General : Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014

[denphone]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

No, it was a press release so would be written and rewritten several times to ensure there's no misinterpretation. But I too can see this channel being on VM once Sky's initial period is over.

Lets hope this is not a case because if it is then quite clearly Sly have no intention of changing their bad old habits and as such deserve no such sympathy from anybody if things turn badly for them.

[Mad Max]

If itvs recent quality is anything to go by then it's no big loss.

Slightly off topic, but I totally agree with the above comment, I watched the Chelsea game on Sunday on Ch 853 and the PQ was pish! I hate it when ITV get football games, when will they ever show them in HD?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

If itvs recent quality is anything to go by then it's no big loss.

Can't agree with you on that one, theone! Their drama output has improved latterly, and there's more on ITV than on Sky Atlantic that is worth seeing.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

In your opinion that is , ITV won channel of the year at the Edinburgh Television festival so clearly not everyone agrees with you.

Do Sky still own 7.5% of ITV?

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I don't think that this deal replaces Sky's plans for their new Bravo channel, which is aimed at a different audience.

Perhaps Sky intends to use ITV Encore as their unique selling point to replace Sky Atlantic, which will be a cheaper option than continuing to fund SA from Sky satellite subscribers alone. This will make availability of SA to VM more acceptable to investors. I wondered how they were going to accomplish that.

Thursday's announcement will be very interesting indeed, possibly!

dream on OB mate

[denphone]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

In your opinion that is , ITV won channel of the year at the Edinburgh Television festival so clearly not everyone agrees with you.

Indeed as ITV have had some excellent drama series in the last couple of years.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Dave42

dream on OB mate

I thought it was time for me to tempt you out of your shell!

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Can't agree with you on that one, theone! Their drama output has improved latterly, and there's more on ITV than on Sky Atlantic that is worth seeing.

In your opinion of course!

[denphone]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

If itvs recent quality is anything to go by then it's no big loss.

---------- Post added at 12:03 ---------- Previous post was at 12:02 ----------



Virgin had their own channels and sold them. Sky have treated Living shows like Supernatural, nikita etc like crap quite frankly. VM only have themselves to blame.

No its was not as simple as that dear chap.

---------- Post added at 12:30 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Do Sky still own 7.5% of ITV?

Yes they do as the original stake was 17.9 %.

The Company was the subject of a flurry of rumoured take-over and merger bids during 2006. For example, on 9 November 2006, NTL announced that it had approached ITV plc about a proposed merger.[17][18] The merger was effectively blocked by British Sky Broadcasting on 17 November 2006 when it controversially bought a 17.9% stake in ITV plc for £940 million,[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_plc

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

[/COLOR]

Virgin had their own channels and sold them. Sky have treated Living shows like Supernatural, nikita etc like crap quite frankly. VM only have themselves to blame.

But Virgin got a good deal from that sale. I think we would be in a worse position now had they not taken that route.

It was simple maths really. VM did not have a lot of money to play with at the time, and it was obvious that the battle for content was just putting prices up. VM were not in a position to participate in these price wars.

Now bigger players are coming into the picture, I think things will start to change for the better over the coming few years.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

No, it was a press release so would be written and rewritten several times to ensure there's no misinterpretation. But I too can see this channel being on VM once Sky's initial period is over.

It has echos of Granada Sky Broadcasting for me. Does anyone remember if those 4 channels had an exclusive period on Sky before becoming available on NTL/Telewest/ITV Digital, as was?

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

But Virgin got a good deal from that sale. I think we would be in a worse position now had they not taken that route.

It was simple maths really. VM did not have a lot of money to play with at the time, and it was obvious that the battle for content was just putting prices up. VM were not in a position to participate in these price wars.

Now bigger players are coming into the picture, I think things will start to change for the better over the coming few years.

Good points OB.

---------- Post added at 12:37 ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 ----------

Discovery 3d to launch on VM? First i've heard about this it's come from a unreliable source but could happen i guess.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

Discovery 3d to launch on VM? First i've heard about this it's come from a unreliable source but could happen i guess.

Discovery 3D is not broadcasting on Sky so maybe Discovery 3D will launch as an Virgin Media only channel or Virgin on Demand.

But Virgin can be found in the same 'Family Tree' as Discovery.

Here is that 'Family Tree':

1) Virgin Media is own by Liberty Global.
2) Who Chairman is John C. Malone.
3) Who is also CEO & Chairman of Discovery Holding Company (Discovery Communications).
4) Discovery Communications own Divisions over the world - Discovery Networks International own Discovery Channels in the UK and Ireland.

[harry_hitch]

For what it's worth, I think this ITV channel will be a Sky exclusive for some years. Lets not forget how long VM had to wait before they got ITV 2,3 and in HD. AFAIK, these channels still have to be paid for, so I do not see why Sky won't try and use this as a USP too. They are probably aware of the competition for U.S. tv shows from Netflix next year and are planning for more exclusive content to possibly make up for any possible loss of US dramas to the likes of Netflix.
For me it would be no loss though. I cannot remember the last program I watch on ITV (other than Take Me Out). Sky's original British content does not appeal to me much either. I have only enjoyed Mad Dogs over the years.
I am sure there will be the odd program I would like to watch, but I will not be upset if VM do not get the channel. It would of course be nice if VM could get it for those who want it.

[Anypermitedroute]

also it will be on sky now should anyone cant wait till it is on VM....