is pure speculation on your part and it just goes to prove the point I was making; some VM staff will always defend VM irrespective of lack of facts or evidence.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

More realistic than most of the comments made so far about not getting the channels and complaining about it though.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

so are you saying VM were offered a fair price, but decided not to carry it? :dozey:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Ok then so two more channels not going to launch on Virgin Media.. Ah weel at least they are rubbish. And if people like them complain to virgin media that they are doing a crap job at getting channels.

But as it stands now Virgin have lost another point on the channel launches scale.

Maybe the rumours are true. They simply dont give a crap about Digital Tv anymore and are concentrating just on broadband. I mean Virgin Media has the best broadband on the planet yet they dont have the best Tv. Shows they are more interested in internet.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I think the last 6 to 8 months proves Virgin Media does not care two hoots about its tv platform.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Please clarify rather than just a one line throwaway statement, give your reasons as to why you think that way.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

l have in another thread.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I have seen the other thread so why not post a link to it so others can view and comment there.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I'm saying I don't know the details of the Sky Atlantic and Virgin TV channels sale negotiations. And because I don't, I can't say who's fault it was/is.

And unless you were in those negotiations or know the details of them, you can't can't say who's fault it was either.

So, how can you say VM aren't to blame and it's Sky's fault? Unless of course, you're biased?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I think the last 6-8 months shows Virgin certainly does give a hoot about its TV platform as we've almost doubled the amount of HD channels we have and they've been taken from our main rival. You've got a brilliant VoD service, the best PVR company in the world making the STB's and your moaning about a channel and its HD counterpart where half its content has been on VoD for years.

Get Freeview, I'm sure you'd love that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Wow Virgin really can't pleases their customers despite all the good work that they do, kinda feel sorry for them now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

How can you say that when they've added so many HD channels over the last year and have TIVO coming out?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Again it seems that some members cannot take constructive criticism about Virgin Media on this forum.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I'll post the link - http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...ve-let-us.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

To be fair to virgin Media they have invested huge amounts of money in the tv side of things,they have upgraded the infrastructure so everybody is now on the same tv system (from the fragmented system they inherited),TiVo is on its way we now have many more HD channels then 18 months ago,and Red Button is on its way to sky sports on vm hardly what i would call "dont give a cr-p" the upgrades made including new encryption are examples of a investment in the tv side of things.

Virgin medias "hero product" is the broadband but i find the tv side of things carries most of the good channels,in fact they carry all the sky sports channels unlike BT and Top up TV (and ESPN included in XL TV),in my book they have invested heavily in tv,even if they do not have everybodys personal favourite TV channel for now.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Neil Berkett on competition with Sky

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...and-speed.html

---------- Post added at 16:29 ---------- Previous post was at 16:23 ----------

Dont expect TIVO soon

Superior it may be, but the high speeds are just an enabler. What is "game-changing", says Berkett, is Virgin Media's new internet-enabled cable TV box, which will be available to all of its cable TV customers in a few months.

Mainly concentrating on Broadband

Berkett's world is distinctly less Hollywood. Today's Virgin Media is all about the digital experience and Berkett often points to Virgin's advantage over BSkyB and BT in "connectivity", his way of describing the benefits of super-fast broadband.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

You didn't post the full quote.

It indicates that the TIVO will be available to premium customers sooner. It actually says we should have it now, but i gues he's refering to the Staff who currently have it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

That's a great article Muppetman, thanks for the link.

The future doesn't look great for stand alone TV channels on Virgin. TIVO also appears to be a few months away.

I'm not really that fussed about "The Digital Experience" I like TV and having great broadband. Once the Digital Economy Act begins to be enforced, I'm not sure as many Virgin customers will be needing 50Mb or 100Mb broadband.

I'm tossing my hat firmly in the "Virgins going down the wrong path" ring.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

But if Sky is split it wouldn't really have the same incentive as it does now.

Why would Sky release Atlantic HD just for the sake of it as a platform provider if the release does not specifically strengthen Sky's own position? The argument to split is all good and well except that it would actually leave Sky customers worse off.

I really do find it strange that some people say Sky should be asked to split. So basically people would want a situation where Virgin make no investment in actual channels whereas Sky do but Virgin have all the benefits of that channel investment that Sky have made.

