Does Virgin media have spare capacity? - Page 2

Ignitionnet · 28-02-2011, 10:55

Some areas (mostly ex-Telewest, 550MHz) are quite busy but most are fine for now.

No idea if/when VM are going to deploy SDV. It's been around for a while but they have as yet chosen not to avail themselves of it on the edge despite upgrades to core TV distribution network.

muppetman11 · 28-02-2011, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

I was just wondering if the reason we have not seen any new HD channels recently is due to lack of spare capacity in the VM system?
We have also seen a number companies swapping out channels suggesting a lack of capacity.

It could be , there was an issue in 2008 , they upgraded the network but have since added more than 25 HD channels , so maybe capacity is tight again.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...eo-for-hd.html

Ignitionnet · 28-02-2011, 11:42

The upgrade consisted of switching off analogue channels, there was no upgrade as such.

I am unsure of the bit rate VM are using for HD, I would imagine they are only getting 2 or maybe 3 HD channels into the space of each analogue channel due to using 64QAM and MPEG-2.

The areas that are constrained will be sorted through when upstream uplift and 100Mbps deployments are complete - the uplift will take all areas currently stuck at 550MHz up to at least 750 and the 100Mbps service requires 256QAM channels so downstream laser loading issues will be sorted there as well to permit DTV multiplexes to go to 256QAM along with the EuroDOCSIS 3 downstreams.

EDIT: To give an idea of the bit rates required Sky use MPEG-4, more efficient than the MPEG-2 which VM use, and Sky Sports hits 16-17Mbps average wtih peaks at around 21Mbps during some events. Not going to get that and too much else into a 38Mbps multiplex.

muppetman11 · 28-02-2011, 11:47

So to sum up there still could be capacity issues LOL.

Ignitionnet · 28-02-2011, 11:56

In isolated areas the network will be a bit on the full side, sure. It's not an issue longer term.

muppetman11 · 28-02-2011, 12:02

So is Berketts 80 HD channels within 3 years realistically possible ?

Ignitionnet · 28-02-2011, 12:16

Sure.

muppetman11 · 28-02-2011, 12:48

Would VM benefit from switching to Mpeg 4 and would it be easy to implement.

mersey70 · 28-02-2011, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Sure.

Does he have some sort of a crystal ball?

To be honest (happy to be corrected as always) I have not even read Sky make such a prediction (they did predict 50 and delivered) and they are well on their way to 80 anyway.

Over 50 more HD channels seems fanciful, especially with their pricing structure. I'd settle for Sky Arts HD for now and if that's anything to go by (7 months and counting) I think there's more chance of porky flying than us getting 80 HD channels in three years. He said that 3 months ago I think, none have launched on VM since so it's 2 years 9 months to go for 51 HD channel launches, nah!

I hope i'm wrong though.

pauldavies83 · 28-02-2011, 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Would VM benefit from switching to Mpeg 4 and would it be easy to implement.

Depends if any of the set top boxes currently in use support the codec?

muppetman11 · 28-02-2011, 13:05

To be fair Mersey70 I think ignition meant from a capacity point of view.

WillPS · 28-02-2011, 13:05

The only (HD) ones that don't are the Scientific Atlanta TVDrive/V+ boxes. Get them off the grid and moving to MPEG-4 would be very sensible.

muppetman11 · 28-02-2011, 13:11

Mersey70 they would have to add about 17 a year to have 80 in 3 years.

BenJSmyth · 28-02-2011, 13:15

A different HD codec would be a welcome addition. Although whilst they are trying to pull sales in on Tivo I can't see them making the change just yet, whether it's technically possible or not. If those on V+ are having problems with space and recording HD, a larger capacity Tivo box would be a logical upgrade.

mersey70 · 28-02-2011, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Mersey70 they would have to add about 17 a year to have 80 in 3 years.

muppetman11 they said over 7 months ago we were getting Sky Arts HD, where is it?

It is a load of rubbish in my opinion, exactly how would they pay for 51 more HD channels given their chosen pricing structure?

Look at the latest thing with CSC Media closing POP on VM so they can get True Entertainment onto the network, even giants like Viacom prefer to swap out channels rather than launch new channels. Pop is still on Freesat today.

There must be a reason for this, maybe it is capacity or (as I possibly think) it could be prohibitively expensive for some broadcasters to get onto cable (possibly because of the 'free HD thng) so lets hope the extra 51 HD channels are rich enough to launch. Why wouldn't a FTA broadcaster want another 4m or so customers?

But regarding the 29 HD channels on VM let's be very clear, of them:-

12 attract a HD surcharge (Sky HD)
5 are FTA/FTV HD channels (by that I mean they are subscription free on Freeview or Sky)

Maybe 17 HD channels will launch on 1 April to help meet Mr Berkett's Mystic Meg predictions but i'd love to know how they are going to be funded, 2 or even 1 will do for me personally which is a bit more realistic as things stand.