General Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 2 - Page 128

Bananaman_007 · 22-06-2014, 15:02

I think that is a pretty bad excuse to be honest. Not everybody gets to see the content on the BBC first time round and i like to be able to have access when i choose. As we know the iplayer only keeps shows for a week. Virgin also use to have a much better offering from ITV which they also let expire.

Even if i did take that as a valid excuse what i don't understand is why contact was never made to get exclusive on demand content direct from US content providers. WIth the power of the broadband network that Virgin has the on demand is where they should be focusing the time and money.

As people have pointed out not only have Sky caught up but they have overtaken with their on demand offering.

RichardCoulter · 22-06-2014, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bananaman_007

I think that is a pretty bad excuse to be honest. Not everybody gets to see the content on the BBC first time round and i like to be able to have access when i choose. As we know the iplayer only keeps shows for a week. Virgin also use to have a much better offering from ITV which they also let expire.

Even if i did take that as a valid excuse what i don't understand is why contact was never made to get exclusive on demand content direct from US content providers. WIth the power of the broadband network that Virgin has the on demand is where they should be focusing the time and money.

As people have pointed out not only have Sky caught up but they have overtaken with their on demand offering.

Didn't ITV withdraw most of their content and put it behind a paywall

It does appear to be the case that VM have allowed Sky to overtake their once USP.

telegramsam · 22-06-2014, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

At launch VM were offered the same deal as Sky in relation to UKTV On Demand material, but chose not to take it up. The alleged reason was that it was not worth paying for, as a lot of the programmes were already available on the BBC, who made the programmes in the first place.

That isn`t the case now though as both Alibi and Watch show brand new shows so aren`t virgin looking a bit daft now? And can`t these things be re-negotiated?

andy_m · 22-06-2014, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bananaman_007

I think that is a pretty bad excuse to be honest. Not everybody gets to see the content on the BBC first time round and i like to be able to have access when i choose. As we know the iplayer only keeps shows for a week. Virgin also use to have a much better offering from ITV which they also let expire.

Even if i did take that as a valid excuse what i don't understand is why contact was never made to get exclusive on demand content direct from US content providers. WIth the power of the broadband network that Virgin has the on demand is where they should be focusing the time and money.

As people have pointed out not only have Sky caught up but they have overtaken with their on demand offering.

With the power of the broadband network that Virgin has isn't broadband where they should be focusing their time and money, especially given the arrival of infinity? It's one thing to fall behind in TV when you're not first and foremost a TV company, but to fall behind in the broadband market would surely be the beginning of the end.

howardmicks · 22-06-2014, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Didn't ITV withdraw most of their content and put it behind a paywall

It does appear to be the case that VM have allowed Sky to overtake their once USP.

VM on demand as become embarrassing,as i have stated in previous post lg are concentrating on aquiring chargeable content at the minute ie netflix,sports in hd any thing that will cost them and cant pass onto us is on the back burner

theone2k10 · 22-06-2014, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardmicks

VM on demand as become embarrassing,as i have stated in previous post lg are concentrating on aquiring chargeable content at the minute ie netflix,sports in hd any thing that will cost them and cant pass onto us is on the back burner

Hit the nail on the head there mate. This is part of the reason i'm canceling my VM TV as soon as contract is up, i've already downgraded to tvm pack.

RichardCoulter · 22-06-2014, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by telegramsam

That isn`t the case now though as both Alibi and Watch show brand new shows so aren`t virgin looking a bit daft now? And can`t these things be re-negotiated?

I'm not sure how long the deal was offered for, but if it is still in force it may not even need a renegotiation if VM wanted the content.

I did find it odd that VM didn't get the missing UKTV channels until VM sold off their stake in them (and we still didn't get the VOD content).

Arthurgray50@blu · 22-06-2014, 20:23

Sadly, this is typical VM. They dont care about the customer, but in the end its us that pay for it.

Its Like VM directors sit in the coffee lounge at the golf course and saying, we will decide what we want and the customers can go to hell.

telegramsam · 22-06-2014, 20:49

I do wonder what virgin`s thinking is myself at times. Also,I`d forgotten that virgin media once had a stake in UK TV. You would of thought we (virgin customers) would of got the UK TV Channels on demand content AHEAD of sky. But as it`s been said there`s no logic in virgin`s thinking

1andrew1 · 22-06-2014, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by telegramsam

I do wonder what virgin`s thinking is myself at times. Also,I`d forgotten that virgin media once had a stake in UK TV. You would of thought we (virgin customers) would of got the UK TV Channels on demand content AHEAD of sky. But as it`s been said there`s no logic in virgin`s thinking

UKTV was just an investment by VM. Due to the terms of its agreement with co-owner BBC Worldwide, UKTV had to operate entirely independently from VM.
I think the lack of catch-up from companies like ITV was just a short-term money-saving measure by Neil Berkett's team. I hope LibertyGlobal do decide to invest in this area when its contracts with ITV are renewed.

**Hugh** · 22-06-2014, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Sadly, this is typical VM. They dont care about the customer, but in the end its us that pay for it.

Its Like VM directors sit in the coffee lounge at the golf course and saying, we will decide what we want and the customers can go to hell.

I think you will find it's the 19th Hole, old chap....

Derekb108 · 23-06-2014, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

UKTV was just an investment by VM. Due to the terms of its agreement with co-owner BBC Worldwide, UKTV had to operate entirely independently from VM.
I think the lack of catch-up from companies like ITV was just a short-term money-saving measure by Neil Berkett's team. I hope LibertyGlobal do decide to invest in this area when its contracts with ITV are renewed.

Did you forget VM sold its stake to the scripts network ?

1andrew1 · 23-06-2014, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

UKTV was just an investment by VM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derekb108

Did you forget VM sold its stake to the scripts network ?

No, my post was written in the past tense as I was aware VM's stake had been sold to Scripps Networks Interactive.

steveh · 23-06-2014, 06:48

With a better user interface they might get more people using the existing on-demand content. Netflix is like a video shop with helpful notes on the titles and an assistant who remembered what you liked before. Virgin On-Demand is a pile of DVDs left in the middle of the floor, some of them missing their cases.

denphone · 23-06-2014, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh

With a better user interface they might get more people using the existing on-demand content. Netflix is like a video shop with helpful notes on the titles and an assistant who remembered what you liked before. Virgin On-Demand is a pile of DVDs left in the middle of the floor, some of them missing their cases.

Indeed that's the way l see it as well Steve.