General : Virgin TV (2026)

[gunner45]

Originally Posted by japitts

I was actually more concerned with the package being manually keyed in after the "cut-off", but all the PDFs were generated as part of the process, downloaded & screenshotted at every stage, and all dated correctly.

On the whole TV360 vs V6 point, I still can't help but think something's wrong when a new product has to be forced/encouraged (use whichever word you prefer) rather than selling itself. This isn't a VM-specific thing though, Microsoft have the same issue with Windows 10 vs Windows 11.

The issue is strategic: the Horizon 4 platform is the only one which enables VM to deliver IPTV, and this is unstoppable. As the V6 is based on TiVo, it has to be replaced by the TV 360 or Stream.

---------- Post added at 17:22 ---------- Previous post was at 17:00 ----------

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It’s human nature. I know several people who refused to switch from analogue to digital back in the day. Some people just don’t want to change to anything new.

Anyone who wanted TV but refused to switch only made life more difficult for themselves. All you had to do was buy a Freeview box for £20 to £30 (or £40 for the box plus installation and support), and in some cases it was free for eligible older or disabled people.

In the case of VM, the V6 will be retired but you are offered a migration to the TV 360 at no cost, and with no tech visit needed. It beggars belief that anyone will reject that if they still want Pay TV.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by gunner45

The issue is strategic: the Horizon 4 platform is the only one which enables VM to deliver IPTV, and this is unstoppable. As the V6 is based on TiVo, it has to be replaced by the TV 360 or Stream.

---------- Post added at 17:22 ---------- Previous post was at 17:00 ----------


Anyone who wanted TV but refused to switch only made life more difficult for themselves. All you had to do was buy a Freeview box for £20 to £30 (or £40 for the box plus installation and support), and in some cases it was free for eligible older or disabled people.

In the case of VM, the V6 will be retired but you are offered a migration to the TV 360 at no cost, and with no tech visit needed. It beggars belief that anyone will reject that if they still want Pay TV.

For the umpteenth time, it is inferior to the TiVo V6 as 360 is missing so many features.

This is why most, including myself, will keep the V6 for as long as possible. Yes, the day will come when the V6 is discontinued (reports of anytime between July & December 2027) and people will then have to decide whether to accept it or dump Virgin.

[SonicMaster]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

For the umpteenth time, it is inferior to the TiVo V6 as 360 is missing so many features.

This is why most, including myself, will keep the V6 for as long as possible. Yes, the day will come when the V6 is discontinued (reports of anytime between July & December 2027) and people will then have to decide whether to accept it or dump Virgin.

This rhetoric is very tiresome...

Claiming that your opinion represents the opinion of most other customers is ridiculous. It is your opinion and you are entitled to that, but plenty of others are perfectly happy with the V6 and all the benefits it brings.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

This rhetoric is very tiresome...

Claiming that your opinion represents the opinion of most other customers is ridiculous. It is your opinion and you are entitled to that, but plenty of others are perfectly happy with the V6 and all the benefits it brings.

The majority of customers(2m of them) are still with V6/TiVo. If the V6 is to be discontinued, then those 2 million and the others with V6/TV360 will have to be replaced. Even merely changing the V6/TiVo to V6/TV360 would involve replacing 2m remotes.
My concerns with TV360 are related to recording and playback. Pretty basic areas of functionality.

[OLD BOY]

[B][/B]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

For the umpteenth time, it is inferior to the TiVo V6 as 360 is missing so many features.

This is why most, including myself, will keep the V6 for as long as possible. Yes, the day will come when the V6 is discontinued (reports of anytime between July & December 2027) and people will then have to decide whether to accept it or dump Virgin.

It’s missing TiVo features. The 360 is a different box with its own features.

You like the TiVo, we get that, but many people disagree with you when you say that the 360 is a ‘downgrade’. You may think that, because of the way you use the TiVo, and some on this very Forum agree. However, I don’t believe the majority of people are that bothered, because they like the voice controls, profiles, the look and appearance of the UI, the simpler menu, and so on.

Have you contemplated getting a TiVo television? That might be the best solution for you when the TiVo is discontinued on Virgin.

[Taz2k]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

[B][/B]

It’s missing TiVo features. The 360 is a different box with its own features.

You like the TiVo, we get that, but many people disagree with you when you say that the 360 is a ‘downgrade’. You may think that, because of the way you use the TiVo, and some on this very Forum agree. However, I don’t believe the majority of people are that bothered, because they like the voice controls, profiles, the look and appearance of the UI, the simpler menu, and so on.

Have you contemplated getting a TiVo television? That might be the best solution for you when the TiVo is discontinued on Virgin.