Sky hold a strong market position because they are the ones that put their hands in their pockets and made the risky decisions to invest. Virgin have washed their hands of any kind of such investment and taken a low risk strategy of being a platform provider only.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

to make more money from ad revenues and subs? Exclusive channels don't benefit the consumer.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I don't actually think they should be split. I think there should be regulation to protect us customers. When Sky took the basic channels off cable they lost something like 60 million pounds a year in advertising. This on top of what they are making from their own customers. That shows how much incentive there should be to sell on their channels to other platforms. Why is it that they wont settle for that kind of money? Because they want to force customers of other platforms over to their platform. That is why we customers need protection. Monopolies are never a good thing and channels exclusive to one channel only harm the customer. I really don't know why any customer would defend this practice.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Can you keep the discussion to VM please and stop being personal?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

But as a platform provider only, what is Sky's incentive to actually pay HBO for exclusivity and then make one channel that is then the home of HBO? As a platform provider only, Sky would have to put their hands in their pockets and make the investment only for other platforms to get the benefits without taking any of the risk. This is obviously something Virgin aren't willing to do.

And in the end Sky Atlantic will almost certainly be on Virgin anyway. So VM consumers will be better off (although IMHO Sky Atlantic will just end up being a load of hot air anyway - but it seems that I am the minority and most people are interested in this channel). It is just initially Sky will go through the motions of making a huge deal about this channel making people think it is something it is not.

The only problem with the argument of regulation is that VM have gone ahead and sold Sky channels in an open market situation. It is actually VM's stance for the market to be this way. It is unfair for regulation on behalf of other platforms when VM are actually selling Sky channels at the same time.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

It wouldn't be "for the sake of it", it'd be for the same reasons it does now, providing content, driving subscriber numbers, and raising revenue.

There's an argument that they'd have MORE incentive as a stand alone content provider, more potential revenue from both subscriptions and advertising. The potential audience for a non-sky exclusive channel is many times that of a sky exclusive one, this drives revenue, increases profits, and makes shareholders happy.

Businesses always have to look at how to strengthen their offerings, so new channel launches would always happen. There's no reason why a separate channel provider would allow their product line up to stand still.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Superior it may be, but the high speeds are just an enabler. What is "game-changing",
says Berkett, is Virgin Media's new internet-enabled cable TV box, which
will be available to all of its cable TV customers in a few months. TiVo,
currently available to Virgin's premium customers, features a range of
iPad-style apps, from gaming to news to social networks.

Am I missing something how's it available to premium customers. I thought it was just 500 VM staff .

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I'm not being personal, I'm stating facts. To make a statment that Virgin aren't to blame for not getting Sky Atlantic from launch and Sky are, when you weren't involved in the negotiations and therefore don't know the facts, must be bias.

I wasn't being offensive and didn't intend any offense; I was just stating the natural conclusion.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I would have thought it would be just for the sake of it.

The truth behind Sky Atlantic HD is that the sale of Virgin channels to Sky has merely lead to a rearrangement of content to other channels. Sky just closed some channels, made a new one and then added HBO content into this one channel whereas they could just have signed an HBO deal and added the shows to existing channels.

It is just a marketing excercise where VM customers feel worse off and Sky customers feel better off. In a few months both will probably be about the same again.

But the point is that Sky customers do feel better off. Sky used their initiative to make this happen. And this happens specifically because Sky have an incentive to do so through the way they currently operate.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Sky aren't investing here though. They aren't really producing anything, they are just buying up rights/out bidding.

VM had HBO on demand, so put their hands in their pockets at that point, also for other VOD deals, such as Warner TV, Universal, MTV, Bio, ITV, BBC, 4oD, plus more to come.

---------- Post added at 17:58 ---------- Previous post was at 17:54 ----------

I have taken offence from the post you made, but thank you for this.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

What makes you think in a few months time things will be better? If there isn't regulation to protect the customer what's to say things wont get worse to the point where we eventually onl have one choice of platform. How can that possibly be to our benefit?
Ofcom have said that they are looking in to make it easier to be able to swap platforms. I'm hoping channel exclusivity will be part of that investigation.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Quote me the price on this but how much exactly did Virgin Media get for selling the Virgin Media Entertainment channels to Sky. I know it was a six figure sum but what the hell did Virgin Media do to it all. Surely we should have all the Sky SD and HD channels by now with that money. Or have Sky just ripped us off.

Surely Tivo and Sky HD premiums dont cost six figure sums.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

sky has made it plain from start it a sky exclusive in the millions they spent on the adverts so hows that VM fault they want it all to themself they only want one thing a monopoly sooner people see this the better

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I believe as well as investing in the TV they paid of a bit of their not inconsiderable debt but i could be wrong.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

They also said this in a press release

This is not a company trying to create a channel to sell on to customers at a reasonable price. They are using this channel to try and force customers over to their platform.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Because quite simply there will probably be a point where Sky will want to take VM's money off their hands so Sky will drop the exclusivity to its own platform.

Regulation will inevitably lead to higher prices paid by the consumer. It is not a good thing.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Thanx for posting the link muppetman, I find the content quiet worrying, TV customers appear to be in for more disappointments this year.
Whilst I appreciate all the improvements made in the last year, Neill Berkett appears to be looking at Broadband speed as the companies utopia.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

You can see from the quote in my post above that Sky have no intention of doing so.

