General : Coming soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 6.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Lovefilm with blueray rental and the included streaming is a very good option in my view. I had the £9.99 2 blueray discs at home for quite a while. It offers a good compromise of access to new movies along with a whole bunch of other content to stream, and at a price cheaper than Sky movies.

I stopped subscribing because I watch more US TV drama than films, and Netflix, coupled with a smart DNS for a similar price (£9.30) served my tastes better.

I still like to watch films, but I don't mind if I have to wait a while to see them. I actually signed up to the Now TV movies at a 6 month offer price of £2.50p/m, just to watch more recent films and only watched about one a month. I also found that quite a few turned up on various Netflix regions anyway.

I don't see a problem with the different services; it's good that we have the various options. Sky movies will be the right fit for some people, Lovefilm Blueray rental for others and Netflix/Loveilm streaming for another person, or indeed, any combination of them all.

I don't recall saying I did see a problem with various service. Yup, I do agree though, variety is the spice of life gives many people many options. Sky movies/ Now TV movies is a great service for people who simply want to watch movies (preferably premieres) without caring for the extras.

[howardmicks]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

You're in for a treat soon bud HULU is looking into 3D content too and could start showing 3D programmes from early next year , just use you vpn to access it

Nice to hear bud thanx for the info

[steveh]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

I have a sneaky feeling VM are upto something , a high up member of staff has told yesterday me Lovefilm may be coming to vm too.

Does anyone else feel that TV On-Demand is having less expended on it lately? Now it seems to be mostly a catch-up for pay channels plus a very limited amount of "box-set" content each month along with stuff you can get free on 4oD. This did make me wonder if they were considering phasing it out for independent on-demand providers, possibly bundled with a package.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by steveh

Does anyone else feel that TV On-Demand is having less expended on it lately? Now it seems to be mostly a catch-up for pay channels plus a very limited amount of "box-set" content each month along with stuff you can get free on 4oD. This did make me wonder if they were considering phasing it out for independent on-demand providers, possibly bundled with a package.

I'm not 100% on this i think it's to do with Sky throwing their money around and buying up the rights, tbh i rarely use OD on VM i use the od on Sky more.

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by howardmicks

And don't forget about Netflix USA which for people with 3d TV (me ) they have 3d movies on also

And which, strictly speaking, is not 'legal' to view in the UK.

Not an option for the vast majority, and no doubt if enough people do find ways to do so, 'they' will find ways to stop it - just like the torrents.

I think the mods may need to keep a close eye on this - it's one thing to say "isn't it a pity you can't see XYZ on UK Netflix", yet another to discuss ways to get around it.

I'm not pointing a finger at this particular poster, who is no doubt discussing the issue in a purely hypothetical way.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

And which, strictly speaking, is not 'legal' to view in the UK.

Not an option for the vast majority, and no doubt if enough people do find ways to do so, 'they' will find ways to stop it - just like the torrents.

I think the mods may need to keep a close eye on this - it's one thing to say "isn't it a pity you can't see XYZ on UK Netflix", yet another to discuss ways to get around it.

I'm not pointing a finger at this particular poster, who is no doubt discussing the issue in a purely hypothetical way.

When did VPN services become illegal?

I use several well respected forums alongside this one that are very strict on preventing discussion on piracy, and non of them have a problem discussing VPNs regarding Netflix.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

And which, strictly speaking, is not 'legal' to view in the UK.

Not an option for the vast majority, and no doubt if enough people do find ways to do so, 'they' will find ways to stop it - just like the torrents.

I think the mods may need to keep a close eye on this - it's one thing to say "isn't it a pity you can't see XYZ on UK Netflix", yet another to discuss ways to get around it.

I'm not pointing a finger at this particular poster, who is no doubt discussing the issue in a purely hypothetical way.

Do not use the DNS or VPN things myself, but they are not illegal. As I understand it, it is not illegal to watch the netflix content from the abroad, it is just a possible breach of the terms and conditions. I think the worst result of gaining content access this way would be to have the users account cancelled.

You could ask if the practice is immoral (I am not, people are paying Netflix etc, for the services after all) but as I understand it, it is not illegal.

Will be happy to be shown wrong where I am wrong in my thought process.

[joff81]

I know what's coming soon for me and that's a £5.50 price increase starting February 2014.

I wouldn't care so much but I don't subscribe to Sky's premium channels and don't watch BT sports as all it shows is football and rugby which I cant stand !!!

So the missing channels better show up soon or I will be looking else where as a £5.50 increase is pretty big (nearly 10% of my total monthly bill).

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

Do not use the DNS or VPN things myself, but they are not illegal. As I understand it, it is not illegal to watch the netflix content from the abroad, it is just a possible breach of the terms and conditions. I think the worst result of gaining content access this way would be to have the users account cancelled.

You could ask if the practice is immoral (I am not, people are paying Netflix etc, for the services after all) but as I understand it, it is not illegal.

Will be happy to be shown wrong where I am wrong in my thought process.

Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990?

The Netflix T&C are primarily there to cover their backs in case the rights owners come after them.

Certain content is not available in the UK because exclusive rights have been sold to other parties, e.g. Sky. The subscription you pay Netflix in the UK reflects that content set.

The price Sky etc. pay rights holders reflects that exclusivity, in expectation of income from subscriptions. People accessing that material by misrepresenting their location deprive them of that income and are surely just as guilty of 'piracy' as downloading it from torrents.