Great advice. Would you also tell someone with a broken Samsung TV that their best option could be to replace it with a Samsung fridge?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by nomadking

The majority of customers(2m of them) are still with V6/TiVo. If the V6 is to be discontinued, then those 2 million and the others with V6/TV360 will have to be replaced. Even merely changing the V6/TiVo to V6/TV360 would involve replacing 2m remotes.
My concerns with TV360 are related to recording and playback. Pretty basic areas of functionality.

Interesting. What is wrong with recording and playback on the 360? I haven’t noticed any problems with recordings at all.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Interesting. What is wrong with recording and playback on the 360? I haven’t noticed any problems with recordings at all.

Eg Viewing a recording that is still recording. IIRC only the last 5 minutes is viewable or to restart from the beginning, ie can't watch 1st 30 mins, stop and resume at the 30 min point. IIRC(with VM forums not available) the TiVo patented things are related to recording and playback. With quickview I can watch a TV programme in a fraction of the time while using subtitles(which I would use anyway). Basic stuff that is available everywhere else.

[gunner45]

Originally Posted by nomadking

The majority of customers(2m of them) are still with V6/TiVo. If the V6 is to be discontinued, then those 2 million and the others with V6/TV360 will have to be replaced. Even merely changing the V6/TiVo to V6/TV360 would involve replacing 2m remotes.
My concerns with TV360 are related to recording and playback. Pretty basic areas of functionality.

There are 1.5m TV 360s out there and almost all new customers are issued with Streams (on XGS-PON it's only Streams). The TiVos (only a few remain) and V6s are being actively phased out due, I think, to the licence for TiVo expiring in 2027.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by gunner45

There are 1.5m TV 360s out there and almost all new customers are issued with Streams (on XGS-PON it's only Streams). The TiVos (only a few remain) and V6s are being actively phased out due, I think, to the licence for TiVo expiring in 2027.

The official figures when Sky Atlantic was made available to VM, was 3m customers, 2m still with V6/TiVo and unable to get Sky Atlantic. V6s can be changed to use TV360, so no need to phase out the 2m of them.

[SonicMaster]

Originally Posted by nomadking

The official figures when Sky Atlantic was made available to VM, was 3m customers, 2m still with V6/TiVo and unable to get Sky Atlantic. V6s can be changed to use TV360, so no need to phase out the 2m of them.

If there are now 1.5m 360s out there, that suggests that since Sky Atlantic coming to VM was announced, another half a million have made the switch.

So 1.5m with 360 and up to 1.5m with V6/TiVo, less if the 3m total TV customers includes Stream.

Even to upgrade the remaining V6 that's a huge number of new remotes needed so, I think the phased transition makes a lot of sense.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

If there are now 1.5m 360s out there, that suggests that since Sky Atlantic coming to VM was announced, another half a million have made the switch.

So 1.5m with 360 and up to 1.5m with V6/TiVo, less if the 3m total TV customers includes Stream.

Even to upgrade the remaining V6 that's a huge number of new remotes needed so, I think the phased transition makes a lot of sense.

500,000 changed in past 5 months?
Still doesn't answer the questions over the lack of basic recording and playback functionality.

[Itshim]

When the time comes hopefully some of the moans expressed by refuseniks will have been addressed. Not a fan of voice control , have it on my TVs and I never use it. Watched Atlantic via TV go. Not bothered if I ever saw it again , based on current offerings . Main bug is settling up every.thing again , however that's the case what ever choice I make. A bribe would work well !

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

[B][/B]

It’s missing TiVo features. The 360 is a different box with its own features.

You like the TiVo, we get that, but many people disagree with you when you say that the 360 is a ‘downgrade’. You may think that, because of the way you use the TiVo, and some on this very Forum agree. However, I don’t believe the majority of people are that bothered, because they like the voice controls, profiles, the look and appearance of the UI, the simpler menu, and so on.

Have you contemplated getting a TiVo television? That might be the best solution for you when the TiVo is discontinued on Virgin.

Most existing customers appear to want to keep the TiVo features (new customers have no choice and probably won't know any different).

As TiVo is a recording concept and, presumably, their TV's won't be able to record, do you know what difference getting a TiVo powered TV would be? Depending on what they do I may well take up your suggestion.

[SonicMaster]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Most existing customers appear to want to keep the TiVo features (new customers have no choice and probably won't know any different).

As TiVo is a recording concept and, presumably, their TV's won't be able to record, do you know what difference getting a TiVo powered TV would be? Depending on what they do I may well take up your suggestion.

It won't be that most existing customers want to keep the TiVo features, it's that most people can't be bothered, don't care, or are resistant to change. A very common natural behaviour is to pushback about new ideas or systems.

Remember how long and difficult the digital terrestrial switchover was? In the end the operator has no choice but to force people.