General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

Aye but maybe it's demand MB? I can't see people having pestered virgin media to launch sky arts as much as they will over sky sports news hd and sport in hd... That could be the most ignorant comment I've ever made mind haha!

Until I get info from my insiders I cant add anymore to what I posted last night.

[piquet41]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Well:

-June 2010: Virgin Media signs new deal with Sky and sell Virgin Media Television to BSkyB.
-August 2nd 2010: Sky Movies HD (Bar Sky Movies Classic) and Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 2 HD launch on Virgin Media.
-October 1st 2010: Sky1 HD launches on Virgin Media.
-April 26th 2011: Sky Arts 1 HD and Sky Arts 2 HD launches on Virgin Media.

---------- Post added at 13:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:16 ----------



Also on Virgin Media.com

http://about.virginmedia.com/press-r...tion-agreement

If you use the dates above and substitute 2010 for 2014 I think you will have a realistic time frame of these new channels launching.

[Richc1977]

It's pretty clear to me that VM have released the news now about SKY channels despite a long lead time for launch. I see two reasons:-

1. The impact on the valuation of VM stock (far more important than the impact on VM forum members - remember the average member of the public are not as obsessive as us about VM channel launches, yet investors are)

2. Customer Retention - If customers call up to cancel saying they wish to move to Sky due to HD sport they can at least say these are definitely coming to VM in the future.

The first point I think is the key. I'm sure if VM could launch them now they would, I imagine sky are holding off as long as possible.

[RichardCoulter]

For various reasons, I was amazed that Sky Atlantic was not included in the announcement.

After doing some digging, a little birdie tells me that, apparently, Sky Atlantic was not included in the new carriage deal as Sky are still insisting on the £1.12 per month per subscriber for it.

LG/VM are not prepared to pay this, so it's still stalemate.

[Media Boy UK]

UPDATE:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

In other news:

-My source says June has been earmarked for something, they don't know what yet though.

My source thinks The missing Disney HD Channels may launch in June.

-Virgin Media are in talks with an yet not named USA Broadcaster.

My source has told me today that it was Turner, in order to get TRUtv onto the Virgin Media platform*.

*No information was given on if Virgin can broadcast TRUtv from launch.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Richc1977

It's pretty clear to me that VM have released the news now about SKY channels despite a long lead time for launch. I see two reasons:-

1. The impact on the valuation of VM stock (far more important than the impact on VM forum members - remember the average member of the public are not as obsessive as us about VM channel launches, yet investors are)

2. Customer Retention - If customers call up to cancel saying they wish to move to Sky due to HD sport they can at least say these are definitely coming to VM in the future.

The first point I think is the key. I'm sure if VM could launch them now they would, I imagine sky are holding off as long as possible.

Or maybe VM are happy to take them from when most people want the Sky Sports channels (many customers cancel over the summer) and thus save some money on carriage costs? As you say, any unhappy customers can be appeased by point 2 and the SD versions are still available.

In a way, this was one of the reasons why there was no rush for VM to get BT Sport from day one.

[heavyside]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

For various reasons, I was amazed that Sky Atlantic was not included in the announcement.

After doing some digging, a little birdie tells me that, apparently, Sky Atlantic was not included in the new carriage deal as Sky are still insisting on the £1.12 per month per subscriber for it.

LG/VM are not prepared to pay this, so it's still stalemate.

Speaking personally, and considering what I already pay Virgin Media monthly as a VIP 120 customer, that figure doesn't seem outrageous for a channel many of us want. I suspect others will disagree.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by heavyside

Speaking personally, and considering what I already pay Virgin Media monthly as a VIP 120 customer, that figure doesn't seem outrageous for a channel many of us want. I suspect others will disagree.

Given that our next price rise is likely to be £3 or £4 then it does not seem that much but one suspects Sky are asking much more then the amount mentioned.

[BenMcr]

If it were to be included in any of the core TV packages, then it would be per subscriber to those packages, rather than those who want it within those subscriptions

So I can see Virgin Media would be looking at the current viewing figures that it gets out of Sky's own subscriber base and extrapolating that into VM's TV base.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by denphone

Given that our next price rise is likely to be £3 or £4 then it does not seem that much but one suspects Sky are asking much more then the amount mentioned.

At first glance, it does sound like they are arguing over pennies, but multiply this recurring monthly cost by the number of VM subscribers who would be entitled to this channel (M+ and above??) and it soon adds up to a considerable sum.

Also, bear in mind that most channel operators only receive pennies per subscriber per month from VM (and some receive nothing or even pay to be on the platform).

Despite this, many need these aggregated pennies to survive as they could not survive on advertising alone. The closure of Current TV is an example of this and Sky obtain much more revenue from subscriptions than they do through advertising.

Edit 1: Also, bear in mind that VM has to charge their customers VAT, so any charges are inflated by 20%.

Edit 2: Forgot to say, I also asked about Baby TV going from standalone to XL. This is the second time that this rumour has been mooted, again no-one has heard anything about this.

[Richc1977]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Or maybe VM are happy to take them from when most people want the Sky Sports channels (many customers cancel over the summer) and thus save some money on carriage costs? As you say, any unhappy customers can be appeased by point 2 and the SD versions are still available.

In a way, this was one of the reasons why there was no rush for VM to get BT Sport from day one.

I don't quite agree with all of this. If all you are interested in Premier League football hence canceling in the summer then you'll probably only be interested in SS1 & SS2 any as it's not on the other channels.

The main draw over summer is cricket, F1, tennis and golf. Aside from cricket (which is pretty much exclusive now to SS2) if you follow these sports you are the target market for SS3 & SS4 in the summer months.

It would favour VM to have these channels now which is why I doubt it is VMs pref to delay.

However I note VM are offering the whole collection for half price for 3 months at the month. Does does throw out a few questions. Maybe SKY support which promotional pricing to VM in order to mutually get in more business but retain HD to have a USP this summer. They did it last year and I assume that was in the run up to BT sport launching in order ti take away momentum.

[Bananaman_007]

Could VM not add Atlantic as a premium option like movies or sports? Then those that want it can have it and fund it and those that don't don't have to pay for it.It will be a win win, Sky get the money from VM subscribers and VM get to offer the channel to its customers.

[blue666666]

So by September what new channels can i expect we known sport HD and news HD ones but others like Disney, sky 3D history HD ci HD ect.(yes I know it will be a guess)

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by Bananaman_007

Could VM not add Atlantic as a premium option like movies or sports? Then those that want it can have it and fund it and those that don't don't have to pay for it.It will be a win win, Sky get the money from VM subscribers and VM get to offer the channel to its customers.

why would anyone pay a premium for a basic channel

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Dave42

why would anyone pay a premium for a basic channel

But Sky class Sky Atlantic as a premium channel Dave.