General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Bircho

Sheffield Live TV will launch on VM on 23rd September

http://www.sheffieldlive.org/launch-...nel-announced/

Good find - Thanks for info.

[vincerooney]

I've always wondered why do virgin media have a closed tv system? What are the advantages? Wouldn't it be easier to acquire channels by having a system like sky?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

I've always wondered why do virgin media have a closed tv system? What are the advantages? Wouldn't it be easier to acquire channels by having a system like sky?

Interesting point but having the most channels is not the objective. Sky's is open mainly because this was a condition of allowing the Sky-BSB merger. Most pay-tv platforms tend to be closed otherwise.
I guess the issue is having more marginal channels like truTV won't drive subscriptions and VM will have fewer costs and get more income if it is the only company dealing with new channels. Technically, I'm not sure how other companies could integrate their services into the network; it's certainly not as simple as paying for third party satellite broadcasting capacity, encryption and an EPG slot.

[spiderplant]

Cable can't be open in the way that satellite can. Anyone can buy satellite bandwidth and send you their channels. But for cable, equipment is needed at the headend to put the channels onto the cable.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Interesting point but having the most channels is not the objective. Sky's is open mainly because this was a condition of allowing the Sky-BSB merger. Most pay-tv platforms tend to be closed otherwise.
I guess the issue is having more marginal channels like truTV won't drive subscriptions and VM will have fewer costs and get more income if it is the only company dealing with new channels. Technically, I'm not sure how other companies could integrate their services into the network; it's certainly not as simple as paying for third party satellite broadcasting capacity, encryption and an EPG slot.

But if Turner Broadcasting wanted TruTV on Virgin Media that bad they can always ask Virgin to remove one of Turner Broadcasting other channels for it.

Viacom and CSC Media have done this in the past.

[cj136uk]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Cable can't be open in the way that satellite can. Anyone can buy satellite bandwidth and send you their channels. But for cable, equipment is needed at the headend to put the channels onto the cable.

I don't follow that?
Astra could say the same for DSB.
Or Sky to the BBC.

When I lived in Belgium and the Netherlands, you just plugged your tv into the cable socket and received free to air channels via a cable.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by cj136uk

When I lived in Belgium and the Netherlands, you just plugged your tv into the cable socket and received free to air channels via a cable.

I don't see that this makes it an open system, it just means that the cable company has chosen to/been paid to/been compelled to by legislation to make some channels unencrypted. And sometimes in Europe the costs of cable TV are paid for by leaseholders out of the service charge so are paid indirectly.

[cj136uk]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I don't see that this makes it an open system, it just means that the cable company has chosen to/been paid to/been compelled to by legislation to make some channels unencrypted. And sometimes in Europe the costs of cable TV are paid for by leaseholders out of the service charge so are paid indirectly.

Well the fact was I could just buy the equipment and watch TV, by Digital Cable and watch tv (all FTA and good variety).
it is possible, like freeview freesat.

I do understand in the low countries and possibly France, cable is the norm in some areas without an alternative, so basic channels are given free with corresponding equipment. As long as the STB or TVs follow a standard to receive the EPG and channels, it should be possible.

As I understand it now the PSBs are unencrypted on VM (is this still the case). therefore just equipment would be need.

J

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by cj136uk

Well the fact was I could just buy the equipment and watch TV, by Digital Cable and watch tv (all FTA and good variety).
it is possible, like freeview freesat.

I think we're probably just talking about a difference in definitions. When Vince talked about an open platform, he/she was talking about open in the context of FTA channels being able to launch on it without negotiating directly with VM. Your definition of open refers to the channels being FTA, unencrypted and being able to be received by what sound like standard DVB-C TV receivers. (as oppose to DVB-T for terrestial and DVB-S for satellite).

Originally Posted by cj136uk

As I understand it now the PSBs are unencrypted on VM (is this still the case). therefore just equipment would be need.

I think there's been some discussions around this area in the past, I believe in some areas it can be done with a standard DVB-C TV receiver but that it is against the VM T&Cs (though if you don't have a contract with them then it is probably a moot point!).

Quick question MB the freeview period of SKY Sports what date/time does it end, as i would love to watch the Kell Brook fight at 2am on the 17th August?

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by mhatter67

Quick question MB the freeview period of SKY Sports what date/time does it end, as i would love to watch the Kell Brook fight at 2am on the 17th August?

Kelly brook is fighting?!

[theone2k10]

CityTV won't be launching so can take that of the list it's bit the dust already http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...?commentpage=1

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

CityTV won't be launching so can take that of the list it's bit the dust already http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...?commentpage=1

I still think there is merit in trying to provide local services regardless of their commercial viability, but this does appear to unravelling a bit. Shame.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by cj136uk

Well the fact was I could just buy the equipment and watch TV, by Digital Cable and watch tv (all FTA and good variety).
it is possible, like freeview freesat.

I do understand in the low countries and possibly France, cable is the norm in some areas without an alternative, so basic channels are given free with corresponding equipment. As long as the STB or TVs follow a standard to receive the EPG and channels, it should be possible.

As I understand it now the PSBs are unencrypted on VM (is this still the case). therefore just equipment would be need.

J

Channels 1 to 5 are still FTA on VM. Apart from Channel 5 in some areas, it is a condition of their licence.

Originally Posted by theone2k10

CityTV won't be launching so can take that of the list it's bit the dust already http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...?commentpage=1

Alas, I don't think that they will be the last to end this way.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by theone2k10

CityTV won't be launching so can take that of the list it's bit the dust already http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...?commentpage=1

Agreed but it does appear from that article that Made TV may be happy to step in and acquire the Birmingham licence.