TiVo : Poor choice of Channels

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Dave42

tell me who got sky atlantic sky sports 3+4HD and F1HD oh yeah no one but sky so Rob Webster why is sky with holding channels then with what you said

Maybe nobody has met SKY's valuation of the channels yet, or maybe UPC's negotiation team are superb at their job when compared to Virgins. Remember SKY News HD and SKY Sports HD where also in the mythical "withheld list" until UPC agreed a deal for them 2 months ago.

BT clearly have cash burning a hole in their pockets. BT are the only TV provider at the moment who will be able to put Rob Websters statement to the test. If BT can't agree a deal for the likes of SKY Atlantic, Virgin will never be able too.

This is an interesting link regarding Talk Talks deal with SKY:

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...044727.article

According to the article the deal agreed took 2 years to negotiate. Seems like SKY are pretty ruthless and are prepared to hold out for what they want. Maybe TV providers like Virgin don't have the staying power to negotiate for 2 years to get access to the likes of SKY Atlantic, or for all we know they've been in active negotiations since the channels launch.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Safcftm21

Also what exactly is all the hype about the Tivo box that you don't get with the sky box, other than three tuners? I willing to learn here in-case I'm missing out on some wonders that I've not found.

For me, the 3 tuners make a massive difference; many of the new shows are in the 9-10pm slot and with 2 tuners, clashes are more likely.

Equal with 3 tuners are whishlists. All the forthcoming 2012-2013 new US shows that I am interested in are already set to automatically record via a whishlist, even though they are not on the EPG, and may not be for several months. I also have whishlists for my favourite actors, or films I'd like to see again, which will automatically record when they turn up on the EPG.

Tivo will automatically look for repeat showings in the event of recording clashes. The ability to set 'New only' in recording settings is usefull; saves you getting repeat showings of previous seasons that you've already seen.

There are other things like intelligent search, a list of all the upcoming showings of a specific episode, full season and episode listings of a show, cast details and other shows they have been in with an easy way to set up a whishlist. A direct link to youtube for a show found in a search or the 'explore this show' screen. Suggestions for similar shows to the ones you watch, which can be automatically recorded if you want.

That is just some of what tivo offers.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Dave their are other channels as Chad has listed which have nothing to do with Sky yet we still do not have them. So who else do we blame but Virgin for not having these channels.

Exactly my point! The common denominator is Virgin, not SKY.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Dave their are other channels as Chad has listed which have nothing to do with Sky yet we still do not have them. So who else do we blame but Virgin for not having these channels.

yes know what your saying but chad asked but are they about the sky channels and i pointed out the one they withholding that my one complaint about sky and yes theys other none sky channel we not got it very frustrating at time and we know virgin will never tell us anything

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Dave42

yes know what your saying but chad asked but are they about the sky channels and i pointed out the one they withholding that my one complaint about sky and yes theys other none sky channel we not got it very frustrating at time and we know virgin will never tell us anything

The arrival of NOW TV will tell us everything we need to know about who is witholding what.

SKY are making NOW TV avaliable on PC, Mac, Android smartphones, iPhone, iPad, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Roku and to BT and Talk Talk customers via Youview.

As SKY state themselves in the press release for NOW TV:

"More great Sky content will also be added in the coming months, with Sky Sports due to launch on NOW TV before the end of the year. This will enable NOW TV customers to enjoy live action from the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, England Test cricket, Heineken Cup rugby, ATP tennis, the Masters from Augusta and much more. The introduction of Sky Sports will be followed on NOW TV by must-see shows from Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living, including home-grown drama, original comedy and US shows."

Virgin have the technology in place to allow their customers to subscribe to NOW TV via a TiVo app. I however have a very sneaky suspicion that NOW TV will never launch on TiVo. Not because SKY don't want to give us it, it's clear they want to launch NOW TV everywhere, but because Virgin will withhold it from us.

[Safcftm21]

Originally Posted by passingbat

For me, the 3 tuners make a massive difference; many of the new shows are in the 9-10pm slot and with 2 tuners, clashes are more likely.

