Variety.Com: VM have Sky 'rattled'

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Gavin

I really don't think Sky are in the least bit worried about VM. When the hoo-hah of the wonderful Branson swooping down to save us from Murdoch's Sky with a wonderful media organisation dies down, we'll see nothing's really changed.

Ooooo, colour me surprised.

I think the momentum will keep going, and that very much needed investment into customer service improvements shows a lot of intent.

If they can get the momentum on content, and improve overall bandwidth and modem speeds, I think VM will stake its place as THE Digital service provider.

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by Nikesh

I think this competition between Virgin Media and Sky will be very good for consumers.

I hope so....but I do worry that as margins are cut and budgets slashed, the first casualty will be proving customer service. Which is why ntl ended up in the state it was. It's all very well pouring in £19m now, but what happens when all the money's gone and you haven't made at least that back in additional revenues?

Originally Posted by Gavin

I really don't think Sky are in the least bit worried about VM. When the hoo-hah of the wonderful Branson swooping down to save us from Murdoch's Sky with a wonderful media organisation dies down, we'll see nothing's really changed.

I'm kind of erring on the side of this too. I'd love to think that there is a whole new ethos in the company, and many VM employees are on here singing very loudly from the Virgin hymn sheet, which is great. But I'm just not convinced.

Actually, I'm thinking it's a bit like having David Cameron as leader of the Tories...nice new image, no new policies and not really much substance underneath!


I'd like to be proved wrong...but I don't think I will be.

Let's give them a bloody chance shall we - its only been a week and a few days since they rebranded...

Too many people are expecting overnight miracles.

[EssDee]

Originally Posted by Mick

Let's give them a bloody chance shall we - its only been a week and a few days since they rebranded...

Too many people are expecting overnight miracles.

Well said.

I am sure most of us have seen some improvements already (the new VIP packages, for example). Things like VOD enhancements, Virgin Central, etc have certainly given me some hope that things will be better than they ever were.

I think it's an encouraging start.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by EssDee

Well said.

I am sure most of us have seen some improvements already (the new VIP packages, for example). Things like VOD enhancements, Virgin Central, etc have certainly given me some hope that things will be better than they ever were.

I think it's an encouraging start.

Its been, what, 12 days since they've re-branded? Since then:

• They've signed a VOD content deal with Disney (which includes HD content).
• They've signed a VOD content deal with Buena Vista
• They've signed a VOD content deal with HBO
• They launched a VIP pack which, for many people, is giving them more, for less.
• They launched a Sky Sports pack which undercuts Sky.
• They announced the launch of Virgin Central which will give us more VOD content to watch compared to the pre-branding days.
• They've spent/are spending £5 million on customer services.
• They've got Sky so rattled, they begging US to ring up VM in a desperate attempt to 'save' Sky One (good bloody riddance to it).

Not bad work for 12 days. I think they deserve a chance.

[tweetypie/8]

Originally Posted by Chris Howell

Great article at Variety.Com (http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=18&cs=1) on the UK Digital Media War:
You can run, but you can't hide, Sky.

a beautiful find,i hope virgin screws them into the ground.

[Nikesh]

Originally Posted by Chris Howell

Its been, what, 12 days since they've re-branded? Since then:

• They've signed a VOD content deal with Disney (which includes HD content).
• They've signed a VOD content deal with Buena Vista
• They've signed a VOD content deal with HBO
• They launched a VIP pack which, for many people, is giving them more, for less.
• They launched a Sky Sports pack which undercuts Sky.
• They announced the launch of Virgin Central which will give us more VOD content to watch compared to the pre-branding days.
• They've spent/are spending £5 million on customer services.
• They've got Sky so rattled, they begging US to ring up VM in a desperate attempt to 'save' Sky One (good bloody riddance to it).

Not bad work for 12 days. I think they deserve a chance.

Very well simplified.

Lots of things have improved already.

[Downloads]

Originally Posted by Nikesh

Very well simplified.

Lots of things have improved already.

Only one thing to add, the HBO content is free for XL members isn't it? Not entirely VoD?

