Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Well, well, well look where we are, 3 months into 2011 and how long has sky anytime+ been rolled out? Where are these people that said that sky anytime+ would blow virgins vod out of the water now?

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs VIRGIN VOD
 

Most are still waiting for the software update to be downloaded to their box :D


4 months and counting for them


https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/03/72.gif

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Only way it will trump VM is content.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Still won't trump VM as you need a Sky HD box and Sky BB.

So a large portion of their customers will not be able to get it.


If as hoped Virgin do deals with the likes of Lovefilm on TiVo Sky would not outdo what is possible wia Virgin.


Virgin could still do a deal with HBO if they want like Sky but on VOD only as Sky only have exclusive rights for first refusal on HBO shows from now on not on VOD.


Its all down to how much Virgin want to position themselves as an alternative IPTV / VOD / streaming and Linear company rather than just Linear with some VOD.

They have the opportunity to have a really desirable unique selling point over all others including Sky, and with enough HD Linear added would have by far the better package......

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

A lot of ifs in there mate.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I would still like them to get a deal with EPIX HD as it is a channel, vod and online as well. So it would fit in well with VM Ihope they can do this as the website says:

I don't live in the USA... Can I still enjoy EPIX?
Not quite yet, but we're working on it!

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I can only count one...........












https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2012/04/8.gif

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

As much as I wish it was true VM will never trump Sky on content.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Are you sure that you have not taken a trip over to the dark side?


MY SON YOU ARE MUPPETMAN11 yoda:p::p:

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

No mate just can't knock them when it comes to content. You can knock them however for locking it to there own platform.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Come on I am just trying to inject a bit of humour in to forum during all this negativity.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

On linear yes I agree, but on VOD what gives you that idea ?

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

VOD system then VM are streets ahead , VOD content Sky wins by a mile.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Make your mind up then who has the better VOD, I already know the answer.;)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

As I said VM system is streets better but the content is like a poor mans Sky.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Seriously? Sky have very little content available. They've even reduced the amount given to VM for Sky Living, as they wanted it to match what was available to anytime+ customers.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Doesn't look to shabby to me

http://www.sky.com/shop/tv/anytime-plus/whats-on/

http://www.sky.com/shop/tv/anytime/what-can-i-watch/

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

There's no BBC iPlayer, no Catch Up TV from the main broadcasters, no music videos, no box sets........ the list goes on.

http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/on-demand/

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

To be fair DF you are never going to say a Sky product is good are you , I consider myself pretty neutral.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

If you have read the below then you know that you have crashed and burned as the is no contest and even SKY know that themselves.:D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Ignoring that comment, all Sky have got is their own content and a little bit of some others.

There is some "headline" content from the "hugely successful" Sky Atlantic of course.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2012/12/10.gif

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I have just been thinking and how are you able to compare a pull vod system ( SKY ) to a true vod syetem ( virgin ).

One for and against?:

http://www.3vision.tv/opinions_3.html

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

As I said VM system is streets ahead but in my eyes Skys content has more appeal over TV choice and it's series from 5 years ago.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Yes i know it is series from 5 years ago, but i missed them the first time around:erm:

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

That's ok then LOL :D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

What new channel is that then.:p:

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I forgot were getting Tru Entertainment LOL :D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

That's not On Demand ;)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

No the last one on demand was put you finger inside you mouth, puff out your cheeks and pull you finger out from the side.

POP:D:D:D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

It's not much.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

ha ha

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2012/06/24.gif

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

"Only Cable Can"
That phrase strikes out at me in the article posted.

Would be good for VM to use it in a marketing campaign once Sky Anytime+ gets a good amount of market share.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

:)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

When you're next in at work, drop a hint to management DF ;)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

;)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Could be a good idea as it seems to have worked in the good ol US of A:D:D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I remember those adverts when it was called ntltelewest, they had that one where the person was going for a wee, really sophisticated!

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

That was "Cable....If you can, you should..." :)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

It said 2005 in the article that i posted so if they have not adopted it now i dont think they ever will.

So DF say it to your bosses and get this as the new marketing campaign:D:D:D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I have seen and indeed used Sky Anytime+ (my brother has it).

