US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Top banana

Could be more changes afoot.

http://www.cityam.com/article/vodafo...ad-liberty-bid

Pure speculation

Not impossible, but not very probable

The Story this morning very probably had its origins from this piece in the Sunday times a week ago.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/...cle1248333.ece

which in itself again was only comment, and not news in any way.

For it to happen, Verizon would first have to buy Vodafones stake, and Vodafone would have to want to sell.

Then of course Malone would have to want to sell to Vodafone, and this would all need to be OK'd by Europe too.

Analysts only give this a 20% chance of happening.

Of course never say never, but it's unlikely.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I hope it doesn't happen, l am with Vodaphone at the moment and they totally rubbish, they have been trying to sort out a problem on the PAYG network for the past three months and it still isn't working properly.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Bogof

Well you're wrong about most things, so I don't see why this will be any different.

l see you have a nice sense of humour for today dear chap.

[andrewbrown]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I hope it doesn't happen, l am with Vodaphone at the moment and they totally rubbish, they have been trying to sort out a problem on the PAYG network for the past three months and it still isn't working properly.

Wow - do you have problems with everything that you purchase

[Arthurgray50@blu]

For the past three months, l have had to call VP regarding my phone package, it should be automatic, but they 'claim' they have a techincal fault.

So, when l call them, they say that l can do it myself, but it should be done automatically by VP.

Liberty have just announced their Q1 results - gives a bit of an insight into where they are heading from a strategy perpective.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/libert...211900365.html

“Innovation remains a core focus this year as we continue to invest in the development of new product offerings. We launched our Horizon TV platform in Switzerland in Q1, with Ireland and Germany to follow later this year. Through April, we had over 200,000 Horizon TV subscribers in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In addition, we have significantly increased our broadband speeds in markets like the Netherlands, where we have key bundles positioned with 100 Mbps and a top-tier bundle at 200 Mbps.”

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Top banana

Could be more changes afoot.

http://www.cityam.com/article/vodafo...ad-liberty-bid

Most interesting. Did not see this anywhere else, so thanks for highlighting here.

I've said here and on other forums for a long time, that the UK will end up with 3 or 4 "vertically integrated" media companies. They will own their own delivery platform, a terrestrial broadcast channel, broadband and mobile.

If this vodafone deal happens, I expect sky and bt will either buy a mobile operator themselves or be bought by a mobile operator. Then the battle to buy ITV will restart and the loser will be left with Channel 5 and Channel 4, if it ever goes private.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Top banana

Liberty have just announced their Q1 results - gives a bit of an insight into where they are heading from a strategy perpective.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/libert...211900365.html

“Innovation remains a core focus this year as we continue to invest in the development of new product offerings. We launched our Horizon TV platform in Switzerland in Q1, with Ireland and Germany to follow later this year. Through April, we had over 200,000 Horizon TV subscribers in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In addition, we have significantly increased our broadband speeds in markets like the Netherlands, where we have key bundles positioned with 100 Mbps and a top-tier bundle at 200 Mbps.”

It isn't looking good for the future of Tivo, as VM's STB, unless Liberty let VM row their own boat with regard to set top box choice.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by passingbat

It isn't looking good for the future of Tivo, as VM's STB, unless Liberty let VM row their own boat with regard to set top box choice.

VM is, at long last, a successful company with healthy revenues, debt under control, increasing subscriber base, increasing RGUs, innovative products, fantastic brand etc, etc, etc,

Which is the exact reason they have been bought by Liberty.

If you think
Liberty are now going to come along, throw all that in the toilet and make wholesale changes that may threaten any if that? I don't think so.

Any changes will be behind the scenes, initially, no doubt other changes will come but none that would dramatically change what VM do now or their current medium term plan.

They just spent 16 billion dollars buying VM, they will want a return on that.

[BexTech]

Would like to see something that improves on the Tivo as not really impressed by it at all.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by BexTech

Would like to see something that improves on the Tivo as not really impressed by it at all.

Well personally l find the TiVo as far superior to any other STB's on the market and so do the other 2 million who have switched over to the step change STB.

[BexTech]

Originally Posted by denphone

Well personally l find the TiVo as far superior to any other STB's on the market and so do the other 2 million who have switched over to the step change STB.

Maybe so, but look how many people aren't happy with it.

It's not the all singing all dancing box it was made out to be.

Let down by an EPG that is often out of date.

Clunky compared to satellite boxes that are nice and slick.

Mostly pointless apps that we never use and are too clunky and slow anyway.

My family and friends still have a V+ and Sky+HD and after me having Tivo for around 2 years all but two don't want the Tivo, they don't like it, the other two aren't fussed but wouldn't say no, but wouldn't go out their way to have one installed either.

Most people want a box that is slick and records the programmes they set to record, the Tivo is not slick and struggles to get recordings right.

I'm used to more than just Sky boxes too.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by BexTech

Would like to see something that improves on the Tivo as not really impressed by it at all.

Well, the last time I researched the Horizon box (when the Liberty thing first came up) that certainly wasn't an improvement; people were having all sorts of problems with it.

Yes, it has 4 tuners, but the US has a Tivo box with 4 tuners. The Horizon box doesn't have Whishlists --- one of the best features on Tivo.

I seem to remember thinking that there was nothing on the Horizon box that couldn't be added to Tivo, but there were things on Tivo that couldn't be added to Horizon because of patent restrictions.

[BexTech]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Well, the last time I researched the Horizon box (when the Liberty thing first came up) that certainly wasn't an improvement; people were having all sorts of problems with it.

Yes, it has 4 tuners, but the US has a Tivo box with 4 tuners. The Horizon box doesn't have Whishlists --- one of the best features on Tivo.

I seem to remember thinking that there was nothing on the Horizon box that couldn't be added to Tivo, but there were things on Tivo that couldn't be added to Horizon because of patent restrictions.

Had Tivo around two years, and only recently bothered with wishlists.

Just needs a rocket up its backside and more up to date EPG system, decent apps that aren't sluggish to load up and use.

Since having the Tivo have had 4 Tivos and lived in 4 different areas, 3 in Brum, 1 in Telford, all are clunky. Been to friends of friends who have Tivo too and there's is the same, just not slick enough. I'm so use to pressing a button and my other boxes instantly responding.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by BexTech

Maybe so, but look how many people aren't happy with it.

How many? do you have percentage figures for those who actually have Tivo?

It's not the all singing all dancing box it was made out to be.

What features that it was advertised as having does it not have?

What features are missing that you think it should have?

Let down by an EPG that is often out of date.

I can't think of the last time I had a problem (if I've even had any at all) with the EPG.

Clunky compared to satellite boxes that are nice and slick.

It's easy to make a PVR more slick if it doesn't have much functionality.

I'd take a PVR with more functionality, even though it may take a few more menu presses, over a PVR with less functionality any day.

Mostly pointless apps that we never use and are too clunky and slow anyway.

Agree with you on the pointless apps. VM screwed up on that one.

.

Most people want a box that is slick and records the programmes they set to record, the Tivo is not slick and struggles to get recordings right.

Your evidence for this?