Virgin high definition content

[g4yjsbarrie]

Dear group....I am soon to move home I am contemplating moving to a Virgin cabled area mainly for the broadband speed...One thing I would like to know is....is it worth while me getting a full high definition television....in other words what high definition content does Virgin have?....would Ibe better served by Sky?many thanks to the group.Barrie g4yjs

[Pushkar]

Virgin have currently 1 HD Channel (That is BBC HD) and Sky have about 33 HD channels, however Virgin does have things like 4od, ITV and BBC iPlayer so if you don't mind waiting for HD channels and prefer TV on Demand then Virgin it is, but if it's HD content you want more then Sky is the logical choice however their ADSL speeds will always be 'upto' and no matter if they say 16mbps, you may only get 8 as it depends on how far away you live from the exchange.

[demented]

No is the quick answer.

Sky have 32 official HD channels (which rather unfairly includes the box office service) and have 2 launching imminently - Nat Geo Wild and Animal Planet. Sky also have a superior catch up HD service, 'cos virgin still haven't got one yet.

Virgin have BBC HD, filmflex and various VOD HD content such as BBC stuff like Cranford and 5 episodes of Planet Earth and from other channels a page or two such as The History Channel's The Universe (6 episodes) through to a few episodes of The Sopranos.

So that's
30 v 1
2 box office channels v filmflex
Sky anytime HD v nothing from cable
nothing v <100hrs TV Choice VOD
More HD channels definitely launching v "coming soon" and a string of lies and broken promises

Virgin will be getting more HD content but while they've spent time "thinking" about it Sky have already added/adding another 5 HD channels in that time period.

[g4yjsbarrie]

WOW that what I call a speedy respone......many thanks for the answers.......I have just re read the web site for the apartment I am contemplating moving into and it apppers that it has already been pre installed with multimedia cabling for audi/computer and Sky+already catered for so that will be my logical choice...once again many thanks Barrie g4yjs.

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by demented

No is the quick answer.

Sky have 32 official HD channels (which rather unfairly includes the box office service) and have 2 launching imminently - Nat Geo Wild and Animal Planet. Sky also have a superior catch up HD service, 'cos virgin still haven't got one yet.

Virgin have BBC HD, filmflex and various VOD HD content such as BBC stuff like Cranford and 5 episodes of Planet Earth and from other channels a page or two such as The History Channel's The Universe (6 episodes) through to a few episodes of The Sopranos.

So that's
30 v 1
2 box office channels v filmflex
Sky anytime HD v nothing from cable
nothing v <100hrs TV Choice VOD
More HD channels definitely launching v "coming soon" and a string of lies and broken promises

Virgin will be getting more HD content but while they've spent time "thinking" about it Sky have already added/adding another 5 HD channels in that time period.

They have at least 20-30 hours worth HD material last time i checked, granted it still mince to sky offering but it more than nothing

[demented]

I said less than 100 hours, which is the quoted figure. This obviously compares very well to Sky's big fat 0 in that department, but then again if it's catch up content you want Sky is ahead (shockingly) on that as they have a barebones anytime HD offering whereas we're still waiting for (a) iPlayer HD (b) this C4 HD stuff (c) ITV HD content (probably not likely to include any catch up). I don't think my comparisons are unfair as I compare both linear HD channels, other HD services such as movies and both types of HD vod - catch up or archived.

Virgin Media obviously wins hands down and several trips round the block if we're talking SD VOD.

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

They have at least 20-30 hours worth HD material last time i checked, granted it still mince to sky offering but it more than nothing

It's a lot more than nothing, especially considering how much of Sky's 'HD' content is actually just upscaled SD on channels nobody watches anyway.

Sky certainly has more, but I do dispair when this debate constantly degenerates to a numbers game. Crap is still crap, no matter how big the heap.

Had I the choice, I'd be opting for Virgin any day, as I am more likely to find HD material I actually want to watch on the VOD service than on most of the dodgy channels Sky has rushed into service just so the gullible muppets can brag about how much more they have.

