Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Red
Having recently emailed Neil Berkett and surprisingly getting a reply direct from Neil Berkett and a member from the Executive Office call me with regards to the VIP Package.
I asked the question around why VIP is not best of the rest like it was when it first came out and also asked the question the reason behind the £7 HD per charge
VIP Package - we discussed things like XXL (50mb) broadband coming under the VIP package, Picture Box and 1 Free Film Flex Movie each month and the future HD channel line up - She said that all of the above a more has being discussed and that decisions have already being made by Neil Berkett about the VIP package and that we should expect a new and improved VIP Package with the possibility of VIP+ which would cover Prem HD channels and much more.
One thing She was 100% on and was happy to state is that VM will offer all Non Prem HD channels to XL/VIP customer at no extra cost, I asked numbers in terms of channels and a further 10-15 by end of 2010.
£7 Prem HD Charge - I have no problems with this charge and as I have stated before its down to personal choice but I asked why VM needed to charge.
She stated that as part of the VMTV sale VM stated that no deal will be agreed unless Sky HD Channel were part of this deal - Sky did not want to give this away, apart from the fact that VMTV was costly to keep running VM saw fit to sell these channels and also get Sky's HD channels which VM have being after for a number of years.
She went on is saying that Sky wanted a % of all income from HD charges to VM customers and that the first offer is Sky recommend a £12 charge for HD channels.
After a number of months this was reduced to £7 and a 10+ Year carriage deal agreed along with sale of VMTV.
She did not want to give too much away but I kind of got the feeling I was on the right lines stating that Sky get around £4-£5 per HD package, with the rest covering VM's cost and hey they are here to make some profit.
Sky Sports 3/4 HD - I asked the question around why VM are not offering these channels, She said we have all seen the Sky's the only place to get all 5 Sports HD channels adds etc, Sky feel a treat from VM and now that VM can offer Full HD services they have to keep something back.
All in all I'm taking plus points - VIP package has already being looked at for improvement - so watch this space and the fact VM can offer Sky's Prem HD channels at a small £7 fee is a good deal in my eyes even though we all know Sky have got there finger in the pie on this one.
I have asked my insider to keep his ear to the ground on these changes.
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That it is pretty much how my conversation went when I was called by a member of the CEO 's team this afternoon, although no time frame was mentioned.