Originally Posted by YouView (Post 81563632)

I contacted AATW about their weirdly branded app/EPG slot for their 4 music channels and their answer was they don't think their own AATW brand is strong enough to get noticed by viewers hence the messy way they have tried to create a single name out of 4 others.

When I asked why they aren't just listed in the EPG as proper channels rather than housed in a app when said that was the only method made available to them by VM, which I can't understand unless VM really do have a capacity issue and are limiting any new channels.

Originally Posted by YouView (Post 81596079)

AATW are saying that launching the channels in an app (as internet streams) is the only method made available to them by VM, I was suggesting that VM must have a capacity issue if they had to do this rather than allowing them onto the EPG as normal channels (like all the MTV music channels on VM, or all the AATW channels on Sky and Freesat).

Originally Posted by omnidirectional (Post 81601634)

AATW are part of Universal Music, the world's biggest record label so they aren't short of cash. They could easily launch Clubland etc as proper channels on cable if allowed by the gatekeeper (Virgin).

You have to wonder why channels like Spike, TruTV and MovieMix are on every platform except Virgin, and 3 MTV channels had to be removed to make room for Comedy Central HD, but it's always been like that with cable.

A while back, The Register did a really good article about how Virgin Media TV works, and the person they interviewed said:


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/08...e_sofa/?page=4

That's kind of what has happened with these AATW music channels. They've been allowed to launch, but only as an app which streams over the internet so the channels aren't using cable TV bandwidth.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35823741)

I think too much is being read into this, Richard. Increased use of apps appears to be Virgin's strategy for the time being.

There are advantages to this. For example, you can't skip the commercials (a plus for the broadcasters but a bummer for us) and V+ users are further encouraged to move to the Tivo to access this content.

I've said before on a different thread that over the years, we will be moving away from broadcast channels and this is just a part of what will become a growing trend.

Originally Posted by harry_hitch (Post 35823852)

Indeed you have brought it up in a different thread. You appear to have let the discussion slide on the thread though OB. It's a shame, I was enjoying our interesting, yet ever lengthy, discussion. I await your reply to my last post when you head back to that thread. ��.

On topic, I seem to recall someone from VM saying there were no issues with capacity a few years back.

Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 35823774)

A lot of SD and HD capacity has to be reserved for the Olympics.

Originally Posted by harry_hitch (Post 35823852)

On topic, I seem to recall someone from VM saying there were no issues with capacity a few years back.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35823887)

Spiderplant has made it clear previously that Virgin Media does not have capacity issues.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35823887)

I'm sorry I've let a bit of a hiatus develop on the linear channels thread, Harry. I did read your post but I've been a bit too busy to respond (you did make quite a few points!). I will get back to you on them as soon as I can.

---------- Post added at 18:48 ---------- Previous post was at 18:46 ----------


Spiderplant has made it clear previously that Virgin Media does not have capacity issues.