Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media - Page 25

Sasha222 · 26-01-2011, 23:50

I dont have a clue about all the politics of it all. I'm not with Virgin Media but I do know the staff on here do give a lot of their time and go out of their way to help people on here. When someone is in trouble they are always ready to jump in and help and give the best advice they can and if that cant be given the poster is given the info they need to get numbers to call so have no problem with any Virgin staff.

I was just responding to the poster and wondering why he wanted Sky customers to be annoyed and if he is that annoyed with Virgin then why doesn't he change

mersey70 · 26-01-2011, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by defirish

I dont have a clue about all the politics of it all. I'm not with Virgin Media but I do know the staff on here do give a lot of their time and go out of their way to help people on here. When someone is in trouble they are always ready to jump in and help and give the best advice they can and if that cant be given the poster is given the info they need to get numbers to call so have no problem with any Virgin staff.

I was just responding to the poster and wondering why he wanted Sky customers to be annoyed and if he is that annoyed with Virgin then why doesn't he change

Most of the staff on here are great and are as helpful and frank as they can be. However some other posters really need to look at the corporate set up of VM and maybe be a bit more open minded about them and indeed Sky.

I don't see that much difference between the two and many other big companies really, they are all after one thing ultimately. How they go about that is sometimes different though.

Tezcatlipoca · 27-01-2011, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

As I will not get to see it I am not overly bothered as most programmes I watch are either on FX or one of the other channels, I probably should have been clearer as some of the programmes you mentioned have been cancelled and are therefore repeats like the Wire and some of the other older content you mentioned.

Also if SKY Atlantic were to be available on Virginmedia but as a subscription channel I would not pay for it as I do not feel the content warrants a subscription.

Fair enough if it's not your sort of thing, and not something you would watch.

But as I mentioned, the previous comment that it's "Mainly repeats so just a replacement for Channel One but with a premium price" is rather inaccurate, as it's not premium, not mainly repeats, and not just a replacement for Channel One.

Yes there are repeats (& I know The Wire is, I did say so earlier), but there are repeats of far higher quality shows (e.g. The Wire, BSG, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, etc.) than the stuff repeated on Channel 1. [Daytime stuff is as I already said still fairly similar to Channel 1's obviously (Trek repeats, X Files repeats) along with Sky 1/3 (24 repeats). Padding. The real content is primetime.]

And compared to Channel One, the new content is greater in both quantity and quality. Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Big Love, Game of Thones, Treme, etc.

For anyone like me who loves quality US drama, Sky Atlantic is going to be brilliant... Far more on it than Sky One has, and obviously far more than Channel One ever had. Lots of great shows, old & new, which it really is a shame that VM customers will miss

All it's missing IMO are a few things which FX has (e.g. Dexter, True Blood, The Walking Dead), along with Sons of Anarchy. FX does at least treat The Walking Dead very well, but I'd much prefer if Sky Atlantic instead of FX showed Dexter and True Blood, as then they'd actually get shown at a decent time, instead of months & months after the US broadcast. FX had Sons of Anarchy, but it's also been on Bravo & Five USA so I don't know what the situation is with that. Oh, Breaking Bad, too. That would definitely benefit from Atlantic, as it's another one which has been treated poorly. True Blood won't move though, as FX has a lifetime deal. No idea about the others.

I wouldn't pay *extra* for it either... but as I said, it isn't Premium on Sky... It's in the Variety Pack, same as Sky One, Bravo, FX, etc... Basic entertainment package...Hopefully the same will be true if/when if finally comes to VM

v0id · 27-01-2011, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

For anyone like me who loves quality US drama, Sky Atlantic is going to be brilliant... Far more on it than Sky One has, and obviously far more than Channel One ever had. Lots of great shows, old & new, which it really is a shame that VM customers will miss

Anyone who loves quality US drama, watches it 'US Timeline'

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

FX had Sons of Anarchy, but it's also been on Bravo & Five USA so I don't know what the situation is with that.

Bravo snagged the rights to season 2 onwards from FX IIRC.
So I'd imagine it'll follow another Bravo acquisition, Hawaii Five 0 and go to SkyOne. I just wonder whether Leverage will too.
Sky did say their reason for the channel closure was it had a similar demographic to SkyOne, so there's hope for the VM audience

mersey70 · 27-01-2011, 02:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Fair enough if it's not your sort of thing, and not something you would watch.

But as I mentioned, the previous comment that it's "Mainly repeats so just a replacement for Channel One but with a premium price" is rather inaccurate, as it's not premium, not mainly repeats, and not just a replacement for Channel One.

Yes there are repeats (& I know The Wire is, I did say so earlier), but there are repeats of far higher quality shows (e.g. The Wire, BSG, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, etc.) than the stuff repeated on Channel 1. [Daytime stuff is as I already said still fairly similar to Channel 1's obviously (Trek repeats, X Files repeats) along with Sky 1/3 (24 repeats). Padding. The real content is primetime.]

And compared to Channel One, the new content is greater in both quantity and quality. Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Big Love, Game of Thones, Treme, etc.

For anyone like me who loves quality US drama, Sky Atlantic is going to be brilliant... Far more on it than Sky One has, and obviously far more than Channel One ever had. Lots of great shows, old & new, which it really is a shame that VM customers will miss

All it's missing IMO are a few things which FX has (e.g. Dexter, True Blood, The Walking Dead), along with Sons of Anarchy. FX does at least treat The Walking Dead very well, but I'd much prefer if Sky Atlantic instead of FX showed Dexter and True Blood, as then they'd actually get shown at a decent time, instead of months & months after the US broadcast. FX had Sons of Anarchy, but it's also been on Bravo & Five USA so I don't know what the situation is with that. Oh, Breaking Bad, too. That would definitely benefit from Atlantic, as it's another one which has been treated poorly. True Blood won't move though, as FX has a lifetime deal. No idea about the others.

