Cable Forum - View Single Post - General Do the Virgin Media UK need an "tidy up"?

cheekyangus · 29-08-2020, 14:45

I think VM's "body language" suggests a tidy up of some sort is on the cards, they are allowing gaps to develop in order to make future moves easier.

The other thing on the cards is the OFCOM requirement for PSB channels to be in the Top24 positions by January 2021. Some of the documentation for Digital Terrestrial (i.e. Freeview) asked for responses by the end of July to amend their EPG rules in order to make achieving this easier on that platform to achieve that. They are aiming to do this by November so it's all done by Christmas. So VM may make moves around this time too.

For some reason OFCOM aren't content with services like S4C, BBC Scotland and BBC Alba only being Top24 in their relevant parts of the UK, so even though I think VM have already accommodated the requirement easily, for the most part (BBC Alba still needs moved), in those nations, due to 108 and 113 being not being required for BBC1 HD and ITV HD, so VM still have to move them in the rest of the UK.

Since VM have a Channel 100, the Top 24 ends at 123. That (probably) means anything up to 160 (BBC Alba is 161, BBC Scotland is 162, S4C is 166) could be on the move.

An easy fix would by Sky going HD-only as they could take their SD slots at 110 and 112 for Comedy and Arts leaving 121-123 free. Top24 problem solved. Not saying this will happen, just saying it's an easy fix and Sky wouldn't lose their prominence in the VM EPG.

29-08-2020, 14:45	#21
cheekyangus Be a Volunteer. Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,579	Re: Do the Virgin Media UK need an "tidy up"? I think VM's "body language" suggests a tidy up of some sort is on the cards, they are allowing gaps to develop in order to make future moves easier. The other thing on the cards is the OFCOM requirement for PSB channels to be in the Top24 positions by January 2021. Some of the documentation for Digital Terrestrial (i.e. Freeview) asked for responses by the end of July to amend their EPG rules in order to make achieving this easier on that platform to achieve that. They are aiming to do this by November so it's all done by Christmas. So VM may make moves around this time too. For some reason OFCOM aren't content with services like S4C, BBC Scotland and BBC Alba only being Top24 in their relevant parts of the UK, so even though I think VM have already accommodated the requirement easily, for the most part (BBC Alba still needs moved), in those nations, due to 108 and 113 being not being required for BBC1 HD and ITV HD, so VM still have to move them in the rest of the UK. Since VM have a Channel 100, the Top 24 ends at 123. That (probably) means anything up to 160 (BBC Alba is 161, BBC Scotland is 162, S4C is 166) could be on the move. An easy fix would by Sky going HD-only as they could take their SD slots at 110 and 112 for Comedy and Arts leaving 121-123 free. Top24 problem solved. Not saying this will happen, just saying it's an easy fix and Sky wouldn't lose their prominence in the VM EPG.