Equal with 3 tuners are whishlists. All the forthcoming 2012-2013 new US shows that I am interested in are already set to automatically record via a whishlist, even though they are not on the EPG, and may not be for several months. I also have whishlists for my favourite actors, or films I'd like to see again, which will automatically record when they turn up on the EPG.

Tivo will automatically look for repeat showings in the event of recording clashes. The ability to set 'New only' in recording settings is usefull; saves you getting repeat showings of previous seasons that you've already seen.

There are other things like intelligent search, a list of all the upcoming showings of a specific episode, full season and episode listings of a show, cast details and other shows they have been in with an easy way to set up a whishlist. A direct link to youtube for a show found in a search or the 'explore this show' screen. Suggestions for similar shows to the ones you watch, which can be automatically recorded if you want.

That is just some of what tivo offers.

I suppose it depends on what you want from your PVR and the items you listed clearly are of interest to you and I have absolutely no complaints about that. However do you not find it annoying that say if for instance a sports program runs over then the Tivo does not automatically record the extension to the program. I know it asks when you set the program if you want an hour adding on but I just want it to happen not have to guess. Never had this issue with Sky. Remember the Canadian GP that ran over by about 5 hours, sky box recorded the lot and never had to press a button. I set a program to record last week on the Tivo but as the program before had ran over it missed the first 30 minutes. This is what I want from a PVR, not some fancy way of programming 6 months in advance or selecting an actor and recording all his films. I want to be able to set a recording, go on holiday and know for sure that it will record the whole thing no matter when it started or if it overran.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Chad

The arrival of NOW TV will tell us everything we need to know about who is witholding what.

SKY are making NOW TV avaliable on PC, Mac, Android smartphones, iPhone, iPad, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Roku and to BT and Talk Talk customers via Youview.

As SKY state themselves in the press release for NOW TV:

"More great Sky content will also be added in the coming months, with Sky Sports due to launch on NOW TV before the end of the year. This will enable NOW TV customers to enjoy live action from the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, England Test cricket, Heineken Cup rugby, ATP tennis, the Masters from Augusta and much more. The introduction of Sky Sports will be followed on NOW TV by must-see shows from Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living, including home-grown drama, original comedy and US shows."

Virgin have the technology in place to allow their customers to subscribe to NOW TV via a TiVo app. I however have a very sneaky suspicion that NOW TV will never launch on TiVo. Not because SKY don't want to give us it, it's clear they want to launch NOW TV everywhere, but because Virgin will withhold it from us.

The only relevant part of Now TV for Tivo is Sky Atlantic; all other content is already available via VM already. Wheather Sky will produce a Sky Atlantic only app for Tivo, remains to be seen.

You've made some good points in your last few posts. I was suspicious of the Rob Webster statement when I read it a few months ago on DS. The lack of non Sky channel additions does bring into question VM's part in lack of new channels arriving on cable.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Have read the figures if there is one person on here who is even handed its Muppetman.

Absolutely.

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by Chad

But are they?

http://corporate.sky.com/media/press..._upc_agreement

UPC managed to agree a deal which included Sky News HD and Sky Sports News HD.

Rob Webster, Director of Sky’s Commercial Group, comments: "As we continue to increase our investment in high-quality pay-TV content, we’re keen to distribute our channels as broadly as possible to widen our reach and enable more households to enjoy some of the great programming Sky has to offer.

"This agreement demonstrates how through successful negotiation we can create value for the companies involved in addition to real benefits for consumers."

I'm sure if Virgin offer the right price SKY would consider giving them access to pretty much any channel. However seeing Virgin still don't have deals in place for Animal Planet HD, Eurosport 2HD, Cartoon Network HD, Crime & Investigation Network HD, Disney Channel HD, Disney Cinemagic HD, Disney XD HD, E! HD, ESPN America HD, MTV HD, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nickelodeon HD, TCM HD, Universal Channel HD and various popular standard definition channels I think I know who is firmly to blame.....VIRGIN

There must good reasons why Virgin are so far behind SKY when it comes to HD. Either Virgin don't value the channels, or they aren't prepared to pay the asking price.

