US Cable Giant Liberty Global buys Virgin Media

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Risco

Shame he came in too late for the latest round of football rights. I do hope that it means that Virgin can compete on a level playing field with Sky. Not only that but more HD channels and more Sky content.

Unfortunatley that will never happen i feel, Sky never play by the book

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Risco

Shame he came in too late for the latest round of football rights. I do hope that it means that Virgin can compete on a level playing field with Sky. Not only that but more HD channels and more Sky content.

There will be no bidding of any sports rights in the next few years at least from what l know but as to regards to extra HD channels and more Sky content then yes maybe.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by martyh

Or totally separate it from VM and flog it off,Liberty Global do not currently have any mobile phone companies and may not have any desires to get one ,time will tell

A quick look at the LGI website shows they have mobile phone operations in Belgium and the joint presentation today talks about a combined mobile customer base of some 4 million. Mobile is highlighted as an addition growth opportunity, so I can't see Virgin Mobile going anywhere soon.

Cheers

Grim

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Bogof

Lol, trust me guys from UPC/ liberty will be all over the various offices of Virginmedia. Their first priority will be savings and cuts.

Trust me, you don't know what you're talking about

---------- Post added at 20:38 ---------- Previous post was at 20:36 ----------

Originally Posted by Horizon

Yes, the virgin brand is big, but. I think they'll ditch it at the first opportunity.

Been confirmed it will carry on as VM

---------- Post added at 20:40 ---------- Previous post was at 20:38 ----------

Originally Posted by Bogof

Lol you guys need a reality check NOTHING is going to change anytime soon. If you think it will be a change as fast as the virgin media thing you're all very wrong.

The Virginmedia thing was NTL/Telewest rebranding after a successful merger of 2 UK cable companies. What's happening now is very very different. You won't see any change for a longtime. Virginmedia have commitments to Virgin group and TiVo that they can't just drop.

Now that is a sensible post, you see, you can do it if you try .

[Helix]

Originally Posted by mertle

That could certainly be good reason why he purchased vm sell this asset to say O2 as example. Possible a quick profit and wipe part of his debt acruled. How much do you think VM mobile is worth when VM took it was valued 500m.

So how much now 2-3bn ? Would it significantly raised in value.

O2 wouldn't want it, their parent company is struggling as it is. Plus Virgin Mobile is really just a reseller of EE, so they would have all these customers on a network they have no control over and have to pay for the privilege to use.

I don't think EE would be allowed to buy it because of competition rules, although they might get away with it because the customer base is quite small.

[MalteseFalcon]

I asked on Twitter whether it would mean SKY Atlantic coming in HD, along with all the other SKY HD channels now they have been taken over and they said you never know what's coming. I'm inclined to think it is just a line they are spinning to stop customers walking out on them. Hopefully it does mean a lot of new content coming. Doubt it, but you can hope.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Virgin Media are significantly bigger than UPC Ireland, so if anything the 'savings' might be the other way around

virgin media, in the NTL days used to own UPC Ireland. They still work very closely together as UPC maintain the Virgin Media network in Eire.

It's possible the two could be closer linked again at a senior level.

---------- Post added at 20:49 ---------- Previous post was at 20:48 ----------

Originally Posted by Stephen

What are you talking about? The deal is not DONE, it still has to be finalised and agreed by the VM shareholders.

Also VM will still be the name of the UK cable Company.

The deal won't be finalised for around 3 months

---------- Post added at 20:50 ---------- Previous post was at 20:49 ----------

Originally Posted by mertle

thats my biggest concern is the loss tax to uk and profits syphoned.

give me strength..........

[denphone]

Originally Posted by MarkC1984

I asked on Twitter whether it would mean SKY Atlantic coming in HD, along with all the other SKY HD channels now they have been taken over and they said you never know what's coming. I'm inclined to think it is just a line they are spinning to stop customers walking out on them. Hopefully it does mean a lot of new content coming. Doubt it, but you can hope.

Personally l think we will get the remaining Sky channels in the next 6 months as remember the old deal is up for renewal soon.

[Gavin-D]

From what I've read the shareholders have 6 weeks to make a decision on the deal is this true?

@Den when does the contract come up for renewal?

[HDFootyMan]

Interesting read:
http://www.istockanalyst.com/finance...placed-analyst

Brean Capital thinks TiVo's displacement from Virgin is unlikely for a number of reasons. TiVo has a mutually exclusive long-term deal with Virgin in the U.K., not subject to change of control provisions. TiVo has been well received by Virgin customers, achieving over 35% penetration in six quarters, accompanied by market share gains for Virgin, the brokerage said.

The brokerage said Liberty does not have an alternative solution, unhappy as it is with its Cisco sourced "Horizon" home gateway, and actively seeking an alternative under the codename "Dawn". This, Brean Capital wrote, could actually turn Liberty's acquisition of Virgin into an opportunity for TiVo.

Brean Capital believes that TiVo's strong relationship with Virgin may actually provide TiVo with a means for enhancing its relationship with Liberty should TiVo be able to expand its business model once it gets past current litigations which we believe are holding TiVo's current model in place.

I wonder why Liberty are seeking the Dawn.......I'll get my coat. (Horizon can't be that good if Liberty are seeking alternatives).

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Pierre

give me strength..........

I gave up reading his posts after his first one today was all knee jerk with no substance. I see he has continued in that vain all day

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Gavin-D

From what I've read the shareholders have 6 weeks to make a decision on the deal is this true?

@Den when does the contract come up for renewal?

l have not got the exact timeline but sometime in the summer from what l was told but don't quote me on it as remember l am often wrong.

Originally Posted by Bogof

I agree, thankgod BskyB is owned by BskyB, I hope John Malone turns out to be pure and whiter than white for you lot. As he is soon to own Virginmedia. I'm glad Murdoch never bought sky.

News Corp are the majority shareholder in BSkyB, and three of the BSkyB board are also senior Executives of News Corp (David DeVoe, James Murdoch, and Arthur Siskind).

[Gavin-D]

Originally Posted by denphone

l have not got the exact timeline but sometime in the summer from what l was told but don't quote me on it as remember l am often wrong.

Thanks,

June 4th 2010 was when they signed the deal for Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 2 HD to its subscribers, along with all the HD Sky Movies channels.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Gavin-D

Thanks,

June 4th 2010 was when they signed the deal for Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 2 HD to its subscribers, along with all the HD Sky Movies channels.

l know the Sky Basics deal was for 9 years l think.