General : Coming soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 6.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by andy_m

I suppose it's no different to when a Virgin rep says it is coming and people queue up on here to say they couldn't possibly know. She might have sounded confident, but she certainly can't have been sure unless all customer service agents have been briefed that this is the case, in which case we'd all know.

There's been a few things we thought we knew about what customer service agents had been told at SKY, which have turned out to be nothing more than rubbish:

http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Prog...1198530#M20628

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Chad

Yeah but she didn't have to say it, I'd already agreed not to cancel my subscription at that point. I would understand her bending the truth to convince me to stay if I'd waded into the call with that line. I pretty much threw SKY Atlantic at her as an after thought towards the end of the conversation.

She seemed pretty genuine however I'll happily change my opinion if someone can post some kind of proof that SKY Atlantic is actually coming. Until then how can I not believe what she just told me?

Who knows what's happening with Atlantic but for me it's one of the things along with customer services what keeps me with Sky and I've told them numerous times in consumer feedback. This is purely my personal opinion I'm sure there's many don't like Atlantic and have no interest in it likewise I'm sure there's people whove had bad experiences with Sky CS also.

What was the outcome of your call Chad are you getting your 50℅ off extended ?

[Chad]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

I had similar tactics i was told movies come on sky 12 months before Netflix , i pointed out not if you use a vpn they don't. They were still in denial and saying every movie comes on sky 12 months before Netflix. So merely mentioned Hansel and gretel witch hunters , hunger games , the hobbit a unexpected journey. They looked rather sheepish lol.
They say anything to gain/keep a customer it's the same with any company tbf.

Call me foolish but I'm happy to believe her. Of course I'm happy to jump on the bandwagon, and call her a fibber, if someone can post proof that SKY Atlantic is coming to Virgin soon. Until then why wouldn't I believe her?

---------- Post added at 11:52 ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 ----------

Originally Posted by muppetman11

What was the outcome of your call Chad are you getting your 50℅ off extended ?

I've to call back on the 14th of December with the name of the person who got me signed up for the deal last year. As long as they are still employed by SKY, which they are, they're going to give me a new 12 months 50% off deal.

I was happy to go back to Virgin Media however the deal from SKY is just too good to turn down. Just under £63.00 per month for broadband, phone line, SKY Sports, SKY Movies and multiroom. It's saving me about £55 per month. I don't have to worry about any price increases for another 10 months.

I've said this before, it makes you think how much we are all being overcharged by our providers. SKY must still be making some kind of profit from me on this deal.

[Perfect Choice]

The trouble with Sky’s tactics on Sky Atlantic/HBO is that it could back fire on them once their exclusive agreement comes to an end IMHO.

By denying access today, they may gain a temporary advantage but as far as I've seen posted, there is no real evidence of a significant subscription base being with Sky purely because of SA i.e. nice to have but not enough to move to Sky if you cannot get it.

But by taking this stance, HBO may well be approached to do content supply deals with VM, BT and TalkTalk, which will easily cover the loss of revenues with any deal renewal with Sky not being exclusive. Of course HBO may continue an exclusive relationship with Sky but not sure this would be in their best interests.

So while Sky have their exclusivity in the UK (legally at least) for new content from HBO, this will not be forever IMHO and then their tactics will back fire on them.

Considering what BT have done to Sports, plus the likes of Netflix having greater access to content, Sky do have a battle on their hands as has been the case recently with Sports and they are not exactly helping themselves by forcing competitors to consider alternative roués to content instead of reaching agreements to supply channels under their existing agreements with the likes of HBO.

When is the deal with HBO due to expire anyway, was it 2014 or 2015?

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Perfect Choice

The trouble with Sky’s tactics on Sky Atlantic/HBO is that it could back fire on them once their exclusive agreement comes to an end IMHO.

By denying access today, they may gain a temporary advantage but as far as I've seen posted, there is no real evidence of a significant subscription base being with Sky purely because of SA i.e. nice to have but not enough to move to Sky if you cannot get it.

But by taking this stance, HBO may well be approached to do content supply deals with VM, BT and TalkTalk, which will easily cover the loss of revenues with any deal renewal with Sky not being exclusive. Of course HBO may continue an exclusive relationship with Sky but not sure this would be in their best interests.

So while Sky have their exclusivity in the UK (legally at least) for new content from HBO, this will not be forever IMHO and then their tactics will back fire on them.

