Virgin Media to add more HD channels - Page 4

roland69uk · 10-03-2009, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayards

Interesting - just visited that page and I can't see that on the listing?

H

Its was the otherday i saw it

mentalis · 10-03-2009, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nearlydown

I spoke to someone on the Ask before you buy option yesterday and here is the details I was able to garner:

Make of it what you will.

Sky1 HD is good, but not so good they need to add it twice

cablestrider · 10-03-2009, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyCambs

Am I alone in not seeing this demand for HD? The quality of the up-scaled picture from the V+ is not much different to the HD quality

Perhaps if your LCD tv is smaller than around 37" ?
We've 42 here and others have even bigger, so HD would be a benefit

demented · 10-03-2009, 17:08

My LCD is 26" and I can clearly see the difference between upscaled and HD. I know people who have bigger tvs and on theirs it is screaming in your face at 120dB obvious. Upscaling is good, but it's not HD.

Just a few days left for Mr Burkett's promise. Or 31st of March or the middle of April or 30th April depending on how you want to measure it. Tick tock

.

Stephen · 10-03-2009, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented

Just a few days left for Mr Burkett's promise. Or 31st of March or the middle of April or 30th April depending on how you want to measure it. Tick tock

.

I know it is a lot to ask, but just be patient. VM do have HD plans to add channels and also VOD HD content, but will only announce details when the deals are done and officially confirmed.

There is no point in saying a certain channel is coming to HD soon until they have it properly set in stone so to speak, just in case something goes wrong.

demented · 10-03-2009, 17:27

Yes I understand that. I'm one of the few people easily placated i.e. with stuff that is coming anyway ITV HD and C4 HD. I did find it quite interesting MediaBoy thinks VM are talking to Setanta that would be fantastic news for late 2009 or 2010 and would make a ot of people happy. Things like that and other providers like MTV, A&E and Discovery could take months of hard work to pen. I'll also be very chuffed when iPlayer goes HD, although I'm not really expecting that till say Q4 2009.

Stephen · 10-03-2009, 17:34

Everyone should know by now that VM tend to only officially announce something just before it actually happens.

A lot of MediaBoys info comes from other sites and a lot of it is just rumors.

Even us staff only hear about channel launches and other release just before they happen as its the company policy and also to prevent leaks.

But there is real HD stuff happening over the next few months.

broadbandking · 11-03-2009, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Everyone should know by now that VM tend to only officially announce something just before it actually happens.

A lot of MediaBoys info comes from other sites and a lot of it is just rumors.

Even us staff only hear about channel launches and other release just before they happen as its the company policy and also to prevent leaks.

But there is real HD stuff happening over the next few months.

Staff get told on the day normally lol.

Stephen · 11-03-2009, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadbandking

Staff get told on the day normally lol.

I know. I am staff, lol.

Sometimes a day before

Digital Fanatic · 11-03-2009, 12:00

Interesting article on DigitalSpy

Quote:

Virgin Media has told customers that it is still working on securing more linear and on demand high definition content.

In response to a series of customer tweets on the subject, a Virgin representative said: "We are working on HD including VOD and channels. Until the deals are done we can't announce, but hope to soon."
.

Source: DigitalSpy.co.uk

Read more here

11-03-2009, 15:53

Have to say i am quite happy to wait another few months for hd unless its free content, i will not pay extra personally,as i consider myself to be paying enough for tv at the mo

and am quite happy myself with a upscaled v+ picture.

I just wonder exactly if vm got paid for hd channels how many would actually be prepared to pay? i understand the uptake of premium channels is not that great would hd be any diferent i wonder.?

However itv hd and channel 4 hd would be a start to add to the bc hd channel,now itv hd is starting to appear (although manually tuned) on the new sky epg vm should be able to get it also would have thought,and as i understand channel 4 hd was offered to vm at the start. Interesting to hear offical reasons for the non uptake.

EBD3000 · 11-03-2009, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1960

I just wonder exactly if vm got paid for hd channels how many would actually be prepared to pay? i understand the uptake of premium channels is not that great would hd be any diferent i wonder.?

For me it would depend on how many channels we are talking about and how much money they are talking about. If Sky have 31 and they charge Ã‚Â£10 (I know you still pay Ã‚Â£10 if you don't get the movies and sports) then if Virgin have 4-5 encripted HD channels then it should around Ã‚Â£2 extra.

BBC HD, ITV HD and C4 HD should be free.

11-03-2009, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBD3000

For me it would depend on how many channels we are talking about and how much money they are talking about. If Sky have 31 and they charge Ã‚Â£10 (I know you still pay Ã‚Â£10 if you don't get the movies and sports) then if Virgin have 4-5 encripted HD channels then it should around Ã‚Â£2 extra.

BBC HD, ITV HD and C4 HD should be free.

Yes defiantely agree with the point you have made,Ã‚Â£10 would be ourageous for a handfull of channels,if say vm got 4-5 mainly non sky ones i would think!( no chance of sky selling/ sports movies to vm now or in the near future imo, as they are the real subscription drivers especially the sport)then a Ã‚Â£2-3 charge would seem about right,and the uptake may well be more, and of course the uptake of v+ boxes may improve i think its a great piece of kit but the uptake of that i think is not too great.

Of course channel 4 and itv as you have stated shoud be free.

chienmort · 11-03-2009, 19:20

I think we have to look at what VM and Sky offer.

The two platforms re very different and one (VM)is suited to VOD, Broadband, telephony ll of which are two way communication and (S*y) via satellite is one way. They have different strengths and weaknesses.

For me HD is important BUT I am not going to pay Mr Murdoch and for me the best thing about the V+ box is VOD and BBC iPlayer PLUS the fact that it has three tuners.

I also have 20Mb broadband that usually reaches 18-19Mbps download speed(or more than 90%) whereas ADSL (inc Sky) can do 3-4Mbps at best.

So although I am miffed that I have little HD content, V+ plus real broadband is the killer for me and when more HD channels are added, that will be great.

Satellite broadcasting's one main technical benefit is that it can reach 100% of the population. In all other aspects of a modern communication system... it sucks.

One final thought regarding BT: their drive for Fibre To The Home(FTTH)? Would it be best served by them buying the current FTTH service provider VirginMedia (OfCom notwithstanding).

Turkey Machine · 11-03-2009, 19:22

As I understand it, that's 3 tuners via one cable. With Sky, you need a multi-LNB and a separate wire per tuner. Less wires to be confused with.