General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2015)

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

In gimmicks and broadband yes not content whereas you have say for example BT who are investing heavily both in broadband and content.

Guess it's just one of those things you win some you lose some i really hope VM does become the great content provider it once was but it is being left behind by the likes of Sky and BT.

LGI is currently evaluating whether it is worth being a content provider. There was an interesting article in the FT (paywalled) which I summarised here. http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...-telecoms.html
One element of their analysis is that it is better to own the infrastructure than the content as you don't own the content and have to bid for it regularly. In contrast, the infrastructure is yours permanently.

---------- Post added at 21:29 ---------- Previous post was at 21:22 ----------

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

LG have just sold five of their film channels:

http://www.rapidtvnews.com/201503283...#axzz3WAGDRief

Their business model doesn't appear to be content led.

LGI had to sell the channels as a condition of acquiring Ziggo.

---------- Post added at 21:35 ---------- Previous post was at 21:29 ----------

Originally Posted by Anypermitedroute

He who has content to provide holds more power at the bargaining table.

To quote Charlie Bracken, LGI's CFO, it remained to be seen who benefited from the demand for content. “Is it going to be Wayne Rooney, programme producers, Hollywood . . . or is it going to be an equitable share?” he said. “If we bet the ranch [on content], we’re changing the risk profile of the business.”
Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a20527f4-c...#axzz3WBasJfrY (registration needed)

[muppetman11]

A CFO who's wrote off all the competition.........shock horror

[Superblade7]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

It's only my opinion but i think VM made a huge mistake selling their channels Bravo, virgin1, living and challenge was there any others?
As i think these were a huge bargaining chip for them.

Also one thing i love about this forum you can have a decent discussion without being called a fanboy

I'm with you on that theone. I'd also agree that it's great to have open and fair discussion, I've had experience of Sky, VM and BT in my time and all have their good and bad points and it's good to hear different people's experiences of these on here.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

LGI is currently evaluating whether it is worth being a content provider. There was an interesting article in the FT (paywalled) which I summarised here. http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...-telecoms.html
One element of their analysis is that it is better to own the infrastructure than the content as you don't own the content and have to bid for it regularly. In contrast, the infrastructure is yours permanently.[COLOR="Silver"]

I'd agree with Anypermitedroute and consider that content is king. You can have the most fantastic platform in the world but if the content is not there, people will look elsewhere. VM are now at the mercy of Sky and BT as if both decided to pull their channels from VM then VM TV would be crushed. It's unlikely to happen as VM generate revenue for both but it's just something to bear in mind if Sky and BT ever decided to collude to get rid of a competitor.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Superblade7

VM are now at the mercy of Sky and BT as if both decided to pull their channels from VM then VM TV would be crushed. It's unlikely to happen as VM generate revenue for both but it's just something to bear in mind if Sky and BT ever decided to collude to get rid of a competitor.

Sky and BT would not be allowed to collude by the Competition and Markets Authority so that won't happen. VM's argument is that its channels like Bravo did not win it subscribers, so investing the money instead on buying Smallworld and laying cable wins them more customers.
In the future, with Netflix and Amazon fighting aggressively for content against Sky, owning a great broadband network might just be the wiser choice. In LGI's eyes.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Sky and BT would not be allowed to collude by the Competition and Markets Authority so that won't happen. VM's argument is that its channels like Bravo did not win it subscribers, so investing the money instead on buying Smallworld and laying cable wins them more customers.
In the future, with Netflix and Amazon fighting aggressively for content against Sky, owning a great broadband network might just be the wiser choice. In LGI's eyes.

They hope it wins them more customers as comparing prices VM are quite expensive they boast about fastest download speeds but their upload is rubbish.
Example vm 50mb with 5mb upload broadband + evening and weekend calls = £39.09p/m the same with plusnet but with upto 78mbs broadband and upto 20mbs upload and sites are not blocked = £36.98p.
VM aren't as cheap as they make themselves out to be.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

They hope it wins them more customers

Agree with your other points but Virgin's done its research and knows that enough people will sign up to make the expansion worthwhile. Not only is VM convinced by the research but it's also convinced its lenders as they're coughing up the money to finance the expansion.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Agree with your other points but Virgin's done its research and knows that enough people will sign up to make the expansion worthwhile. Not only is VM convinced by the research but it's also convinced its lenders as they're coughing up the money to finance the expansion.

