General : Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Personally, I think people who believe HBO shows will come to Tivo as a subscription service are deluding themselves; Sky has that tied up.

It could come as Pay per View... but that is available already, though not on Tivo. So that is a possibility to be added to Tivo. But in my view PPV prices are exorbitant.

The only other way to get HBO via Tivo is if VM finally do a deal with Sky to get Sky Atlantic. But that looks dead in the water for the foreseeable future.

I agree that the first run shows will probably be available only as PPV, but the older material could be subscription. Say, anything over about 2years old.

I'd be happy with that if talks on Sky Atlantic are not going to get anywhere after all.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Set to do some work on my blog at somepoint today I think I will go with "Channels Virgin Media may get when existing deals with the owners renew"

Nice one Media Boy

[1andrew1]

Could CSC's Pop be getting closer to a launch on VM? it's coming to Freeview this Thursday, it's already on Sky and Freesat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xezrPQshOZI

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Could CSC's Pop be getting closer to a launch on VM? it's coming to Freeview this Thursday, it's already on Sky and Freesat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xezrPQshOZI

CSC Channels first appeared on Virgin Media in October 2007 (Pop, True Movies and Tiny Pop) then an new deal was signed in February 2011 (Pop was axe so that True Entertainment launch on Virgin)

So base on 3 and a half deals the CSC deal is maybe up in October 2014.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

CSC Channels first appeared on Virgin Media in October 2007 (Pop, True Movies and Tiny Pop) then an new deal was signed in February 2011 (Pop was axe so that True Entertainment launch on Virgin)

So base on 3 and a half deals the CSC deal is maybe up in October 2014.

Thanks. Are there any other channels featuring on all the other platforms (Sky, Freesat and Freeview) but not Virgin?
Any channel which features on all three other platforms but not Virgin must be a strong candidate for "coming soon to VM in 2014".

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Thanks. Are there any other channels featuring on all the other platforms (Sky, Freesat and Freeview) but not Virgin?
Any channel which features on all three other platforms but not Virgin must be a strong candidate for "coming soon to VM in 2014".

Only one i can think of is moviemix on freeview which is known as more>movies on sky and freesat but are the exact same channel.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

Only one i can think of is moviemix on freeview which is known as more>movies on sky and freesat but are the exact same channel.

You forgot about RT (Russia Today [Technical distribution runs by Information TV]) I think it on Freesat.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I agree that the first run shows will probably be available only as PPV, but the older material could be subscription. Say, anything over about 2years old.

I'd be happy with that if talks on Sky Atlantic are not going to get anywhere after all.

your beginning to see I am right after all there OB it will not come

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Dave42

your beginning to see I am right after all there OB it will not come

I'm not saying that though, Dave. These negotiations are admittedly difficult but what I am saying is that it fits into LG's strategy to concentrate on the content rather than the linear channels that content is on.

If it is likely that they can get a deal with HBO to get their service on subscription, that would be something Virgin could consider against the possibility of paying over the odds for Sky Atlantic. Even PPV would be better than nothing and that must be possible as you can get that on other devices through HBO-Go. But given the two companies want things from each other, I did think that Sky and Virgin would have done a deal by now.

Incidentally, the only prospect of getting HBO programmes streamed would be via Sky or the HBO streaming service because Amazon/Lovefilm don't have access, even to their shows that are more than 2 years old.

http://www.techradar.com/news/intern...or-you-1058067

So VM have a choice if they want these shows for their viewers. They can:

1. Get the best price possible for Sky Atlantic, offsetting an amount against Sky's wish to flog us Sky Bravo. In other words, VM accept Sky Bravo provided Sky lower their price for Sky Atlantic.

2. See if they can persuade Sky to let us have HBO shows from Sky On Demand only, for a price that VM were prepared to pay. They could omit the first run shows for up to two years if necessary. This would enable Sky to say that Sky Atlantic is only on their platform and that first run HBO shows on subscription could be found only on Sky satellite or Now TV.

3. Talk to HBO about establishing a streaming service on Virgin Media. This is likely to omit first run shows except by PPV given the exclusivity deal they have with Sky. However, they could have the older shows on subscription with the latest shows on PPV unless Sky have the exclusive rights to all HBO material in the UK. I'm not sure if that is the case.

