EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

With:

Sky set to reshuffle their EPG in April.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1604157

and Freeview rumoured on DS as set to reshuffle their EPG also in 2012.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1536451

Will Virgin Media follow them???

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

It would make sense for all providers to do it at the same time so the broadcasters only have to do one "We've moved" advert/flyer.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Sky are also changing the look of their EPG for all customers.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Well that rules out Virgin changing theirs then :)

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I can see them doing it at some point. They did it before so it's not out of the question. I'm sure plenty of people here can remember when all new channels went in the 9xx channel range.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

They should of done it ages ago.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

That was not in Ex-Telewest areas.

Virgin renumbers the Ex-NTL and Ex-C&W to the Ex-Telewest list of Channel numbers.

---------- Post added at 22:07 ---------- Previous post was at 21:54 ----------

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...le-lineup.html

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I hope thay do as I don't like the red and white EPG white on black EPG would be good and a bit larger font size would be nice for there Visually Impaired customers who have tivo like me

Andrew

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I feel VM should now probably promote LX HD channels ahead of SD ones in the EPG, eg Syfy HD is on 165 why!

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

But this is talking about re-arranging the channel numbers. It's nothing to do with font sizes or colour schemes.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Yes it is probably time for another big shuffle, they have done a good job of keeping channels in order but from 180-199 is getting a bit messy.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

My ideal channel lineup - As of December 29th 2011.:

Entertainment
000 - Live Events Channel
100 - On Demand Previews
101 - BBC One (Regional variations)
102 - BBC Two (Regional variations)
103 - ITV1, STV or UTV
104 - Channel 4
105 - Channel 5
106 - BBC Three
107 - BBC Four
108 - BBC Alba (In Scotland), S4C (In Wales)
109 - BBC One HD
110 - BBC HD
111 - ITV1 HD, STV HD or UTV HD
112 - ITV2
113 - Free for ITV2 HD
114 - ITV2 +1
115 - ITV3
116 - Free for ITV3 HD
117 - ITV3 +1
118 - ITV4
119 - Free for ITV4 HD
120 - ITV4 +1
121 - Sky 1
122 - Sky 1 HD
123 - Sky 2
127 - Sky Living
128 - Sky Living HD
129 - Sky Living +1
130 - Sky Livingit
131 - Sky Livingit +1
133 - Pick TV
135 - Challenge
136 - Challenge +1
137 - Watch
138 - Watch HD
139 - Watch +1
140 - GOLD
141 - GOLD +1
142 - Dave
143 - Dave HD
144 - Dave Ja Vu
145 - Alibi
147 - Alibi +1
148 - Sony Entertainment Television
149 - Current TV
150 - Channel 4 HD
151 - Channel 4 +1
152 - E4
153 - E4 HD
154 - E4 +1
155 - More4
158 - Channel 5 HD
160 - 5*
161 - 5* +1
162 - 5USA
163 - 5USA +1
164 - Free for Local TV
166 - Comedy Central
167 - Comedy Central HD
168 - Comedy Central +1
169 - Comedy Central Extra
171 - Syfy
172 - Syfy HD
173 - Syfy +1
174 - Universal Channel
176 - Universal Channel +1
177 - Diva TV
179 - CBS Reality
181 - CBS Action
185 - E!
187 - FX
188 - FX HD
190 - DMAX
192 - Quest
194 - True Entertainment

Factual
211 - Yesterday
212 - Yesterday +1
213 - Blighty
215 - Eden
216 - Eden HD
217 - Eden +1
221 - Discovery Channel
222 - Discovery Channel HD
223 - Discovery Channel +1
224 - Animal Planet
226 - Discovery History
228 - Discovery Science
230 - Discovery Turbo
236 - Nat Geo Wild
238 - Natio47 - nal Geographic Channel
239 - National Geographic Channel HD
240 - National Geographic Channel +1
242 - Community Channel
244 - History
247 - Military History
249 - Crime & Investigation Network
251 - Bio.
253 - PBS UK

Lifestyle
271 - Good Food
272 - Good Food HD
273 - Good Food +1
276 - Home
278 - Home +1
279 - Really
285 - Discovery Real Time
286 - Discovery Real Time +1
287 - Discovery Travel & Living
289 - Discovery Shed
291 - Discovery Home & Health
297 - God Channel
298 - Sky Arts 1
299 - Sky Arts 1 HD
300 - Sky Arts 2
301 - Sky Arts 2 HD

Music
330 - VTV Music On Demand
331 - MTV
332 - MTVN HD
334 - Viva
336 - MTV Base
338 - MTV Hits
340 - MTV Dance
342 - VH1
344 - MTV Rocks
350 - 4Music
351 - The Box
352 - Kiss
353 - Smash Hits!
354 - Q
355 - Magic
356 - Kerrang!

