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

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by Chad

I suppose it comes down to what you enjoy.

I pay £10.00 per month for Boxnation because I love boxing. I can understand why others would think £10.00 per month for a non-HD channel dedicated to boxing is a rip off.

For some Premier Sports coverage of Nascar and NHL is worth £9.99 per month.

I know your a big fan of the horses Den. Die hard racing fans probably think Racing UK is a must at £20.00 per month whilst other would think

The thing is, Premier Sports isn't a dedicated NHL or Nascar channel, it just happens to have those rights. You pay for Box Nation on the basis of their unspoken promise that they'll do everything they can to provide top boxing action and relevant programming. Premier's rights portfolio is too thinly spread for them to make the same offer to individual fans of any of the sports they show.

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by denphone

It seems those good old Sky customers have short memory's then.

£9.99 is just absolutely a rip off as in my mind as a more reasonable price would be around £4.99 per month.

agreed. isnt that the price for espn last season? its coverage including football and american sports on espn america is laughlingly more in depth than premier sport. they really arent helping themselves with that price

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by denphone

compared to tobacco and alcohol and many other things it certainly represents better value.

We all have different values. I'm perfectly happy to pay £20 for a decent bottle of wine, but I certainly wouldn't pay it for a TV channel.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by andy_m

The thing is, Premier Sports isn't a dedicated NHL or Nascar channel, it just happens to have those rights. You pay for Box Nation on the basis of their unspoken promise that they'll do everything they can to provide top boxing action and relevant programming. Premier's rights portfolio is too thinly spread for them to make the same offer to individual fans of any of the sports they show.

Very true.

Premier Sports has always felt like a cross between Eurosport and ESPN America.

Premier Sports have a history of grabbing one off events to help sell their channels. In the past they've grabbed the rights for Rangers, Celtic and Motherwell playing in the qualifying stages of Europe. They've also landed one of boxing events too. I have no idea what Virgin will be paying Premier Sports over the next few months however I wouldn't be surprised to see Premier Sports snapping up some decent random events.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by andy_m

The thing is, Premier Sports isn't a dedicated NHL or Nascar channel, it just happens to have those rights. You pay for Box Nation on the basis of their unspoken promise that they'll do everything they can to provide top boxing action and relevant programming. Premier's rights portfolio is too thinly spread for them to make the same offer to individual fans of any of the sports they show.

That sums up what I think about Premier Sports.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Chad

Been following a conversation on Twitter between a Virgin Media customer and Premier Sports.

Virgin Customer: "absolutely over the moon about this. We have the xl package so will we have to pay for it next year?"

Premier Sports: "at some point yes."

Virgin Customer: "any idea how much it will be?"

Premier Sports: "probably same as SKY. £9.99 p/m"

And in reply to SKY customers kicking up a fuss about being free on Virgin Media:

Premier Sports: "we were free for 3-4 months on SKY back in 2010."

Originally Posted by denphone

It seems those good old Sky customers have short memory's then.

£9.99 is just absolutely a rip off because in my mind a more reasonable price would be around £4.99 per month.

Media boy has been given information that says the price will be £7.99 a month.

It wouldn't be the first time that an outsider has more accurate information than staff of the company in question.

It looks like the improved offer that I referred to and speculated would result in a lower subscription cost has come to fruition.

This deal was done really quickly, I wouldn't be surprised if this channel is currently being carried at no cost to either party, with the finer details being sorted out later.

Also, doing it this way allows customers to "try before they buy", which might ally the fears of Premier Sport that they wouldn't get enough subscribers to make launching a standalone channel economically viable. The 20% discount compared to satellite subscriptions won't harm take up rates either.

Premier Sports are obviously hoping that the opportunity to showcase their channel will drive up subscriber numbers, but people on here don't seem to be too impressed so far.

I believe that both parties will be monitoring the performance of the channel until the end of the year before deciding upon a long term business model for the channel, so this does not rule out PS going into XL.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I believe that both parties will be monitoring the performance of the channel until the end of the year before deciding upon a long term business model for the channel, so this does not rule out PS going into XL.

