Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

According to a press release today, "British Sky Broadcasting (Sky; LSE:BSY) and Virgin Media (NASDAQ:VMED)(LSE:VMED) today announced that they have reached agreement for the acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television (VMtv)."

http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...556&highlight=

I've spent years trying to avoid giving direct money to Rupert Murdoch and now the only way to do this will be to cancel the cable tv.



Edit Rob: Thread title changed to remove "Disaster" as that seems inappropriate for what has become Cable Forum's main discussion on this significant change, which some will welcome and others will have reservations.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

However this means Virgin WILL get Sky 1 HD, all Sky Sport and Movie channels in HD and the 'Red Button'

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Its not a disaster at all, its a very good thing, by selling them VMTV we have agreed a good deal and we get access to the Sky Sports and Movies in HD as well as red button interactive features and sky 1 HD.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Official Press release is here http://bit.ly/cYjwfM

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Good News for Virgin Media customers!

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Hmmm. I still think that ownership of the most popular non-Murdoch multi-channel channel 'Living' was worth more to VM to hang on to as a bargaining chip that whatever cash they may get for the sale. Ho hum. But more HD and RED BUTTON after all these years!

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Looks like a good deal for both VM and Sky :tu:

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Looks like I'm going to be adding Sky Sports to my package now that the red button is going to be available to us.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Any idea what the timeframe for this might be? i.e. when will virgin customers be able to get the basic HD channels??

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

This is great news.

Sky 1 HD, Sky Sports HD, Sky Sports red button access, Sky Movies HD.

Far from a disaster for VM, Sky are buying up channels no one watches and in return giving Virgin their HD and interactive services.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Virgin are the real winners here. They get the extra HD channels and Sky paid £160m for a load of rubbish that noone watches anyway. The only exception being Bravo.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

How so? You don't pay BSkyB directly for the Sky-owned channels featured on VM at the moment, and you won't do after this deal is done. You will continue to pay your subs to VM and they will in turn pay content providers for the channels they make available on their cables.

The NTL half of VM's management has never really liked being a content provider - they always wanted to focus on the delivery platform. They have now got what they wanted, so let's see if they are right.

This could be a good deal, if it ensures that the full range of subscription TV services are always available on cable. On the other hand if VM's negotiators have screwed up (and it wouldn't be the first time), this could one day torpedo cable TV permanently. If there's ever another tiff between the two companies it won't just be the 'Sky Basics' that get pulled off the cable. Let's hope they've sorted out the terms and conditions of this deal very, very carefully.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Not yet. You'll be able to sign up to be notified when there is a confirmed date - I'll post the link as soon as it's live

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Ben do you know if it's "just" Sky Sports 1 and 2 HD or all 4 Sports HD channels??

Ta :)

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

EDIT: scratch that - it's just 1 and 2.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

It's nice ! ! ! !

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I think it's because the Sports are part of the OFCOM regulation.

However it seem it will be all the HD Movies

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

This actually makes a lot of sense for VM. They can concentrate on what they should be doing, providing a good distribution network for content, leaving others to be providers of the content. It's great news for customers too that at last there is going to be accces to Sky's coveted HD premium content for movies and sports. I do wonder though if VM safeguarded access to any future premium stuff for example 3D channels (if they happen).

The risks are perhaps long term when carriage agreements come up for renewal. If a content provider has an increasing monopoly, as Sky will undoubtedly have, who is to influence the pricing? In the standoff only a couple of years ago when Virgin stopped carrying any Sky basic channels, VM placed a lot of reliance on their Virgin1 TV channel. I hope that someone has thought it all through, for the long term and not just a short term cash flow.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Bugger :( As they cam to a deal outside Ofcom i thought they would negotiate for all of them :(

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Bravo for Spartacus. Virgin 1 for Chuck :D

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

It only mentions Sky sport 1 and 2 HD, how much would all this be sold to the customer.
When it has all come, would it not be better if Virgin offered either Sky sports and movies HD or Sky Sports and Sky Movies SD

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

On the most part, the news is good, however I'm would have prefer we got all four of Sky Sport HD channel, rather than just Sky Sport One and Sky Sport Two (which Ofcom are already making Sky provid to Virgin anyway). Hopefully they will be able to work through that and get all four Sky Sport Channels

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

"For an incremental wholesale fee"

Not free then...

