Cable Forum - View Single Post - Sky Atlantic, Red button, Sports 3&4(HD), Sky 3D

Chartwell · 05-01-2011, 13:03

A copy of a letter to Neil Berkett. No doubt I will get a bland, non-commital response from his team.

I will let people know the answer if anyone is interested...

Dear Mr Berkett and your team,

Sky basic channels

I have resisted emailing you since the Sky Sports/Movies HD channel launch on Virgin because I really wanted to give Virgin a chance to back-up its press release claims that it has “the option of carrying any of Sky's basic HD channels”
(source: http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...556&highlight=) This was announced on 4 June 2010, and to date the following Sky basic HD channels are still to appear on Virgin Media:

• Sky Sports News HD
• Sky News HD
• Sky Arts 1 HD
• Sky Arts 2 HD

These are all within Sky’s basic package range. As Virgin has an option of carrying these, why are you depriving your customers of these channels?

In the very same press release, Virgin said: “New carriage agreements will secure wholesale distribution of Sky's basic channel line-up, including Sky1 and Sky Arts, and the newly acquired VMtv channels, on Virgin Media's cable TV service”

Why is Sky Atlantic, and Sky Atlantic HD being allowed to be a Sky exclusive channel? Sky Atlantic is free to all Sky customers, and therefore is a Sky basic channel. Virgin have a wholesale distribution agreement for Sky’s basic channel line-up. Therefore you have a wholesale agreement for Sky Atlantic, and by definition therefore, Sky Atlantic HD.

I am intrigued as to why these six channels (counting Sky Atlantic and Sky Atlantic HD as separate channels) are not on Virgin Media (from 1 Feb 2011). Your press release of June 2010 states you have the option and carriage agreements to have these channels, so why are they not available? Was the negotiation of the deal for the sale of the VMtv channels so poor on Virgin’s part that what you thought and claimed to have signed in June 2010 turned out to be very different to the actual terms and conditions?

Sky Sports red button

The very same press release of June 2010 states: “Virgin Media will make available through its on-demand TV service a range of content from Sky's basic and premium channels, including the newly acquired VMtv channels. Virgin Media will also have access to red button interactive sports coverage and the opportunity to deliver selected standard definition programming over the internet.”

When will the red button facility become available to Virgin customers? I presume that the Virgin negotiators ensured that Virgin customers will get the full service rather than a watered down service? This was seven months ago – why have Virgin been idle for seven months?

Sky Sports 3 & 4 in HD, plus Sky 3D

I realise that Sky are not obligated (via Ofcom) to provide these channels to Virgin. However, have you and your team tried to explore avenues whereby Virgin could provide these channels at an incremental cost? Whilst more expensive, surely giving subscribers the option is of benefit to all concerned – the subscriber, Virgin (happier subscribers, no cost as the fee is passed straight to Sky) and Sky who will receive extra revenue from this arrangement.

I look forward to hearing from you or one of your team soon – and more importantly I look forward to Virgin carrying the Sky basic HD channels in the very near future.

05-01-2011, 13:03	#1
Chartwell Inactive Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 102	Sky Atlantic, Red button, Sports 3&4(HD), Sky 3D A copy of a letter to Neil Berkett. No doubt I will get a bland, non-commital response from his team. I will let people know the answer if anyone is interested... Dear Mr Berkett and your team, Sky basic channels I have resisted emailing you since the Sky Sports/Movies HD channel launch on Virgin because I really wanted to give Virgin a chance to back-up its press release claims that it has “the option of carrying any of Sky's basic HD channels” (source: http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...556&highlight=) This was announced on 4 June 2010, and to date the following Sky basic HD channels are still to appear on Virgin Media: • Sky Sports News HD • Sky News HD • Sky Arts 1 HD • Sky Arts 2 HD These are all within Sky’s basic package range. As Virgin has an option of carrying these, why are you depriving your customers of these channels? In the very same press release, Virgin said: “New carriage agreements will secure wholesale distribution of Sky's basic channel line-up, including Sky1 and Sky Arts, and the newly acquired VMtv channels, on Virgin Media's cable TV service” Why is Sky Atlantic, and Sky Atlantic HD being allowed to be a Sky exclusive channel? Sky Atlantic is free to all Sky customers, and therefore is a Sky basic channel. Virgin have a wholesale distribution agreement for Sky’s basic channel line-up. Therefore you have a wholesale agreement for Sky Atlantic, and by definition therefore, Sky Atlantic HD. I am intrigued as to why these six channels (counting Sky Atlantic and Sky Atlantic HD as separate channels) are not on Virgin Media (from 1 Feb 2011). Your press release of June 2010 states you have the option and carriage agreements to have these channels, so why are they not available? Was the negotiation of the deal for the sale of the VMtv channels so poor on Virgin’s part that what you thought and claimed to have signed in June 2010 turned out to be very different to the actual terms and conditions? Sky Sports red button The very same press release of June 2010 states: “Virgin Media will make available through its on-demand TV service a range of content from Sky's basic and premium channels, including the newly acquired VMtv channels. Virgin Media will also have access to red button interactive sports coverage and the opportunity to deliver selected standard definition programming over the internet.” When will the red button facility become available to Virgin customers? I presume that the Virgin negotiators ensured that Virgin customers will get the full service rather than a watered down service? This was seven months ago – why have Virgin been idle for seven months? Sky Sports 3 & 4 in HD, plus Sky 3D I realise that Sky are not obligated (via Ofcom) to provide these channels to Virgin. However, have you and your team tried to explore avenues whereby Virgin could provide these channels at an incremental cost? Whilst more expensive, surely giving subscribers the option is of benefit to all concerned – the subscriber, Virgin (happier subscribers, no cost as the fee is passed straight to Sky) and Sky who will receive extra revenue from this arrangement. I look forward to hearing from you or one of your team soon – and more importantly I look forward to Virgin carrying the Sky basic HD channels in the very near future.