Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...c-virgin-media

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

That's OK, I have seen most of the episodes of 24, Prison Break, Star Trek Voyager, ER that they are mostly showing....:D

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Same here. :D

Can't say I'm that excited by the content on SA.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

All of that is obtainable and some in HD if you know where to look. Who needs another version of Sky one.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Why do Virgin waste so much time chasing Sky content give it time and Sky will want it on VM. VM should pool all there money into aquiring other HD content.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Sky.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

giving the poor viewing figures bet not be long before advertisers presure sky to get it on VM

http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

That's OK, I've seen the whole of the first season of Boardwalk Empire anyway. :D

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

You just read through that and it tells you its too expensive. We've been here before have we not. If it's like the Sky 1 debacle we wanted it because it wasn't there. Now it is there I can't remember the last time I watched anything on Sky 1.;)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I don't want Virgin to pay stupid for it , it's just not that good. This is another battle lines drawn situation , on one hand Sky feel the threat from TIVO technology and broadband and are strengthening there content up to stop churn.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Yeah Mike, just like Sky 1 was offered to VM with an increase of one-third of the price, while Sky offered VM the 'very reasonable price' of next to nothing for their channels*.

* Which were then valued at £160 million a few years later by.....Sky.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Same could be said for pretty much all linear TV.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

TOTALLY AGREE.

I would think as compensation VM should NOT need to PAY CARRAGE. They broke the agreement so for compensation VM should get these channels at no Extra costs.

Sky with these numbers they may completely underestimated British viewing habbits. 147,000 after there shovelware advertising there gonna be ALOT of SKY Investors angry at there PETTY Childish spats which costing them money.

Infact I would love BRITIAN to be the leader in Entertainment with quality comedy, drame, scifi.

The best actors and actresses are leading the way in Film industry are british. It was like a miracle to win oscars but now we seem to be winning them all the time know. why cant TV companies wise up we got the actors the scriptwriters, producers and directors now stop providing trash cheap tv and get better british quality. Yes it costs ut a good show sells.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I wouldn't have expected Mike Darcey to say anything different. SKY have ploughed a massive amount of money into marketing this channel as free and exclusive to SKY customers. It would be crazy for him to come out 2 days after the channel has launched stating the channel will arrive at some point in the future. It would be a massive PR own goal.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I doubt advertisers were too pleased with the closure of two channels either

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I don't believe SKY care about advertisers anymore, and any pressure will simply be ignored. Think how much advertising revenue SKY lost pulling SKY Sports News from Freeview, BT, Virgin Medium TV package and their own lowest package. SKY Sports News used to get more viewers than SKY Sports 2, 3 and 4 combined according to Barb. Viewing numbers have since halved.

SKY have already covered their behinds with advertisers anyway:

http://www.skymedia.co.uk/_downloads...%20%28W%29.pdf

Maybe someone way smarter than me can make sense of pages 48,49,50,51,52 and my favourite page 59 'the disclaimer'.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

they may well have done already, broadwalk empire (the flagship hype up edition) only just got into the non terrestrial top 20 coming iirc equal 20th with csi: shown on fiver - if that's not a bit of an own goal......................

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

good point and the viewing figures to go withthem Plus Reach I would one angry businessman/advertisor getting on the blower to SKY.

2.6m customers or 147,000 Its goto be a massive own goal.

The other is even if Freeview/VM took it would it even get close to the revenues of Virgin 1/Bravo provided. Somehow I doubt with these low numbers.

Like I said Sky completely misread the british public view habbits.

---------- Post added at 22:43 ---------- Previous post was at 22:37 ----------

They should ignore it at there peril who actually gives them money advertisors and viewing public. Ignore those fundemental eliments can take down a big Corporate company.

I filmly think SKY starting believe the hype there untouchable but alienate these two and they will soon learn that profits will get smaller.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I'm loving this thread already.

Armchair lawyering, some advocating of dodgy downloading, people deciding they know Sky's strategies and business models better than Sky do, this rocks.

VM will get Sky Atlantic, for now Sky are just playing the PR game with its exclusivity. It's par for the course.