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I find it odd that after all these negotiations Sky would hold back HD 3 and 4 and Virgin would be ok with that????

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

More info here http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...media-channels

Quote:

The new carriage deals are understood be for up to nine years. Previously the carriage deals tended to be struck every three years

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

BTW i know that i am sounding like a whiny bitch over Sky Sprts 3 and 4...

Surley they will come eventually...ah well....

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

As I said earlier as Sports are regulated by OFCOM (and that regulation is currently being disputed by Sky) I would assume it would have been a legal nightmare to run a seperate agreement for HD Sports

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Nice!!

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Virgin have sold all their channels to Sky?

So that leaves Virgin with NOTHING and sky with EVERYTHING? Where is the logic?

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Though I love the fact we'll receive the HD channels. Doesn't this give SKY a monopoly on channels, and could cause significant problems for Virgin if SKY decide to increase their prices to extreme levels in the future? I have no doubt they'll have made a fixed price increase agreement for the moment, but I doubt that would exceed 5 years?

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Not to carry on this too long but with mucho respect Ben that doesn't make any sense.

If Sky and VM decided to allow Sky Sports HD on cable then Ofcom becomes defunct as they are doing what Ofcom asked them to do AND MORE...so there's no need for a "seperate agreement" legally or otherwise, no?

Plus VM now have the option to carry Sky Movies HD which Ofcom decided wasn't in their remit (or needed further investigation) so it's not as if Sky have to operate ONLY within Ofcoms remit/decision.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Couldn't have they pulled out from the OFCOM based deal for HD1 and HD2 and negotiate an deal for all the HD channels?

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Pre-register your interest for Sky Sports and Movies HD Channels here: http://www.virginmediaentertainment....D/Default.aspx

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

All very well and good for cable but what happens to BT and TalkTalk? Remember they are also included in the latest Sports agreement

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Yes that's true but I would have thought my point still stands. VM and Sky have come to an agreement outside OfCOM therefore i see nothing, including the ruleing, to stop them having 3 and 4.

I wouldn't have thought OFCOM would say "There but no further." It would fly in the face of what Ofcom want and that's fair distribution of channels.

Anyway, I'm sure it will come.... but anything you hear posted on here would be very appreciated as always :)

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

we will also have access to Sky Libary of On Demand stuff now, I wonder if this is just the old virgin stuff, or if it will also include sky one stuff/ and other Sky owne material

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

just realized that we do not have sky screen 1 and 2 or were they re-branded

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Article states HD channels available for 'an incremental wholesale fee'

So...what's going to happen? We all pay extra for it (inc XL) or Virgin now drop the 'HD at no extra cost on XL' ???

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

At this stage we don't yet know. Although I doubt that there will be any change to the existing HD channels, it might be that there will a 'Sky HD' option on top or something

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Fixed for 9 years it seems

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

You already pay an extra subscription for Sky Sports and / or Sky Movies which are premium content and additional to the XL lineup. I'd just expect that extra subscription to increase a bit more if you want the Premium HD channels. That would leave XL HD at no extra cost unaffected.

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

so virgins amazing HD at no extra cost campaign is abit stupid now

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Sorry but why would ANYONE not expect to pay extra for Sky HD?

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Wrong we get sky sports 1 and 2 in HD NOT 3 and 4

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

He knows.

Boooo!

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Edit i see you know that now :LOL:

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Sorry got a bit over excited by the announcement and hadn't read it properly when I wrote that ;)

re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Indeed :LOL:

---------- Post added at 12:40 ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 ----------

Yes i have asked the question in the questions section of the announcement but no answer as yet

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

On that register your interest page it says:

Also, you need them to actually get High Definition :LOL:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

You asked why no 3 and 4 HD?

Cool.... let us know if you get answered :)

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

What about 3d? :p:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

:shocked:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

This is the best news ever, now everyone will get the chance of watching all Sky channels on VM, I said months ago that this would benefit everyone, and VM will make more money from more customers, ie flats that cannot get a Dish.

I also said that VM should be a fighting force in the TV industry, well now they are, and we should now get all the HD channels that Sky have - see l am always right.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

So June 2018 could be a very interesting month for Cable TV viewer. As long as the agreement stop Virgin getting screwed in the meantime I will take some what we are bing offered (and it is a bloody lot in one go) Sky Basics in HD, Movies in HD, red button services on Sky sports, Sky Sports HD 1 and 2 and VoD from Sky basics and premiums as well as former VMtv channels.