I think you could be spot on

---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 21:53 ----------

Looks like the Champions League rights might cost SKY a fortune:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/m...e-worries.html

"BT lost ground earlier in the week on worries it will not recoup the £450m a year it is spending to go up against BSkyB in sports broadcasting. Yesterday, however, investors were weighing the potential damage the rivalry might inflict on Sky."

"analysts at Macquarie warned that the company should expect “fierce competition” in the forthcoming bidding process for the pay-TV rights to broadcast Champions League matches from 2015 to 2018. They estimated the price Sky will pay to secure the rights will rise 70pc, which would knock the company’s 2016 estimated earnings by 4pc."

It looks like SKY Sports might start to get really expensive in the next 12 to 24 months.

I thought breaking up football rights and giving the consumer choice was supposed to be a good thing? All I'm seeing is evidence of crazy bidding wars that's just going to push up subscription prices up over and over again.

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by Chad

I think you could be spot on

---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 21:53 ----------

Looks like the Champions League rights might cost SKY a fortune:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/m...e-worries.html

"BT lost ground earlier in the week on worries it will not recoup the £450m a year it is spending to go up against BSkyB in sports broadcasting. Yesterday, however, investors were weighing the potential damage the rivalry might inflict on Sky."

"analysts at Macquarie warned that the company should expect “fierce competition” in the forthcoming bidding process for the pay-TV rights to broadcast Champions League matches from 2015 to 2018. They estimated the price Sky will pay to secure the rights will rise 70pc, which would knock the company’s 2016 estimated earnings by 4pc."

It looks like SKY Sports might start to get really expensive in the next 12 to 24 months.

I thought breaking up football rights and giving the consumer choice was supposed to be a good thing? All I'm seeing is evidence of crazy bidding wars that's just going to push up subscription prices up over and over again.

Yes footballing rights in this country are a disgrace and one either thinks its complete incompetence by the anti competition authorities or something a bit more corrupt.

Before it was just sky sports we had to buy to see english football. The competition authorities then decided this was naughty and not good for us. Meaning most people now have to pay an extra tenner to see all of the football and sky sports have increased their prices even more so.

Well done to all involved in that. With the highest ticket prices as well people in england sure do have to spend a lot to watch football.

I wish i was german. Ten quid a ticket to go see hertha berlin

[jfman]

Competition is a good thing but right now we are not seeing true competition. We are seeing two near monopolists in different markets "compete" in markets that aren't genuinely competitive, using their massive profits and market power to pass it onto consumers rather than eat into their profit margins.

Vince raises a point above. In Germany all of the top 2 tier games are televised and therefore television competes with actual attendance - reducing prices at grounds and television isn't viewed as anti-competitive.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by andy_m

The thing is, Premier Sports isn't a dedicated NHL or Nascar channel, it just happens to have those rights. You pay for Box Nation on the basis of their unspoken promise that they'll do everything they can to provide top boxing action and relevant programming. Premier's rights portfolio is too thinly spread for them to make the same offer to individual fans of any of the sports they show.

Whilst I fully understand your point, I am not sure if I agree entirely andy. Having scooted through the Premier Sports listings, it appears that they have a bit more content for NHL and NASCAR than just the games/races. They show a nightly show dedicated to NHL also, as well a pre-show for NASCAR.

Their listings are rather skewed at the moment too, because they are currently filled with RLWC fixtures and highlights.

On another note, I do not see how BT Sports can be seen any differently. There is very little to nothing extra (other than live programming) for tennis, rugby, baseball or Australian and/or MLS football fans. Even when had a bit T20 cricket, there was nothing but live games and highlights. They seem to want to pile their schedule with additional Premier League and european football companion pieces.