Rights holders are big companies and big money is involved. Just because they have not hitherto pursued this issue does not mean they will not do so, particularly if they see their business interests threatened.

---------- Post added at 14:50 ---------- Previous post was at 14:18 ----------

Originally Posted by passingbat

When did VPN services become illegal?

VPN's are not illegal, and there are no doubt many legitimate uses for them.

However. using them for "unauthorised" access to "data held in any computer, or to enable any such access to be secured" probably IS an offence under the CMA 1990. The Netflix T&C presumably make it quite clear what is and is not 'authorised'.

[ocav]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990?

The Netflix T&C are primarily there to cover their backs in case the rights owners come after them.

Certain content is not available in the UK because exclusive rights have been sold to other parties, e.g. Sky. The subscription you pay Netflix in the UK reflects that content set.

The price Sky etc. pay rights holders reflects that exclusivity, in expectation of income from subscriptions. People accessing that material by misrepresenting their location deprive them of that income and are surely just as guilty of 'piracy' as downloading it from torrents.

Rights holders are big companies and big money is involved. Just because they have not hitherto pursued this issue does not mean they will not do so, particularly if they see their business interests threatened.

---------- Post added at 14:50 ---------- Previous post was at 14:18 ----------



VPN's are not illegal, and there are no doubt many legitimate uses for them.

However. using them for "unauthorised" access to "data held in any computer, or to enable any such access to be secured" probably IS an offence under the CMA 1990. The Netflix T&C presumably make it quite clear what is and is not 'authorised'.

Its not illegal and not against CMA.

Netflix protect the rights holder by Geo-Blocking the content and therefore fill their half of the bargain.

If someone uses a filter to gain access to the content by fooling the website into thinking it is somewhere else is again not against anything. The price of Netflix is the same regardless of where you access it, therefore you are paying for the access to the content and the rights holders are getting their monies.

If Netflix really didnt like VPNs then they wouldn't allow people to sign into US Netflix with their UK account.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990?

The Netflix T&C are primarily there to cover their backs in case the rights owners come after them.

Certain content is not available in the UK because exclusive rights have been sold to other parties, e.g. Sky. The subscription you pay Netflix in the UK reflects that content set.

The price Sky etc. pay rights holders reflects that exclusivity, in expectation of income from subscriptions. People accessing that material by misrepresenting their location deprive them of that income and are surely just as guilty of 'piracy' as downloading it from torrents.

Rights holders are big companies and big money is involved. Just because they have not hitherto pursued this issue does not mean they will not do so, particularly if they see their business interests threatened.

Fair enough Gunslinger, I was not aware of that act. It is certainly interesting reading. This issue (even before reading that Act) has always been too grey an area for me and is the main reason I do not want to use the DNS VPN things.

The fact people are paying for the content is where, for me, it stops becoming "piracy."

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

And which, strictly speaking, is not 'legal' to view in the UK.

Not an option for the vast majority, and no doubt if enough people do find ways to do so, 'they' will find ways to stop it - just like the torrents.

I think the mods may need to keep a close eye on this - it's one thing to say "isn't it a pity you can't see XYZ on UK Netflix", yet another to discuss ways to get around it.

I'm not pointing a finger at this particular poster, who is no doubt discussing the issue in a purely hypothetical way.

VPNS , SMart dns are perfectly legal , buisnesses have been using them for years.

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by joff81

I know what's coming soon for me and that's a £5.50 price increase starting February 2014.

I wouldn't care so much but I don't subscribe to Sky's premium channels and don't watch BT sports as all it shows is football and rugby which I cant stand !!!

So the missing channels better show up soon or I will be looking else where as a £5.50 increase is pretty big (nearly 10% of my total monthly bill).

Just had my increase, same as yours. I had a £2 increase last year and got an £11 loyalty discount when i questioned it, so I'm still ahead, but even so, it's a steep rise.

I've just done the usual round of comparisons. I actually do make use of ESPN, and to a lesser extent BT Sport, and I also have free multi room. Sky were already more expensive for me before I'd even added the cost of those extras, and BT don't appear to offer multi room or the Sky basic channels (unless someone can tell me otherwise). The Talk Talk website was playing up, which i think on reflection I'm pleased about!

That said I was reasonably impressed with BT's offer, and infinity has finally arrived in my area. It's the same price I'm paying now, with a rise due in the new year, but I'm going to swallow the Virgin price rise for now rather than attempt to re-contract for a further discount, and keep an eye on the Sky channels situation at BT. If they get them at minimal extra cost I might be off. For now I think the offer from Virgin is competitive and I'm making use of what I get for the money I pay them.

[vincerooney]

My bill has gone up 4.99. It's getting too much now looking at the last few years. Virgin are relentlessly increasing the bills. I pay some of the bill and house keeping and rent to my mum. But she's now wanting to reduce our package. It's getting too much. VM seem hell bent on putting the bills up every 6 months by significant amounts.

They could aggressively attack sky at the moment with the tivo box, faster internet and free BT Sports in XL. But they seem obsessed with trying to throw away their advantages.

Unless something huge comes up which they launch i can't argue with my mum when she says our bills have gone up by 9 quid in 12 months. Its too much.

[Khenryashley]

Originally Posted by howardmicks

And don't forget about Netflix USA which for people with 3d TV (me ) they have 3d movies on also

Just gone through nearly all Netfix USA films. Can't find any 3d movies.
Am I missing something.