How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

As we know yesterday it was announced that both SKY and Freesat will be offering full coverage of the Olympics to their customers, free of charge, via BBC One and BBC Three plus a further 24 live streams covering all events. These streams will launch as linear channels and will be recordable. The channels will be available in HD too, if you have a HD ready receiver.

Currently Virgin plan to cover all the streams too but only via a TiVo app. These will not be recordable based on the current TiVo software. There is however the possibility Virgin can secure a deal to carry all the streams as linear channels available to all of their TV customers, even those without TiVo.

What would you like to see Virgin do next?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Personally, I would like VM to match what Sky are offering their customers, access to all 48 streams (24 HD and 24 SD) via linear channels. I would not like VM customers to loose out on a once in a life time event.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

In relation to the title of the thread here is my suggesstion?Buy all the customers a ticket to the event of their choice:D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

That's what I wanted to say when I read the title :(

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

l will echo the same sentiment as your goodself.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

With linear channels that can be recorded on any VM box

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

This is a once in a lifetime event, and deserves the maximum amount of coverage to the maximum amount of people. I'm sure VM have 48 spare channels on their boxes (although not all sequential) and enough network capacity to offer these streams in the same way as satellite.

We have the technology, lets use it. It's only for two weeks !

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Absolutely, this is a once in a lifetime event. Sky, again, have set the standard. I hope Virgin will respond constructively.

Thanks for setting this forum up Chad.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

They've not set anything. They stumped up cash to persuade the BBC to do linear channels as it's the only way to get them to it's customers.

The BBC had no previous plans to offer the extra streams as linear channels, only via connected devices and the web

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

It just shows Sky are prepared to go the extra mile for their customers.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

The extra mile to get to their wallets:D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I know Ben, and thanks for your explanations on this and other threads about the current situation which I have found helpful.

I am simply saying that Sky's approach is a good one and will help many people get the very best out of the Olympic experience.

I understand that Virgin have been caught off guard by this development and I hope they respond positively.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

And l bet your wallet is full of £50 notes.:D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I do not carry cash just a American Express Black card mate:D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

They should be linear so we can record them AND via red button App if necessary.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Or VM could buy us all a subscription to Sky.... problem solved :D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Exactly what I thought too..great minds etc etc :D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I don't think you even need a subscription do you? I still have a Sky HD box and dish so could I just connect these up to watch the FTA channels?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

"The 48 new channels will be added to the Sports section of Sky’s Electronic Programme Guide from the 24th of July. The channels are free-to-air and available to any Sky home, including Freesat from Sky homes. The HD channels are available on any Sky+HD box and do not require a subscription, but do require an HD ready TV. Customers will require a Sky subscription in order to use Sky+."

It's really great news for all current SKY and ex-SKY customers who still have their dish. I wonder how many people in the UK have a SKY or Freesat dish on their house? 15 million, maybe 20 million? Until Virgin agree and announce a similar deal with the BBC, which they must surely be working on right now, only 450,000 of their customers will have similar Olympic access via a TiVo application. Hardly bringing the Olympic experience to the masses.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I'd be interested to find out the reasoning of people who think it should only be on Tivo.

Anyone care to share their thinking?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Adding 48 channels to all users will surely mean setting up 48 channels on transponders which VM may not have spare capacity on meaning that they will have to invest in extra hardware for a few weeks, not really worth the expense.

I'm assuming by using a App on TIVO that it will use the broadband link to send the required stream - quick and easy and more importantly cheap to implement

I have zero interest in the Olympics even through I can see the stadiums from my office window and have no desire to record any of it

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Me too, total waste of public money imo.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

It would be best to do linear channels, however if they go down the app path, maybe having an archive of content to watch for months to come?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Yes, Ben's input is very much welcome and I think we all appreciate it.

It's worth restating my current thoughts now that we have a new thread to discuss this topic. Those thoughts are that non Tivo customers will get will be the same as what Freeviewers will receive - ie two streams in addition to BBC1 and BBC3. Obviously this is subject to change should VM make any fresh announcements and Mediaboy has said on his blogspot that no deal is in place with VM - "it is understood that other parties such as Virgin are yet to ink a deal" and one presumes they are talking about arrangements for non Tivo custumers.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...-olympics.html

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

My view of this event. :(

However I voted as SKY & FreeSat because many people that I hold in high regard as far as this Forum goes, would like it . Me I will be in the USA
( lord help me a lot of the time in Walt Disney World, but Harry Potter[Uni] does appeal:D) then on to the beach for R & R):cool:

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

That is fair enough, we all have different likes and dislikes.

