Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

This is just an joke poll just to ask:

*Hope Virgin get Sky Atlantic.
*Do not care if Virgin Carry Sky Atlantic.
*I will go to Sky if Virgin do not carry Sky Atlantic.

The latest I have is talks are still 'ongoing' with BSkyB over Sky Atlantic but that info is dated October 2010.

Poll will close in 60 days from today (December 29th).

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

My view is... if it comes, then it comes.. if not then meh. :D

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

No chance, not even in SD for at least a while anyway. 'Exclusive to Sky customers' is a bit of a giveaway as far as I am concerned, as it was with ITV2 HD.

Sky never mention SD channels in promos so I read it as applying to SD and HD.

Personally I would be happy with Sky Arts HD which is still 'coming soon' 6 months later!

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Unless Virgin get it from launch, what's the point? Who wants to receive a channel months after it's launched. All of these new programmes will be mid-season by then. Personally I want the channel from day 1 so I can watch all these new shows from episode 1.

Sure you can always download these shows illegally from the internet anyway, but not everyone has the internet and not everyone is comfortable doing this.

We are just over 1 month away from launch, we've heard nothing as of yet directly from Virgin, I'd say we ain't getting it.

Prove me wrong Virgin, please prove me wrong :)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

As a VM customer you must be used to getting a fair few channels after their Sky launch, if ever?

Sadly for us Sky's whole marketing plan is banking on customers like you not wanting to wait and jumping ship.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

We don't need sky atlantic we have tivo coming.(I voted the second one)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Recent developments have not been suprising to me at all,When it emerged that sky were buying vm`s channels i felt it would come back to haunt them.Vm were looking desperate to sell and sky knew it and vm are now and for the forseable future going to see the backlash of there actions,tivo looks very promising (tad overpriced) but its all well and good having a new platform but you have got to have the channels for people to watch.The main thing they should be concentrating on is HD Channels,They are still massively short of sky and they must now relise that delaying getting the channels cost them and now tv revenue on last quarter went up probably due to the flood of hd channels.Surely to justify the crazy price for tivo more hd channels are needed,To expect tivo to keep customers and attract new will be there downfall.More HD channels are needed,And one last thing If murdoch gets total control of sky it will only get worse.Vm need to keep there eye on the ball otherwise sky will be taking it back again

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I'd have to agree with this...

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

well said

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

VM won't get it any time soon. Sky Atlantic is a classic BSkyB tactic: now all its other channels are available on VM it simply creates a new channel where it can put its exclusive content.

I won't be at all surprised to find many new US programmes that previously would have been screened on Sky1 now finding their way on to Atlantic instead.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

From a customer point of view, I always go for more choice is good. But regardless of what happens there is always Astraweb.:)

---------- Post added at 15:37 ---------- Previous post was at 15:33 ----------

Sky would need to be careful, as the vmtv deal included carriage rights to sky one, so shifting all new programming onto Sky Atlantic could incur regulatory scrutiny. I suspect Sky Atlantic will just be for HBO stuff, but who knows for sure.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

And they will, the carriage agreement runs for the next 9 years.

And lets not forget, thanks to that deal, VM got most of the Sky HD channels as well, along with Sky Red Button and Sky VOD content.

Both sides got something out of the deal. And bear in mind what happened to Sky 1's ratings when that channel was removed from cable. VM are Sky's wholesale biggest customer and Sky will think twice about doing that again.

---------- Post added at 17:53 ---------- Previous post was at 17:47 ----------

The only import moving from Sky 1 to SkyA is nBSG.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

:tu:

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

[QUOTE=HDFootyMan;35144580]And they will, the carriage agreement runs for the next 9 years.

And lets not forget, thanks to that deal, VM got most of the Sky HD channels as well, along with Sky Red Button and Sky VOD content.



All true but carriage agreement is for channels at that time,There is nothing to stop them shutting other channels down and replacing them with new ones (eg Sky Atlantic)

And most of the sky HD channels? still awaiting sky arts(personally not bothered) sports news and still no sign of the red button and vod content.

