US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I think that the same is happening, as to what is happening to all the main High Street brands.

With VM is that another company ie Liberty Global has seen a company that needs a buy out, and bingo.
VM has not been run properly, and by the amount of people on this forum have said, that the TV service is poor. What l can see is that this new company, IF it buys VM will revamp it and probably make it a better company and get rid of the dea wood and false promises it gives out.

As l said in America, the amount of Cable Tv companies is endless.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I think that the same is happening, as to what is happening to all the main High Street brands.

With VM is that another company ie Liberty Global has seen a company that needs a buy out, and bingo.
VM has not been run properly, and by the amount of people on this forum have said, that the TV service is poor. What l can see is that this new company, IF it buys VM will revamp it and probably make it a better company and get rid of the dea wood and false promises it gives out.

As l said in America, the amount of Cable Tv companies is endless.

Arthur l just wish l knew what you are talking about as Virgin is a well run company and could quite easily cope without any buy out.

Just Announced on Sky news possible sale of Virgin media to Liberty Global virgin media valued at £13 Billion plus it has £5.7 Billion of dept

[Risco]

I would only be happy if it meant the stop in the crazy price increases and more investment in their cable network meaning better speeds and new houses.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Zee

So does that mean the name will change again?

Suppose it depends how much they pay each year to use it, and if they can get out of the deal early. However, if you look how Sky have run rings around them by putting all the 'good' shows on a channel outside the carriage agreement, I'd be surprised if we're not 'stuck' with the brand for a number of years to come.

Cheers

Grim

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

the amount of people on this forum have said, that the TV service is poor. .

The TV service is not poor. We don't have as many channels as Sky and we all know the ones we want, and beef about the lack of them (as is our right as subscribers) but to say that the TV service is poor is ridiculous.

I only really want one new channel, Atlantic. And, yes, I'm really irritated that it looks as if we won't be getting More4HD, but that doesn't make it poor; two channels as a percentage of the ones we get is insignificant.

Having said that, if we end up being taken over by a company that has more resources and clout to compete with Sky, it will be a good thing. Whether these guys are that company, I'm not qualified to say.

And don't forget, TV channels is only one aspect of VM. I still think VMs set top box and broadband are far superior to Sky's offering.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by tridens

Just Announced on Sky news possible sale of Virgin media to Liberty Global virgin media valued at £13 Billion plus it has £5.7 Billion of dept

Do a search and the shareholders are wanting a lot in return if the company is sold for this price as it should be about 20-24 billion.

---------- Post added at 19:56 ---------- Previous post was at 19:55 ----------

Originally Posted by Zee

So does that mean the name will change again?

Yes it will change to Virgin@Liberty?

Just like some on a weekend

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Horizon

I would say yes, but we'll see

I
I would say absolutely not.

The virgin brand is what holds it all together.

The use of the Virgin brand is one of the biggest assets the company has, and compared to the revenues they get it cheap.

If UPC can get a deal to extend the Virgin Brand to Europe and roll out TiVo etc. well who knows.


I think anything could happen, but I doubt very much that the virgin brand would go, I'd bet your mortgage on it.

[GrimUpNorth]

CNBC are saying the deal is done video link

Cheers

Grim

[tricol]

A done deal at below $50 per share.....

[joglynne]

Thanks for the link Grim.

I have just been reading the following report and particularly like the part where it says

a Virgin Media takeover would mark the first time it (Liberty) had parked its tanks directly on BSkyB’s lawn.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...h-Murdoch.html

[howardmicks]

Originally Posted by tricol

A done deal at below $50 per share.....

Good or bad.cant be any worse than current owners,hopefully they will invest and aquire new channels.could this be a sign of hostility with sky again???

[sollp]

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

I bet the staff who have got share options are getting very happy now? Maybe

Sold mine a couple of months ago

Originally Posted by howardmicks

Good or bad.cant be any worse than current owners,hopefully they will invest and aquire new channels.could this be a sign of hostility with sky again???

I think BT is now virgins main competitor, they focused on Sky so much they didn't notice BT creep up and equal virgins core product. That would be the high speed Internet.

Right now anyone can see Virginmedia NEED this buyout, by April they will be third largest BB provider and the only one in the top 3 that throttles it's service.

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I
I would say absolutely not.

The virgin brand is what holds it all together.

The use of the Virgin brand is one of the biggest assets the company has, and compared to the revenues they get it cheap.

If UPC can get a deal to extend the Virgin Brand to Europe and roll out TiVo etc. well who knows.


I think anything could happen, but I doubt very much that the virgin brand would go, I'd bet your mortgage on it.

My mortgage is paid, but thanks anyway.

Yes, the virgin brand is big, but I don't see it fitting into Liberty's empire long term. I think they'll ditch it at the first opportunity. One billionaire will not want another billionaire's brand on his company. But I do agree the virgin brand has been a "puller" for the cableco. But the brand is too associated to Branson, so will go.

As for roll out of tivo to Europe, not a chance for a simple reason. UPC have just rolled out new epg software to cable boxes called Horizon in several countries, they will not swap that for tivo now.

The question to ask is, will tivo in the uk be axed in the future in favour of Horizon?

---------- Post added at 23:23 ---------- Previous post was at 23:19 ----------

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

CNBC are saying the deal is done video link

Cheers

Grim

Thanks for the link, goodbye virgin.