However, in the context of an 8% increase in TVXL to "make sure we continue to give you the best home entertainment and services" and a long term commitment to a greater number of HD channels I think gearing up capacity for the biggest sporting event ever held in this country is a reasonable expectation.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Lets hope we win a few gold medals then or it could be depressing viewing

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

In HD, not depressing :D

Personally i just like a good competition, not overly fussed who wins

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

The fact that the bbc is an impartial broadcaster means that the streams will be have to be availble to any available platform that can carry them, it's obvious that Virgin just don't want to work out a way to carry these for people with boxes they are trying to make obsolete, it is also obvious that the "best way to watch tv ever" isn't connected to a network able to broadcast the best olympic tv coverage ever, this is a massive coo for SKY and it shows just how flexible their system is, and therfore technically more able to move and evolve than VM. Thank god i've got freesat to fall back on, jeez £107 a month doesn't get you much these days does it.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Does not matter what I think, Virgin are too imcompetent make it work. Not only that, but they lack the negotiating skills to get it in the first place.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

The OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Courtesy of BenMcr.

Well done VM.:clap::clap::clap:

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

oh thee of little faith,well done Virgin

:)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Have you looked at the announcement ?

V+ =Red button services - Which I think every one is happy with ( Well Perhaps not all:dozey:)
TiVo = advanced red button services ( If thats what I think it is i.e as of today on TiVo) not good :erm:

Either way I won`t be using them :p: Just hope you guys get the service you want & deserve :angel:

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

AWESOME NEWS!!!!

I'll give VM the benefit of the doubt and say they were always going to offer linear channels and weren't caught on the hop by SKY's announcement ;)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

No benefit of doubt needed

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Ooops....;)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Do you really think VM could pull something this big out of the hat in two weeks? I know we are good, but we aren't that good. :)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Not only is it great news, it means this Summer Virgin will be serving up 60HD channels!

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Good news for VM, a big blow for the whingers :D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Whingers will assume their whinging pushed Virgin into making the decision to deliver the Olympic channels. In their mind Virgin would not have delivered the channels without their "valuable feedback". This isn't a blow to whingers, they will see this as an Olympic size victory for whinging. It'll just make them whinge more for SKY Atlantic, SKY F1 HD etc..... :D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

LOL ... I had faith you saw the error in your ways :p (joke)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Your logic defies me. VM have done what the 'whingers'* were asking for. Which part of that makes it a, "big blow" for them?

*Using the word whingers shows that you completely misunderstood where these people were coming from.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Well, that answers any questions regarding any perceived lack of bandwidth for more channels, doesn't it?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Yes it has put that doubt to bed once and for all.:D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

:welcome: :clap:

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Not necessarily.

It's possible that the bandwidth will mean that less is available (during the Olympics) for on-demand content or broadband users.

It could also be that the bitrate of these additional channels will be quite low.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Have no idea why you would think that.

On Demand content is not limited by any digital linear channel bandwidth, nor is broadband capacity

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Surely the cable has a finite amount of bandwidth for digital TV multiplexes or broadband downstream channels?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I'm sure it has, but it hasn't got there yet

The limiting factor is the kit of each end of the cable. Which is why you've gone from analogue TV, no On-Demand and no broadband to 100Mbit broadband, plus Digital TV and On Demand without having to replace the cables

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

While this is true, digital TV multiplexes carry several TV channels (or on demand streams) in the same bandwidth of one analogue channel.

Broadband has seen improvements with DOCSIS3 being rolled out.

The Olympics aren't prompting any such new technology. There's just going to be a huge increase in the amount of bandwidth being used. It's certainly there, but whether or not they'd want to keep it for TV permanently is another matter.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

And you know that for certain how?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I highly doubt Virgin Media plans to rollout MPEG4 HD or anything like that which would reduce the amount of bandwidth required to make a difference.

You speak as if you think this would be kept internal to the company. Such a major change couldn't happen overnight.

