General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2015)

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj

In the US, their TiVo Roamio Pro and Plus both have 6 tuners with the Pro having a 3TB HDD. I would certainly be impressed if VM managed to secure a UK version of these products. The TiVo we have at the moment is good, but could do with a few tweaks of improvement. I'm guessing there would be a hefty monthly fee if these were to become available :-(

Originally Posted by spiderplant

It doesn't work like that. VM boxes are made to VM specifications by manufacturers chosen by VM. The US has never had a 3 tuner box.

Then VM could specify such a box to it's chosen suppliers

If I was still on XL TV, I would have loved such a box as that.

[muppetman11]

But what would be the point ?

The cloud does away with need for expensive STB's.

[Ultimate.Conj]

Originally Posted by Horizon

The situation is different with the US tivo and I assume he is saying you can't compare the US boxes with ours.

In the US, tivo make the boxes which consumers then buy and then connect them up to their cable connection and get whatever services are available from their cableco. Here, VM license the tivo software/brand/technology, get someone to make the box for VM, then put the tivo software onto it.

So, he's saying you can't just have a VM version of a US tivo, because it's a totally different setup. VM could ask someone to make a six tuner box, then get the tivo software put onto it, but I doubt that will happen at least with tivo software that is...

In any case, tivo are stuggling in the US as cablecos over there now have their own advanced boxes with their own software running on them. Check out Comcast's offering, as an example:

http://www.comcast.com/x1

I know exactly the point he was making, but I didnt understand why. I never mentioned about using the US Tivo over here. I think we all know that you can't just take the US product and use it over here.

The major point I was getting at was if VM produced a new box - regardless of name and specs - with one that had 6 tuners and a bigger hard drive. Maybe even one with 4K possibilities, would certainly be a head turner.

It doesnt matter about the name or who makes it, but more the possilbility of VM doing this.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Horizon

VM could ask someone to make a six tuner box, then get the tivo software put onto it, but I doubt that will happen at least with tivo software that is...

Well, it happened with the current VM Tivo, which was based on the Tivo Premier.

But I guess any new investment may be heading in the direction of the cloud?

---------- Post added at 12:25 ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 ----------

Originally Posted by muppetman11

But what would be the point ?

The cloud does away with need for expensive STB's.

Exactly; see my follow up post.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Well, it happened with the current VM Tivo, which was based on the Tivo Premier

Indeed. Virgin Media TiVo hardware was designed from scratch with three tuners, but as the TiVo Premier had two TiVo had to rewrite the software to support it http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/1092...turns-on-tuner

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Indeed. Virgin Media TiVo hardware was designed from scratch with three tuners, but as the TiVo Premier had two TiVo had to rewrite the software to support it http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/1092...turns-on-tuner

So it turned out to be good practice for the Tivo software developers before having to rewrite it for six tuners!

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by passingbat

So it turned out to be good practice for the Tivo software developers before having to rewrite it for six tuners!

We won't need those six tuners for video streaming in the new world!

[Ultimate.Conj]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

We won't need those six tuners for video streaming in the new world!

With the current state of the UK broadband, is it fair to assume we might actually need those 6 tuners

Video streaming will eventually come to the mainstream, but our internet infrastructure at the moment couldnt support it throughout the whole of the country.

[ase001]

You need to move away from the concept of tuners, any new box will have a single modem. The number of streams (channels in the old world) will be dependent on the bandwidth. In most cases recordings will be cloud based, not that it stores a fresh copy of the program! It will just set a record in a database that this registered user has requested on demand access to that program for 90days.

So any new Tivo box or whatever it maybe will resemble the Amazon Fire TV set top box, it maybe even an app on your smart TV!

These simple set top boxes probably cost £20-£30 each to buy in 10s of thousands, where as the Tivo boxes are north of £100 each. The value will be in the functionality of the software, not the features of the hardware.

VM are going to save millions in hardware costs, at £20-£30 each VM would just put one in the post if you current one failed. Fewer customer visits, no repairs equals less staff, reduced costs.

[Media Boy UK]

February List update - February 19th update.

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin TV.

NOTE: I DO NOT WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA SO ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS LIST IS STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Colours on my list are as followed:

Media Boy = New Info just added.
Media Boy = Virgin Media News and links.
Media Boy = Local TV news, other Media news/Things.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin Media ===
???. ??th. (Put channels names here) is having an freeview to all M, M+ and L packages on Virgin Channels (Put channels numbers here) right now untill ???. ??th 2015.

=== Soon ===
-That's Solent will soon launch in Southampton and surrounding areas.

