Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I haven't checked but aren't they moving to the Star part of Disney+?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The Star area is for everything that isn't considered Family Viewing.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

A 'pop up' message has also been added to Fox (157), FOX +1 (158) and FOX HD (199) warning viewers of their impending closure.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

NCIS is already on CH5/CBS channels, who are the makers of this show and no doubt the spin offs will follow soon. Same with Bull.

Mentalist is made by Warner originally for CBS and will probably pop up on Discovery+ once the Warner/Discovery merger completes next year.

Gang Related is a old Fox show, so no reason why it shouldn't appear on Disney+ at some point.


No idea about Walking Dead which is finishing anyway. Depends who ultimately buys AMC, the maker of the show.

With Disney closing all its linear channels down, it will just accelerate the process of media companies bringing back their own shows to their own services, rather than being licensed out to competitors.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The Walking Dead S1-S10 will be on Disney+ from 2 July - S11 will appear on Disney+ from 23 Aug.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

epsilon has noticed that NDTV Spice closes on VM tomorrow (as per the EPG).

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

It has already closed - was only on VM.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

From 6am this morning according to the EPG but Virgin may have clicked the kill switch earlier. Tomorrow's, more talked about, closure is Fox.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Wonder if that will close early too.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

It will happen anytime from 12.05am to 6am. If FOX deal with Virgin Media UK ends on June 30th at 23.59 it will happen within 20mins on Virgin Media. Sky will not follow until 6/7am tomorrow as they remove channels around 6am to 11am.

Back in 2008 Sky Basic Channels was removed by 12.05am (Deal ended at midnight)

But MTV Dance did not close untill about 5am (MTV owners close channel down)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Fox has closed as at 4:35 when I checked. It doesn't have the usual closed down slate and, for the first time, gives an app (ITV Hub) as well as linear channels as a place to watch alternative similar programming.

NDTV Spice is coming up with a message for me, so I don't know what it's now showing. Was this a standalone channel?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

'NDTV Spice' has a caption saying the channel is no longer available in the UK and offers three other channels with similar programming. It was a part of the Asian Mela pack.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Cheers.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

They did that full-screen-photo style of closure screen when LoveNature closed and Sky Nature arrived in SD. Nice to see it wasn't a one-off. :)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

If viewers want to continue watching programmes they used to enjoy on FOX UK then their best alternatives will be ITV2 (Family Guy and American Dad!) plus 5USA and CBS Justice (NCIS).

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Hopefully, another network will pick up NCIS and the spinoffs. Maybe Sky as they already have NCIS: Los Angeles.

The final season of NCIS: New Orleans still has to be shown and the new NCIS: Hawaii doesn't seem to have found a UK broadcaster yet. The main NCIS show may be getting close to the final season, if the cast departures are anything to go by.

5USA and CBS Justice are fine for old repeats.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Sounds sensible to me, yet VM are directing people to ITV (ITV Hub, not the linear channel for some reason), Sky Witness, Sky Comedy and Alibi :confused:

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Well the latter few have live-action comedy and crime dramas, which Fox had, and as for Hub, ITV have said they are moving to an On-Demand First approach to content for ITV2, ITVBe and CITV. Maybe VM simply implemented this?

Source: https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/on-demand-...youth-channels

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

ITV Hub for viewers wanting to binge watch Family Guy / American Dad etc.

The linear channels possibly as other sources of comedy and crime drama.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I see.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

FOX close around 12.15am, then FOX+1 close about 12.20am with FOX HD close at around 12.25am.

I saw it all live.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Although the daily schedules normally run from 6am to 6am rather than midnight to midnight, Virgin doesn't often wait until 6am to "drop the axe". ;)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Ah, well, at least they are first with some things.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Rumour: Discovery closing linear channels in UK & Ireland.

TV Channellists.com (Where anyone can update) is reporting that from November 31st "Discovery closing linear channels in UK & Ireland. Moving content solely to Discovery+."