No it wont. A monopoly will lead to an increase in prices. Whilst Sky has some exclusive content it gives them much less incentive to compete on prices. Which is probably one reason why they do it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I am not sure it would have made any difference if the same cable players had launched at the same time as Sky, they were terribly mismanaged but they were a victim of the franchise system, I accept that.

Maybe it could have let them get the killer content first like EPL before Sky, that would have been the huge difference and that's still the case now but would they gone after it anyway? again i'm not so sure.

---------- Post added at 20:18 ---------- Previous post was at 20:10 ----------

I think everyone should hang fire and see what the Competition Commission say regarding the sale of BSkyB, there could be some very interesting conditions laid on News Corp to allow the sale to go through.

There has been press reports that Sky News would be excluded from the sale of BSkyB which would be disastrous for competition as it's a loss making outfit and probably not that attactive as a stand alone purchase. It could be we end up with one domestic news channel, a licence fee funded one at that, hardly competitive is it?

There is no way News Corp are just going to be given BSkyB on a plate which in some respects might be good news for other platforms regarding access to content and the likes.

Regarding the 'unfair' £7 charge that VM are complaining about on what grounds are they basing the complaint? Sky charge their own customers £10.25 per box for HD.

Seems a bit 'good guy, bad guy' to me and another waste of time. I'd rather have Sky Arts HD!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Neil Berkett has an announcement to make: Virgin Media's battle with Sky for the pay-TV market is over.

Yep Berkett as lost the plot i think,Clearly tv aint is prioty.Look like sky are going to be laughing all the way to the bank,Not what you want to be reading when there trying to push a overpriced tivo box on us.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Honestly seems that virgin have lost interest in tv. Sadly if you want your tv service to be as cutting edge as your broadband ye'll have to go to sky. As I've said before got phone mobile tv and broadband with virgin. Would rather keep them all with one company but tv is falling further and further behind with no hint of improvement. If you think otherwise you're deluded

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Agree just glad i aint got that tivo and signed a 18month contract,He as just commited Commercial suicide on the tivo box after that article.Who in the right mind is gonna spend nearly £200 on a set top box when the company`s own boss as given up on the tv side.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Its a strange statement when he is trying to sell us on a TiVo box:confused: Commercial suicide is not to strong.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Clearly thats why he wants people on 18 month contracts,you will then be stuck with a poor man`s tv.Think im going to have to really think about cancelling the tv side and just keeping broadband and phone,Gutted i was reallly impressed with the progress they made last year doesn`t sound like its gonna be the same this year.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

The 18 month contracts are for new customers taking the offer on the website but you can still go for a 12 month contract just by paying more.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Why would anyone when you read that interview.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

As the are new customers every single day signing up I would not know.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

No disrespect to you and thanks for the info but what is the point when he is coming out with statements like that to the press,He is gonna struggle to keep hold of the customers he already has let alone get new ones.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I was just pointing out the options available nothing more.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

that might soon change when they read that article

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Very few people ever read such items and even less visit sites like this one.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I can appreciate that , but with interviews like that appearing in the press any one considering signing up for a TIVo box would have to reconsider. At least people who have registered an interest will know where they stand . Its a very strange interview to give.

---------- Post added at 22:49 ---------- Previous post was at 22:48 ----------

Well I feel sorry for new customers then.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Must admit it's making me have a rethink.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Most are happy with the service they get which is why you do not see them on a forum or elsewhere complaining.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

The XL price is 50p cheaper than the Sky 6 mix but the channel count is leagues apart , on the plus side for Virgin you do get ESPN free though.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

for now,He as given up on the tv side so that might go next

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

Genuine question? Where are you guys seeing that VM is giving up on tv in that article? He seems to be saying that instead of focusing all resources on competing with Sky on just tv they are going to focus on broadband, and mobile as well as tv. It's not even new. He said something similar a couple of years ago.
He also went on to say.

I haven't seen anywhere that VM are going to stop adding stuff to the tv platform. I'm not trying to say that some of the criticism of VM isn't justified for being slow to add stuff but they are still adding stuff and if they were to give up on tv it would be commercial suicide. It aint going to happen.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

That is because most people do not realise what is happening half the time and have little knowledge of the market.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.
 

I am more than happy with the service that i receive in regards to the tv pack and if anyone cannot see what he is trying to do there are only 2 words for it:

REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY

As it seems that he could be saying this and getting it in the media so that SKY seem that they have go the upper hand ( as they have at the moment ) and drop their guard, so VIRGIN can come in and get new deals with the content producers:

I read too much in to things and all of this could just be a figment of my imagination :erm: