General Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2. - Page 114

coulsontom · 29-05-2013, 12:45

On Sky, don't they bump the HD channels as far up the guide as possible?

And if you only have SD Sky, they have the SD channels in those places?

Can Virgin not do that.

It seems backwards to promote a +1 channel ahead of HD.

29-05-2013, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

I really don't get why MTV moved next to Comedy Central and that Comedy Central HD has been moved all the way to 181.

Bizarre.

Probably just Viacom wanting MTV to have a better position in the entertainment genre.

---------- Post added at 12:48 ---------- Previous post was at 12:45 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh

Always thought they should just add an extra digit for the alternate channel versions, so 103 would be ITV SD, 1030 ITV HD, 1031 ITV+1 etc. But typing 4 numbers is probably harder and the set top boxes back when they had variable length channel numbers were a bit iffy.

The box would have to wait for a possible 4th digit before changing channels which would make changing channels more sluggish.

ocav · 29-05-2013, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj20x

The box would have to wait for a possible 4th digit before changing channels which would make changing channels more sluggish.

What if you started the 4 digit number with a 0. So BBC One being 0101, Sky 1 HD being 0121

Then the box has identified that its going to be a 4 digit number

passingbat · 29-05-2013, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by coulsontom

Those who say you don't need padding are talking crap because if you don't you often miss the start or end of programmes.

All my recordings are set with a default padding of Zero and I only occasionally add padding; usually if I do, it's for a BBC show.

I don't get the problems you refer to.

29-05-2013, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by ocav

What if you started the 4 digit number with a 0. So BBC One being 0101, Sky 1 HD being 0121

Then the box has identified that its going to be a 4 digit number

I'm not really convinced that there is a need to use 4 digit channels at present. Your suggestion wouldn't really help in steveh's situation, he wanted to add an extra digit for timeshift / HD versions of a channel.

coulsontom · 29-05-2013, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by passingbat

All my recordings are set with a default padding of Zero and I only occasionally add padding; usually if I do, it's for a BBC show.

I don't get the problems you refer to.

If you think that all channels start and end on time, you're mistaken. Clearly you don't though as you mention BBC. (who have a funny start time for the One show at like 3 minutes to the hour - not that I record that!)

Coronation Street has a very random start time. The 8.30 editions sometimes start at nearly 8.28 but the 7.30 slot is more normal.

You cannot set a series link that has different padding for 2 separate editions

It is a lot of messing around to set padding for each show individually. It's far better to have a default setting.

Sky boxes drop the padding when you have clashes, and the V+HD box also does the same thing.

The TiVo box if it tries to drop the padding it goes too far and cuts off the last 2 mins of the first programme or the first 2 mins of the 2nd programme.

passingbat · 29-05-2013, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by coulsontom

If you think that all channels start and end on time, you're mistaken. Clearly you don't though as you mention BBC. (who have a funny start time for the One show at like 3 minutes to the hour - not that I record that!)

Coronation Street has a very random start time. The 8.30 editions sometimes start at nearly 8.28 but the 7.30 slot is more normal.

You cannot set a series link that has different padding for 2 separate editions

It is a lot of messing around to set padding for each show individually. It's far better to have a default setting.

Sky boxes drop the padding when you have clashes, and the V+HD box also does the same thing.

The TiVo box if it tries to drop the padding it goes too far and cuts off the last 2 mins of the first programme or the first 2 mins of the 2nd programme.

All I can tell you is my experience; I rarely use padding and don't have problems.

The V+ handled padding way better than Tivo; a point I made several times before VM released Tivo when someone posted how Tivo did handle padding. But it was clear that Tivo would not be adopting the V+ method.

That is why when I got Tivo, I decided to try zero padding as the default and just add padding to the odd show and that method has worked for me.

coulsontom · 29-05-2013, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by passingbat

All I can tell you is my experience; I rarely use padding and don't have problems.

The V+ handled padding way better than Tivo; a point I made several times before VM released Tivo when someone posted how Tivo did handle padding. But it was clear that Tivo would not be adopting the V+ method.

That is why when I got Tivo, I decided to try zero padding as the default and just add padding to the odd show and that method has worked for me.

Agree.

I prefer padding because otherwise we end up missing bits of shows. (There is also the issue that the clock on the TiVo software is not matched exactly to the clock for TV broadcasts. A few seconds out.

But it doesn't cause a problem, only very rarely due to 3 tuners.

johnasimmons · 29-05-2013, 15:43

On VM forum this afternoon:

Today we've made some changes to the packages some channels are available on, so those on the lower tiers can now start to enjoy the great content from:
Animal Planet (216)
Previously: L pack
Now: M+ pack
MTV (134)
Previously: L pack
Now: M+ pack
Nick Jnr (715)
Previously: XL pack
Now: L pack
Comedy Central +1 (133)
Previously: XL pack
Now: L pack

Are they preparing for something to happen in the XL package?

Media Boy UK · 29-05-2013, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnasimmons

On VM forum this afternoon:

Today we've made some changes to the packages some channels are available on, so those on the lower tiers can now start to enjoy the great content from:

[I]Animal Planet (216)
Previously: L pack
Now: M+ pack

MTV (134)
Previously: L pack
Now: M+ pack

Nick Jnr (715)
Previously: XL pack
Now: L pack

Comedy Central +1 (133)
Previously: XL pack
Now: L pack[/I]

Thanks that confirmed that Virgin Media has signed an new broadcasting deal with Viacom so look out for more channels from them to be added on Virgin soon.

johnasimmons · 29-05-2013, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Thanks that confirmed that Virgin Media has signed an new broadcasting deal with Viacom so look out for more channels from them to be added on Virgin soon.

Woo Hoo! my thoughts precisely MB!

ocav · 29-05-2013, 16:23

I'm sure they would be very stupid to not get the remaining channels from Viacom from this deal, especially MTV HD, the picture quality on the SD channel is shocking

johnasimmons · 29-05-2013, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ocav

I'm sure they would be very stupid to not get the remaining channels from Viacom from this deal, especially MTV HD, the picture quality on the SD channel is shocking

I know! I went to channel 134 by accident (wanted to watch Comedy Central HD) and the picture quality was bloody awful!

denphone · 29-05-2013, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Thanks that confirmed that Virgin Media has signed an new broadcasting deal with Viacom so look out for more channels from them to be added on Virgin soon.

That will keep the doomsayers happy.

Media Boy UK · 29-05-2013, 16:38

I am working on an story for my blog about Comedy Central and Viacom Music Channels moving to new channel numbers on Virgin Media today.

Can anyone on the L package confirmed if H2, Bio, Nat Geo Wild, and CI is now broadcasting on the L Pack?