At the minute sky are showing all the rewards and sticking 2 fingers back at vm

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I never said anything about 'moving' - I said 'new'. I will not be at all surprised if new US drama series start showing up on Sky Atlantic instead of Sky1.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

My view is this

A. Why do Virgin waste so much time trying to acquire Sky crap and let other non sky owned channels go Ie EspnA HD , Disney XD HD , Nat Geo Wild HD , Universal HD , ITV HD channels , Disney Cinemagic HD , Eden HD and Good food HD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

From the SKY Atlantic press release on SKY's website:

"As part of Sky's growing commitment to original production, Sky Atlantic HD will also offer a range of exclusive, new UK programming."

I read on either Facebook or Twitter that the next Idiot Abroad will be Karl Pilkington in America aka An Idiot In America. I'm guessing this will be shown on SKY Atlantic, if it does actually get made.

I've also been checking online TV guides, some of which go ahead until the last week of January. I can find no mention of TNA Impact on any other channel. I wonder if TNA Impact will turn up on Atlantic?

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I know I have said this before but while VM don't charge extra for non premium HD channels I cannot see any way their business could sustain offering all the channels you mention, 2 of them are even 50% owned by VM so I can only assume it is down to money we don't have them.

Sadly we cannot have it both ways but I really feel the 'HD for free' mantra might well eventually end up being a noose around VM's neck.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

It probably will Sky always put decent content on channels only Sky subscribers can get.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I am talking about the channels Sky have no share of which there are plenty, I just don't see how VM can ever afford to offer them for no extra charge. We cannot really blame Sky for VM's chosen pricing structure.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I'm starting to think VM made a big mistake selling there channels in my opinion LIving is as good if not better than SKy One , but Sky have deeper pockets to Market their channels.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I think they probably did the right thing selling their channels, I doubt they would ever have got the Sky HD channels otherwise. It seems it's HD that gains subscribers although it took VM's management years to grasp that.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Yeah suppose when you look at it that way.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I don't think it took VM management years to grasp anything about HD. The calculation is a simple one: Sky has access to the premium content that everyone wants to see in HD. It therefore had the means to go after the early adopters of HD. Sky could afford to set the price so high as to make it unaffordable for VM - or else simply decide not to sell the content on at any price.

VM has had to wait until HD has become mainstream, and Sky has nothing left to gain by keeping the content exclusive to their own platform. In the intervening years, VM has instead concentrated on what it has perceived as the main differentiating product between it and Sky - namely, VOD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

With respect VM constantly said that the way to go was with HD On Demand and they were clearly totally wrong.

Also they did not really have the capacity to offer more until NGTV which in some areas was as late as the summer of 2010.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

And there wasnt much HD On demand at that.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

It what way were they totally wrong?

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

In the way that people clearly want linear HD channels just look how many joined Sky HD

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I think maybe we should start a poll to see why they were totally wrong, do we want linear HD channels or just HD on demand.

I think the hundreds if not thousands of posts on this very forum prove the demand for linear HD channels, not so many asking for HD on demand though.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

To be fair I would like a mix of both , I would like more catchup TV in HD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

And will pay for it too, around 3 million I think.

You are right a mix of on demand and linear HD would be perfect which is what we get now to some extent but I have absolutely no doubt most new subscribers would be attracted to HD linear channels over on demand.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I've constantly said it on here VM need more HD channels for there TV service to really take off , TIVO looks great but what goods great hardware if you can't watch your favourite HD channel. I would rather VM added a £5.00 HD sub for extra channels if it meant we got more quality and choice. I'm not knocking VM they've made a great start but there's plenty more to be done.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

So many people joined Sky HD because that was the only place you could get HD. ;) As I said earlier, Sky already had all the premium content that could easily be shown in HD, therefore they were in a position to get all the early adopters.

Sky could do it because they are a well established premium content provider as well as a distribution platform. VM could not do it because they did not already have a roster of premium content that they could simply start showing in HD; also, as someone pointed out earlier, for legacy reasons the network needed more time for HD to be available nationally.

VM's HD strategy has always been a long term one, but not only because of the limitations of its current position versus Sky as regards linear HD. VM has bet the farm on TV viewers becoming increasingly willing to consume TV as an on-demand product rather than linear. That isn't going to happen overnight, but it will happen - is already happening.

