General GINX Esports TV to leave Virgin Media on 22 October 2018

SonicMaster · 17-10-2018, 13:53

GINX Esports TV to leave Virgin Media on 22 October 2018:

https://ginx.tv/ginx/ginx-terminates...-virgin-media/

cheekyangus · 17-10-2018, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

GINX Esports TV to leave Virgin Media on 22 October 2018:

https://ginx.tv/ginx/ginx-terminates...-virgin-media/

As I recall they were on VM a long time before they were on Sky, who I believe now have a financial stake in them.

Sirius · 17-10-2018, 18:42

Who ?

OLD BOY · 17-10-2018, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

GINX Esports TV to leave Virgin Media on 22 October 2018:

https://ginx.tv/ginx/ginx-terminates...-virgin-media/

It would be interesting to know the real story behind this.

epsilon · 17-10-2018, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It would be interesting to know the real story behind this.

Something along the lines of a channel with a low viewer count wanting a free upgrade to HD and taking their ball and going home when the platform operator doesn't offer the free upgrade?

Sirius · 17-10-2018, 20:12

To be completely honest i knew nothing about this channel and have never watched it.

RichardCoulter · 17-10-2018, 22:28

Not unsurprisingly, Virgin Media are disputing what Ginx have said:

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018...er-missing-hd/

They say that they reviewed the performance of the channel and terms put forward by Ginx and decided not to continue with carriage. Like the recent UKTV dispute, they can't both be right.

This suggests to me that it was the poor performance of the channel, coupled with what they were asking in carriage fees, that led to VM pulling out.

GINX is one of the lowest rated channels in the UK, so you are not alone Sirius.

From 1st-7th October, the top rated show had only 400 viewers, and just 6000 people watched the channel in the whole week according to BARB.

I can't help but wonder if, following the UKTV & ITV disputes, this is Sky trying it on or firing a warning shot to VM before the forthcoming Sky carriage renewal discussions start. They will know full well that VM won't want any more negative press concerning high profile channel removals

batchain · 17-10-2018, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I can't help but wonder if, following the UKTV & ITV disputes, this is Sky trying it on or firing a warning shot to VM before the forthcoming Sky carriage renewal discussions start. They will know full well that VM won't want any more negative press concerning high profile channel removals

Sky and ITV are minority shareholders same as Liberty Global is with ITV, they are not directly involved in the running (into the ground) of Ginx and have probably already written it off as a bad investment.

The end notes Ginx TV's 2017 financial statement are somewhat revealing.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/c...filing-history

"The company incurred a net loss of £1,771,479 for the year ended 31 December 2017 and at that date, the company had retained losses of £8,827,049 and net assets of £640,254. However losses at the current levels indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern."

RichardCoulter · 18-10-2018, 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by batchain

Sky and ITV are minority shareholders same as Liberty Global is with ITV, they are not directly involved in the running (into the ground) of Ginx and have probably already written it off as a bad investment.

The end notes Ginx TV's 2017 financial statement are somewhat revealing.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/c...filing-history

"The company incurred a net loss of £1,771,479 for the year ended 31 December 2017 and at that date, the company had retained losses of £8,827,049 and net assets of £640,254. However losses at the current levels indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern."

Ginx, before it's e-sports incarnation, was a VM exclusive on Linear TV. I imagine that VM paid little, or anything, in carriage costs. Perhaps the carriage agreement has come to an end and Ginx were seeking to stem their losses by asking VM to pay higher carriage costs* and, given its lack of popularity, VM decided to allow the carriage agreement to expire.

I always thought it odd that ITV & Sky would invest in this channel. Maybe Sky were given shares in lieu of carriage/uplink fees?? Not sure how or why ITV got involved though!

After they invested it refocussed on e-sports and appeared on Sky, but this obviously hasn't increased its popularity.

Coming off VM will make their reach even worse, so I tend to agree with you that it won't last much longer.

* I didn't realise that it was an international operation. According to wiki, all the original founders have left and VM were asking them to pay for carriage (As they do for shopping channels etc). Looks to me like it was a cost neutral arrangement, but Ginx are now being asked to pay for the channel being on VM.

Hardly surprising given that their pitch was having 12 million viewers and some programmes only getting 400. Ginx seem bitter about this after allegedly saying that they are "disappointed with VM" after havimg "helped them get a foothold in e-sports"!!!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginx_TV

OLD BOY · 18-10-2018, 07:15

Well, this is one down on Max's large list of absolute dross channels!

denphone · 18-10-2018, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Well, this is one down on Max's large list of absolute dross channels!

Well there is a remote control OB as that is very useful for finding the many excellent linear channels one has at ones disposal but of course you don't watch many of them given your love of anything streaming.

.

Media Boy UK · 18-10-2018, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Well there is a remote control OB as that is very useful for finding the many excellent linear channels one has at ones disposal but of course you don't watch many of them given your love of anything streaming.

.

I do not care about GINX but I would love to know why Virgin Media UK broadcast Crime + Investigation on SIX Channels for?

God TV next to go - We think that channels viewing numbers are about the same as GINX.

cheekyangus · 18-10-2018, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

God TV next to go - We think that channels viewing numbers are about the same as GINX.

Wouldn't be so sure, I think heard (a long time ago) that they pay to be on like the shopping channels do.

epsilon · 18-10-2018, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

I do not care about GINX but I would love to know why Virgin Media UK broadcast Crime + Investigation on SIX Channels for?

God TV next to go - We think that channels viewing numbers are about the same as GINX.

The Crime & Investigation duplicates don't make much sense unless Virgin is using them as temporary redirection slots to tidy up the EPG. They could then be recycled for a more comprehensive tidying up exercise. If that is the purpose, they are taking a very long time to get things moving.

As for God TV perhaps you could pray for it.