Something like analogue to digital switchover certainly didn't happen overnight - not even on a privately owned cable network.

Simply adding a few more multiplexes on a temporary basis is not a major technical feat.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Exactly as Chad predicted in post 40

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Just like VM then ;)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

VM went even further ;)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I am very pleased to see they have matched Sky. Lets hope they are able to deliver more linear HD channels in the near future;)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

So will Tivo/VHD/V+ customers getting 48 channels then?

I think there is enough space for them by the way

Also where is BBC 3D and Eurosport 3D going to be placed on the EPG?

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Did you not read the Press Release linked to earlier then? :rolleyes:

To answer the question, yes. Except of course those with only a standard VBox who can't receive HD channels. (I would have thought that was obvious myself but you know how some picky people can be when it comes to complaining about VM ;))

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

There isn't going to be a BBC 3D, they are broadcasting 3D content on BBC HD

Where Eurosport 3D will be hasn't been confirmed yet, but as there are still 4 months to go, I'm sure we will know in plenty of time

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

We did have Eurosport 3D before, where was it located, also it is a shame there is not a BBC 3D wth more 3D sports coverage, then again they are doing a good job right now and lets hope more 3D sports coverage will come in the near future

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Oh dear. Your logic again defies me. Which part of my post said that it was because of the people who complained that made VM add linear channels?

You said it was a blow for the 'whingers'. I said how can it be a blow when they got what they wanted. There was no suggestion, by me, of how or why it happened.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Simple really. Nothing left to whinge about.

It was certain that VM would do exactly what they have done yet people whinged.

If you can't understand the logic then read Chads post again. This didn't happen because of whingers. They lose because now they have to find something else to use as a front for their whinging.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

You see, this is where your logic failed you right from the get-go. For some strange reason, only known to you, you assumed that people were using the olympics situation as a 'front' for a general moan. With that completely flawed assumption, it is no wonder that your last few posts on this topic have been completly illogical.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Nothing illogical about it. VM never said they would not be carrying the additional Olympic channels. What was illogical was the reaction of users on this thread before VM made an announcement.

There is no flaw in my assumption. In all the time I have been a member there has been a constant flow of negativity by a few members based on the same old whinging. What changes about the whinging is whats new. The same points get recycled but attached to something else, in this case the Olympics.

There us nothing illogical about my last fee posts. Just reading over this thread shows that users had no basis for their reaction.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Agree. One moaner... sorry.... poster even went so far as to post to the effect that "these channels definitely will not be made available on VM" (paraphrased, but that was the gist of it.)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I suggest we all wait & see,what is delivered .
The Red button on TiVo is a case in point at the MOMENT it is inferior to the service offered by the V+( The Red Button that is). That is not to say that the TiVo cannot be a much better box. People that have not grown up with the V series PVRs ( Or for that matter Sky) Will I am sure find it to be great.
As do people that did not use the Red BBC button or rely/use reminders. How ever there are a group & I included myself in this,that have, had a number of boxes from Virgin( NTL , CableTel ) over the years & find that they used both of these a lot. Given the hyp of Tivo has the red button now.As apposed to its reality- very limited services. I think wait & see is the only path to follow. However past experience tells me not to hold my breath.
Sorry if that is taken as whinging. I prefer to think of it as experience over hope.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

VM should have anounced live channels on the same day as Sky did or within a very short time afterwards.

Why did VM delay the anouncment? If they had planned it from the start, why the delay?

I can think of several reasons, but they would be pure conjecture on my part and could be completely wrong. But one thing I am sure of, given a long history of Sky adding channels and VM not adding those same channels, that posters, making it clear from the start, that VM should do the same, was the right thing to do. I really can't see how that makes those posters general Whingers.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

A 'delay' of 2 weeks when there still 4 months to go to the Olympics

Also Virgin announced in December that they would definately be carrying the content on the TiVo boxes, so if anything Sky were 4 months behind Virgin for Olympics announcements ;)

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Your final paragraph agrees with what I initially said.

VM announced 100 days before the start of the start of the games. Suggesting VM delayed its announcement is pure conjecture.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

One thing I have noticed is there has not been the media coverage of VM's announcement compared to Sky's all singing an dancing announcement which was covered by all media out lets.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I know it has been, it was the scale of the coverage I was commenting on.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I've said that VM should have anounced the linear channels at the same as Sky. You said that we should be prepared to wait for the anouncment because there was plenty of time before the Olympics. I can't see any agreement there.