Does anyone know if the channels will launch shortly or are we going to have to wait months on end for the Competition Commission to go through the regulatory process in the Uk and ROI.

Also I wonder if this deal includes any new channels that launch in future carrying the Sky name and if they launch Bravo HD and a rebranded Virgin1 HD.

---------- Post added at 13:11 ---------- Previous post was at 13:06 ----------

Oh and I also wonder if this mean that when Virgin release their Virgin Player if sky content will now be included.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Interesting and exciting times ahead for sure :)

I'd expect the red button access to take a little time as Sky will need to develop this with VM as they are very different broadcast mediums... hopefully in time for the new Prem footie season :)

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I imagine that Sky would be quite keen to have a carriage deal. It can't cost them much more to provide the channels to VirginMedia and and the fees they get would just add to revenues, as well as being able to sell adverts at a higher price. By now I guess Sky have got the vast majority of the HD subscribers they were ever going to get, so by now being on VirginMedia gets them more revenue than by not.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Excellent news, now VM can get on with things they are good at and develop the best platform in the land.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Except all the times you have been wrong :)

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

You are right on this one Arthur... I'll give you that :)

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

So when do sky take over the channels?.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

this reminds me the prem giving a carrot(money) to football league for parachute and rule changes. Sell your soul for few wad.

Sky carrot was HD and red button for the right down the line to Screw Virgin.

Well done virgin you lost the only bargaining tool when things go sour again and you can bet a bottom dollar Sky will try and crush you.

You might got stay excusion as I hope you made some safeguards of timeframe but your dead meat afterwards.

Surely the dipsticks in virgin boardroom see what will happen down the road. I dont trust Sky there evil twisted empire and atitude towards rivals stink. I bet Sky laughing that all it cost to kill virgin was 160m and few gimicks of giving away HD and red button.:mad:

Virgin may as well go and sell the whole platform to that greedy money grabbing evil man.

Where Virgin gonna advertise for new customers without dedicated stations its one of the most craziest stupidest thing they done since they rebranded.

I feel very angry at them and no doubt prices will go through the roof for content now sky own them. wonder if content will get removed from VOD.

Sold us down the river virgin :mad:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I take it there's nothing to stop VM starting a new content division? Seeing as Living is a very channel to what it was 10 or even 5 years ago (all they do is purchase content, remember) there's nothing to stop VMtv from rebuilding itself in a few years?

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

i doubt that BSKYB would leave a loose end like like that. i bet there is a clause in the contract to stop VM setting up a new content/tv devision while BSKYB are still supplying VM with tv content.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

VOD or the (part owned) UKtv channels aren't a part of the deal though are they?

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Heres a link about it all from BSKYB http://corporate.sky.com/page.aspx?p...b10a1e7a2024e5

Ive got Sky, so what types of channels will we be getting from Virgin Media?

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Nope. This is purely about the VMtv stuff. G.O.L.D, Watch etc stay exactly as they are

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

The situation with VM and VMTV was no different than having BSkyB as a delivery platform and Sky as a broadcaster. It works fine for them!Well that has been the big concern in all of these discussions. Hence some people's (my) grave concerns about the deal.

---------- Post added at 14:52 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

I don't think that we are getting all of the HD channels that Sky have, or may have in the future, just yet!

---------- Post added at 15:01 ---------- Previous post was at 14:52 ----------

AFAIK, Virgin 1 was the only VMTV channel available on DTT (FreeView) where Virgin might have been seriously targeting new customers.

I guess they'll pay to advertise on other channels, as they already do, and use leafleting campaigns in areas that are being newly cabled.

---------- Post added at 15:07 ---------- Previous post was at 15:01 ----------

More content to offer, acquisition of contracts with producers of popular programming, access to the Virgin 1 EPG slot on DTT (FreeView), potential increase in share of advertising revenue.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

VM have made a massive mistake here. Sky sports 1 and 2 in HD however you can see it now


SKY exclusive Watch ****** only on Sky sports 3 or 4 HD, Exclusive to SKY only******

Can you imagine the drinks in the bar after the deal was signed.