Hope so mate as i might despise vm at the moment but i'd hate to see them getting into trouble as last thing we need are more job losses. Good luck to vm i say and fair play for getting off their backside and expanding too.

[Superblade7]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Sky and BT would not be allowed to collude by the Competition and Markets Authority so that won't happen. VM's argument is that its channels like Bravo did not win it subscribers, so investing the money instead on buying Smallworld and laying cable wins them more customers.
In the future, with Netflix and Amazon fighting aggressively for content against Sky, owning a great broadband network might just be the wiser choice. In LGI's eyes.

Collude was probably the wrong word to use as they'd never admit that nor would the CMA ever be able to prove it. The point I was making is that VM TV is at the mercy of content providers as if some of the major content owners decided to withdraw from VM, what would be left? Didn't one of the VM CEOs once say something along the lines of "their aim was to be a content provider not owner" so you are right Andrew, this is their aim.

I would agree that investment in their infrastructure is a wise move as going forward a decent broadband network will be a good seller but they need to invest in making it reliable too. I think Vince pointed out in a previous post that many areas have over-utilisation which they take ages to fix whilst at the same time continue willy waving by doubling broadband speeds. This may end up losing them custom as people will become frustrated at paying for whatever headline speed but only getting say 10% of that speed.

Originally Posted by theone2k10

They hope it wins them more customers as comparing prices VM are quite expensive they boast about fastest download speeds but their upload is rubbish.
Example vm 50mb with 5mb upload broadband + evening and weekend calls = £39.09p/m the same with plusnet but with upto 78mbs broadband and upto 20mbs upload and sites are not blocked = £36.98p.
VM aren't as cheap as they make themselves out to be.

This is another battle for VM as for the first time, many people are now going to have a choice of fibre broadband providers.

Just going back to the thread title, does anyone know if 3G/4G streaming is coming soon or even planned for TV Anywhere? I think this is another trick that VM are missing as all other content providers allow this.

I also find it interesting that VM have just extended their deal with TiVo as I too would have thought LGI would have wanted to have Horizon boxes across all their offerings. Shows that TiVo has been a good selling point for VM I guess.

[Media Boy UK]

The few weeks ago Media Boy HQ was told by an Virgin Media Source that Nat Geo Wild HD was set to launch in April but we have since been given new info from an other Virgin Source that says "No new channels set to launch before June 2015."

[denphone]

Oh dear that's not going to please the baying mob.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by denphone

Oh dear that's not going to please the baying mob.

I know that but I did not posters to think I do not report bad news from Virgin Sources.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

The few weeks ago Media Boy HQ was told by an Virgin Media Source that Nat Geo Wild HD was set to launch in April but we have since been given new info from an other Virgin Source that says "No new channels set to launch before June 2015."

It's launching this month as far as i'm aware.

Regarding VM getting new channels and content https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9I4nZx8UCs

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Superblade7

I also find it interesting that VM have just extended their deal with TiVo as I too would have thought LGI would have wanted to have Horizon boxes across all their offerings. Shows that TiVo has been a good selling point for VM I guess.

That is surprising; I thought that they would drop TiVo in favour of their Horizon box and the associated cost savings.

Originally Posted by Media Boy

The few weeks ago Media Boy HQ was told by an Virgin Media Source that Nat Geo Wild HD was set to launch in April but we have since been given new info from an other Virgin Source that says "No new channels set to launch before June 2015."

Seems odd to be testing it so soon.

[Media Boy UK]

Channel been removed from "Total Channels".

Virgin Media has remove an channel from "Total Channels" Media Boy HQ has work out Picturebox has been removed from Virgin on Demand.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

That is surprising; I thought that they would drop TiVo in favour of their Horizon box and the associated cost savings.

Tivo has been a very successful USP for VM, so why change it?

Does anyone have a link to confirm the Tivo contract renewal?