For all this discussion from about Sky's ignorance of the advertising market their revenue from it has increased by 40% year on year, revenue by 15% and operating profit by 26%. They clearly have some idea what they are doing and pulling a few channels behind paywall and holding another exclusive for a while won't have been done for their health.

---------- Post added at 23:26 ---------- Previous post was at 23:24 ----------

Then I await the announcement of the law suit from VM. If agreements, which will presumably be on paper, signed, etc, as given these are two multi-billion pound companies we'd assume a handshake isn't enough, have been broken I'm very surprised we haven't seen this action.

Unless of course there is no agreement covering Sky Atlantic, and this is the traditional Sky Hysteria ;)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Sky want as many DTH subs as possible, be it from Freeview, VM or even BT Vision. It will come to VM because they will want the revenue, but they want to see how many they can bring over to their platform first.

You can pretty much guaranatee that Sky have over-priced it at this stage, but the price will tumble in 6-12 months time.

This is typical Sky style.

The viewing figures have been poor so far from what I've read also.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

If the figures are this low now, after the vast promotion of the last few weeks, I can see them moving it to the Premium movie package by the end of the year to cover costs.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I wasn't aware BARB have even released any viewing figures yet so we'll see next week.

According to Sky's last annual statement only about 6% of their income is derived from advertising and sponsorship but this should increase with the newly acquired channels. Nevertheless that equates to a healthy 15% share of all advertising though.

Sky Atlantic will probably not get anywhere near the overall viewing figures of Channel One but it will probably generate far more income overall but I would guess that's the idea.

Having had a look at Sky's stunning last quarterly results I would have to disagree with an earlier poster that they have misjudged the British viewing public just yet. But there's one thing we can all be certain of, if they have they will do something about it and unlike others much sooner rather than later too.

The paper reviews seem mixed on Atlantic but thats not a great surprise. It's not for me but I think it's fit's in nicely with Sky's overall offer. Let's also remember that 2/3 of the people polled on this very forum hoped VM will get Atlantic too if that means anything.

---------- Post added at 01:23 ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 ----------

There is absolutely nothing in any statement from BSkyB to suggest that will be the case. It will be part of the Variety Pack from August.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Hmm so I won't be getting yet another boring Sky channel full of dull, trashy American imports? What a shame.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

You say that with apparent surety that it will come to VM but VM cannot even get moving with channels that have been around for a while let alone one that has only been on air for a few days. Or channels they have announced months ago as arriving and are still yet to. I wish I had your confidence. I still find it amazing we don't even get the HD channels VM own half of but as ever we will just have to wait and see and maybe they will give us all a happy surprise in April. Given the price increases and with the realisation I am paying hugely more for my landline services and calls than with any other provider which actually equates to considerably more than Sky's ripoff HD charge for us (honestly, I was totally shocked too) I seriously hope they do announce something good.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Erm, have I missed the link between the price increases (first one in two years) and additional content coming in April (sorry if I have).

My utility prices have gone up, but I am not getting additional electricity/gas/water for my money (same with the local bus fares - we haven't had a new bus).

Re the landline - taking these individual services, when you get them as part of a package (and the discount, if you get one, is over the package) is disingenuous, imho. I priced up Sky for a total package comparator, and VM was still a couple of pounds cheaper, and my BB is 2-3 times quicker, soon to be over 4 times quicker (I am on XL TV, Phone, BB, V+ with an additional V box).

Yes, I could get individual items cheaper, but not the sum of the services - ymmv.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

It must be a shock each month receiving a bill for services that you use on a daily basis and it must be even more of a shock to find that prices in the real world have the audacity to go up, now what is this world coming to.:erm::(:D

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

No mate, no shock just as follows:-

£8 for inclusive calls but no 0870 or international numbers included which is around 60% dearer than most of their competitors, because they are not included as with Sky and others I can easily add on average another £10 to each monthly bill. This is quite a new thing to me as previously I have used a dirt cheap carrier service but can't anymore. Plus £2 for cli, no one else charges for it but I knew that anyway.

The TV is fine but any savings are soon gobbled up by the exorbitant phone charges. Of course I don't get a staff discount like you but I'll live with that in the big picture.

