General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 5.

[heavyside]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

this would make the most sense. devaluing the XL pack seems to be a tad silly. I know BT sports is great for sports fans but non sports fans would start considering downgrading.

netflix would immediately restore the balance!

I have been watching the XL package become more and more devalued for non sports fans. Perhaps it's wishful thinking but I really hope VM will boost the XL package somehow - hopefully before Christmas - otherwise my new year's resolution might have to be to downgrade. Fingers crossed for some good news in the next couple of months.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by heavyside

I have been watching the XL package become more and more devalued for non sports fans.

How is it XL being devalued for non sports fans? Is it because channels previously exclusive to the XL package are now available on lower packages? Personally I think the XL package is better value than ever. In the past 12 months Virgin have added the following non sports channels to XL:

TCM HD
Cartoon Network HD
ITV 2HD
ITV 3HD
ITV 4HD
TLC HD
NHK World HD
Animal Planet HD
MTV HD
Nick HD
More 4HD
Good Food HD

TLC +1
Quest +1
DMAX +1
CBS Drama
H2
Investigation Discovery +1
Animal Planet +1
Discovery Science +1
Discovery History +1
Discovery Home & Health +1

Understandably if you are not a fan of sport, HD, +1 channels and on demand content then the XL package might not be right for you.

[Perfect Choice]

Personally not bothered about BT Sport (I know others will be delighted), XL is therefore only a benefit for HD channels as you highlight and why I would keep it myself. But as for the other channels mentioned 9 out of 10 are just 1 hour shift channels so actually highlights, in terms of access to further content, not much has changed for XL apart from BT Sport of course so good for sport fans. Now add Netflix and Sky Atlantic (might as well plug that on top) to XL and the advantage of extra content for XL would certainly be restored!

[blue666666]

never know we might still get sky Atlantic and other sky chennels before xmas.

[Chad]

This isn't aimed at anyone here in particular however I've noticed from posts here over the years, and posts on other forums, that people with the XL package who don't enjoy sports always seem to have a real problem with channels like BT Sports being added to XL.

BT Sports being added to XL was a direct replacement for the ESPN channels, which in turn where a direct replacement for Setanta Sports. These premium sports channels have been in the XL package now since July 2007.

When Setanta Sports launched in the XL package Virgin had no HD channels in the XL package at all. On Demand was still in it infancy with maybe only 10% of the content available today.

If anything Sports fans with the XL package who don't watch HD or on demand have taken a proper shafting since 2007

[MutleyF]

Originally Posted by Chad

This isn't aimed at anyone here in particular however I've noticed from posts here over the years, and posts on other forums, that people with the XL package who don't enjoy sports always seem to have a real problem with channels like BT Sports being added to XL.

BT Sports being added to XL was a direct replacement for the ESPN channels, which in turn where a direct replacement for Setanta Sports. These premium sports channels have been in the XL package now since July 2007.

When Setanta Sports launched in the XL package Virgin had no HD channels in the XL package at all. On Demand was still in it infancy with maybe only 10% of the content available today.

If anything Sports fans with the XL package who don't watch HD or on demand have taken a proper shafting since 2007

I dont often say this, but ....

I agree !

[dwarfofpoison]

Originally Posted by Chad

If anything Sports fans with the XL package who don't watch HD or on demand have taken a proper shafting since 2007

[denphone]

Originally Posted by blue666666

never know we might still get sky Atlantic and other sky chennels before xmas.

Patience is the key and good things come to those who wait.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by blue666666

never know we might still get sky Atlantic and other sky chennels before xmas.

no chance don't hold your breath

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Dave42

no chance don't hold your breath

The pessimist strikes again part 20.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Dave42

no chance don't hold your breath

I'd like to see SKY Atlantic available on Virgin Media, just in case I decide to return in 2 months time when my current SKY deal expires. I understand Virgin and SKY have been in talks however some of the information on the below links makes me think it won't be during 2013.

http://corporate.sky.com/media/press...set_collection

"Entertainment Extra+ customers can look forward to almost a hundred series of TV Box Sets joining the service this autumn, with some exclusive highlights only available on Sky, including:"

• The Wire (Complete box set - series 1-5, Sky Atlantic, from 1st Nov)
• The Sopranos (Complete box set - series 1-6, Sky Atlantic, from 1st Dec)
• Game of Thrones (Series 1& 2, Sky Atlantic, from 1st Oct)
• Mad Men (Series 1-3, Sky Atlantic, from 1st Oct)
• Seinfeld (Series 8, Sky Atlantic, from 1st Oct, and series 9 from 1st Nov)

Notice that all the SKY exclusive on demand content is for SKY Atlantic? If Virgin and SKY are in talks for SKY Atlantic I'd imagine Virgin would also like access to the SKY Atlantic on demand content as part of the carriage deal, like all the other SKY channels they currently offer.

Of course this could mean absolutely nothing at all. Come January SKY only have 2 years left under their exclusive deal with HBO. I wonder if SKY are planning to renew? I wonder if Netflix plan to swoop in and agree an exclusive deal with HBO ahead of SKY? That would pretty much kill off SKY Atlantic. I'm beginning to think it's now or never for SKY Atlantic appearing on Virgin Media.

[blue666666]

Originally Posted by Dave42

no chance don't hold your breath

i live with hope you can't kill my hope.it been years now i have weighted for sky channels.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by denphone

The pessimist strikes again part 20.

can you really see sky changing there stance Den the day they give us the missing channels the day sky losing customers to VM you may call me pessimist only with getting withheld sky channels as reasons I have stated

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by Chad

How is it XL being devalued for non sports fans? Is it because channels previously exclusive to the XL package are now available on lower packages? Personally I think the XL package is better value than ever. In the past 12 months Virgin have added the following non sports channels to XL:

Understandably if you are not a fan of sport, HD, +1 channels and on demand content then the XL package might not be right for you.

i have xl due to the great offer on BT sport but if i didnt like sport HD channels and +1 channels wouldnt keep me on it to be honest chad. i like HD but i'll often forget to watch HD versions of channels as i find the normal SD quality fine enough not to notice!

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Chad

If anything Sports fans with the XL package who don't watch HD or on demand have taken a proper shafting since 2007

Yeh, right. My heart bleeds for sports fans on XL!


But your premise is wrong anyway. How many posts have you seen from sports fans insisting that HD is the only way to watch sport? A lot is the answer. And if they like HD for sports, it's a safe bet that they would like HD for other non sports channels

Personally I don't watch sports, but the addition of BT sports FOC on XL was a good thing in my view, as it makes VM XL TV a very attractive proposition and will help VM add/retain customers.

We have done well with the massive increase in HD channels, so that has added value to XL. For us non-sports fans, Sky Atlantic would be the obvious addition to equal out the free premium sports on XL.

---------- Post added at 17:26 ---------- Previous post was at 17:23 ----------

Originally Posted by Chad

Notice that all the SKY exclusive on demand content is for SKY Atlantic? If Virgin and SKY are in talks for SKY Atlantic I'd imagine Virgin would also like access to the SKY Atlantic on demand content as part of the carriage deal, like all the other SKY channels they currently offer.
.

I see no reason why VM couldn't do a deal just for the channel and not include the On Demand content. That would work for me.