---------- Post added at 22:52 ---------- Previous post was at 22:41 ----------

Originally Posted by Chad

I think you could be spot on

---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 21:53 ----------

Looks like the Champions League rights might cost SKY a fortune:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/m...e-worries.html

"BT lost ground earlier in the week on worries it will not recoup the £450m a year it is spending to go up against BSkyB in sports broadcasting. Yesterday, however, investors were weighing the potential damage the rivalry might inflict on Sky."

"analysts at Macquarie warned that the company should expect “fierce competition” in the forthcoming bidding process for the pay-TV rights to broadcast Champions League matches from 2015 to 2018. They estimated the price Sky will pay to secure the rights will rise 70pc, which would knock the company’s 2016 estimated earnings by 4pc."

It looks like SKY Sports might start to get really expensive in the next 12 to 24 months.

I thought breaking up football rights and giving the consumer choice was supposed to be a good thing? All I'm seeing is evidence of crazy bidding wars that's just going to push up subscription prices up over and over again.

Consumers do have a choice though Chad. You can choose between two suppliers of PL football currently. People simply choose to pay the extra charges for Sky Sports.

I have no sympathy for those who pay.

I love my Cricket, and will happily watch Golf for the better part of a day if I can, but I will not pay the price Sky want to charge.

I know my next point has been made many times before, but it is always relevant. People can exercise some consumer rights, make a choice and simply cancel Sky Sports. It is the only way the price will come down.

[jimbo2]

BBC3 HD AND CBBC HD

Does anyone have a date yet for BBC3 HD/CBBC HD? It has been reported elsewhere that they are supposed to be on Virgin by or from 10 December.

I cannot get confirmation of this so if anyone knows, please can you let us know?

Also, any dates for BBC4 HD/CBeebies HD and BBC News HD?

Can anyone confirm if and when Red Button HD (channel 994) is going off? It has been suggested that this will stop after Doctor Who 3D on 23 November - but again - no confirmation yet.

Can anyone please shed some light on any of these changes? Thanks.

[ocav]

Originally Posted by jimbo2

BBC3 HD AND CBBC HD

Does anyone have a date yet for BBC3 HD/CBBC HD? It has been reported elsewhere that they are supposed to be on Virgin by or from 10 December.

I cannot get confirmation of this so if anyone knows, please can you let us know?

Also, any dates for BBC4 HD/CBeebies HD and BBC News HD?

Can anyone confirm if and when Red Button HD (channel 994) is going off? It has been suggested that this will stop after Doctor Who 3D on 23 November - but again - no confirmation yet.

Can anyone please shed some light on any of these changes? Thanks.

Nothing is confirmed.

But rumours about the Red Button HD closure are very likely to be true, after Doctor Who there is no more content this side of Christmas scheduled for this, and the service will have to be removed from Freeview for the launch of BBC Three HD.

BBC Four, Cbeebies and News HD will very likely be later than BBC Three and CBBC HD as a new Freeview MUX will have to be launched (I know we are talking about Virgin Media but the BBC has to launch on all platforms at once)

[Mikey1981]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

Yes footballing rights in this country are a disgrace and one either thinks its complete incompetence by the anti competition authorities or something a bit more corrupt.

Before it was just sky sports we had to buy to see english football. The competition authorities then decided this was naughty and not good for us. Meaning most people now have to pay an extra tenner to see all of the football and sky sports have increased their prices even more so.

Well done to all involved in that. With the highest ticket prices as well people in england sure do have to spend a lot to watch football.

I wish i was german. Ten quid a ticket to go see hertha berlin

I go to watch Hertha Berlin a few times a year, over there now in Munich to watch them play Bayern tomorrow, over there absolutely every game is shown on skybundesliga live.

[ncfc1902]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

I wish i was german. Ten quid a ticket to go see hertha berlin

Do they charge non Germans more then?

[RichardCoulter]

Just checked the picture quality on Premier Sports for myself.

It seems ok to me, I wonder if it just seems poor to some people because, when flicking through, one goes from BT Sport 2 HD to Premier Sports??