So not so much a shock, simply very, very expensive. Just my opinion though and dosen't really matter in the long term.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Back on topic:

The only thing that the missus wants is Mad Men :
But told her it will be on Dave +7 next year LOL
:devsmoke:

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Ha ha.

Are the episodes that are still on the BBC reruns or new episodes. I assume these will stop once Sky start showing it?

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

[QUOTE=Hugh;35166460]Erm, have I missed the link between the price increases (first one in two years) and additional content coming in April (sorry if I have).

My utility prices have gone up, but I am not getting additional electricity/gas/water for my money (same with the local bus fares - we haven't had a new bus).

What a joke of comparison I think you may find gas/water/electric must haves were as pay TV certainly isn't hence why he expects more for his increase.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

[QUOTE=muppetman11;35166512]I agree but I have nothing further to add. It is clear that as a fully paying customer I have no right to raise genuine concerns in the eyes of some VM staff as it is just moaning so I won't ever do so again.

But as I always do I'll still praise them when it's deserved but shut up otherwise.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

[QUOTE=mersey70;35166513]Well it wont stop me raising genuine concerns I can assure you , Virgin do a lot of things well and this whole Sky Atlantic affair is a joke , I wish they would just forget it and concentrate on capturing other HD content after all theres lots of it out there.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

A bit of a non story really..it would have been obvious to anyone with a modicum of intelligence that Sky would play this particular card.

If they had decided to offer the channel out to other providers THEN it would have been news.;)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

As we are talking about Sky Atlantic thought I'd mention that Boardwalk Empire is being repeated on Sky 3 from Feb 13th at 9pm

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

[QUOTE=mersey70;35166513].
The staff on here are very helpful and I am very grateful to them ,but I will always raise my concerns about the way there employer does or does'nt do things and you should not be put off.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Ah now that's interesting... this could well be the shape of things to come as it will be a way of letting VM viewers watch the shows and get the advertising revs up a bit. It also would cancel out any cries of unfairness.

I realise that it's only 1 show but more delayed shows may appear...maybe...

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Don't see why you shouldn't raise genuine concerns (and I don't work for VM).

But there does seem to be a lot of repetitive complaining, but nothing done about it - if I was so unhappy with my service (as some people seem to be), I would have moved provider.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Although just been told it may be one off to tempt people into Sky Atlantic (sorry)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

[QUOTE=Hugh;35166570]I agree with you mate , in general Im happy with my VM products I just wish VM would concentrate more on HD channels from other broadcasters rather than sky all the time.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Worth re-quoting this.

Vote with your wallets if you're not happy. :clap:

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I've got to say I think Virgin themselves have been naive here. When they sold VMTV they should have asked for 10 years carriage of all their basics, but present and future. As it stands Sky could close down all their channels, launch a load of replacements and Virgin wouldn't be automatically entitled to the replacements.

This isn't a million miles from how it actually is given that some of Atlantic's content is from Channel One!

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I've said it before: VM is looking at a future in which linear TV is of little significance. They seem to believe that they can secure non-linear rights to a lot of the stuff people want to watch, quickly enough to neutralize the fact that the linear broadcast is exclusive somewhere else.

VM is focusing on making a robust, high-capacity network that will allow subscribers to get whatever content they want, whenever they want it.

Whether this is the right approach, and whether VM is doing it well enough, is another topic entirely...

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

It will never happen mate people want to watch the latest now not wait until its 2 years old , just look at fans of shows like Desperate Housewives , CSI , Greys Antomy etc many avid fans go and download the latest shows from the US even before there on here hence why Sky try and show them as close to US date now. Tell me a show Virgin has in TV choice which is up to date.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Well what a surprise....Sky buy all the Virgin channels, shut a few down, and create a new one and then try to charge extra for it!

Surely Virgin can have the new Sky Atlantic instead of Sky giving a discount for closing Bravo and Channel One (virgin One)!!

Oh no.....Sky make the rules as they are a monopoly!