Movies
400 - Filmflex Previews
401 - Sky Movies Premiere
402 - Sky Movies Premiere +1
403 - Sky Movies Showcase
404 - Sky Movies Comedy
405 - Sky Movies Action & Adventure
406 - Sky Movies Family
407 - Sky Movies Crime & Thriller
408 - Sky Movies Drama & Romance
409 - Sky Movies Sci-Fi & Horror
410 - Sky Movies Modern Greats
411 - Sky Movies Classics
412 - Sky Movies Indie
415 - TCM
419 - Movies 24
420 - Movies 24 +
424 - True Movies 1
428 - Film4
429 - Film4 HD
430 - Film4 +1
432 - Cinemoi
436 - Horror Channel
441 - Sky Movies Premiere HD
443 - Sky Movies Showcase HD
444 - Sky Movies Comedy HD
445 - Sky Movies Action & Adventure HD
446 - Sky Movies Family HD
447 - Sky Movies Crime & Thriller HD
448 - Sky Movies Drama & Romance HD
449 - Sky Movies Sci-Fi & Horror HD
450 - Sky Movies Modern Greats HD
451 - Sky Movies Classics HD
452 - Sky Movies Indie HD

Adult
480 - Adult previews
481 - Television X Nightly
482 - Playboy TV Nightly
483 - Adult Channel Nightly
484 - My Ex-Girlfriends Nightly
485 - Red Hot Fetish Nightly
486 - Red Hot Mums Nightly
487 - Red Hot Amateur Nightly
488 - XXX Mums
491 - Television X
495 - Playboy TV
496 - The Adult Channel

Sport
501 - Sky Sports 1
502 - Sky Sports 2
503 - Sky Sports 3
504 - Sky Sports 4
506 - Sky Sports HD1
507 - Sky Sports HD2
513 - Sky Sports News
517 - ESPN
518 - ESPN HD
519 - ESPN America
521 - ESPN Classic
523 - British Eurosport
524 - Eurosport HD
525 - British Eurosport 2
527 - Extreme Sports Channel
529 - MUTV
531 - At the Races
533 - Racing UK
535 - LFC TV
537 - Motors TV
539 - BoxNation
541 - PPV Live Events Help
542 - TiVo PPV Events

News
601 - BBC News
602 - BBC Parliament
604 - Sky News
607 - CNN International
610 - Bloomberg Television
613 - CNBC Europe
616 - Euronews
619 - NDTV 24x7

Kids
701 - CBBC
702 - CBeebies
703 - CITV
704 - Cartoon Network
706 - Cartoon Network Too
707 - Cartoonito
708 - Boomerang
709 - Boomerang + 1
711 - Nickelodeon
713 - Nick Replay
715 - Nick Jr.
717 - Nick Jr. 2
719 - Nicktoons
722 - Disney XD
724 - Disney XD +1
725 - Disney Channel
727 - Disney Channel +1
728 - Disney Junior
730 - Disney Cinemagic
734 - Baby TV
736 - Tiny Pop

Shopping
751 - QVC
753 - Best Direct
755 - Price Drop
756 - Bid
757 - Speed Auction
760 - Ideal World
765 - Gems TV
767 - Jewellery Maker

International
801 - STAR News
802 - STAR Plus
806 - Sony Entertainment Television Asia
807 - SET Max
811 - Zee TV
812 - Zee Cinema
813 - Zee Punjabi
818 - B4U Movies
819 - B4U Music
821 - ARY Digital
826 - TV5MONDE Europe
828 - Colors

Regions & Audio Description
851 - BBC One AD
852 - BBC Two AD
853 - ITV1 AD
854 - Channel 4 AD
855 - Channel 5 AD
856 - S4C AD (Wales only.)
858 - BBC One (Alternative regional variation, select regions only)
861 - BBC One England
862 - BBC One Scotland
863 - BBC One Northern Ireland
864 - BBC One Wales
865 - BBC Two England
870 - ITV1 (Alternative regional variation, select regions only.)
871 - ITV1 (Alternative regional variation, select regions only.)
875 - RTÉ One (Northern Ireland only.)
876 - RTÉ Two (Northern Ireland only.)
877 - TG4 (Northern Ireland only.)
879 - Seven (Grimsby & Scunthorpe only.)