As for running a poll to find out who wants linear HD right now, well I think there is just a teensy weensy chance that there might be a biased sample where this forum's membership is concerned. But if you want to do it, go ahead, fire away. :)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Very valid points and your right On Demand is becoming bigger. My main gripe on VM is the poor layout which results in difficulty finding what you want on the On Demand.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I don't think it is a case of who got it right or wrong. VM have struggled to do what they can with very limited funds. Sky didn't have to completely upgrade their infrastructure like VM did to provide more HD. They had to do that whilst heavily in debt. I think as well that Sky have already cornered most of the market of people willing to pay much money for HD. I think it is a rather limited market anyway. Most of the population aren't that bothered that much about HD. I'm talking about the ordinary man and woman in the street. The people who post in forums are enthusiasts and are not typical.
I don't think there is much doubt that VM have raised their game since the amalgamation of NTL and Telewest. Even a Sky executive said so the other day. They have a huge uphill battle though as they are up against a company with all the cards in their hand.
BTW I have voted that I want VM to get Sky Atlantic. I couldn't care less about getting it myself but a lot of people will and I think they should be able to watch the channel without having to change to another tv supplier.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

No I don't want to do a poll as I think I know what the answer would be, as did VM.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Yes hence the jump from 1 linear HD channel to 29 I think.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Nope. All that proves is that VM wasn't prepared to screen HD channels at just any price*. As they don't own any HD channels themselves, they have always been at the mercy of those that do. And those that do, used them to hoover up the early adopters.

*Or possibly, it proves that those channels simply weren't for sale or rent, until Sky was forced to/no longer saw any benefit in exclusivity.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Where's the "I shall use Sky Atlantic exclusive to Sky, along with the removal of Bravo and Virgin/Channel One when I phone 'retentions' to get a discount on my services" option :D

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Virgin have quite a bit in the last year but they have got to still do far more including more hd channels, the red button and making tivo available quickly.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Absolutely 100% no, SKY has an exclusivity deal with WWE meaning no other wrestling can be broadcast on it's channels, extreme sports might pick it up I guess...

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Along with stating that HD VoD was the way to go they have to date failed to provide a single HD VoD programme from Channel 4 despite signing a deal to say they could/would back in October 2007

http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...cle&ID=1060314

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Having looked at the line up of programming, I can't see anything that I would want to watch.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

It is probably coming soon, over 3 years isn't that long in VM time.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I think the important wording is:

This means that they can, if they wanted to, not that they have to. I presume it is a matter of bandwidth, rather than desire. However, I am pretty sure Countdown has been available in HD VoD in the past.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

It also says 'Now a selection of these shows will also be available in HD format'

Countdown isn't in HD even on C4 HD.

Personally I have never seen a 4OD show in HD, maybe some of the pay per view shows were but they are no longer available as far as I know.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I must have been mistaken.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

But they were at one point telling us the future of HD was VoD, they had the opportunity and chose not to use it, despite them believing HD VoD was the future.

Also mentioned somewhere in this thread was how VM have secured access to the Sky HD channels and VoD content, don't know about anyone else but I am finding the Sky VoD content a bit thin on the ground, Sky Arts HD has never materialsed and red button is 'coming soon'. Excellent work Virgin!

If there was one person VM need to poach from Sky it would be the head of the negotiations, they do a fantastic job for Sky.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

From the press release regarding the sale of VMTV to SKY.

"Neil Berkett, CEO, Virgin Media, said: "The sale of our channels business has generated substantial value. Together with the new commercial agreements we've announced today, it will allow us to focus more closely on our strategy of exploiting Virgin Media's super-fast connectivity to offer our customers a range of the very best content through a highly versatile next generation entertainment application."

Sounds like a reference to TIVO. Will the Red Button facility for SKY Sports only be available to TIVO customers of Virgin or everyone? From previous posts in this forum, looks like TIVO and the Red Button facility should be coming along at the same time.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Yes they can do some good deals and also they can mess up deals.
Take the deal for ESPN all SKY customers have to pay extra for it ( more if you do not subscribe to the SKY sports package ). Then VM took their time to get them and got them free for customers on the XL tv pack.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

There is no doubt in my mind that VM were slow to embrace HD but they seem to have been learning fast over the last year or so and I do hope that the deal they signed with Sky contained a clause that gave VM the option to take any new channel launched by Sky at a wholesale price.

