On Demand

AHN-David · 08-03-2009, 00:46

How do VM decide whats being put OnDemand.

After having my services for about 4 months I have noticed OnDemand Just rotates its self every few weeks.

Example - Friends SE2 + SE3 was on demand. SE2 finished then SE3 finished. Then i was like

SE4 then SE5 but no few weeks later back to SE2

.

Anyone explain how this works?

cimt · 08-03-2009, 01:01

Virgin don't. The channel does, I believe?

AHN-David · 08-03-2009, 13:01

Well could anyone explain why the channels do this?

sammyjayuk · 08-03-2009, 14:15

VM probably don't buy the rights to the entire catalogue of a certain programme, I expect it's done by series, groups of series or perhaps even packages of groups of series of groups of programmes! Also, I would imagine that more recent series cost more.

The content providers will also have a hand in this, as they won't want to cannibalise DVD sales or lessen the value of a programme to a linear channel by having a programme permanently available on demand.

There are probably technical issues, as well. Storage being the biggest, if they really do have 2000 hours. Given how much VM say on demand is being used, I can't see hard drives being fast enough, so they'd need terabytes of fast RAM - which must be astronomically expensive. Basically, VM may not be able to actually make every programme they have the rights to put on demand available all at the same time.

In short, don't expect anything to change any time soon. Content providers will always be fiercely protective of their right to control their content, and VM doesn't have all that much money (minus several billion, actually).

Sam