Radio
901 - BBC Radio 1
902 - BBC Radio 2
903 - BBC Radio 3
904 - BBC Radio 4
905 - BBC Radio 5 Live
906 - BBC World Service
907 - BBC Radio 1Xtra
908 - BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
909 - BBC 6 Music
910 - BBC Radio 4 Extra
911 - BBC Radio 4 LW
912 - BBC Asian Network
913 - BBC Radio Scotland
914 - BBC Radio Wales
915 - BBC Radio Ulster
916 - BBC Radio nan GÃ*idheal
917 - BBC Radio Cymru
918 - BBC London 94.9
919 - Absolute Radio
920 - Absolute 80s
921 - Absolute 90s
922 - Absolute Classic Rock
923 - UCB Radio
924 - Smooth Radio
925 - Free for Real Radio XS
926 - Free for Real Radio
927 - RTÉ Radio 1
931 - Heart London
932 - LBC News 1152
933 - WRN Radio
934 - Classic FM
935 - Planet Rock
936 - Talksport
937 - Magic 105.4 FM
938 - 95.8 Capital FM
939 - Gold Radio
940 - Kiss 100 London
941 - Xfm London
942 - Choice FM
943 - LBC 97.3 FM
944 - Sunrise Radio

Help & Information
998 - PIN Protection Help
999 - Virgin iD

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

If we get more channels in 2012, where would they go?

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I'd much sooner have it the way Sky do it ie 106 Sky One for SD subscribers and 106 Sky One HD for Sky+HD subscribers.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Agreed.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I bet some of you don't even have an ideal line up do you?!

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

My ideal line up:

1 - Sky Sports 1 HD
2 - Sky Sports 2 HD
3 - Sky Sports 3 HD
4 - Sky Sports 4 HD
5 - Sky Sports F1 HD
6 - Sky Sports News HD
7 - ESPN HD
8 - ESPN Yanks HD

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Maybe when everyone had HD capable boxes they might just broadcast the hd version of a channel instead of both sd and hd (regional variations excepted unless available by then) and downscale it if connected by scart or not subscribed to hd. I know that the V+ box can do this as I used to watch bbchd on a crt tv and it said it was downscaling it so i'd imagine the other boxes would be capable of this too. This could make way for more channels in the future.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Cart see virgin changing there's. It's been like this since they took over

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Some entertainment channels was renumbers in late 2008

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...-channels.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...gin-cable.html

Plus Virgin move channels about when the new HD Channel is coming online.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Not the best title for the thread , it seems to suggest VM are updating the look of the EPG rather than reshuffling.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

:dunce: This was the best one I did think of yesterday.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I assume 146 is for Alibi HD?

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

The best option would be allow us to organize the channels as we want like the old telewest box did.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Better?

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:54 ----------

I can't see that happening, personally. Channels like to be able to advertise the channel slot they're on on each provider.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Much :D

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Yes.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Did you never have the software that let you change the order of the channels without renumbering them?

---------- Post added at 22:35 ---------- Previous post was at 22:34 ----------

Now something new to think about: In TiVoland, do channels need numbers at all?

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

That blows my mind maaaaaan :D

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

That was the old pink NTL software, wasn't it?

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Interesting question, I feel a majority of the viewing public still have a place in their hearts for linear tv channels (personal opinion only) and with that easy to remember EPG channel guide. Does anybody know the channel number for BBC HD is without checking!

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

at work and only just read the whole thread and i can tell you its 187.

I dont think VM with change the EPG. No reason to why apart from i just dont think they will

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

108

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

nope, thats BBC One HD :D

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I meant to say BBC 1 HD as that is the lowest channel then BBC HD is 187 as you say, thought I would wait to see who corrected me first.;)

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

well looks like i win, haha. What is the prize for 1st place?

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Whats that flashing in red:D

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

the fire alarm? who set that off and why is that 1st place prize? :D

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Yes you win 1st prize, I season ticket to Luton Town FC:). The point is without channel numbers not being displayed on the front of TiVo boxes that is probably one reason why you need a simplified EPG that non cable forum geeks can remember!

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Most boring thread in the history of mankind.

2 minutes of my life wasted.....

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

But you read it:D

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

light red, its my fav colour

Luton FC isnt my club, i agree a more simplified EPG needs to happen

your opinion, dont read anymore of the thread then

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Personally, I don't understand this obsession with channel numbers. We have an ability to select programmes from the EPG and we can set our favourite channels in whatever order we choose.

If you have a V+ box or a TIVO, you can record all your programmes for the week fairly easily and select your viewing from the recordings rather than rely on the programme schedulers and have to remember which channel numbers are which. An added benefit is that you can simply fast forward through the adverts.

Channel hoppers will hop away regardless of the channel numbers allocated.

Those who like to watch live sport have only a limited number of channels to choose from and can probably remember those channel numbers off by heart.