Frankly, I would be surprised if Sky tried to withold the channel because they will need the advertising revenues to pay for the expensive content that Sky Atlantic will contain, particularly given that there is no additional subscription to Sky subscribers.

The most likely scenario is that we will get Sky Atlantic SD from launch. I will be seriously upset if we don't, unless of course the programming appears on VOD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

If they do move An Idiot Abroad to Atlantic I'l be annoyed, one of the few decent shows on Sky and definitely there best self produced show.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

But then they don't really have that much to compare it to though.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

ach they screwed up anyway.. Selling all the rights and channels and all that she-bang to sky.. what are VM thinking? We dont even have Virgin One no more, so whats the point in supporting sky channels, if you aint on sky? In the end, it just gonna cost the cable viewer even more to watch anyway...

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Everyone. (Well, everyone who subscribes to Sky Sports)

The two are unrelated.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Yeah I know I'm just saying it should be 'treated better' as its their show as apposed to others that are flung around channel to channel. Plus in all honestly apart from Bones and House its probably their best show in general.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Sky Atlantic is being advertised as "the home of HBO", but it will have some series from other US cable channels (Mad Men's from AMC, Breaking Bad is FX). I can't see US network series debuting on Atlantic, but that doesn't mean that the next BSG spin off won't be on Atlantic as that's from the cable channel Syfy. The only US Network shows I've seen mentioned for Atlantic are the proposed daytime shows which are repeats from some time back (X-Files was Fox, ER and Seinfeld were NBC).
Missing from Atlantic's HBO exclusive deal though is, ironically, the channel's biggest (only?) hit in years - True Blood, which remains with FX and Channel 4.
I would dearly love for VM to have Atlantic HD from launch - for me it promises a fabulous lineup. We may get the SD channel, which would be better than nothing. Sky has paid a lot of cash for a minority channel and will exploit it as it sees fit, but to deny VM customers the SD version whilst closing so many other channels recently (Bravo and VirginOne to name just two) would seem to me unfair and even cruel, but typical of Sky.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Its typical of rival companies. We should thank god for Ofcom or we'd be in a much much worse position than we are now.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Would have thought that if it was in Sky's interest to offer the same deal as Virgin they would have.

Virgin customers have traditionally not taken to the premium channels and so it may have been the case that looking at Setanta subscribers numbers they were better offering it wholesale to Virgin customers. Whereas, Sky customers have shown a willingness to subscribe to additional services and it was more profitable for both ESPN and Sky to it as a stand alone package.

Added into that equation Sky Sports were contracted in ESPN's first year to film and produce all live football matches. Sky was also contracted to manage ESPN subscribers giving them full access to ESPNs subscriber numbers, churn and details of who is subscribing to ESPN - a massive insight into a potential major threat longterm to Sky Sports.

Sky's negotiation team do a fantastic job for them.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Apparently Sky Atlantic is a free basic channel on the Sky platform, so since they're poaching a number of shows from the Virgin channels they bought and are closing down, I'd hope this will be available on Virgin, from launch, and at no extra cost.

Well, I can dream.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

What amazes me with Virgin is the fact Sky are always at fault in there eyes , admittedly this is probably true most of the time but Virgin told us there was an agreement for the Sky Basic HD channels if that's the case were's Sky News HD , Sky Arts HD and SSN HD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

VM never said Sky News and Sports News HD, they only stated Sky 1 and Sky Arts. It was assumed on here that it included the others... remember in Auguest we were being told that Sports News HD would launch on the same day, then 1st Sept and then there was a short delay.