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Who said we are talking about TV Choice? That is designed for specific reason, not to be bang up to date

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

ok so tell me a current series thats on demand and in front of the linear broadcast.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Sky's over hyped under performing channels are of no consequence to me, I have many ways and means of obtaining any program they carry on SA. I have no intention of getting worked up over a channel that by next year will be as crap as sky one.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Just because there isn't one now, doesn't mean there won't be

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Thats not what he said is it.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Agreed but cant see it happening anytime soon it hasnt in the US.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Just wait ;)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

I appreciate VM are moving forward with an On Demand idea however their rights packages simply aren't enough to compete with a linear TV station + DTR yet. I am absolutely certain this is not entirely their fault but if distributors wont let stuff go On Demand before it gets on Sky Atlantic then VM need Sky Atlantic!

Take the LOST example - when we lost Sky One in the far-gone wilderness of 2007, Virgin Media "struck back" by telling its customers they too would have LOST, on demand, without adverts. Excellent... except it was on a 1 year delay.

Well that's no bloody good then is it?!

I'm sure this wont be the case forever, but for whatever boring behind-the-scenes reason, On Demand content is not up to competing with linear TV yet.

Most importantly - idiot Joe Bloggs in the street will choose between Sky and VM based on what 'telly' they can get. On Demand is hardly even on Joe Bloggs' horizon yet.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Personally DF i hope your right however I cant see this scenario ever panning out.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

VM doesn't need Sky Atlantic, Sky want you to think you need it on VM. They are doing their usual tricks of saying "VM won't pay our reasonable offer"

All indicators show that more and more people are timeshifting their TV. I know I don't watch anything, apart from news live anymore. it's either TiVo'd or On Demand.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

On demand makes me get XL TV from Virgin, it is more of an up-seller I think.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Ok so you can see a time when lets say Hawaii Five O is put on the On Demand before its shown on linear TV ?

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Did you read my post? Only you haven't really responded to what I said about VM On Demand being unable to compete effectively with linear channels +DTRs.

For many Sky Atlantic is going to be an irresistable pull. My parents are included in this. They, like many others I suspect, aren't changing yet because they hope Sky Atlantic will make its way over. Dad's giving them until the new Football season or he'll take a bundle from Sky.

I'd argue that Sky probably would need Virgin in order to make the channel a success, but I think many VM customers are narked they don't have it.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Yes, I did read your post. Have you not read my responces above? :)

---------- Post added at 13:01 ---------- Previous post was at 13:01 ----------

Yes

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

We'll have to wait and see but cant see it myself , personally I think people see VoD as more of a tape recorder to catch it if they missed it or forgot to record it with there DVR.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Yeah - you rejected my arguement that customers want Sky Atlantic based on 'indicators shoving people moving towards ondemands/tivo'. Well TiVo is only any good if there's a linear channel showing the content in the first place!!

As for On Demand, I repeat my argument that it's useless unless it can beat or at least match the delay between US broadcast and UK linear-channel broadcast. See my example re:LOST.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

The trick Sky have with Atlantic is that they heavily promote key new series like Boardwalk Empire and the latest series of Mad Men, the rest in in-fill really. Lets face it most digital channels these days only have 2 or 3 good new series running at a time, the rest are repeats or just padding.

It is those key series which attracts the viewers, not the channel because it just "seems new". TV viewers therefore want to see these award winning series and they can only do this through Sky Atlantic right now.

Cannot see how such leading series can be seen early through any form of on demand unless there is a loop hole on Internet based access in the Sky deal and Tivo gives VM a way to agree access???

Waiting a year for on demand access is just not going to win, if it was a week or 2 delay then I would say that is fine, but as the Lost Sky 1 episode shows, once a series becomes popular and fans want to see the next series, they will not be patient enough to wait until VM can finally do a deal.

Now if DF is indicating VM are working on a way round these exclusive linear rights which means they can do on demand near (meaning a week or 2) or even before (Hawaii Five O comment above) then that would really set the cat amongst the pigeons! IPTV via Tivo Internet interface anyone?

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Well no, Sky make the rules as they are selling the product. Last I checked it was generally the seller, not the buyer, who decides what is being sold.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Agree the potential would be good but cant see there is a loophole there otherwise it would have been exploited by now.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

This is exactly my point. If Virgin Media can pick up content for On Demand access that renders a linear channel obsolete - all power to them, drop that channel, market the hell out of it and reap the rewards of a better service overall.