I'd be able to buy the whole SKY withholding argument if Virgin were snapping up channels from launch from other broadcasters, but they don't. Some of the above channels launched over 4 years ago, what on Earth is holding Virgin back?

The agreement with upc came hot on the heals of the last ofcom ruling. In my, admittedly cynical, opinion, it was a deal done to make it look as though they're a company who are ready to do deals, but with a company who won't cause them to many problems. And note - still no Atlantic.

Hd channels are a different issue, however - Sky customers pay extra and get more. Simple as that.

Originally Posted by Chad

Exactly my point! The common denominator is Virgin, not SKY.

Ok so what do you want. Sky have about 40% of their base taking HDTV, that brings them in 40 million pounds per month or 480 million per year.

Virgin have about 60% of their customers (as its free to the majority) bringing in virtually nothing. Btw the sky pay hd stuff makes them hardly anything.

So, the question is, do want to pay for HD and get more channels as they would be able to afford more, or stay as you are with a great selection without all the tat and Atlantic. But as said before they are gaining more subs than sky without Atlantic, so internally that must be a dillema.

[mike_gain]

Originally Posted by Safcftm21

I suppose it depends on what you want from your PVR and the items you listed clearly are of interest to you and I have absolutely no complaints about that. However do you not find it annoying that say if for instance a sports program runs over then the Tivo does not automatically record the extension to the program. I know it asks when you set the program if you want an hour adding on but I just want it to happen not have to guess. Never had this issue with Sky. Remember the Canadian GP that ran over by about 5 hours, sky box recorded the lot and never had to press a button. I set a program to record last week on the Tivo but as the program before had ran over it missed the first 30 minutes. This is what I want from a PVR, not some fancy way of programming 6 months in advance or selecting an actor and recording all his films. I want to be able to set a recording, go on holiday and know for sure that it will record the whole thing no matter when it started or if it overran.

I agree that each person's needs will determine how they rate the TiVo box's features. For example the issue of sports events running over is not a problem in our house as I am either at said event or will watch it Live (the Euro 2012 tournament being an exception as I recorded all of it as matches overlapped with the kid's bedtime routine).

However even though the box does not have a Dynamic EPG the pro active nature of the box means that it can automatically handle the more common problems faced by the average viewer. For example last year my wife set up a series link for Downton Abbey and it recorded the whole series on the Sunday. This year I had set 3 series links up that clashed with Downton Abbey. When the new series started not only did the box pick this up automatically it also chose to record the Staturday repeat and this week it will start recording on the Sunday again.

I have had at least 8 series links this year that have automatically been re-scheduled, loads more that have automatically re-started and one series we picked up as we have a wishlist for Kevin Mcloud. In our house this is more what we are after. For now this may mean that I miss the end of 1 live event each year (although if I really cared about it I'd watch it live) but this is vastly out weighed by the programmes that I won't miss :-)

ON TOPIC
As for the channels I think we have a really good selection and I feel I am only missing Game of Thrones from a content perspective. However it does sometimes seem as though VM have trouble agreeing deals, Premier Sports springs to mind. It may not always be their fault but the perception is that they seem to have trouble dealing with content providers.

[andy_m]

If you're in debt, if it costs you money to acquire new channels, and if what you already offer is growing your business, giving you your first ever profit and keeping your shareholders happy, then I can't see why you'd ever feel the need to spend more money on new channels.

Originally Posted by andy_m

If you're in debt, if it costs you money to acquire new channels, and if what you already offer is growing your business, giving you your first ever profit and keeping your shareholders happy, then I can't see why you'd ever feel the need to spend more money on new channels.

Yep that it in a nut shell

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by andy_m

If you're in debt, if it costs you money to acquire new channels, and if what you already offer is growing your business, giving you your first ever profit and keeping your shareholders happy, then I can't see why you'd ever feel the need to spend more money on new channels.

Quite correct. So if you require more channels above all else -walk.

If they could produce a "wireless" dish it would be another push towards Sky for me

[muppetman11]

After reading this thread I feel educated I've now been brought in line with the 'Real World'.