General EPG shakeup

VirginMediaPhil · 27-05-2014, 01:18

Does anybody else think it's time Virgin has a shakeup of channel numbers on the EPG? New entertainment channels such as HD and timeshift variations seemingly get shoved in the 190s, usually far away from the main channel, such as the ITV HD channels and Watch, Dave and Alibi. Not to mention the CBS channels which are all over the place.

Also it would be nice if they could have an HD swap similar to Sky but I know that's even more of a pipe dream!

27-05-2014, 07:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

Does anybody else think it's time Virgin has a shakeup of channel numbers on the EPG? New entertainment channels such as HD and timeshift variations seemingly get shoved in the 190s, usually far away from the main channel, such as the ITV HD channels and Watch, Dave and Alibi. Not to mention the CBS channels which are all over the place.

Also it would be nice if they could have an HD swap similar to Sky but I know that's even more of a pipe dream!

Agree completely, can anybody remember the channel numbers for Dave HD and Watch HD, no correct because they are stupid numbers down the EPG!

Unfortunately I think I know one of the reasons why for SD EPG bias , for example people will not pay extra for the HD variant channels!

tweetiepooh · 27-05-2014, 10:58

It may also be that people remember the channel number for their favourites so don't want the number to change just to fit in the HD variant. What about recordings? If they are done by channel number you'd need a mechanism to alter future records so what is requested is recorded, not something else.

Kabaal · 27-05-2014, 11:05

Even my TV has a channel swap function for freeview, there's really no sane reason for Virgin not to have it as there is no downside to it at all. Those who like the normal numbering wouldn't be affected.

VirginMediaPhil · 27-05-2014, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabaal

Even my TV has a channel swap function for freeview, there's really no sane reason for Virgin not to have it as there is no downside to it at all. Those who like the normal numbering wouldn't be affected.

I believe the old NTL software had a similar feature (I'm ex-Telewest) so it's certainly possible for it to be implemented, even more so on TiVo since it's a feature on the American version.

Media Boy UK · 27-05-2014, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

I believe the old NTL software had a similar feature (I'm ex-Telewest) so it's certainly possible for it to be implemented, even more so on TiVo since it's a feature on the American version.

Telewest did have it when I joined Telewest Digital TV back in 1999. Was axe when On Demand started.

spiderplant · 27-05-2014, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

even more so on TiVo since it's a feature on the American version.

Really? Got a link?

VirginMediaPhil · 27-05-2014, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Really? Got a link?

After doing a bit of Googling I think I was getting confused with Windows Media Center since their UIs look alike! Not TiVo then sorry.

Doesn't really matter since I know they won't let us reorder the channels again, I just want the EPG sorted out a bit more logically.

andy_m · 28-05-2014, 06:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

After doing a bit of Googling I think I was getting confused with Windows Media Center since their UIs look alike! Not TiVo then sorry.

Doesn't really matter since I know they won't let us reorder the channels again, I just want the EPG sorted out a bit more logically.

I think I'm right in saying that the epg preferences don't snap back to default after an hour, which to me would be a very acceptable work around. I can't find a link for this, though.

OLD BOY · 28-05-2014, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabaal

Even my TV has a channel swap function for freeview, there's really no sane reason for Virgin not to have it as there is no downside to it at all. Those who like the normal numbering wouldn't be affected.

Are you sure about that? I have a recording every night for the 10 o'clock News on BBC 1.

If the channel swap system changed the recording to BBC 1 HD, I would not be able to watch my regional news, as the HD variant just has a slate up telling me that this programming is not available in HD. For this reason, I don't want the channel swap until the BBC have sorted this out.

Kabaal · 28-05-2014, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Are you sure about that? I have a recording every night for the 10 o'clock News on BBC 1.

If the channel swap system changed the recording to BBC 1 HD, I would not be able to watch my regional news, as the HD variant just has a slate up telling me that this programming is not available in HD. For this reason, I don't want the channel swap until the BBC have sorted this out.

Channel swap is something you do yourself, if you don't swap anything then it wouldn't affect you.

VirginMediaPhil · 29-05-2014, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Are you sure about that? I have a recording every night for the 10 o'clock News on BBC 1.

If the channel swap system changed the recording to BBC 1 HD, I would not be able to watch my regional news, as the HD variant just has a slate up telling me that this programming is not available in HD. For this reason, I don't want the channel swap until the BBC have sorted this out.

Well even on Sky they haven't swapped the first 5 channels to HD because exactly that - the HD channels are one single channel for the whole of the country whereas the SD are regionalised. This also affects Channel 4 and possibly Channel 5 since believe it or not they also have regional variations, but only for advertising.

I read that the BBC Trust were supposed to be presented with plans of making the HD channel fully regional but haven't heard any news since.

But even if there was a forced swap, the SD channel would still be there but just on a different channel number so your series link would be unaffected as with all channel moves.

OLD BOY · 29-05-2014, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

Well even on Sky they haven't swapped the first 5 channels to HD because exactly that - the HD channels are one single channel for the whole of the country whereas the SD are regionalised. This also affects Channel 4 and possibly Channel 5 since believe it or not they also have regional variations, but only for advertising.

I read that the BBC Trust were supposed to be presented with plans of making the HD channel fully regional but haven't heard any news since.

But even if there was a forced swap, the SD channel would still be there but just on a different channel number so your series link would be unaffected as with all channel moves.

Both of these would be good solutions that would satisfy me.

Media Boy UK · 05-06-2014, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

Does anybody else think it's time Virgin has a shakeup of channel numbers on the EPG? New entertainment channels such as HD and timeshift variations seemingly get shoved in the 190s, usually far away from the main channel, such as the ITV HD channels and Watch, Dave and Alibi. Not to mention the CBS channels which are all over the place.

Also it would be nice if they could have an HD swap similar to Sky but I know that's even more of a pipe dream!

Big shakeup of channel numbers on the EPG set to happen later this summer.

VirginMediaPhil · 05-06-2014, 16:28

Hooray!