Until then though, just 'working towards that' isn't enough.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Here's hoping not too many people do that else we won't be getting much crap to watch full stop, regardless of how we watch it.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

This happens to be my attitude to some extent, but I also think for those paying a comparable price to Sky customers should expect a similar standard of content. Not having access to a channel (or the majority of its content within a reasonably short period of time) isn't acceptable.

Sky clearly are playing hard-to-get with this, and hopefully a compromise can be found. I wholeheartedly reject the notion that VM billpayers should accept their monthly TV subscription is an investment in a platform that'll be brilliant one-day though, which seems to be what some are saying.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Luckily for me im not too interested in any of the Atlantic programmess ;0)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

A year would be too long, I agree. VM's digitally connected, two way, high speed fibre optic network is the key to it's future.

Watch this space! :)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

That would be just like the 'reasonable offer' they made to VM when re-negotiating the Sky Basics package ... and we all know how that turned out.

When it comes to these sorts of things, Sky man speak with forked tongue.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Yep, they have form for sure :)

If they were honest and said they didn't want anyone to have it yet, then that would be fine. But making out they selling at a reasonable price? c'mon Sky! lol

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Think I know what you are getting at DF as indicated in my earlier post. Well will wait and see what happens then.

I'm going to watch that one-off first episode of Broadwalk Empire to be shown on Sky 3 as a colleague at work said they liked it better than they expected. If hooked it will be either (1) get Sky, (2) see if VM have a get around to bypass exclusive linear content short term, (3) find out how to do something illegal, which I've not done so far!

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

It doesn't excuse VM from neglecting to include future channels in the same agreement all their present channels are in (the one agreed along with the VMTV sale).

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

If you were Sky, would you have agreed to let your competitor have all future channels? For ever? for Living TV/Bravo/Challenge and Channel one?

Especially when you've just given them Sky1HD, Sky Movies HD, red button access & Sky VoD.

(Sky Sports HD as a seperate deal from Ofcom pressure)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Even if they did we still wouldn't have Sky Atlantic as it's only being offered free at the moment, it goes behind a pay wall in August, making it not a basic channel. ersonally I don't give a hoot about Sky Atlantic. :angel:

Also it's good to hear that VM are looking to use there networks bigest plus over Sky to bring about my utopian dream, the death of linear TV, it's so old hat

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Yes, I agree.


This is where exclusive channels don't work as is some cases it forces the customer to look elsewhere for their programming.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

No.

Virgin/Sky agreed a carriage deal for their basic channels, for the next 10 years, correct? Virgin should have asked them to agree to a set price (similar to whatever they agreed on for Sky1) for any future basic pay channels - if for no other reason than because Sky could now potentially reduce the budget right down on Sky 1/2/Living, move all their popular/first-run content to a new "Sky Zero" and they wouldn't be compelled to sell it to Virgin at any price - not that I'm saying this will happen, but it could!

It's going in to Sky's Variety pack isn't it? Which means it could feasibly go in to any of VM's TV packages (M+/L/XL). When VM lost carriage of these channels in 2007 they were called "Sky Basics" - call them what you like!

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Must admit the only thing of interest I have seen in the Sky Atlantic lineup is the Tom Selleck series "Blue Bloods". A lot of the other programmes seem to be repeats from other channels.

Sky and Virgin might do better if they combined their spending power rather than having this constant tussle competing to buy programmes, putting the price up in the process.

It would certainly be better for the viewers who, after all, are the ones who pay for the services.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

It seems we`re all thinking the same now,Sky Atlantic isn`t the brilliant new channel BSKYB would like us to believe. I think Virgin are right not to pay over the odds for this channel and should consentrate their efforts on bringing us other channels not owned by BSKYB. Clearly BSKYB are worried about the early poor viewing figures and if this continues then I`l bet they come `cap-in-hand` to virgin offering the channel at the rate Virgin have offered.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

One thing we can be sure of - we can't be sure of anything....

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Very deep... I like it! :)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Saw an advert for the channel today highlighting what is on offer every night.

Six Feet Under.Seen it .Old
The Sopranos.Already been shown.Old
Battlestar Galactica..Already been seen by most people.Old
Curb Your Enthusiasm..Old series too.
So I've taken a look at the website.
And during the day you get.
Thirties Something..Very old series
X Files.
ER.