Virgin/Sky press statement did state VoD was part of the deal and that has failed to materialised thus far along with Sky Arts HD.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Just to echo what`s already been said, sky atlantic will be exclusively for sky customers as their advert says. I would of thought virgin when do their deal to sell their channels to sky would of put a clause in the contract saying they must be offered any new channels,channel name changes or channel merges. As much as I want to see the new channel I wont be switching to sky. I hope Murdoch doesn`t get full control of sky as he has more than enough power already with all his media outlets.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

VM would be doing themselves much more of a favour if they were up front about schedules and the reasons for delays. It's possible that red button sports, Sky arts HD and Sky on demand are all scheduled to come this month as per an agreement with Sky. If that is the case wouldn't it be better to tell people and end the speculation. Of course there might be other reasons why Arts HD and Sky ondemand haven't showed yet.
At least with broadband upgrades they are up front about when people will get upgrades. I think VM tv should take a leaf out of that book.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Virgin must do more to get more hd channels on board other_wise customers will start jumping ship. They must work harder to get new launches on board the same day as sky. ITV2HD,ITV3HD and ITV4HD all have failed to materialise yet which is disapointing. I`m also wondering what virgin are going to do to replace Bravo1, Bravo2,Challenge jackpot, which went of air today, and the soon to vanish channel 1? I agree also that Tivo is too expensive and will have to come down in price drasticly

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

A new year's thought; maybe Ofcom/The Competition Commission will allow the Murdoch/News International takeover of Sky to go ahead with the stipulation, that to avoid the charge of too much control of the pay TV market, they wholesale all their channels to their competitors. You never know. Happy new year.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

The ads actually only say Sky Atlantic HD is exclusive to Sky Customers. I know that they rarely mention SD versions these days, but that may well be the case - better for them to get some carriage payments from VM and appease advertisers with VM viewers. I'm probably clutching at straws, but I'm hoping that we'll get the SD version, much like we do with Sky News, Sky Sports News, the two Sky Arts channels and Sky Classics, Sports 3 and 4.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

At the moment. I think Chris was referring to any future purchases by Sky.

Well, until this, I had not heard of Sky Atlantic. So, I went online to look at what they are showing, and having seen the list on Wikipedia (assuming it is correct), all I can say is "meh".

Any shows on that list I want to see are already available on DVD...

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Sky VOD should launch very soon now. The removal of the TV Choice bolt on for lower tiers was a Sky demand, if their programming was part of VM's VOD service.

---------- Post added at 21:14 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------

I think that would be a very hard deal to strike with Sky. More likely access is given on wholesale terms. The price still could be too high for VM to justify to their customers.

---------- Post added at 21:17 ---------- Previous post was at 21:14 ----------

a lot of agreements will be commercially sensitive. The Sky Red button is in development with VM/Sky.

VM have full control of broadband upgrades and don't have to negotiate with other providers.

---------- Post added at 21:21 ---------- Previous post was at 21:17 ----------

Do you want to pay extra for the ITV HD channels? Now that some channels have closed, this may well pave the way for the ITV2,3 & 4 HD channels.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I do understand that Digital Fanatic. The trouble is as far as forums are concerned is it generates a lot of misinformation.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Personally I'm happier watching my favourite TV programmes when I choose to watch them and not necessarily when they are scheduled so VOD works for me.

Also all this shouting about HD TV..how many households actually have a HD TV? Some of us have yet to wear out our old one to the point that it's time to change..and yes I'm contemplating a foot through the screen.Had this one for 15 years now..

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Maggy, it was the best thing I ever did getting rid of my old CRT TV, the new TV's open a world of possibilities from HDTV, streaming media from our computer to being internet enabled. I would give you a word of warning though, don't put your foot through it you my do yourself a mischief:D

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

:tu:

Agree.
As for the foot, I would! CRT was good but a nice 42" job blows it out of the water :D

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I don't know how many households, but 24 million HDTV sets had been sold by the end of 2009. Yet only 5.1 million households had a HD source (STB or integrated TV) by mid-2010. And the actual HD viewing figures are tiny..

