Cable Forum - General Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

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Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon (Post 36090966)

I've just heard that Sky Max (sid 524) & Sky Max HD (sid 2405) have now been added and are testing internally at Virgin. Video and Audio streams have also been added.

I think SID 524 and SID 2405 was last use for FOX and FOX HD on Virgin Media.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon (Post 36090958)

I think the terms of the merger are that AT&T's shareholders get 71% of the venture and Discovery's shareholders get 29%. Effectively a divestment by AT&T, creating a standalone company.

Correct. I was just being lazy. It was lt was late and was tired. :sleep:

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozsat (Post 36090965)

They hven't said how much longer they will be on Sky - only still there from 1st September.

The question those wanting to know should not be "will CNN still be on Sky after 1st Sept 2021?" but should be "will CNN still be on Sky after 1st Jan 2022?"

They could close CNN on Sky on 8th Sept and would not have made a false claim.

I suspect they are just waiting for that carriage deal to expire as both BT and VM will have already been dropped by then.

Good point, maybe they are simply seeing out their carriage contract on Sky.

---------- Post added at 09:15 ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon (Post 36090966)

CNN are actively promoting the carriage on Sky, listing it ahead of their own subscription service on their Twitter feed. I don't think anyone is claiming that CNN will be carried on Sky indefinitely. That can't realistically be claimed for any channel. The thing to watch out for in the near future is whether or not CNN becomes encrypted on Sky. That would be a good indication of a firm contract or waiting out an existing uplink contract. Obviously, dropping BT carriage isn't very important as the service which carried CNN is no longer being marketed.

---------- Post added at 06:28 ---------- Previous post was at 06:08 ----------

I've just heard that Sky Max (sid 524) & Sky Max HD (sid 2405) have now been added and are testing internally at Virgin. Video and Audio streams have also been added. At the moment, Greatest Hits Radio only exists as a label with no audio stream present.

...but if so, why are they promoting their carriage on Sky (and ahead of their own streaming service)? Maybe Sky are allowing them into the sub club or are offering benefits in kind such as free capacity in order to stay on their platform?

The info that I got the other week also mentioned Boomerang & Cartoonito as going onto their own streaming service, maybe that is the plan when the contractual agreement with Sky expires??

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legendkiller2k (Post 36090962)

I swear this Christmas channels get earlier and earlier each year.

It's their best ratings of the year for the likes of Great! (formerly Sony) Movies Classic and Movies24, so I suppose that's why.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

One thing to bear in mind is that when Sky and WarnerMedua renewed their content deal in 2019, the press release did specifically state …Extends HBO and Warner Bros. output deal and Turner channels carriage deals

So it’s entirely possible CNN’s presence on Sky could still run for a while yet assuming the carriage deal runs for several years like the movie and HBO deals…

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon (Post 36090964)

The fact that CNN will continue on Sky is at odds with Virgin's claim that WarnerMedia wants to move the channel to Warner's own subscription model.

The wording on the Official VM Community Forum posting was "Due to WarnerMedia’s plans to move to a subscription model for the CNN news channel" that doesn't mean they are moving to Warner's own systems on all platforms, it's ambiguous, it covers getting money from Sky as a Pay channel.

It's possible CNN weren't bothered about going Pay on other platforms as those smaller number of viewers, if they truly were interested, would be among the first customers for their new direct subscription, giving it a boost. Sky being the largest Pay TV platform by far would be the only important deal to them.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 36090979)

Bottom line is

CNN has until now paid for carriage on the platform

Now they want Virgin to pay them.

If anyone really wants it £20 a year or £2 a month for their online service will hardly break the bank.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozsat (Post 36090965)

I suspect they are just waiting for that carriage deal to expire as both BT and VM will have already been dropped by then.

For what it's worth, I don't think CNN was ever on BT.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36090987)

For what it's worth, I don't think CNN was ever on BT.

It was in the package before the Now TV channels were added and moving over would have meant loosing it.

It is only on the legacy service for now.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottishSteve (Post 36090985)

Agree.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36090987)

For what it's worth, I don't think CNN was ever on BT.

It was and on Plusnet tv(soon to close entirely) too.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon (Post 36090966)

The thing to watch out for in the near future is whether or not CNN becomes encrypted on Sky.

Here's the answer:
https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/cnn-drops-...in-online-push

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legendkiller2k (Post 36091019)

It was and on Plusnet tv(soon to close entirely) too.

I stand corrected. A niche choice!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inactive Digital (Post 36091026)

Here's the answer:
https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/cnn-drops-...in-online-push

This is the first time I've heard about the encryption flag being seen on Satellite, so there was prior indication it was going, and not just on Virgin Media.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 36090969)

I think SID 524 and SID 2405 was last use for FOX and FOX HD on Virgin Media.

Partly right, the FOX label has been moved from 524 to 574. FOX HD was, and the label still is sid 1610. Before you ask ;) FOX+1 was 723 but the label moved to 751 to make way for QVC Extra. The movement to higher sid numbers is normal until the channels are completely removed about 3 months after closure. I had been given the information this morning but didn't think it was worth posting.

---------- Post added at 17:27 ---------- Previous post was at 17:22 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 36090971)

Correct. I was just being lazy. It was lt was late and was tired. :sleep:

That's fair enough but you said "71% of the venture will be owned by WB's parent company". The parent company is AT&T. WarnerMedia will be spun off so, other than sharing some of the same shareholders, AT&T will have no control over the new company.

---------- Post added at 17:33 ---------- Previous post was at 17:27 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inactive Digital (Post 36091026)

Here's the answer:
https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/cnn-drops-...in-online-push

Thank you. It's a hobbyist site, so I'll still wait for the encryption flag to be added. If it is added, it is confirmation of a "subs club" agreement with Sky. Encryption being a Sky service. A shame then that Virgin didn't manage to negotiate a similar agreement.