There are certainly other options to consider as well, such as limiting Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media to the hours of 7pm until midnight, but the various choices may be what is complicating things in these talks. LG's strategy is to bring us the biggest range of content possible from various sources, so one way or the other, I am sure that we will get access to HBO shows in the fairly near future. Even if it is pay per view only.

Health warning. This is not a prediction, it is a debate!

[bennyhill]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

You forgot about RT (Russia Today [Technical distribution runs by Information TV]) I think it on Freesat.

It is - and it's in HD too.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

You forgot about RT (Russia Today [Technical distribution runs by Information TV]) I think it on Freesat.

Originally Posted by bennyhill

It is - and it's in HD too.

I'm hearing reports that Russia Today has been removed from Freeview in London. I wonder if this has any connection with recent events? Is this removal countrywide?

Channel 5 may be floated off as opposed to sold off:

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/...ing-flotation/

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I'm hearing reports that Russia Today has been removed from Freeview in London. I wonder if this has any connection with recent events? Is this removal countrywide?

Still broadcasting in Scotland on Freeview.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I'm hearing reports that Russia Today has been removed from Freeview in London. I wonder if this has any connection with recent events? Is this removal countrywide?

You hear wrong, it's still transmitting in London. There was a problem on its YouTube channel today though. Interestingly, RT is available in the continental UPC networks (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland) but not Ireland or the UK. I suspect it will come to VM in time.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

You hear wrong, it's still transmitting in London. There was a problem on its YouTube channel today though. Interestingly, RT is available in the continental UPC networks (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland) but not Ireland or the UK. I suspect it will come to VM in time.

This isn't connected to the "technical problem" that is alleged to be the cause of the channels removal from Youtube.

More than one contact in London has said that Russia Today has been removed from Freeview.

It does seem odd that it's not on VM, but as you say, barring us getting into a war with Russia, I agree that it looks likely that it will arrive on VM.

**Update** False alarm. Viewers in London have lost RT and Al Jazeera. They must do a retune to get these channels back and to start to get BBC London radio and the London Live barker channel.

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Still broadcasting in Scotland on Freeview.

Thanks.

Just been told that The Community Channel HD looks set to join VM if talks prove satisfactory for both parties.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I'm not saying that though, Dave. These negotiations are admittedly difficult but what I am saying is that it fits into LG's strategy to concentrate on the content rather than the linear channels that content is on.

If it is likely that they can get a deal with HBO to get their service on subscription, that would be something Virgin could consider against the possibility of paying over the odds for Sky Atlantic. Even PPV would be better than nothing and that must be possible as you can get that on other devices through HBO-Go. But given the two companies want things from each other, I did think that Sky and Virgin would have done a deal by now.

Incidentally, the only prospect of getting HBO programmes streamed would be via Sky or the HBO streaming service because Amazon/Lovefilm don't have access, even to their shows that are more than 2 years old.

http://www.techradar.com/news/intern...or-you-1058067

So VM have a choice if they want these shows for their viewers. They can:

1. Get the best price possible for Sky Atlantic, offsetting an amount against Sky's wish to flog us Sky Bravo. In other words, VM accept Sky Bravo provided Sky lower their price for Sky Atlantic.

2. See if they can persuade Sky to let us have HBO shows from Sky On Demand only, for a price that VM were prepared to pay. They could omit the first run shows for up to two years if necessary. This would enable Sky to say that Sky Atlantic is only on their platform and that first run HBO shows on subscription could be found only on Sky satellite or Now TV.

3. Talk to HBO about establishing a streaming service on Virgin Media. This is likely to omit first run shows except by PPV given the exclusivity deal they have with Sky. However, they could have the older shows on subscription with the latest shows on PPV unless Sky have the exclusive rights to all HBO material in the UK. I'm not sure if that is the case.

There are certainly other options to consider as well, such as limiting Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media to the hours of 7pm until midnight, but the various choices may be what is complicating things in these talks. LG's strategy is to bring us the biggest range of content possible from various sources, so one way or the other, I am sure that we will get access to HBO shows in the fairly near future. Even if it is pay per view only.

Health warning. This is not a prediction, it is a debate!

Two amendments to my post above. Firstly of course the UK version of the HBO streaming service is HBO UK, and secondly, Amazon do have HBO programming after all.

http://www.hbouk.com/home/

It seems to me that we could get HBO material quite quickly if the will is there, but whether we can get it on subscription as opposed to pay per view or the buy option, that might be tough without Sky's co-operation.