Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.

[Andrewcrawford23]

OK been recovering a bit so now had chance to speak with my sources

Ok.... virgin are planning on more HD channels and will probally catch up with sky for a while.... no i dnt know the names but i rough idea but i aint going to speculate

Ok... the other news inst to do with virign, it to do with sky, sky are mostly likely have about 75ish HD channels probably less by end of the year beginning of 2012

the reason for this is due to satellite capacity now coming less but this is going to change when within the next 3 or 4 years we will be getting new satellites launched for the UK and the capacity will allow for a vast amount of HD channels to launch probably including regional BBC HD

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

OK been recovering a bit so now had chance to speak with my sources

Ok.... virgin are planning on more HD channels and will probally catch up with sky for a while.... no i dnt know the names but i rough idea but i aint going to speculate

Ok... the other news inst to do with virign, it to do with sky, sky are mostly likely have about 75ish HD channels probably less by end of the year beginning of 2012

the reason for this is due to satellite capacity now coming less but this is going to change when within the next 3 or 4 years we will be getting new satellites launched for the UK and the capacity will allow for a vast amount of HD channels to launch probably including regional BBC HD

Astra 1N launches Q2 of this year and will temporarily be located at the Sky/Freesat orbital slot until a permanent satellite replaces it . Astra 1N will replace some existing capacity but will also provide significant additional transponders including more UK spotbeams which will benefit both Freesat and Sky.

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by mersey70

Astra 1N launches Q2 of this year and will temporarily be located at the Sky/Freesat orbital slot until a permanent satellite replaces it . Astra 1N will replace some existing capacity but will also provide significant additional transponders including more UK spotbeams which will benefit both Freesat and Sky.

Yip but when it launches channels ownt be on it straight awayh there will be few months of testing hecne why i said late 2011 early 2012 for the new capacity

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

Yip but when it launches channels ownt be on it straight awayh there will be few months of testing hecne why i said late 2011 early 2012 for the new capacity

If all goes well and to schedule it will be online before 2012, probably autumn time.

Sky has plenty of existing capacity it could use to launch new encrypted channels, it is targetted UK spotbeams that allow certain content to be broadcast FTA that are threadbare at the moment.

[muppetman11]

I thought CBS Action HD and CBS Drama HD were set to launch on Sky when they commence.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I thought CBS Action HD and CBS Drama HD were set to launch on Sky when they commence.

CBS have been given licences by OFCOM for their HD channels.

However CBS don't appear to require UK spotbeams to broadcast FTA as they don't use them now. It's only the likes of the Networks that need those UK beams to broadcast FTA due to their content. The increased capacity would allow other FTA channels with more expensive content to launch though.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by mersey70

CBS have been given licences by OFCOM for their HD channels.

However CBS don't appear to require UK spotbeams to broadcast FTA as they don't use them now. It's only the likes of the Networks that need those UK beams to broadcast FTA due to their content. The increased capacity would allow other FTA channels with more expensive content to launch though.

Right thanks for that , I've got to admit I'm not really well up on satellite.

[howardmicks]

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

OK been recovering a bit so now had chance to speak with my sources

Ok.... virgin are planning on more HD channels and will probally catch up with sky for a while.... no i dnt know the names but i rough idea but i aint going to speculate

Ok... the other news inst to do with virign, it to do with sky, sky are mostly likely have about 75ish HD channels probably less by end of the year beginning of 2012

the reason for this is due to satellite capacity now coming less but this is going to change when within the next 3 or 4 years we will be getting new satellites launched for the UK and the capacity will allow for a vast amount of HD channels to launch probably including regional BBC HD

Any idea what these Hd channels vm are planning?

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Right thanks for that , I've got to admit I'm not really well up on satellite.

Basically if it's premium content (like UCL on ITV) or expensive imports, films and the likes to be able to broadcast FTA on satellite they currentlly need to use Astra 2D transponders which have a tight UK footprint.

BBC 1, 2 and it's regions are all on Astra 2D and virtually all ITV regions are too. Astra 2D is pretty full so some ITV regions are broadcast encrypted on other satellites in the orbital slot.

The new satellite will provide additional UK spotbeams for FTA 'expensive' content like we see Channel 4 and 5 HD, it affects mostly sports and imports.

Encrypted pay content isn't affected, there is plenty of existing capacity for these channels. And the likes of CBS that broadcast less lucrative content don't require UK spotbeams and can happily broadcast FTA even on a wide spotbeam.


On the subject of coming soon to VM has anyone heard anything on the grapevine? Surely something is on it's way with the recent test appearances.

[howardmicks]

Really hoping they have some new channels to launch with they new product(tivo)

[spankysmagicpian]

Originally Posted by Chad

All I've heard is that CBeebies and ITV3 are still pulling in more viewing figures than SKY Atlantic each week

You're not wrong Chad. Last weeks episode of 'Treme' pulled in 19,000 viewers.

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by mersey70

If all goes well and to schedule it will be online before 2012, probably autumn time.

Sky has plenty of existing capacity it could use to launch new encrypted channels, it is targetted UK spotbeams that allow certain content to be broadcast FTA that are threadbare at the moment.

i know that why i said sky will porbally have about 75ish chanels by the end of the year but the capaicty is limited btu sitll some free

the new satilelte all due to be full operational for 2015 will more than triple the capcaicty and majority of the transpodners wil be dvbs2 and sky will try encourage broadcaster to use mpeg4, but i think sky are goign to rty get push and get people to use the newer boxes in some way so there will all work on dvbs2 by 2020

[denphone]

Originally Posted by howardmicks

Really hoping they have some new channels to launch with they new product(tivo)

We don,t want rumours, we want channels and soon as we have waited long enough, come on DF tell us more.

[clinteastman]

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

I have to say that the ignore list is a wonderful thing!

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Agreed on that.

Now then ladies, play nice.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by clinteastman

Now then ladies, play nice.

LOL I haven't used the ignore list I like to read all comments and I like to think mine are both constructive and balanced , I'm not a fanboy of any platform.