The other new series don't seem quite that exciting either so I'm not prepared even contemplate changing providers considering every show that is new WILL be available somewhere and probably repeated ad nauseum for years to come on one of the channels that VM does carry.

I mean look at Buffy. Presently on SYFY and FX and once exclusive to Sky.;)

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

From the other Sky Atlantic thread...

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As mentioned earlier in the thread, the daytime stuff is just padding. They have to show the Channel 1 stuff somewhere, may as well be during the day on Atlantic. The *real* stuff is during the evening/night, i.e. Prime Time. Atlantic's raison d'être is to provide somewhere for Sky to show its newly acquired HBO content & other quality US drama ("Sky Atlantic - the home of HBO" etc.), content which is far better suited for Prime Time (& not just because some of it is unsuitable for the day due to language/sex/violence!).

Starting this week:

Boardwalk Empire: New. Critically acclaimed. 2011 Golden Globes for Best Drama & Best Actor. Screen Actors Guild awards for Best Emsemble & for Oustanding Performance by a Male Actor. Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement

Entourage: New. Very well received by critics. Large number of nominations for Emmys, Golden Globes, SAGs, DGAs, etc.

Blue Bloods: New. Fairly well received by critics.


Coming later:

Mad Men: New. Critically acclaimed. Won the 2008, 2009, 2010 Golden Globes & Emmys for Best Drama, along with a whole host of other awards.

Big Love: New. Extremely well received by critics. Large number of nominations for Emmys, Golden Globes, etc.

Game of Thrones: New (1st season, not aired anywhere yet so no critical response).

Treme: New. Very well received by critics. Emmy & Grammy nominations.

Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Generation Kill: Repeats. Critically acclaimed. Whole host of award wins and nominations.

The Wire: Repeat. Critically uber-acclaimed (e.g. regularly claimed to be "The Best TV Series Ever"). Whole host of award nominations & some wins.

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Also: BSG: Repeat. Critically acclaimed. Bucket load of awards.

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OK, so some of the Primetime stuff is old... but it's bloody good stuff which is old! Better than a lot of the new shows on in the evenings on other channels.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...tic-tv-ratings

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

10 million potential viewers and that is all the channel is achieving? It's been advertised to death too!

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2012/01/33.gif

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

My goodness after all that build up its shocking to see the viewing figures,the sky man will soon be begging vm to take it just to double the viewers .

Sky Atlantic's Entourage gathers posse of 18,000.:Yikes::Yikes::Yikes::eek:

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

They are pretty horrendous figures, but then ITV2HD figures were even worse the last time I bothered to look.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Might just be a midweek slump, but I would have thought they's be getting a few more viewers than that?

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Just had a look on BARB they no longer list ITV 2,3,4 HD figures, one can only assume they are awful.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

seems another case of all this Sky hype for the channel but apart from one programme (Boardwalk Empire) it's all smoke and mirrors.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Embarrassing Bodies got 3.5 million viewers on channel 4 the other night. SKY must be worried that a programme that often features a doctor sticking his finger into someones rectum is attracting more viewers than their multi million pound dramas from America. Someone at SKY is going to have a sore bottom if this doesn't turn around sharply.

I can't see things getting any better in terms of viewing figures. Usually people talk at work or in the pub when a new show is launched. People always find out when they've missed 'must see TV'. Outside of this forum, I've heard nobody saying anything about the channel or the programmes.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

10 Million ? Not very realistic.

Skys main channel (Sky 1) only gets 1 million for its top programme. Once you get down the the 5th or so programme, then its 500,000.

A programme of limited appeal (a repeat) on at a late evening spot isnt going to attract many viewers - great for dramatic headlines tho. A much better guide of hows its really doing will be to check out its top 10 on BARB in about 2 months time.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

love the spin of Mike Darcey from sky what a load of piffle they need advertising revenue as much any. If they did not need it then why every sky channel including subscription based channels are not broadcasted like BBC. Go SKY if you dont need it then drop it you know why you cant you need it.

Thats right Mike Darcey you need revenue streams to pay for all those programmes you purchase and help pay all those premierstars wages. Why is that when advertisement revenue streams bottomed out in your VM spat with those pulled channels. Your company came back with your tails between the legs begging it back with VM.

