Cable Forum - View Single Post - Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television

HDFootyMan · 05-06-2010, 12:47

Another thing worth pointing out here:

VM's TV customer base will surely grow. Tivo; the 'free' HD channels we've received upto now; the V HD box; Now this deal.

VM will surely break that 5 million TV customer barrier within the next 9 years.

Last time Sky dicked VMTV around, Sky One lost 23% of its audience overnight.

Another carriage dispute would hurt Virgin. But it would also hurt Sky as well. Their ratings for 17 HD channels would be hit, along with the Sky Basic channels.

I don't think their advertisers would be pleased, they certainly weren't last time. There was even talk back then of Sky moving some football to Sky 1 just to bump up that channel's ratings to the pre-Sky Basic Wars level.

This deal is good for both Sky and VM because it makes them both stronger and it helps to weaken their common enemy: Freeview.

05-06-2010, 12:47	#146
HDFootyMan Inactive Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Coventry Services: Virgin Media 1TB TiVo, 500Gb TiVo, TV XL, 60Mb Broadband, Phone Posts: 1,508	Re: Acquisition by Sky of Virgin Media Television Another thing worth pointing out here: VM's TV customer base will surely grow. Tivo; the 'free' HD channels we've received upto now; the V HD box; Now this deal. VM will surely break that 5 million TV customer barrier within the next 9 years. Last time Sky dicked VMTV around, Sky One lost 23% of its audience overnight. Another carriage dispute would hurt Virgin. But it would also hurt Sky as well. Their ratings for 17 HD channels would be hit, along with the Sky Basic channels. I don't think their advertisers would be pleased, they certainly weren't last time. There was even talk back then of Sky moving some football to Sky 1 just to bump up that channel's ratings to the pre-Sky Basic Wars level. This deal is good for both Sky and VM because it makes them both stronger and it helps to weaken their common enemy: Freeview.