Base on TV Channellist.com info the following may close on that date on Virgin Media UK:

-Discovery Channel HD
-Discovery Channel +1
-TLC HD
-TLC +1
-Food Network
-Really
-Quest HD
-Quest +1
-Quest Red
-Investigation Discovery
-Investigation Discovery +1
-HGTV
-HGTV +1
-Discovery Turbo
-Animal Planet HD
-Animal Planet +1
-Discovery Science
-Discovery Science +1
-DMAX
-DMAX +1
-Discovery History
-Discovery History +1
-Eurosport 2 HD

Also TV Channellists.com says that Eurosport 1 HD will become an pay-per-view Channel called "Eurosport Events HD" and Broadcasting live events only.

Note Media Boy HQ have try to find an other source for this rumour with no luck.

https://www.tvchannellists.com/List_...firmed_changes (Go down to 31/11/20 to see this story - if you cant it has been removed).

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

If this happens there'll need to be a significant drop in the package costs or have the streaming companies added in replacement otherwise it isn't worth the money

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I don't have much faith in a site that has such a detailed list of "confirmed" changes but makes no attempt to list the source of any "confirmation".

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

no one has mentioned that there is no such date as 31st November - so an unreliable source of information straight away.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Indeed a site that even accepts an invalid date has to be questionable.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Totally agree and discovery signed a ‘long term’ linear deal with Sky only last year.

I seen an interview a few months back with the Discovery CEO who stated they are still committed to linear.

Disney + has been a roaring success therefore you can see why Disney have made the choices they have.

Although Discovery plus is performing well now, if their channels were to disappear overnight where could they push the Discovery Plus service every five mins.

It is likely some services will be reduced but IMHO the Discovery Channels will be around for a while yet.

As for Eurosport going PPV only, I can’t see them getting much traction from that to cover the costs of broadcasting and the administration of it.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I wouldn’t put much credence to that entry, although I do believe the channels will eventually close and the content will be on the streamer instead.

There has certainly been a statement confirming that Discovery will continue to have a linear presence, but no detail has been given about how many channels would remain. We may be left only with a showcase channel.

As for Eurosport, I think that will continue to be ‘free’ with a Discovery+ subscription, but there could be an ad-free version for an extra premium.

There are many possibilities, I am sure, but no real clues yet about what will happen. Except of course, that it won’t be on 31 November!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Look at the date then think about it.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I seen that interview it was the one when Discovery confirmed a Proposed merger with WarnerMedia on CNBC.

---------- Post added at 20:17 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

That Discovery rumour was added on TV Channellists.com on July 1st at 1.37pm by user "TattooedLeprechaun" when the rumour first appeared Eurosport 1 HD was set to called " Discovery Eurosport HD" before being given the name "Eurosport Events HD"

https://www.tvchannellists.com/index...action=history

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Eurosport commentators already tell viewers to subscribe to GCN+ (a Discovery owned service) for uninterrupted cycling coverage.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I thought it was added on June 31st. :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The Virgin Media channel list in the same website doesn’t say this.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The Discovery rumour is ONLY on the link I did give early on tonight.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Well, Discovery has been taken off Now TV.

There's been speculation that Sky allowed the carriage contract to be varied in return for their customers getting the free Discovery + promotion.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Is there a source for this speculation?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

UPDATE:

Media Boy Sources say Discovery WILL close channels down and move to only on Discovey + but only at the end of existing contracts - which still have few years to run out. Unless Discovery buy themselves out of the contracts.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Yup. A few years ago I was privy to a document that showed that eventually the plan was for Discovery to only have one linear channel to showcase their online content.

I can't believe that they'd close their linear FTA channels though, as these rely on eyeballs seeing ads for their revenue.

Eurosport wasn't mentioned in this document, so I've no idea about that.