Sky negotiator on the phone to Murdock. "Yes boss they fell for it, You can start to move the main content from Sky sports 1 and 2 HD onto Sky sports 3 and 4 HD from today"

Murdock "now we have them :rofl::rofl::rofl:" Well done i will give you a big fat bonus for that

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

That would suit me...all the tennis will be in HD :p

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

However Sky are already moving more and more of the Super League games on to sky sports 3 and 4 which does not help me at all :mad:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

This seems like a good deal in terms of access to HD Content and on demand, although I'm a little concerned some of my favourite programmes may disappear, such as Drop Dead Diva on Living, White Collar and Leverage on Bravo and Chuck on Virgin 1.

On the plus side I guess they may appear on a new rebranded Sky Channel in the future, maybe the recent changes to Sky 2 are a sign that this might be used, perhaps we might see a Sky Living Channel for the shows above and things like The Ghost Whisperer, Cougar Town etc

If I am being honest both Living and Sky One could do with strengthening and so a combined channel that could offer more high quality US Comedy and Drama would be really worth watching and we might not need quite so much filler rubbish and repeats.

If the carriage deals are in place for 9 years as stated elsewhere as well, hopefully this will limit the increases in costs over this period as well, although realistically I think Virgin customers would have to expect to pay more for Sky Movies HD for example in the future.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Hello that what bothers me sky might move all premier league games on sky sports hd 3 or 4, if that the case i won't be bothering getting sky sports in hd.:mad:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Are we the only 2 that has seen this. No way could the negotiating team have missed this, But there again :erm:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Hello that what bothers me sky might move all premier league games on sky sports hd 3 or 4, if that the case i won't be bothering getting sky sports in hd.:mad:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

The situation with VM and VMTV was no different than having BSkyB as a delivery platform and Sky as a broadcaster. It works fine for them!

The situation IS completely different. Sky hold very lucrative premium content and VMtv do not and never have, or shown any signs of wanting to.

I think most people will now accept what some of us accepted long ago that VM do not want a future in content, as per Berkett's statement in the press release.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

You've answered your own question there. The reason no one else is bothered is because it's so blatantly obvious that there's no chance it's been missed, and so likely isn't going to be an issue.

It's the same with the ofcom decision, if Sky move premier league games to SS 3 and 4 ofcom can immediately review their decision and add SS 3 and 4 to the must offer obligation without any additional consultation.

VM employ some VERY intelligent people, they know what they're doing. They aren't amateurs in this. If you've spotted a potential pitfall you can bet your life that they will have as well. This isn't a deal that was done over a pint in an evening down the pub, there has been months (maybe even years?) of discussion, consultation, investigation and research into it. You don't sign these deals without covering all your bases.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

]

But if do charge for Sky Sports HD 1 & 2 then what is the point if they not showing premier league matches useless. :mad:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

You can bet your bottom dollar that Sky will sooner rather than later move shows like Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Cougar Town, etc etc to Sky One and leave Living as a poor relation to Sky Three.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

They can't just move stuff OFCOM have already placed strict guidelines on the moving of content. Sky are free to move some stuff butto much will cause them to step in. Remember moving content will also affect BT & Talktalk

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I see ... which would be the reason VM bent over and took it up the wrongun when Sky demanded they slash the carriage charges for these channels a couple of years ago. ;)

A situation that was only redeemed thanks to Sky's stupidity in trying to overcharge for its own Basics channels, thus giving VM an opportunity to stop carrying Sky One and then drag the whole lot back onto the table for renegotiation. A clever rearguard action, I admit, but only necessary because the original deal for carriage of their own channels on the Sky EPG was so weakly handled by VM.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I can guaranteed that! :dozey:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Believe it or not, the psychology and negative prestige of having your premium sports content on your 3rd and 4th channels will probably (largely) prevent this. There may be (apparent) exceptions but, unless (and this is a real possibility borne out by past events - see below) Sky rename their Sports channels, I can't see them cheating you and giving you only minority sports like tennis (ooh, I'm gonna get some comments for that!) and women's beach volley ball (ooh, I'm gonna get some (different) comments for that too!) on Sky Sports 1 & 2 HD.

Like the movie channels, they could rename Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4 as Sky Tennis Volley, Sky Beach Volley, Sky Premiership and Sky Howzzat! forcing them to launch Sky Oval Balls (to compete with BBC and ESPN) and Sky Gaelic Games (to compensate for the loss of Setanta).