Considering what BT have done to Sports, plus the likes of Netflix having greater access to content, Sky do have a battle on their hands as has been the case recently with Sports and they are not exactly helping themselves by forcing competitors to consider alternative roués to content instead of reaching agreements to supply channels under their existing agreements with the likes of HBO.

When is the deal with HBO due to expire anyway, was it 2014 or 2015?

Good points.

The HBO deal expires 2015. SKY are paying HBO £30 million per year for the content. I'm not sure I can see any other platform paying that kind of money to access the content.

Now that SKY Atlantic is available on NOW TV, any household in the UK with a broadband connection can access the channel. That's 83% according to recent figures:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/rdit2/...b-ia-2013.html

Even if you don't want to go down the SKY route, HBO have a deal with Blinkbox for their content. Again this means 83% of households in the UK can legally watch HBO programming without any kind of TV subscription.

If anything, more people in the UK have direct access to HBO content than in the States.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Perfect Choice

When is the deal with HBO due to expire anyway, was it 2014 or 2015?

July 2015.

[greeninferno]

Originally Posted by Chad

I've said this before, it makes you think how much we are all being overcharged by our providers. SKY must still be making some kind of profit from me on this deal.

Some are in the unique position of being able to play Virgin off against Sky - in an Infinity area to compete for broadband speeds.

it makes complete commercial sense for Sky to deprive Virgin of a customer while at the same time making £60 a month.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by piquet41

Hi everyone, my total channels went up from 430 to 431 last night, anyone any idea what that maybe?

News to me - no channels has been added or removed in my areas over the past weekend.

Here is the football result that Sky will not tell you:

Sky 3, BBC Scotland 7.

The BBC pick (Hearts game) of the 4th round of the Scottish cup has more goals than the Sky two picks (Rangers and Aberdeen games).

[Chad]

Originally Posted by greeninferno

Some are in the unique position of being able to play Virgin off against Sky - in an Infinity area to compete for broadband speeds.

it makes complete commercial sense for Sky to deprive Virgin of a customer while at the same time making £60 a month.

I'm in a great position. Where I live is historically a cabled town. Telewest was the clear winner in my area during the 90's. This has continued on during the Virgin Media years, not too many SKY dishes where I live.

Now that Infinity has been rolled out in my area, I'm forever getting mailshots with interesting deals from the likes of Virgin Media and BT.

It means I can bounce from provider to provider if I want.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by paultrademark

So are you saying that they are due to launch but will most likely be delayed?

If so, can I have next weeks lottery results?

All I have been saying is that the missing Sky channels were mooted to launch on VM this autumn. I have no idea whether the original time penciled in for this has changed, but I haven't heard or read anything about it if that is the case.

It is possible that a delay may have happened because Sky brought a proposal forward to launch Sky Bravo on Virgin Media rather late in the day. So if these channels don't launch before Christmas, this is probably the sticking point.

You must understand that these negotiations are being conducted under a cloak of secrecy and I cannot tell you what I do not know.

[Media Boy UK]

December List update - December 2nd update.

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin TV network.

NOTE: I DO NOT WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA SO ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS LIST IS STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Colours on my list are as followed:

Media Boy = New Info just added.
Media Boy = Virgin Media News and links.
Media Boy = Other Media news/Things.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin Media ===
Sep. 3rd. CBS Reality, Horror Channel, CBS Action, CBS Drama, CBS Reality +1 and Horror Channel +1 is having an freeview to all M+ and L packages on Virgin Channels 148, 149, 192, 197, 201 and 202 right now until December 31st 2013.
Oct. 25th. Premier Sports is having an freeview to all M, M+, L and XL packages on Virgin Channel 551 right now until (End date still to be confirmed).

=== December ===
10th. BBC Two HD to move from Virgin Channel 187 to Virgin Channel 161.
10th. BBC Three HD set to launch today on Virgin Channel 162*.
10th. BBC Four HD set to launch today on Virgin Channel 163*.
10th. BBC ALBA to move from Virgin Channel 188 to Virgin Channel 164.
10th. BBC News HD set to launch today on Virgin Channel 604*.
10th. CBBC HD set to launch today on Virgin Channel 710*.
10th. CBeebies HD set to launch today on Virgin Channel 711*.
16th. Media Boy to reveal 'Best of' 2013 winners only on Cable Forum.
17th. Media Boy to reveal the posters of all the 'Coming Soon to Virgin TV' thread today only on Cable Forum (Poll closes at midday on December 16th)

*Channel numbers thanks to DS Forum.