---------- Post added at 14:35 ---------- Previous post was at 14:29 ----------

Originally Posted by Gavin

I really don't think Sky are in the least bit worried about VM. When the hoo-hah of the wonderful Branson swooping down to save us from Murdoch's Sky with a wonderful media organisation dies down, we'll see nothing's really changed.

heh You obviously aren't seeing everything else the media and public are seeing then. They are starting objecting about a package of Sports which undercut them, buying a stake in ITV so Virgin couldn't, demanding customers call Virgin to let them know how much Virgin customers want Sky channels and they are so completely not worried about Virgin that they didn't buy any advertising on the day Virgin said they were going to launch. Yeh right

If you think Sky aren't in the least bit worried about Virgin, i'd love to know your ideas on why they did all this, as surely someone who isn't worried would concentrate on spending their money on improving their own services instead?????

Whether anything changes or not is a different matter, but they are concerned.

[Nikesh]

Originally Posted by Downloads

Only one thing to add, the HBO content is free for XL members isn't it? Not entirely VoD?

Well I am a XL TV customer so I'm happy.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Mick

Let's give them a bloody chance shall we - its only been a week and a few days since they rebranded...

Too many people are expecting overnight miracles.

Yes and some, moderators included, are simply writing off the re-brand. I've seen significant changes over the past few months, not just since VM launch day. I'm all for pointing out the continued errors being made, but I genuinely believe they should be given credit where it is deserved.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Downloads

heh You obviously aren't seeing everything else the media and public are seeing then. They are starting objecting about a package of Sports which undercut them, buying a stake in ITV so Virgin couldn't, demanding customers call Virgin to let them know how much Virgin customers want Sky channels and they are so completely not worried about Virgin that they didn't buy any advertising on the day Virgin said they were going to launch. Yeh right

If you think Sky aren't in the least bit worried about Virgin, i'd love to know your ideas on why they did all this, as surely someone who isn't worried would concentrate on spending their money on improving their own services instead?????

Whether anything changes or not is a different matter, but they are concerned.

Everything you've described is just the simple ins-and-outs of business. I really don't think think Murdoch's lying in bed awake a night at the thought the ntl-Virgin merger. For one thing you certainly don't get into a position like Murdoch, by being phased at every turn the competition makes.

---------- Post added at 14:44 ---------- Previous post was at 14:42 ----------

Originally Posted by Toto

Yes and some, moderators included, are simply writing off the re-brand. I've seen significant changes over the past few months, not just since VM launch day. I'm all for pointing out the continued errors being made, but I genuinely believe they should be given credit where it is deserved.

Cable Forum is entirely independent of Virgin Media, as they are of Sky. Moderators are entitled to air their views (providing the don't contradict the terms and conditions of the site), without being Virgin Media public relations mouthpieces.

[Toto]

So Gavin, having called the company ntl-Virgin (where have I heard that before?), and given the vociferous campaigns being run in boths camps, you don't think Murdoch is worried?

Going back to VM's (then ntl:Telewest) attempted purchase of ITV, Murdoch junior came out fighting saying they (Sky) had not interest in the proposed by-out, and yet days later they pumped a massive amont of cash into a 17% stake in the company, which ended VM's interest.

I'm not saying he's loosing sleep, but even you have to admit they are concerned?

[Downloads]

Originally Posted by Gavin

Everything you've described is just the simple ins-and-outs of business. I really don't think think Murdoch's lying in bed awake a night at the thought of this buy-a-takeover that constitutes the ntl-Virgin merger. For one thing you certainly don't get into a position like Murdoch, by being phased at every turn the competition makes.

I'm not saying he stays awake at night. Being concerned about the success of another competitor is natural though.

Do you see Bill Gates trash talking Nintendo all the time? Nope cos he's not worried in the slightest. Do you see him trash talking Sony all the time? Yep cos he sees them as competition. I'm sure Bill doesn't stay up at night worrying about it, but he does these things as he is concerned about the competition, believe me.

Companies only do anti-competetive things if they are concerned about the opposition. And Sky certainly are being anti-competetive rightly or wrongly. People can kid themselves though that Sky bought into ITV as they saw a sound investment (on a company who's been struggling), or they can wake up and see it's cos they were concerned Virgin would merge with them and give them a problem.

It's pretty obvious Sky are concerned about Virgin really. Most of the papers would say the same thing if they wern't all owned by Murdoch!

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Gavin

Cable Forum is entirely independent of Virgin Media, as they are of Sky. Moderators are entitled to air their views (providing the don't contradict the terms and conditions of the site), without being Virgin Media public relations mouthpieces.

OK, fair comment, although I still get the feeling that given this sites history, there is more than a little bias towards not liking VM, and that is my opinion.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by Nikesh

Well I am a XL TV customer so I'm happy.

Hah, you beat me to it.