=== February ===
28th. Local TV Broadcaster Big Centre TV may launch on Virgin Channel 159 in some Birmingham areas from today.

=== March ===
2nd. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies SciFi as Sky Movies Monsters on Virgin Channel 411.
2nd. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies SciFi HD as Sky Movies Monsters HD on Virgin Channel 441.
31st. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Oscars back to Sky Movies Greats on Virgin Channel 404.
31st. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Monsters back to Sky Movies SciFi on Virgin Channel 411.
31st. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Oscars HD back to Sky Movies Greats HD on Virgin Channel 434.
31st. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Monsters HD back to Sky Movies SciFi HD on Virgin Channel 441.
31st. Sky Sports to rebrand Sky Sports World Cup back to Sky Sports 2 on Virgin Channel 503.
31st. Sky Sports to rebrand Sky Sports World Cup HD back to Sky Sports 2 HD on Virgin Channel 513.

=== April ===
No News...

=== May ===
No News...

=== June ===
No News...

=== July ===
No News...

=== August ===
No News...

=== Autumn ===
-The BBC may close BBC Three on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may close BBC Three HD on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may launch BBC One +1 as an 24 hour channel on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may add two extra hours per day to CBBC and CBBC HD on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.

=== September ===
No News...

=== October ===
No News...

=== November ===
No News...

=== December ===
No News...

=== By 2016 ===
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc1 as Sky Movies Aliens on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Sky Movies Aliens as Sky Movies tbc1 on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc1 HD as Sky Movies Aliens HD on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Aliens HD as Sky Movies tbc1 HD on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc2 as Sky Movies Gangsters on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Gangsters as Sky Movies tbc2 on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc2 HD as Sky Movies Gangsters HD on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Gangsters HD as Sky Movies tbc2 HD on Virgin Channel 4??.

=== January 2016 ===
No News...

=== February 2016 ===
No News...

=== March 2016 ===
No News...

=== April 2016 ===
No News...

=== May 2016 ===
No News...

=== June 2016 ===
No News...

=== July 2016 ===
No News...

=== August 2016 ===
No News...

=== September 2016 ===
No News...

=== October 2016 ===
No News...

=== November 2016 ===
No News...

=== December 2016 ===
No News...

=== Local TV on Virgin Media ===
-All the following Local TV broadcasters may launch by 2016 on Virgin Channel 159:

-YourTV Manchester
-YourTV Blackpool & Preston
-Cambridge Presents
-That’s Basingstoke
-That’s Surrey
-That’s Reading
-That’s Salisbury
-That's Oxford

=== Unknown dates ===
-The BBC hope to launch English regional variants of its existing BBC One HD service as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland editions of BBC Two HD - but still need to be approved by the BBC Trust.

=== Channels ONLY in UPC Ireland areas ===
List last updated on January 5th 2015.

ONLY TV CHANNELS THAT ONLY BROADCAST IN THE UK ON OTHER NETWORKS WILL APPEAR ON THIS PART OF THE LIST.

ALSO THE FOLLOWING LIST OF CHANNELS IS CURRENTLY BROADCASTING ON UPC IRELAND BUT NOT ON VIRGIN MEDIA:

Documentaries:
-History HD
-Nat Geo Wild HD
-CI HD

Lifestyle:
-Fashion TV

Music:
-MTV Classic

Kids:
-Disney Channel HD

Specialist:
-EWTN

Radio:
-UCB Ireland

Channels only in UPC Ireland areas.

©copyright 2015 Media Boy 2006 - 2015. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

==== Virgin Media's Deals with broadcasters ===
Full list now at: http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/p...adcasters.html

This part of list has now moved to my blog - follow link.

=== What is Media Boy on about??? ===
Here is what I mean when I post the following on Cable Forum:

Virgin Insiders - means just that.
'Do Not Post' order - means an Virgin insider has given me some info on things that set to happen but has told me not to reveal it right now.

=== Media Boy Extra info: ===
Liberty Global - http://www.lgi.com/
Media Boy Blog - For all things Virgin TV - http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/
Follow Virgin Media on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

=== Ask Media Boy ===
Last updated January 5th 2015.

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN MEDIA FROM?
A: Media Boy HQ gets all info from Virgin Media viewers, some Virgin Media workers (I called them Virgin Insiders or Virgin Sources) and Web Sites (NOTE: When I used web sites I will post an link to that web site).

Q: WHY HAVE YOU ADDED 'ONLY IN UPC IRELAND AREAS' WHEN THIS THREAD IS FOR VIRGIN MEDIA?
A: Virgin Media and UPC Ireland are now both own by Liberty Global.