I said the people posting weren't whingers but just concerened because of VMs history of not adding channels. You said they were general whingers and the olympics was just a 'front'. Can't see any agreement there.

So, confused.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

No, what you said was, that from past experience, people reacted the way that they did. That means users here used their expectations to whinge and this has no bearing whatsoever on reality. The Olympics was simply a front for people to talk about what they don't have in terms of channels.

It is bordering on the rediculous that people thought Britains second largest pay tv provider was not going to provide full coverage of Britains own Olympics.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

They could only have done that if Sky had told them when they were announcing, which I doubt very much they are inclined to do, and also if Virgin were ready to do so themselves i.e. they'd had confirmation from all technical teams with VM that the plan was in place.

It was less than two weeks since Sky made their announcement, and 4 months since Virgin Media announced that TiVo would get full BBC coverage of the Olympics

So, I would say that it was those who already had certain views on Virgin Media that have seen a two week difference in announcements when there is still 4 months to go 'rediculous'. Most customers of either Virgin Media or Sky won't have even noticed

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I don't think VM management realise how badly VM are regarded with respect to channel additions. Reading these forums, the general automatic view is that, when Sky add a new channel, VM won't get it. Most of the critisism of VM is down to lack of new channel aquisition. Given that, VM should have lost no time in announcing the Olympic channels at the point that Sky announced them.

The only reason to not do that is if they weren't sure that they were going to add them. That is the reason why it was right that people started posting straight away to say that VM should add linear channels.


I imagine that VM thought they had a real USP for tivo before Sky anounced linear channels. And there's nothing wrong with that. But Sky's move changed the game. Did it catch VM off guard? Who knows'

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

If so at last a common sense approach, not putting ,& horse & cart come to mind . Here is the BUT, so to speak.Pity they do not do that more often. :p::rolleyes:

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Didn't change anything, as Virgin also have the channels, have have announced that fact 4 MONTHS, that's MONTHS before they will be needed

Personally I think it's great that Sky managed to persuade the BBC to change their mind about live streams

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Acting on past experience is very sensible in my view.

How do you get away with accusing posters of ulterior motives to what they are posting about? Pretty insulting really. This was a straight discussion thread until you, with no basis at all, accused people having a larger ageda than just the topic under discussion. TBH, discussion with someone with that attitude is pretty pointless.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Straight discussion thread? Have a read through again. It was VM bashing by the usual suspects until VM made their announcement. All good one would think? Nope because apparently the Olympics just aren't the same anymore because VM announced second.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

But, If Sky hadn't have persuaded the BBC, would VM have tried to? That is a question people like me will never get an answer to. If they wouldn't have tried, Sky getting the linear channels was a game changer.

From a purely commercial aspect, there would be no point in VM persuading the BBC, because without linear channels, it would be a great way of driving Tivo sales. I'm not suggesting that VM would have put commercial advantage over the V+ users Olympic access, but you can't help mulling these things over, especially as you said that it was Sky that persuaded the BBC :D

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

On analogue so the coverage is actually live.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

Even if Virgin had offered to carry linear channels, I don't think the BBC would have said yes anyway.

With Sky doing it, it gets carried on satellite, meaning due to the BBC 'non-exclusive' remit, both Freesat and cable gain access. That wouldn't be the case if Virgin carried it.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

And vice versa, of course (ie they couldn't just be on VM either :))

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

I wasn't suggesting that VM would ask the BBC for linear channels just for VM. I would assume that any request for linear channels, by whatever providor requested them, would be available to any provider that wanted to carry them. As it stood before Sky persuaded the BBC, there were no linear channels available and confirmed full access was only available only via the web or Tivo.

Re: How should Virgin offer the Olympics to their customers?
 

But in order to provide linear channels for Sky, they have to be carried via satellite - which means they are not exclusive to Sky even if Sky wanted them to be because anyone can point DVB-S compatible kit at the satellite that covers the UK and get BBC channels (seperate to any EPG data). So there was then no additional cost to the BBC to open them up to other providers, and it also complied with their 'non-exclusive' remit

Virgin can distribute channels via fibre link, meaning they wouldn't be available to any other platform