Oh what have I started? Now they'll want women's beach volley ball in 3D! :rolleyes:

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Yes you will... to call tennis a minority sport is ignorant and plain wrong.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I can't believe that you admitted to that in a public forum! ;)

Oh yeah, I forgot about Sky2 being a part-time Sky1 +1. Interesting!

We still occasionally watch a repeated Cold Case on Sky One, Two or Three but not much else. Maybe all the hype some time ago about getting the Sky basics back was misplaced. I have, surprisingly, enjoyed some programming a few months ago on some of the other Sky channels, including "Sky Arts - Suggs' Italian Job" which was a cultural tour of Italy in a mini cooper! I'm edumicated me!

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:30 ----------

Oh darn it! I've left the ;):):rolleyes: out again but I thought the "ooh!" tone conveyed the light-hearted nature of the comments. Anyway Mobes, you ought to know me by now.

You weren't having me on were you? Not sneakily leaving out the smileys to see how I'd react? Or, was there really a :mad: in there?

I may not be a tennis fan or, indeed, a sports fan but I will be watching QoS with Sue Barker at 19:30. I mean I'll be watching it presented by Sue Barker, I won't be watching it with her. :(

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

It is until once a year.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

That\'s the infamous NTL you are talking about... that paid lots of dosh to just change their name....they will pay more for SKY Sports 3, even MORE for Sky Sports 4 and EXTRA more for SKY Sports EXTRA....

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Well, as a VM customer, I sit back, drink a cold beer and ask myself:

Will I miss Living, Bravo and the other VMTV channels going to Sky?

And the answer is.....no. I hardly watched anything on those channels anyway. Chuck and Supernatural, that was it. IMO, Virgin 1 blew its chance of becoming a decent channel when they didn't show Sarah Connor in Widescreen.

Here's some stuff I'd like to watch:

HD football.

So, for me, this deal is win win. Sure, 9 years from now the deal may look crap, hell, I'm sure it will because this is Sky were dealing with here.

Until then, I get all the HD footy I can watch; Red button; HD Movies (I'll probably stick with Lovefilm to be honest) Sky content on VOD (I wonder if any of that is in HD? If so, it makes Sky's Anytime+ VOD system look even worse by comparison to VM VOD).

And also, in 9 years time, VM I'm sure, will have cracked that 5 million TV customer barrier (or so hope so, for their sake :erm:). Another channel carriage dispute in 9 years time will hit Sky even harder than the last one, which resulted in a 23% drop of Sky 1's audience overnight.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Sorry, potentially ambiguous statement on my part, I wasn't intending to get into the nitty gritty of volume, quality and penetration of content ownership by Sky, I merely wanted to point out that there was VM the carrier and VMTV the broadcaster just as there is BSkyB the carrier and Sky the broadcaster (which all sound like Welsh professional names :)).

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I suspect what's at the root of this is VM's belief that linear broadcast TV is becoming obsolete, and in 9 years, when the carriage fees for Sky's content comes up for renewal, VM will rely far less on the delivery of linear broadcast TV as part of its product offering.

They will be hoping that they can sell cable as first and foremost a VOD service, with broadcast channels there in the mix for those who still want them. If VM can show it doesn't really need to buy Sky's channels anywhere near as much as Sky needs to sell them, then they will still have leverage at the negotiating table.

Personally I think that's a pretty huge gamble. But I guess we will just have to wait and see how it pans out.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

MILK AND HONEY (IN HD) UNTIL 2019/20! :D

After that.....erm..... :erm:

VM: "So.....about those negotiations for the Sky content on Digital Cab-"

Sky: "Bugger off will ya? We're finally completing our plans for world domination! Shoo......begone!"

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

i personally think that $ky may force VM to put the "vmtv" channels on the XLTV pack to get more revenue therefor cust with M+,L losing channels :( :@

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Living for Medium, Supernatural, Ghost Whisperer, Cougar town. There's loads of great tv on Living.

---------- Post added at 19:15 ---------- Previous post was at 19:12 ----------

The logic is sky have given away a lot of their USP's. HD and red button. Virgin will still retain theirs. Their superior bb service, their ondemand will now be strengthened with skys basics line up being added. Sky and VM needed to come together and make ammends with each other. Paytv is under threat from the free market and they need to start offering more competitive packages.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

In 9 years time Sky pull their channels from Virgin.
3 Months after that Virgin sell to Sky and Sky Cable is launched.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

thats the way I see it too but alas we got some thick idiots in the virgin media company who got its head in the sand.

