General Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 1. - Page 118

Lew · 25-02-2013, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Wow they certainly are , we should count ourselves lucky that we will at least have the opportunity to watch. I assume that this will allow BT to bid for NFL and NHL rights in the future as this was always a problem in this Country as we shared a feed with Scandinavia.

I really hope that they run the channel the same way it currently works, using the full US broadcasts instead of UK-based studio segments like Sky Sports do. That's always been one of the things I liked about NASN/ESPNA.

alwaysabear · 25-02-2013, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

I really hope that they run the channel the same way it currently works, using the full US broadcasts instead of UK-based studio segments like Sky Sports do. That's always been one of the things I liked about NASN/ESPNA.

I agree with you. I am worried that BT taking it over may take it out of my reach financially if it is bundled with the other BT sports channels.

Doug P · 25-02-2013, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

I agree with you. I am worried that BT taking it over may take it out of my reach financially if it is bundled with the other BT sports channels.

That is very likely I'm afraid.....

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:45 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj20x

It's pretty much what they indicated they were going to do, concentrate on their more profitable home market and wind down less profitable foreign operations. It's just a business decision for them.

Not an unreasonable one either. I am very grateful to ESPN for rescuing the collapsed mess that was poor old Setanta.

25-02-2013, 19:48

The fact its staying as an ESPN branded channel gives me the impression it'll be sold separately to BT Sport 1/2/3. ESPN want out of Europe and BT want to please (american) sports fans.

25-02-2013, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug P

Not an unreasonable one either.

Not unreasonable at all, the foreign operations are small compared to their home market. It is understandable that they would wish to make an exit as they become less profitable.

---------- Post added at 19:07 ---------- Previous post was at 19:01 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

The fact its staying as an ESPN branded channel gives me the impression it'll be sold separately to BT Sport 1/2/3. ESPN want out of Europe and BT want to please (american) sports fans.

Some of the news reports say that the ESPN branded channel will operate under the BT Sport umbrella, so it would seem unlikely that it would be sold separately. They will, most likely, keep the ESPN name for North American content.

Doug P · 25-02-2013, 20:13

The reports of the numbering of the channels are v odd. Some suggest that ESPN UK is to be the third channel and others that ESPN America is to be the third. Others even saying BT will now own 4 sports channels.

Think will wait for an official announcement!

joff81 · 25-02-2013, 20:23

It looks like virgin media/liberty global will have to pull their fingers out to offer something to replace the ESPN in the XL Package or a lot of customers (me included) will not be happy, especially after the February price rise.

To be honest the way channels keep getting migrated to the lower packages and now with the loss of ESPN the XL package is looking less and less worth keeping as the L package will be a out on par but for a few HD channels and +1 channels once ESPN leaves.

Doug P · 25-02-2013, 20:30

I will stick with XL. ESPN as part of it has been a bonus.

spankysmagicpian · 25-02-2013, 20:41

Well said Doug - I feel that way too. Had it been a separate payment, I wouldn't have been subscribing nor will I for BT.

Well, forget the talk of BT Sports... who's next after ITV Digital Sport / Setanta, ESPN and BT Sports in three years time?

25-02-2013, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankysmagicpian

[snip] who's next after ITV Digital Sport / Setanta, ESPN and BT Sports in three years time?

Al Jazeera / BeIN Sport.

jodash · 25-02-2013, 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by joff81

It looks like virgin media/liberty global will have to pull their fingers out to offer something to replace the ESPN in the XL Package or a lot of customers (me included) will not be happy, especially after the February price rise.

To be honest the way channels keep getting migrated to the lower packages and now with the loss of ESPN the XL package is looking less and less worth keeping as the L package will be a out on par but for a few HD channels and +1 channels once ESPN leaves.

yes I was thinking that as well

MalteseFalcon · 26-02-2013, 00:21

I'd ditch the XL package, but watch too much on FOX to follow through with it. One thing I want most coming to Virgin, that is someone at CS who knows what they are doing. Called them last week to remove the movies and also the HD movies/sports as well.

They then said you can have the movies and sports half price for 3 months so agreed to it. Find out an hour later sports and movies removed. Phone call says it the half price offer kicks in after 24 hours, they cannot force it to start earlier. So after 24 hours, still nothing. They force it through but only got sports back. Phone call this morning was a waste of time. They promised to call back but didn't. So now I waste more time tomorrow sorting it out.

So yes, decent Customer Service from Virgin would be a plus at the moment. Last 5 days have made me go off Virgin a bit.

ken1234 · 26-02-2013, 10:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkC1984

I'd ditch the XL package, but watch too much on FOX to follow through with it. One thing I want most coming to Virgin, that is someone at CS who knows what they are doing. Called them last week to remove the movies and also the HD movies/sports as well.

They then said you can have the movies and sports half price for 3 months so agreed to it. Find out an hour later sports and movies removed. Phone call says it the half price offer kicks in after 24 hours, they cannot force it to start earlier. So after 24 hours, still nothing. They force it through but only got sports back. Phone call this morning was a waste of time. They promised to call back but didn't. So now I waste more time tomorrow sorting it out.

So yes, decent Customer Service from Virgin would be a plus at the moment. Last 5 days have made me go off Virgin a bit.

i am ditch the XL package too my bill come in today Â£181 know i am going to pay at on all the time

spj20016 · 26-02-2013, 11:36

Is there any news on anything coming to the XL pack, I feel like others that it is starting to be like an hidden HD charge. My mother in law is on the L pack and it pretty much contains the channels that I watch so it is getting to a point where I am even thinking of downgrading. I can take or leave HD I would rather have more different content than the same but in HD.

BenMcr · 26-02-2013, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by spj20016

Is there any news on anything coming to the XL pack, I feel like others that it is starting to be like an hidden HD charge. My mother in law is on the L pack and it pretty much contains the channels that I watch so it is getting to a point where I am even thinking of downgrading. I can take or leave HD I would rather have more different content than the same but in HD.

Eurosport 2 HD launched in XL recently, and Cartoon Network HD and TCM HD before that in January