You love the spin they spend possible million or more advertising this channel like mad.

Yet despite 10m catchment cant get its self off the ground while they killed established channels. I firmly believe they will have to rethink its strategy. I think you can say goodbye to it going subscription later on to be fair that would be distasteful to sky subscribers.

I no doubt if I was virgin would offer bottom ratecard its not popular enough to deserve top subscription from VM. Not worth 10p per VM customer. Tough if sky payed premium prices for there content.

Its less popular than Gold, it may improve but usually it gets a spike then stablises at X amount. So unless SKY change tact open it up for all they pretty much stuffed like a turkey with it. With a risk views could drop even further if they tried to push it to subscription later. Yes they get subscriptions but would it really justify covering its costs for it and the outlay doubt it very much.

IF I was VM this would put them in the driving SEAT in discusions on negotiations for it. Offer them pittance like they did when living had popularity but they offered disgraceful deal.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Someone really dislikes Sky.

Obviously not a shareholder as, despite Sky being completely clueless about how their business works, those guys are pretty happy bunnies.

What he said. Sky's customer base will, obviously, be split between not only Sky's content but also FTA / OTA content.

The picture on this channel will get much clearer as time goes on.

Awful lot of anger about this channel not being on VM though given how apparently rubbish it actually is.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Different sources of anger/rubbish, imho; some people want it, some others think the channel is sub-optimal - probably minimal overlap between the sets.....

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Why, are they switching to Super-HD? :)

Personally I think that there is at least one show on HBO that everyone would love if they gave it a shot -- they do a variety of great stuff. There's clearly a lot of filler on Sky Atlantic but it's the same with any channel. I don't feel it's worth moving to Sky for, but I do hope it comes to VM (in HD).

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

What I find astonishing is the amount Sky is obviously spending on marketing the channel, and yet it's delivering these numbers at the height of their advertising campaign? Strewth. Boardwalk's figures will take a tumble as it takes about four episodes to get going, and I don't believe anything on Atlantic's schedules will be something that picks up an audience mid-run. HBO drama needs to be seen from the start - it would be like reading a novel from page 200...
Advertisers will not be impressed. If only they could reach an extra 3.7m homes it might stand a chance...

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

...And I agree with that. However, the plain fact is, I can't get Broadwalk Empire or any other of the Sky Atlantic shows on VOD! I will miss Mad Men when the new series comes out later this year, and I have been following this from the start.

So until I can access the content I want, then I want the Sky Atlantic channel please!

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Although I accept that some people here simply don't like the kind of programming shown on Sky Atlantic and/or are just not bothered about it, I do think that there have been some people in this thread & the other Atlantic thread who appear (to me) to dislike it due to:

a) Being ignorant of the point of it and what it's actually showing.

b) "Sour grapes" because it isn't on VM.

---------- Post added at 13:26 ---------- Previous post was at 13:19 ----------

I agree with you about having to see these shows from the start. HBO dramas etc. aren't things you can dip in & out of each week like e.g. Generic Fast Paced Cop Shows (not that I have anything against Generic Fast Paced Cop Shows). Story arcs, slow build up of the story & the characters, etc. ... These shows need to be seen from the beginning.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Low Ratings does not mean the channel is rubbish. Peep Show consistently receives sub-par ratings, that doesn't make it rubbish though.

So far they've only showed repeats, I suspect when we get to first-run content things will change.

Re: Guardian: "Sky Atlantic won't be on Virgin Media soon, says BSkyB boss"
 

Well in my opinion sky started off this debate by saying "sky atlantic won't be on virgin media soon",i really could not care as virgin managed in the months after the sky basics were lost,proving the sky channels are not the be all and end all they would like us to think they are,sky saying about the channel virgin needs it well why? the content is freely available via other methods and a good BB connection.

Sky upped the anti themselves so i am not supprised about all the negative comments here seeing also as it has been advertised to near death in the past couple of weeks to the point of ad neauseum,only time will tell if sky need vm to carry sky atlantic, rather then virgin themselves need it to be on cable i suspect the former rather then the latter.;)