TheDon there tons of examples of big corporates not thinking/doing its homework and missing thing Football League famous stupidity that the ITV Digital was not land locked to parent ITV and contracts shoddily done.

I bet Virgin screwed up bigtime how they can possible trust SKY to play fair is beyond comprehention of incompetance and someone at the top should be looking at his p45 right now.

Heads should roll bigtime. Virgin also playing a dangerous rusian roulette game to hope OFCOM will help to keep SKY in check.

What happens if OFCOM becomes toothless with loss of powers under tories.

Have they not said they gona take away quangos and was there not talk on here awhile back on the investigation there was talk they could loose powers.

We need the powers to block this sale for the good of the platform.

On hoping to get more customers like 5m to make them play kinder sky will make every single oportunity to force people to sky.

Virgin could set up the best platform in the world but not owning content can mean that content get stripped and virgin wont have jot to stop them.

Sky could also provide weak signals poor quality and also like last time hidden feeds. Anger VM customers in hope they ditch cable to Dish with Sky.

They could also tell virgin to stop putting there HD in the XL packages free and force it into extra costs.

Yes we protected but only till 2019 then SKY gloves are off we will receive there knockout blow.

I fully expect VM platform be glorified freeview box after the timeline. With only our basic beeb, itv and american based channels.

All other channels will be removed at some point OFCOM will be powerless to stop it once Murdock buddies strip there power.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Sorry if someone has already suggested this.

But in the end VM customers may get Bravo HD, Challenge HD and Sky 4 HD (If it were to be rebranded as Sky 4) as Sky are looking to get as many HD channels by the end of the year, so this is where they may invest in HD :)

Well as long as they don't make it exclusive.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

I woudn't be reading too much into issues for any renewal in 2019. Who knows where the TV industry will be by then, but more importantly who knows where the TV distribution industry will be in terms of their infrastructure.

BT survive quite happily without being a provider of content and just a carrier. Why shouldn't Virgin Media be free to provide the best network they can such that if the platform is right the content providers will be coming to the carrier because they can't afford not to be on that platform.

Sky already have an increasing problem. They have no decent return path. A phone line isn't really up to the job and the broadband services of custgomers is variable. That leaves many services like on demand and interactive in difficult territory for Sky and yet that is where the future pay market will probably develop. That might improve if BT do get their fibre network rolled out, but then what is that going to end up costing end users? TV is a competetive industry. I see Sky needing Virgin as much as Virgin need Sky.

The press releases are inevitably limited in detail. For the short term the real issues are how well Virgin Media and Sky are agreeing to share, at sensible cost, any additional content and channels that might become available, as well as all the existing premium and non premium HD and SD stuff.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

BT in SKY eyes is not a dangerious rival That may change in the future. Sky however consider Virgin a dangerous competitor thats why they thrown wobblies and took channels of them.

Once sky control all content in uk they will have the power to switch the lights out on every rival. You can bet a bottom dollar this is the big picture.

Like I said platforms are useless without content. Whats going to happen to virgin customers once they realise just being a carrier not all its cracked up put box charges up considerably to cover shortages in revenue.

Lets be honest some of those channels was providing income now that income lost. Virgin goto get that back somehow. Sky dont need virgin they would rather we die a horrid death like it dish competitor few years back.

Dont kid us Sky hated cable as soon it got it got organised with merging and rebranded thats when Sky got agressive.

A leopard dont change its spots they still want cable to cease so they become the only platform.

Thats why they want picnic on freeview to kill them as a viable solution and once freesat dangerous and BT they will go after them too.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Personally I'd quite like it if ofcom did lose it's powers. Then the monopolies commission can step in and they have far bigger teeth than ofcom.

And if they don't feel like taking them on, the EU competition commission can step in and they'd more than likely split Sky into a content and platform division anyway.

Seriously guys, this deal isn't a bad thing. If Sky try to flex any sort of muscle in future with regards to over charging or withholding content they will be biting off their nose to spite their face.

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Question.What will I as a non HD VM watcher get instead?

Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television
 

Red button on Sky sports, sky content on demand.