So most people either aren't interested in HD, or think they are watching it when they aren't. :shrug:

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I'm glad you got those words the right way round. :D :LOL: :Sprint:

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Careful what you say guys Maggy might ban you:erm::D

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Yes sky Arts HD was supposedly part of the deal that sold vms channels to sky,wonder just when sky arts HD1 and HD2 will actually arrive. :confused:

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Considering how many people think that putting their TV into "smart" mode on a 4:3 channel means that that channel is widescreen, I wouldn't be surprised.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Be careful how you interpret the use of the word 'exclusive' with regards to Sky Atlantic. AFAIK, the HD variant will, initially, be exclusive to BSkyB customers but there's no surprise there. The expectation is that the SD channel will be available on BSkyB satellite, Virgin Media cable, FreeView DTT and possibly elsewhere. Also, they state that it will be 'an exclusive home' to some programming, meaning that those shows will not be available on other channels but may be available to other platforms on Sky Atlantic channel.

---------- Post added at 12:32 ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 ----------

My in-laws have had a Sony Bravia HD-ready TV for a few years now. Unfortunately, since the UK's adoption of MPEG4 for FreeView DTT broadcasting in HD, they can only receive HD through an external source. However, the subsidised switch-over scheme for the elderly, disabled etc. has made it easier for them to get a FreeSat HD box (the dish came with the house).

My point is that, as DSO completion nears, more households should have a HD source available to them and the ratio of available HD programming to people actually viewing it will begin to balance out.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Well SKY Atlantic launches on SKY on the 1st of February.

It's not looking good for us Virgin customers getting the channel from launch. There's nothing been announced via the Virgin Press Office to suggest the channel is coming soon. Nobody has noticed any testing for this channel coming plus Virgin Staff who post on here have been fairly quiet about it all. Usually we'll get a cheeky wee smile or a light hearted comment advising we should just be patient or just wait and see etc.

Until someone actually posts proof here that the channel is coming, then don't believe the rumours.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I ask my insider last week if Sky Atlantic plus any new channels will launch on Virgin Media and I got this back:

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Cheers Media Boy, let's hope there's some good news! As long as the SD version is available from launch, then I'll be fairly happy.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Sky Living rebranding is due shortly too of course and there have been no announcments I have seen on that. As Media Boy suggests I doubt there'll be any announcement on forthcoming services until after the holidays.
I'd hope for some news on the availability of the TiVo this month and maybe something on Sky Atlantic SD and Sky on demand programmes too. Announcements of new SD channels can be last minute, and they hardly need to test, what with Channel One and Bravo slots all being available already - 119 would be logical places for Sky Atlantic SD and maybe the HD slotting in to 120 if/when it eventually arrives.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Might have something to do with no retailer selling CRT television sets anymore, and people are just going out to buy a new one ready for the digital switchover in their area ..or because a HD ready set takes up less space

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Exactly. I would be curious to know how many non-HD TV sets were sold, compared to the number of HD TV sets sold, during 2009 and 2010. The statistic is a little meaningless otherwise.

The more meanigful statistic is the basically static number of UK homes with a pay TV subscription of any kind - about 15 million, on a generous rounding up of BT plus VM plus Sky (incidentally, by last March only 2.5 million of those had an HD sub). There are about 26 million households in the UK, which is a pretty vast number of people, and, coupled with the suggestion that there are upwards of 24 million HDTVs now sold in the UK, suggests that:

1. Almost everyone now has an HDTV;
2. Perhaps one-in-10 HDTVs are connected to a subscription-based HD broadcast receiver.

There has always been a healthy scepticism over the worth of pay-TV in this country. Most (if not all) of those who own an HDTV and do not subscribe to a pay service, are either using Freesat (which has sold well over a million units, about a million of which are HD), are content to wait for Freeview HD to launch in their area, or simply don't care one way or the other.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Sky Atlantic SD will be available on Freeview? I suppose it might be on DTT if Sky ever resurrect their Picnic plans, I personally couldn't see it otherwise

I don't think Sky could have been any clearer that Atlantic is their exclusive, I know they say HD in the promos but they do that with all their dual format channels. It reminds me of the palava over ITV2 HD which some people insisted would appear on VM even though ITV said it was exclusive to Sky HD customers.

