Quote:
Originally Posted by batchain
It's not Neil Berkett and I'm guessing you'll be nowhere near excited.
Virgin Media Inc. Analyst and Investors Day (London)
Event Date/Time: Dec. 02. 2010 / 9:30AM GMT
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External...xUeXBlPTM=&t=1
"So first of all, we provide a separate service for video-on-demand that enables us to provide up to a billion video-on-demand events through next year, according to our forecasts. That is separate from the connectivity that you have in your TiVo box for when you want to be able to watch video over-the-top. It is separate from the broadcast connectivity that we have where effectively we are providing 300 standard definition channels, 30 HD channels at the moment, but with a path to grow to 80 HD channels over the next two years, or three years." - Paul Buttery, Virgin Media Chief Customer & Networks Officer.
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Virgin Media Inc. Analyst and Investors Day (New York)
Event Date/Time: Dec 03, 2010 / 06:00PM GMT
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External...R5cGU9MQ==&t=1
"What we've also got is our broadcast capacity in there, so, at the moment, we provide 300 standard definition channels and 30 high definition channels. Over the next couple of years, we can grow the number of high definition channels from 30 to 80. We've allocated capacity for that, as the viewing habits start to change, as we move from SD to HD, and as we move from scheduled TV to more on demand TV or TV when you want it, we're able to adjust the allocation of that capacity and start to balance that between both TiVo, Video on Demand, broadband and broadcast. So, we have a highly flexible network that will be able to change as consumer habits change." - Paul Buttery, Virgin Media Chief Customer and Networks Officer. |
'Can' and 'Will' are quite different things indeed, that makes far more sense. Obviously he is just saying it is technically possible.
I don't think anyone seriously expects VM to carry 80 HD channels in less than 3 years, not unless they drastically change their pricing structure or HD is considered standard and dosen't attracts a premium but I think that is a while away. It's good to hear they expect to be technically able to provide it though.
As far as I know even BSkyB hadn't made such a claim either which is why I thought it fanciful when I first heard the claim being bandied around but having read that statement they were not saying they 'will' have 80 HD channels. And I doubt they will, in fact I am not so sure even Sky will.
But let's be fair, At least VM recognised they were way wide of the mark on consumers attitude to linear HD, even upto just a couple of years ago so at least they have listened.