Maybe giving Sky customers free Discovery + was a way of buying themselves out of the carriage contract through recompense? But surely it would have been better to have given their customers this free year after the removal of the linear Discovery channels to enable them to continue receiving the programming at no extra cost for a further year. Giving it to them now simply duplicates what they already get in the vast majority of cases.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Virgin Media UK has today relaunch an new stream - CO36.

And is testing with 29 unknown channels. Maybe Virgin Media are set to move CO58 to CO 36.

CO 36: https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...ve=209&lang=en
CO 58: https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...ve=209&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

How can you relaunch a new stream? ;)

They probably are moving an existing one. If it was 7 HD streams I might have ventured to suggesting it was Eurosport 3-9 for the Olympics as have appeared in testing on Satellite.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Must be a move, I can't see them adding 29 new channels!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Look like CO 36 will become the new home for CO 88 (Same SID numbers)

CO 88: https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...ve=209&lang=en

It WILL NOT be CO 58 - That stream only have 28 channels on it.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

All that shows is that the digitalbitrate tuners are picking up errors. The SID numbers look like Freeview SID numbers, I don't know how that could happen but it isn't the first time that this sort of thing has shown up on that site.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The other channel might be something new?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/...-how-to-watch/

SIX unknown channels testing appear on Virgin Media:

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...ve=209&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

hopefully sky sports UHD is one

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

As with the last ones you mentioned, these look like tuner errors at digitalbitrate.

1) The multiple dashes and lack of bitrates indicate that this isn't set up for tv.
2) The flat zero bitrate graph confirms that no streams are present.
3) It states that it is tsid 11, which is already being used elsewhere for the BBC Red Button Streams.
4) The sid numbers listed don't follow Virgin's usual pattern. They would be sid 1101 etc for tsid 11. Look at the other listings for the pattern.
5) It is outside the channel / frequency range currently being used. Check the channel C--- numbers.

Having said that, I expect that the Eurosport Olympics streams would be added very shortly if Virgin is actually going to carry them. Digitalbitrate seems to be showing multiple errors nowadays, so use it with caution.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Is there a Sky Sports UHD channel? I thought the UHD content was on demand only. I will check that out with my daughter, who has Sky.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

It is an occasionally service available via a red button or menu - it is not an EPG channel. It has two different streams on Sky.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Yes, just had that confirmed, thank you, ozsat.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

yeah they use red button on sky sports to get uhd on sky hopefully we get access to it before the new footy season starts but they have to test it first surely

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Look like Virgin Media UK are set to move QVC* or QVC Style^ soon using the old FOX +1 stream on CO01 to sit beside QVC Beauty.

Old FOX +1 stream (Was showing an pic of an QVC Channel on July 13th): https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...&sec=0&lang=en

*QVC is broadcasting right now on CO77: https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...&sec=0&lang=en

^QVC Style is broadcasting right now on CO80: https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...&sec=0&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Well spotted. It will be QVC Extra apparently, a new (to Virgin) shopping channel.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I can barely contain my excitement 😂

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

FOX +1 has been rename QVC Extra so it may launch as soon as July 15th on Virgin UK Channel 743.

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...&sec=0&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Steady on now, Virgin may take that as a signal to bring you even more thrills such as... Ideal Extra. :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Or Craft Extra...

I think there is/was 4 High Street TV channels on Sky Guide last time I was so bored I was scrolling the EPG. Extraordinary how many of these channels that are still around.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Or Sewing Street from the makers of Gems TV.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The amount of people staying at home during the pandemic has possibly increased their turnover quite considerably.

---------- Post added at 18:08 ---------- Previous post was at 18:06 ----------

Who needs the extra Eurosport Olympics channels when we can have Sewing Street instead? :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

So successful they had to make it part of channel with a wider remit (i.e. Shopping Quarter).