=== January 2014 ===
1st. Sky Movies Christmas to be rebrand as Sky Movies Drama and Romance on Virgin Channel 408.
1st. Sky Movies Christmas HD to be rebrand as Sky Movies Drama and Romance HD on Virgin Channel 438.
4th. Christmas 24 and Christmas 24 + will be rebranded as Movies 24 and Movies 24 + on Virgin Channels 419 and 420.
True Christmas will be rebranded as True Movies 1 on Virgin Channel 424 sometime this month.
Nick Jr. Christmas to be rebrand as Nick Jr. on Virgin Channel 715 sometime this month.

=== February 2014 ===
1st. Virgin Media to put some prices up from today.
27th. Local TV broadcaster Made in Leeds hope to launch today on Virgin Channel 159.

=== March 2014 ===
6th. Local TV broadcaster London Live hope to launch on Virgin Channel 159 today.

=== April 2014 ===
No News...

=== May 2014 ===
No News...

=== June 2014 ===
No News...

=== July 2014 ===
No News...

=== August 2014 ===
No News...

=== September 2014 ===
No News...

=== October 2014 ===
No News...

=== November 2014 ===
No News...

=== December 2014 ===
No News...

=== Not Confirmed as coming ===
-(UPDATED September 13th) Broadcastnow is reporting that Virgin Media are in new talks with Sky to carry 'Sky Atlantic SD' plus more.

=== Unknown dates ===
-News 18 will soon launch on Virgin Media.
-Sky to close Sky Arts 2 to launch Sky Bravo?
-The BBC will launch an BBC One +1 Channel.
-Local TV may launch on Virgin TV in some areas on Virgin Channel 159 (Starting in Late 2013).
-The BBC to axe BBC Radio 4 LW on Virgin Channel 911 ''in the long term''.
-The BBC hope to launch English regional variants of its existing BBC One HD service as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland editions of BBC Two HD - but still need to be approved by the BBC Trust.

=== Channels ONLY in UPC Ireland areas ===
List last updated on October 1st 2013.

ONLY TV CHANNELS THAT ONLY BROADCAST IN THE UK WILL APPEAR ON THIS PART OF THE LIST OF MISSING CHANNELS NOT BROADCASTING IN VIRGIN MEDIA AREAS RIGHT NOW BUT IS BROADCASTING ON UPC IRELAND:

Documentaries:
-History HD
-Nat Geo Wild HD
-CI HD

News:
-Sky News HD

Movies:
-MGM HD

Sports:
-Sky Sports News HD

Lifestyle:
-Fashion TV

Kids:
-Disney Channel HD

Music:
-MTV Classic

Specialist:
-EWTN

Radio:
-UCB Ireland

©copyright 2013 Media Boy 2006 - 2013. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

=== Media Boy Extra info: ===
Liberty Global - http://www.lgi.com/
Media Boy Blog - For all things Virgin TV - http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/
See Virgin Media on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

==== Virgin Media's Deals with broadcasters ===
This part has now move to link called 'Own by'.

==== See you later ===
List last updated on December 2nd 2013.

Next update: TBC - unless:

A) If Virgin are set to launch more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) on Virgin TV.
B) If Virgin are set to move more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) about on Virgin TV.
C) If Virgin are set to close or repackage more then TWO channels (TV or Radio ) on Virgin TV.

Did I miss anything??? If I did tell me and it will appear on the next update.

©copyright 2013 Media Boy 2006 - 2013. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

ALL OF MY LINKS ARE UNDER THE LINE.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by Perfect Choice

The trouble with Sky’s tactics on Sky Atlantic/HBO is that it could back fire on them once their exclusive agreement comes to an end IMHO.

By denying access today, they may gain a temporary advantage but as far as I've seen posted, there is no real evidence of a significant subscription base being with Sky purely because of SA i.e. nice to have but not enough to move to Sky if you cannot get it.

But by taking this stance, HBO may well be approached to do content supply deals with VM, BT and TalkTalk, which will easily cover the loss of revenues with any deal renewal with Sky not being exclusive. Of course HBO may continue an exclusive relationship with Sky but not sure this would be in their best interests.

So while Sky have their exclusivity in the UK (legally at least) for new content from HBO, this will not be forever IMHO and then their tactics will back fire on them.