I wouldn't pay *extra* for it either... but as I said, it isn't Premium on Sky... It's in the Variety Pack, same as Sky One, Bravo, FX, etc... Basic entertainment package...Hopefully the same will be true if/when if finally comes to VM

I broadly agree. I'd be surprised if Atlantic will be showing Jerry Springer! it's a very, very different offering to the underwhelming Channel One. Of course as an exclusively pay channel it should be too.

Peter_ · 27-01-2011, 14:48

I am seeing advertisements telling me that from 9pm on the 3rd of February that SKY subscribers can watch classic TV series from the beginning like the Sopranos and Six Feet Under and not a single person appears to have noticed.

welwynrose · 27-01-2011, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

I would only watch SKY Atlantic if it was included for free in my package the same as SKY One is at present I would not pay extra for the privilege of watching it.

I would concur

noel43 · 27-01-2011, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

It's hardly a premium price... it's part of the "Variety Pack", same as Sky One etc.

Lots of repeats during the day, which is just padding really. Better they fill the daytime with various Sky 1 / Virgin 1 things such as 24 & Star Trek, than just leave it off-air until the evening like BBC3/4, IMO.

The main shows, though, aren't all repeats. OK, The Sopranos & The Wire are shows which have been on TV before, but given that they are two of the best TV shows ever made, I don't have a problem with that! BSG... repeats again, but repeats of one of the best SF shows ever made.

Big Love has never had a decent airing in the UK. I think Five only showed the first season, & then ditched it. Sky will show the lot from the start (it's on season 5 now in the US), so that's new to the UK (other than the first season).

Mad Men... Atlantic will be showing it from the next (i.e. new) season. And it'll be better scheduled than the Beeb.

Boardwalk Empire - new. Blue Bloods - new. Treme - new. Game of Thrones - new. etc...

OK, still not "all brand new unseen content"... but as I said at the start of my post, it's not a Premium channel anyway. I think there's more than enough quality new content & quality repeat content on it to justify it's share of a Variety Pack subscription.

--------------

I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if this has already been answered several times...

Why isn't Sky Atlantic going to be on VM? Is Sky asking VM for too much money? Is it just that a deal hasn't yet been struck or has all chance of it being on VM vanished already?

Seen three episodes of Boardwalk Empire was not impresses, but then each to his own.

devilincarnate · 27-01-2011, 18:06

Can i just say that after seeing what is going to be on the channel. I must be the minority as i have never watched any of the shows that are going to to broadcast on the channel so i do not care if VM get the channel.

This is my opinion and with the shows that i never watch i hope that VM try to get another channel instead.

Taf · 27-01-2011, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by defirish

What programmes are they going to show Taf? Do you have a link availabe of them please if not It's ok? Just want to see what the line up is

I used next week's TV guide from Tesco

Sasha222 · 27-01-2011, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

I used next week's TV guide from Tesco

Thanks so much Taffor that. Really appricate it.

Tezcatlipoca · 27-01-2011, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

Anyone who loves quality US drama, watches it 'US Timeline'

True

But if more shows were broadcast closer to their original US airdate, there wouldn't be such a need to use "alternative means".

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

Bravo snagged the rights to season 2 onwards from FX IIRC.
So I'd imagine it'll follow another Bravo acquisition, Hawaii Five 0 and go to SkyOne. I just wonder whether Leverage will too.
Sky did say their reason for the channel closure was it had a similar demographic to SkyOne, so there's hope for the VM audience

Ah. I'd be happy with SoA on Sky One. *Someone* bloody needs to show it properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersey70

I broadly agree. I'd be surprised if Atlantic will be showing Jerry Springer! it's a very, very different offering to the underwhelming Channel One. Of course as an exclusively pay channel it should be too.

Yup. Very different to Channel 1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

I am seeing advertisements telling me that from 9pm on the 3rd of February that SKY subscribers can watch classic TV series from the beginning like the Sopranos and Six Feet Under and not a single person appears to have noticed.

Noticed what, exactly? What are you pointing out, just that the ads say Sky subscribers can see it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by noel43

Seen three episodes of Boardwalk Empire was not impresses, but then each to his own.

Fair enough

I've watched the lot, though, and loved it. It was a critical and commercial success in the US. Great ratings, great reviews, plus also recently won the 2011 Golden Globe award for Best Drama (in 2008, 2009, & 2010 it went to Mad Men, also coming to Atlantic).

Peter_ · 27-01-2011, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Noticed what, exactly? What are you pointing out, just that the ads say Sky subscribers can see it?

My wife had Challenge on today and I saw my first ever advertisement for the channel which showed the classics you mentioned plus new Tom Selleck one called Blue Bloods which looked good.

So I thought it was a good idea to mention the adverts.

Digital Fanatic · 27-01-2011, 19:56

Maybe VM could go for ShowTime programming on VoD?

http://www.sho.com/site/series/home.do

Tezcatlipoca · 27-01-2011, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

My wife had Challenge on today and I saw my first ever advertisement for the channel which showed the classics you mentioned plus new Tom Selleck one called Blue Bloods which looked good.

So I thought it was a good idea to mention the adverts.

Ah, fair do's

It's being advertised a lot on Absolute Radio at the moment too.