Q: WHY AM I NOT GETTING ''DISNEY CHANNEL HD'' FOR?
A: Disney Channel HD is only broadcasting in UPC Ireland areas right now.

Q: WHY HAVE YOU REMOVED 'ONLY IN SMALLWORLD AREAS' FROM YOUR LIST FOR?
A: Virgin Media have now axe the Smallworld brand. Viewers in the old Smallworld areas will now get the Virgin Media Channel lineup..

==== See you later ===
List last updated on February 19th 2015.

Next update: TBC.

A) If Virgin Media are set to launch more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV areas.
B) If Virgin Media are set to move more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) about in Virgin TV areas.
C) If Virgin Media are set to close or repackage more then TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV areas.

©copyright 2015 Media Boy 2006 - 2015. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by ase001

You need to move away from the concept of tuners, any new box will have a single modem. The number of streams (channels in the old world) will be dependent on the bandwidth. In most cases recordings will be cloud based, not that it stores a fresh copy of the program! It will just set a record in a database that this registered user has requested on demand access to that program for 90days.

So any new Tivo box or whatever it maybe will resemble the Amazon Fire TV set top box, it maybe even an app on your smart TV!

These simple set top boxes probably cost £20-£30 each to buy in 10s of thousands, where as the Tivo boxes are north of £100 each. The value will be in the functionality of the software, not the features of the hardware.

VM are going to save millions in hardware costs, at £20-£30 each VM would just put one in the post if you current one failed. Fewer customer visits, no repairs equals less staff, reduced costs.

I can't see that happening in the short or medium term - Virgin Media have hardware to broadcast dedicated linear TV streams that don't impact broadband capacity, and has a guaranteed QoS.

[Ultimate.Conj]

Originally Posted by ase001

You need to move away from the concept of tuners, any new box will have a single modem. The number of streams (channels in the old world) will be dependent on the bandwidth. In most cases recordings will be cloud based, not that it stores a fresh copy of the program! It will just set a record in a database that this registered user has requested on demand access to that program for 90days.

So any new Tivo box or whatever it maybe will resemble the Amazon Fire TV set top box, it maybe even an app on your smart TV!

These simple set top boxes probably cost £20-£30 each to buy in 10s of thousands, where as the Tivo boxes are north of £100 each. The value will be in the functionality of the software, not the features of the hardware.

VM are going to save millions in hardware costs, at £20-£30 each VM would just put one in the post if you current one failed. Fewer customer visits, no repairs equals less staff, reduced costs.

Will this cloud-based concept need a stable, quick internet speed?
Not everyone has access to this at the moment. Would this also put internet prices up as everyone will be demanding more bandwidth (more channels)?

Sorry for the questions, but Its a good discussion and I like the way that VM would take it based on what you have said in your post.

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:34 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I can't see that happening in the short or medium term - Virgin Media have hardware to broadcast dedicated linear TV streams that don't impact broadband capacity, and has a guaranteed QoS.

Ben, do you know if VM have any plans with the TiVo at the moment?

[Media Boy UK]

Local TV: New look for local TV in Edinburgh and Glasgow from March 2nd.

STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh will be on air from the earlier time of 7am from Monday March 2. They will feature hourly week day news bulletins from midday, as well as 30-minute news programmes at 6pm, 8pm and 10pm bringing viewers across central Scotland all the latest updates.

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/3109...mission-hours/

[ase001]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I can't see that happening in the short or medium term - Virgin Media have hardware to broadcast dedicated linear TV streams that don't impact broadband capacity, and has a guaranteed QoS.

It all comes down the same cable or fiber, less linear streams frees up bandwidth thus reducing cost! QoS can be setup on any sort of data link, Tiscali were doing it years ago with there IPTV set top box. That worked well down a 2.5Mbit link, setting QoS on 1Mbit of that for TV streaming!

[denphone]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

We won't need those six tuners for video streaming in the new world!

Oh yes we do in our household where the female is in charge and l have to say yes dear on a regular basis.

---------- Post added at 14:53 ---------- Previous post was at 14:52 ----------

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj

Will this cloud-based concept need a stable, quick internet speed?
Not everyone has access to this at the moment. Would this also put internet prices up as everyone will be demanding more bandwidth (more channels)?

Sorry for the questions, but Its a good discussion and I like the way that VM would take it based on what you have said in your post.

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:34 ----------



Ben, do you know if VM have any plans with the TiVo at the moment?

Come on UC he is not going to answer that as that's more then his jobs worth.