Have we confirmation of how many extra channels there are going to be from Discovery for the Olympics (on any platform)? I've seen 7 extra channels mentioned, but it wasn't an official source, and just speculation on satellite tests.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

8601 to 8607 on Astra 28.2E are all carrying EPG data with "Coming soon: Action from the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. See https://www.eurosport.co.uk/olympics/ for more information." in the description.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The National Geographic channels are closing ahead of The Hot Zone: Anthrax’s premiere on Disney+ in December. They haven’t got an exact date yet.

Source: Someone who works for one of the companies involved and has a proven track record.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

O


Virgin need to do something or will need to reduce package costs, will be poor value for money otherwise

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

My sources has just reconfirm.

So The National Geographic channels are closing by end of November. (Final date TBC as of July 17th.)

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

They usually give a month's notice, so I would expect a public announcement in a little over 3 months then.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Look like BBC Red Button Channels 2 to 6 that was on Channels 992 to 996 will not be coming back this week for the Olympics starting on Friday.

DBR says they stop broadcasting on July 14th.

---------- Post added at 20:50 ---------- Previous post was at 20:42 ----------

Also Sky Media has confirmed that Movies24 Channels will become Christmas24 again this year.

Anytime from October 1st to January 2022.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Will e time to go on to retentions to argue for a cheaper deal when this happens

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

This is why I keep saying that VM need to add all the popular streaming services.

---------- Post added at 20:56 ---------- Previous post was at 20:54 ----------

They reckon that viewing the Olympics on Discovery+ is the way to go.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

New Channel set to launch on Virgin Media?

Virgin Media UK has started to play about with "Live Events" old slot on CO01.

As of July 17th the DBR Video Capture picture is showing two Purple and Black lines but is still in MPEG2 Mode.

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...&sec=0&lang=en

Information as seen by Media Boy on July 17th at 21:05 (Some info maybe out of date).

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I'm paying tenner less for the next year and a half so the offers are there

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

But Sky has posted the following on Sky Forum:

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

So my Disney+ just gets better and better, then... :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Wait until the next price hike that's coming :p:

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I shall see out my current contract then I will cancel my virgin TV as it has devalued so much and is obviously going to get worse by the information being provided.
The money saved will be used to purchase several apps that will have the content I want.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

The BBC have the rights to two streams - one will be broadcast on either BBC One or BBC Two - the other on the single red button channel.

Eurosport have unlimited coverage, and will be showing additional streams both on broadcast and on their apps (Discovery and Eurosport apps), including some 4K content. Yet to see if Virgin Media have signed up to take the additional content - they didn't take the 4K content from Eurosport for the French Open tennis or the Wimbledon finals this year.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I have a Discovery+ subscription taken out with the Sky 12 month free option.

An online chat with Discovery+ says all the Olypmics will be included to regular Entertainment subscribers so you don't need the new 'sport' add-on.

When I checked the Discovery+ app is offering me and providing me an identicle line-up to the Eurosport app.

I don't know if new Discovery+ customers will get all the sport too - but the chat team said they will get the Olypmic stuff.

There is an offer at present to get 12 months of the combined Discovery+ and Sport add-on for £29.95.

The extra content being made available on Sky (and hopefully VirginMedia) will be a best of current events selection - you'll need the app for the full selection.

UPDATE: Discovery+ sub (without sport) does give Eurosport 1 and 2 - but not the extra streams. They said the Olympics will be available though.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Live Events info from last year has reappeared.

I was thinking Nick Jr. +1 was testing - oh well.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I think a lot will be thinking like this.

---------- Post added at 12:09 ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 ----------

Could it be that new (to us) shopping channel?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

l can even trump that so they offers are definitely there if one tries hard enough.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

​There have also been murmers that UKTV are to add a pay option to UKTV Play for their pay channels, giving UKTV the option to dump their traditional outlets.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

No, as Media Boy and epsilon previously posted here, and later confirmed on DigitalBitRate by a name change, QVC Extra is taking one of the vacated Fox SD streams (the +1 to my recollection).