With these alternative means of selecting programmes to watch, the whole business of debating channel number allocation just leaves me cold. You soon get used to whatever channel numbers are allocated to your favourite channels even if you do nothing.

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I would just like the EPG to be able work past 1 day. I have to use my freeview 6 day EPG to check past 04:00 the next morning. This of course does not list all my Virgin channels.

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Correct. Having just spent the week with my in laws who have freeview, it was noticable how, even with far fewer channels and no recording ability, my father in law channel hopped by going to the EPG and selecting programmes based on the guide info rather than channel up and down or using channel numbers.

To further illustrate your point, when we got home yesterday, all our evening viewing was from My Shows or TV Choice.

If it suits Virgin Media to do it, and if more sense in the channel numbers helps some (dare I say it, older) customers then fine, but I don't think it will make much difference to the majority of end users.

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

Can't see them changing that, it used to be 3 days but they took it down to 1 because the boxes couldn't cope. All their investment is in Tivo now so they are not going to put any effort in extending the guide on older boxes as they want everyone on Tivo in a few years.

Re: New EPG on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

You need to broaden your horizons and get out more too! :(

Try taking part in sport rather than watching others do it. ;) But start small; no F1 just yet! :)

---------- Post added at 10:37 ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 ----------

My expectation would be that your father-in-law is "older customers" and that, like mine, he uses the EPG because he doesn't know the channel numbers yet. My Father-in-law knows BBC One and BBC News and needs the EPG for everything else, although I expect he'll learn a few favourites over time. It doesn't help that he has two EPGs (Freeview and Freesat) to contend with and two flavours of the Freeview EPG, one built-in to his Sony TV downstairs and one on a Goodmans set-rop-box upstairs. Obviously it's the same content but presented differently and with variations in the functionality of the keys on the remote. :rolleyes:

Frustratingly my own father (UPC cable customer in Ireland) painstakingly scrolls up and down the channels even though he knows most of the numbers for his favourites. He frequently misses programmes, especially sporting events, because he hasn't mastered the guide yet. He has a sports package and most of it is listed in the weekend newspaper TV guide but he still misses events. :(

If I can get him using the EPG and sending text messages on his mobile in 2012, those will be the two miracles required to qualify me for sainthood. :angel:

---------- Post added at 11:22 ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 ----------

Excellent! Show me how to do that on my Pace Di4000-N V Box please. :tu: Sorry, no V+, V HD or TiVo here yet.

On a computer, regardless of make, model or operating system, I make heavy use of keyboard short-cuts to copy/cut/paste, move by word/paragraph, access pull-down menus, navigate between tabs and windows etc. (I also make use of the mouse wheels). My older brother, who is very computer literate and has worked in IT for as long as I have, mostly navigates with the mouse which is painfully slow and cumbersome!

Similarly, when a programme finishes on Alibi I don't want to have to enter the EPG and scroll around just to go straight to Universal for the next one or stop by BBC News for the weather in between (130 > 601 > 162).

GUIs are overrated and Microsoft better not take away the ability to Alt-<letter> in Windows to access menus, although the have tried.

I'm pretty sure that most people still want to watch TV in the evening more-or-less as scheduled (with the option of time-shift) and not record the week's programmes for viewing later. The sports fans certainly will want to have seen the match, race or whatever before someone tells them the result.

What's a "channel hopper"? Do you put one channel on at tea-time and watch it for the whole evening? Everybody changes channel and knowing the numbers of your most frequently viewed channels is the optimum way to do so short of having a remote with 'speed-dial' buttons.

You're implying that, like Jameseh :), these people have no other viewing preference and no other household members with alternative viewing preferences. Anyway, you just said they don't need/use channel numbers.

I'm not sure what this and the previous point mean as they seem to contradict your stance on channel numbers.

When I do get a TiVo, I'll expect to be able to access channels by number or hieroglyph with the current channel displayed prominently somewhere. The alternative to a front panel display is for all channels to have a DOG so you know what you're watching, even during the adverts, but DOGs can be intrusive and interfere with the on-screen content. Even the mute icon sometimes gets in the way when reading the news on the BBC's Red Button service.

Re: EPG reshuffle on Virgin TV in 2012???
 

I know it would be too much to ask but wouldn`t it be great if the channel numbers were the same regardless of which platform you use? Mind you trying to get sky and virgin to agree would be imposible I guess. I don`t simply rely on the EPG. When I watch Corrie at 7.30,Eastenders at 8.00,then back to Corrie at 8.30 I rely on remembering the channel numbers. Also,most of the time I watch programs in HD but now and then a re-run of a old program I want to watch is on and I watch in SD as I don`t want to watch it in 4:3,which is what you get on the HD channels. It would help if the SD version was near the HD one as far as I`m concern.