It ok, the user interface is very nice and there is some decent content but it isn't like VM in that when you select a show to watch you have to wait a little while (I think it usually took about 30 seconds, it seemed to vary) for the show to play).

What I don't get is why you have to wait at all, none of the content is HD and when I had BT Vision you just selected the show and away you went, if anything it was quicker than VM. BT did utilise QoS though.

As i'm sure you all know there's no catch up from the networks though.

I'd give Sky Anytime+ 5/10, must try harder. Then again i'd only give VM 7/10 and that's mainly down to catch up otherwise TVC is quite poor for me.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

"DF has been appointed executive in marketing at Virgin Media"

"With his successful advertising campaign "Only cable can", DF has led an increase in Virgin Media's shares and profits have rose by 50%"

;)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

It is roughly the same as BT vision as it has to download it firstly, unlike VM.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Don't criticize VM at all on here :D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

It's nothing like BT vision, I had BTV before VM.

You only have to download HD on BTV, anything else plays immediately.

---------- Post added at 20:30 ---------- Previous post was at 20:29 ----------

I thought that was a very balanced critique!

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I've had BT Vision and IMHO the VOD was great apart from HD , and it plays straight away.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Sorry i have not had either BTV or SKY anytime:erm:

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

It is superior content wise to VM's (HD aside) in my opinion but that's what you pay for really, as you well know it is a VOD service and freeview with a few pay options.

It isn't an add on to the main service like VM and Sky so BT's content should be better really.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Would agree with that the VOD content was good.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I've never used Sky Anytime via the STB, however I do use it via my xbox. I think Virgin have an excellent VOD system & I use it on a very regular basis. Most of what I want to watch is on there.

On the flip side I think the sky xbox application is very good and the selection of films is excellent. I must admit that the selection of standard programming isn't great but I use VM VOD for that. The picture quality on the xbox sky player is always good, the application looks great and is very easy to use.

It's a shame that Virgin & Sky haven't come to some agreement with regards to films through VOD for Sky Movies subscribers. I'm talking in an ideal world as I know Sky aren't likely to willingly help VM improve their VOD content which they know is generally better than their own.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Wouldn't that be great, sadly there's probably about as much chance of VAT going down to 10% and petrol to 50p a litre as it happening without regulatory changes.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Don't question anyone if they do criticise VM, don't even think of saying they may be wrong ;) :D

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

His comments were aimed at my post, albeit tongue in cheek.

I think the post was balanced. Far, far more balanced than some other posters can manage on here.

But as you say I may be wrong.

(For the record unlike some people here I had BT Vision for a year, used VM for over a year and have been using Sky Anytime+ periodically for a few months now which is possibly why I was able to give a balanced critique)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

All my points are balanced I'm no fanboy of any platform , if it was to be a balanced argument we could compare other products say Sky player vs VM player but on a cable forum we wouldn't go there.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I used to have Tiscali TV a couple of years where I wasn't allowed a Sky dish on the building and it wasn't in a VM area. I have to say the OD content on that was pretty good. It also had it's own channel where you could "reserve" all the things you wanted to watch from the OD demand content, same with the music.

This meant you could browse for films and bookmark them effectively, then go to channel on the STB and they were all listed, just one click and you were off. That was very good. NO HD on there though and all the data came down my 7mb Tiscali internet connection.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

The BT broadband network currently restricts these services however that will change.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I totally agree mate, it wasn't you I was referring to at all.

---------- Post added at 11:04 ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 ----------

Sadly I don't think TalkTalk (nee Tiscali) market their TV services anymore to new customers, I could be wrong though.

My exchange isn't enabled for it but most around here are though.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I would go as far to say BT Visions OD content was the best of them all by a country mile , but sadly the rest was just freeview , and HD would be nice.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Gotta love the way that in one thread a guy comments on Sky locking away VoD rights they can't use, and in this one is gloating over Sky's apparent lack of VoD content :)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I don't really understand people who say Sky don't use the VOD rights, they do. There are loads of films to choose from.

