Thread: General Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
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Old 18-03-2014, 20:44   #1620
OLD BOY
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Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY View Post
I'm not saying that though, Dave. These negotiations are admittedly difficult but what I am saying is that it fits into LG's strategy to concentrate on the content rather than the linear channels that content is on.

If it is likely that they can get a deal with HBO to get their service on subscription, that would be something Virgin could consider against the possibility of paying over the odds for Sky Atlantic. Even PPV would be better than nothing and that must be possible as you can get that on other devices through HBO-Go. But given the two companies want things from each other, I did think that Sky and Virgin would have done a deal by now.

Incidentally, the only prospect of getting HBO programmes streamed would be via Sky or the HBO streaming service because Amazon/Lovefilm don't have access, even to their shows that are more than 2 years old.

http://www.techradar.com/news/intern...or-you-1058067

So VM have a choice if they want these shows for their viewers. They can:

1. Get the best price possible for Sky Atlantic, offsetting an amount against Sky's wish to flog us Sky Bravo. In other words, VM accept Sky Bravo provided Sky lower their price for Sky Atlantic.

2. See if they can persuade Sky to let us have HBO shows from Sky On Demand only, for a price that VM were prepared to pay. They could omit the first run shows for up to two years if necessary. This would enable Sky to say that Sky Atlantic is only on their platform and that first run HBO shows on subscription could be found only on Sky satellite or Now TV.

3. Talk to HBO about establishing a streaming service on Virgin Media. This is likely to omit first run shows except by PPV given the exclusivity deal they have with Sky. However, they could have the older shows on subscription with the latest shows on PPV unless Sky have the exclusive rights to all HBO material in the UK. I'm not sure if that is the case.

There are certainly other options to consider as well, such as limiting Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media to the hours of 7pm until midnight, but the various choices may be what is complicating things in these talks. LG's strategy is to bring us the biggest range of content possible from various sources, so one way or the other, I am sure that we will get access to HBO shows in the fairly near future. Even if it is pay per view only.

Health warning. This is not a prediction, it is a debate!
Two amendments to my post above. Firstly of course the UK version of the HBO streaming service is HBO UK, and secondly, Amazon do have HBO programming after all.

http://www.hbouk.com/home/

It seems to me that we could get HBO material quite quickly if the will is there, but whether we can get it on subscription as opposed to pay per view or the buy option, that might be tough without Sky's co-operation.
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