I think it's their attempt to damage the Tivo launch, it will probably be pretty effective too for potential new customers when they highlight it's only available on Sky. Most people probably subscribe on the basis of content not hardware.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I'm worried for Virgin in 2011 , Sky's money and marketing will trounce all the TIVO news , the Virgin HD lineup is weak and the loss of channel one and Bravo doesnt help the VM platform.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Remember the loss of SKY channels for a period of time, did not really effect VM TV customer numbers, I think the numbers will probably be static in 2011 personally.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

It's common sense that it is content not technology that sells subscriptions and Sky fully understand that, even ITV are really beefing up their content arm now, Crozier has said they will reduce their reliance on independent productions to far less than their current levels.

We can all be annoyed with Sky and in some curcumstances rightly so but it was VM who wanted rid of their channels. Things could get even worse if Sky get hold of VM's share of UKTV but from a business point of view I can still see why VM did sell, their channels were rather lacklustre and never really caught the imagination and it didn't look like they were prepared to invest much in them. I cannot personally say I will miss any of the channels that have been chopped.

I also don't see a particularly wonderful future for VM in TV terms but they should have a boom in broadband as we become more data hungry.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

According to Digital Spy Sky has confirmed that Sky Atlantic will begin 1st February:

The page mentions Sky EPG numbers, but makes no mention of Virgin EPG numbers, so looks like we might be missing out (if you can miss out on something you never had before...)

(http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...ext-month.html)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

We aren't getting it, well not from launch anyway.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...ardwalk-empire

The guy who wrote the article, John Plunkett, who interviewed Stuart Murphy, the director of programmes for Sky 1 and Sky Atlantic posted the following comment later on the same page as his article.

"Thanks for comments. Re: distribution, Sky Atlantic will only be on Sky platform, not Virgin Media. At least, not yet, and certainly not for launch. Will be 108 in the newly rejigged EPG, beneath Sky 1 (which remains at 106) and Sky Living, at 107. Distraught Sky2 and Sky3 fans are going to have to trawl further down the EPG."

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

You seem shocked LOL :-(

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

SKY's press release today about SKY Atlantic.

http://corporate.sky.com/media/press...ltantic_HD.htm

"Sky Atlantic HD to bring the very best in entertainment and drama exclusively to Sky customers from 1st February 2011
Sky today confirmed the eagerly awaited launch of Sky Atlantic HD – a brand new channel that will provide the very best in entertainment, drama and films to Sky customers across the UK and Ireland. Bringing together innovative and distinctive original productions from home and abroad, Sky Atlantic will be free and exclusive to all 10 million Sky customers from its launch on 1 st February 2011."

I think this is the first time SKY have referred to the channel as SKY Atlantic, not SKY Atlantic HD in any of their previous communications.

The evidence is beginning to build that we ain't getting this channel in either HD or SD. Until someone can post proof that we are, don't expect your new channel on the 01st February 2011

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

I've been sure for a while that we are not going to get this channel in any shape or form. You would think the content producers would do their best to make this content available to everybody who is willing to pay for it. There are after all ways of getting this content for free. Treating people with this comtempt just gives people a justification to obtain the content by other means. I've always thought that the government should clamp down on illegal downloading. Now I'm glad they haven't.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

???? They say both...that proves nothing...

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Content producers aren't interested in how many viewers a programme gets, they are interested in how much they get paid by the TV channels for permission to air. OK TV channels recover that via income so it's in the channel's interest to have a wide audience. But digital TV works on small audience's anyway.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Yet! However I can see Mr Murdoch leading the charge and persuading the government it's time to do so when he's got all the media resources he can in his hot little hands.;)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

THIS is a little bit more empahtic...

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...ext-month.html

On February 1, the channel will launch in standard and high definition in the UK and Ireland, available exclusively to all Sky's 10 million subscribers.

This seems to suggest exclusivity in both SD and HD... but we'll see.
Sky are spending a lot of one on this channel... expect to see the SD version on VM sooner rather than later i think.

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

To be Honset i am not surprised by the way this is going down Sky Buy out Virgin Media's channels close them Down and then decide to start a new channel just to rub salt in the wound of Loyal Virgin Media Costumers. But we will see what happens in the future i am sure that we'll get these channels at some stage. Sorry for sounding so Negative but thats just how i see it :)

Re: Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media
 

Realistic not negative :) I'm lucky in that of the HBO stuff i only watch True Blood and thats on FX for life :D