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I've done exactly the same with SKY.
Got Netflix for £4p/m for uhd (google it), prime £79 for year and Shudder for 99p for 3 months plenty of content there for me.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I have seen that story early today

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...&postcount=202

---------- Post added at 15:46 ---------- Previous post was at 15:41 ----------

cheekyangus is right QVC Extra is using slot number 23 on CO01 using FOX +1 old slot.

Live Events was for older boxes for PPV being shown on Channel 0 but is still broadcasting using slot number 26 also on CO01.

Why did I think of Nick +1? Richard if you look that what is broadcasting on CO01 you will find out that other Nickelodeon UK branded channels are using slots on that stream.

Here is the CO01 stream (see link) - https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...iste=1&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Eurosport tests appear on Virgin Media.

Media Boy HQ have only seen two testing so far on CO64:

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...ve=209&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

And another 2

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...ve=209&lang=en

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

8 new services added - Eurosport 3 HD to Eurosport 9 HD plus Eurosport UHD.

Enjoy!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

I can only see 4 "HD Channels" but they are broadcasting in MPEG2 Mode.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Bloody hell, they're cutting it fine to only be starting tests today!

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

You can't see anything, only the old slates that were originally there. The video will be added later 3-6 where you see 3 & 4 and 7-9 where you can currently see 7 & 8. The UHD channel will appear on the same stream as BBC Red Button HD.

The only reason you can see anything is because the old slates haven't been moved yet, timing differences. The same reason as QVC Extra temporarily showing as Fox +1.

---------- Post added at 16:05 ---------- Previous post was at 16:04 ----------

Testing the video they haven't added yet. :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Just found EPG for an other Eurosport HD is showing on BBC Red Button 2.

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.p...&sec=0&lang=en

---------- Post added at 16:31 ---------- Previous post was at 16:16 ----------

But my TiVo says BBC Red Button HD is staying broadcast after Thursday.

So I think the following will happen:

NOW > (Was)
Eurosport UHD > (BBC Red Button 2)
Eurosport 3 HD > On CO75
Eurosport 4 HD > On CO75
Eurosport 5 HD > (BBC Red Button 3)
Eurosport 6 HD > (BBC Red Button 4)
Eurosport 7 HD > On CO64
Eurosport 8 HD > On CO64
Eurosport 9 HD > (BBC Red Button 5)

Here is EPG Channels for them (Media Boy working numbers only)

561. Eurosport UHD
563. Eurosport 3 HD
564. Eurosport 4 HD
565. Eurosport 5 HD
566. Eurosport 6 HD
567. Eurosport 7 HD
568. Eurosport 8 HD
569. Eurosport 9 HD

Channel numbers may change.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Yes, there was a rumour about a UHF channel being added when Virgin changed the sid number of BBC Red Button 2 from 1102 to 1107, over the weekend, without changing the numbers of the other red button services. The speculation was that, as it was only creating space for a single service, it would be for a UHF channel. The service names appearing today confirmed this. Another timing difference, digitalbitrate hasn't updated Red Button 2's sid number yet.

---------- Post added at 16:37 ---------- Previous post was at 16:34 ----------

Red Button HD is staying for now as I mentioned on the changelog. I will ask around about the channel numbers.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

523 for Eurosport UHD.
537 to 543 for Eurosport 3 HD to Eurosport 9 HD.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Not doubting you, but any chance of a source please. I'd like to learn where to look for this sort of thing.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Obviously, by UHF I mean UHD. Sorry, trying to concentrate on other things.

---------- Post added at 18:55 ---------- Previous post was at 18:54 ----------

I phoned a friend. :D

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

If true thanks for channel numbers.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

They should appear soon anyway, it wasn't really worth me asking about them.

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Am I right in thinking QVC Extra (when launch) will get EPG Channel 743?

Re: Changes to Virgin TV (2021)
 

Used up 50/50 and Ask The Audience then? ;)

Thanks.