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------

Originally Posted by demented

Sky is ahead (shockingly) on that as they have a barebones anytime HD offering

This is delivered via a PC. Most people do not want to watch TV at their desk, they want to watch it in their living room (and they don't have a PC media centre set up to allow this, either).

It's just another aspect of Sky's blunt marketing strategy, which is meant to convince people they're the best bet because of the amount of stuff they do without paying much attention to how useful it actually is.

[demented]

Originally Posted by Chris

This is delivered via a PC. Most people do not want to watch TV at their desk, they want to watch it in their living room (and they don't have a PC media centre set up to allow this, either).

It's just another aspect of Sky's blunt marketing strategy, which is meant to convince people they're the best bet because of the amount of stuff they do without paying much attention to how useful it actually is.

That's not what I was referring to at all. Sky Anytime does have HD material on there. I regard this as a limited catch up HD service. Granted it's only any good if you have movies on Sky HD as that's what a lot of the content is and some of other stuff is total garbage like Bio HD or occasionally more useful C4 HD stuff and Sky1 HD stuff but it is a catch up service of sorts in HD, however limited. Virgin does not have such a service at all at present. As soon as iPlayer brings it's HD offerings (any whatsoever) for catch up for 7 days it'll slingshot past Sky. I'm waiting for that day to come. I think this is a fair comparison just like I think comparing filmflex with the 2 box office channels and comparing VMs HD tv choice/more to sky's which is <100hrs v 0.

I know sky like to say they are reinventing the wheel and virgin and their predecessors don't like to blow their trumpet/keep quiet/bad communication on good services they offer but virgin really do lack a catch up on demand in HD section. When it does launch I expect it'll be wildly popular.

I hear what you're saying, but you're comparing a service delivered via a PC with Virgin's TV service. IMO that makes the comparison invalid as they are different distribution platforms.

[demented]

I'm not mentioning that PC Sky Player or whatever it's called service at all (which I'm not impressed by)I'm talking about the push vod to the Sky+ HD box variant that comes off the transponders sharing with some of the other HD channels overnight. Yes push VOD isn't the same thing and virgin (and freesat) will probably always win out in that one vs sky and freeview but it's still catch up. In SD the anytime tv service is completely pants in comparison to VMs VOD. Catch up HD is an oversight by Virgin. Sky have an absolutely minimum HD service on there so could claim victory on that one (not that they do seem very interesting in that, they seem more interested in advertising multiroom and the sky player through the PC or saying they have more than 30HD channels).

Aha, gotcha now

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by demented

and virgin and their predecessors don't like to blow their trumpet/keep quiet/bad communication on good services they offer

Couldn't disagree more, Virgin since the rebrand have become experts at blowing sunshine up their own behinds, total opposite from the ntl days of mushroom treatment.

---------- Post added at 16:13 ---------- Previous post was at 16:12 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris

Had I the choice, I'd be opting for Virgin any day, as I am more likely to find HD material I actually want to watch on the VOD service than on most of the dodgy channels Sky has rushed into service just so the gullible muppets can brag about how much more they have.

Nice generalisation of all the people who took Sky HD there Chris. I think you'd be in the massive minority opting for VMTV over Sky if the decision involves HD in any way, shape or form though.

It is a generalisation, however what else have I to go on? The only argument that ever seems to be advanced on here for Sky+HD is the quantity. That, in my view, is a very poor argument.

[bayards]

Most HD VOD has cobwebs on it - surely they will be pensioning some of those programs off soon?

H

[gadge]

Originally Posted by demented

I'm not mentioning that PC Sky Player or whatever it's called service at all (which I'm not impressed by)I'm talking about the push vod to the Sky+ HD box variant that comes off the transponders sharing with some of the other HD channels overnight. Yes push VOD isn't the same thing and virgin (and freesat) will probably always win out in that one vs sky and freeview but it's still catch up. In SD the anytime tv service is completely pants in comparison to VMs VOD. Catch up HD is an oversight by Virgin. Sky have an absolutely minimum HD service on there so could claim victory on that one (not that they do seem very interesting in that, they seem more interested in advertising multiroom and the sky player through the PC or saying they have more than 30HD channels).

Skys anytime service whether its hd or sd is downright pitiful to say the least.