Considering what BT have done to Sports, plus the likes of Netflix having greater access to content, Sky do have a battle on their hands as has been the case recently with Sports and they are not exactly helping themselves by forcing competitors to consider alternative roués to content instead of reaching agreements to supply channels under their existing agreements with the likes of HBO.

When is the deal with HBO due to expire anyway, was it 2014 or 2015?

Netflix are rumoured to be going after HBO content once the Sky deal ends.
As you say this could backfire on Sky , Sky are shooting themselves in the foot.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by XxDanoxX

With each passing month we come a little closer to getting the missing SKY channels, we're also in exactly the same position as we have always been - they're not here and may never appear.

Nobody knows and 10 mins after the announcement happens that they have finally arrived (if they finally arrive) nobody will give a rats backside about this discussion.

Next......

There has certainly been a lot of speculation on here previously about Sky Atlantic coming, and I admit that I was one of them. This was based really on the presumption that the exclusivity to Sky customers on satellite would only last for about a year and that Sky wouldn't keep forking out so much money for the programmes on Sky Atlantic with such a small audience.

The fact that they have continued to have this expensive loss leader for so long is very surprising, particularly as they will have milked it for all it was worth over the first 12 months.

The current prediction about Sky Atlantic, however, is not just down to speculation. It is based on the positive media reports that Sky and Virgin have been in more constructive talks and both now have an air of realism about this. The two companies are co-operating much more now, as evidenced by the recent multi million fibre deal as an example, and Sky are really keen to get the new Sky Bravo channel onto the cable platform. Add the Liberty Global takeover and the Sky/BT spat to the mix, and the media reports that a deal was expected in the autumn all sounds very plausible to me.

You can all believe what you want, but if you prefer to listen to Sky Customer Services employees and vague 'insider' information which is probably not worth a dot, then knock yourself out! Whilst the media can be a little OTT at times and sometimes make too much of very little, I would rather go on information from media reports than from these other 'sources' which just seem to be leading everyone up the garden path.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

Netflix are rumoured to be going after HBO content once the Sky deal ends.
As you say this could backfire on Sky , Sky are shooting themselves in the foot.

So what exactly are SKY doing to shoot themselves in the foot? HBO knew the deal they where getting into, and what SKY planned to do with their content, when they accepted SKY's £150 million offer.

I can understand HBO selling their content to Netflix, in an attempt to broaden the potential viewing audience of their programming, however are Netflix prepared to match or better the £30 million per year that SKY pay?

Also there has been another interesting turn of events in regards to HBO shows shown exclusively on SKY Atlantic. We all know that SKY love to advertise their channels and programming to death across all of their own branded channels. Whilst this might not have significantly driven up their own new customer numbers wanting access to SKY Atlantic, it's believed it has actually helped drive up the sales of HBO DVD boxsets released in the UK. Once I find the link I'll post it but there was an article that suggested Games Of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire reached number 1 in the DVD sales charts pertly due to SKY's advertising of the shows. HBO aren't going to get that kind of exposure having their shows tucked away on Netflix.

I have both Netflix and SKY so I'm not really fussed who shows the content. As long as I continue to get access then I'm satisfied.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

There has certainly been a lot of speculation on here previously about Sky Atlantic coming, and I admit that I was one of them. This was based really on the presumption that the exclusivity to Sky customers on satellite would only last for about a year and that Sky wouldn't keep forking out so much money for the programmes on Sky Atlantic with such a small audience.

The fact that they have continued to have this expensive loss leader for so long is very surprising, particularly as they will have milked it for all it was worth over the first 12 months.

The current prediction about Sky Atlantic, however, is not just down to speculation. It is based on the positive media reports that Sky and Virgin have been in more constructive talks and both now have an air of realism about this. The two companies are co-operating much more now, as evidenced by the recent multi million fibre deal as an example, and Sky are really keen to get the new Sky Bravo channel onto the cable platform. Add the Liberty Global takeover and the Sky/BT spat to the mix, and the media reports that a deal was expected in the autumn all sounds very plausible to me.

You can all believe what you want, but if you prefer to listen to Sky Customer Services employees and vague 'insider' information which is probably not worth a dot, then knock yourself out! Whilst the media can be a little OTT at times and sometimes make too much of very little, I would rather go on information from media reports than from these other 'sources' which just seem to be leading everyone up the garden path.

exactly it speculation only it not coming sooner people realise that the better