I have used the service myself, the UI aside technically it isn't as advanced as VM's and there's no doubt about that but the content is there, unless i'm imagining it. And it is relatively new, maybe the content will build over time like VM's did.

If they are not using it why on earth would they launch the service, that dosen't seem Sky's style to me as they use their vast content library as a battering ram.

Whether or not they allow other operators access or at a reasonable price is a different argument altogether. I hate those sort of tricks as much as anyone too.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

My point regards Sky OD content is that with Sky you can watch movies OD if you are a Sky movies subscriber plus many shows are downloaded to anytime , you have anytime+ and lots available on sky player.

http://skyplayer.sky.com/vod/content...t/promoPage.do

Content looks ok to me.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I pretty much agree, get over the slight wait with Anytime+ and it's fine. Plenty of movies to watch, there's no doubt about that.

But for me personally no network catch up would be it's failing which is all we usually use VM's OD for really.

Just my opinion though

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Excellent point , catch-up is VM big plus point.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Content is Sky's business, and their only advantage over VM. VM's VoD delivery system will be superior for the foreseeable due to their superior platform. This will potentially change when Sky begin to use Openreach's VULA FTTx platforms.

Once Sky have that established they can then begin to use HD and it makes catch up viable.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

And do they plan to use it ? What sort of a timeframe ?

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Yes - should be this year, can't give a more specific timeframe than that as subject to change, etc, etc.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

To me that's when VM big advantage comes to an end , ok there BB speeds will be faster than BT's 40 mb FTTC but these will be sufficient for the majority of people.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

That with multicast support and ability to use multiple VLANs to a single subscriber, along with the ability to configure port profiles as they see fit (meaning >40Mbit/s is doable) removes VM's VoD advantage to most as far as platform goes, about 38Mbit/s of throughput is more than adequate for 3 HD streams.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

That's a shame, if Virgin had access to the VOD movie rights we'd have access to it right now ;)

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Review on Sky Anytime+ to balance the argument.

http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...1869?artc_pg=1

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

The one flip side to VM on demand system is the We are experiencing high demand in your area problem which is frequent for a lot of people , but gladly has improved for me now in my area.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I can honestly say in the near 15 months I have had VM I have never once had the high demand message.

But as you say there is at least a small group of customers that do. I remember that VM announced upgrades were being completed to the servers to be completed mid February. Were these upgrades aimed at resolving these problems or just a general upgrade (maybe for Tivo?).

Sadly over on DS some people are still reporting the problems. It seems to mostly occur after 9pm.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Ditto, I've never seen it in over 7 years. It simply isn't an issue for most people.

It was to install new software. It was announced because it caused a significant outage in each region.

Capacity upgrades happen continually, but aren't announced.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I had a month spell were after 7pm it was near impossible to watch anything , I was just making the observation that both services are not perfect , although VM will be pleased as this fault proves the service is popular.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I've had it once or twice. Just pressed okay, and then pressed view once again. Bam! the content loads.
Same goes for that error message that appears saying that on demand is unavailable upon trying to view content.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

But is it the 'unavailable' message or the specific 'due to high demand' message, they are very different things. I have never had the high demand message personally.

I have had the 'unavailable' message loads of times and indeed if I try again it works.

The 'high demand' message is another matter altogether, trying again seemingly does not work. It seems to mostly affect HD content at peak times. Users experiencing this seem to have wait until less busy times for HD content to become available.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Didnt go away for me at all after 7pm when trying to watch HD On Demand , constantly saying due to high demand.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

I have both of these and when i have tried again the content has started ( so who knows what the problem is? ).

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

From what I can gather the most likely time is after 9pm until the early hours, does anyone know if the recent server upgrades were indeed related to this? It's just that the attached thread was created after the completion date of the upgrades unless they have been delayed, or indeed the upgrades were not to resolve this issue.

Someone mentioned once that ex-CWC customers do not seem to suffer from this issue, I don't anyway.


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1443111

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Mine has been ok recently but it was annoying it lasted about 3 or 4 weeks but it's been ok since.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

What legacy network were you on?

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

We were Telewest before.

Re: Sky Anytime+ Vs Virgin Media VOD
 

Maybe it dosen't affect ex-CWC then.