General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 4

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by jj20x

It does seem crazy that, in order to get these channels, we have to additional services which duplicate much of the content already available from VM.

It would be crazier if Sky's Now TV service just charged you £1.50pm for Sky Atlantic on its own as the whole point of keeping Sky Atlantic exclusive is to make Sky TV's package more attractive than its competitors' packages.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

It would be crazier if Sky's Now TV service just charged you £1.50pm for Sky Atlantic on its own as the whole point of keeping Sky Atlantic exclusive is to make Sky TV's package more attractive than its competitors' packages.

Obviously, for Sky, it's a bonus. They get paid for providing duplicate services. For the consumer, it's not so good. The consumer has to pay extra, to duplicate services they already receive from their existing provider, and has to deal with the clutter of additional boxes.

I certainly wouldn't pay Sky to access services they are basically withholding from other providers. That just encourages them to withhold more.

[jodash]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

MB Views: Is Virgin Media still in talks with LFC TV?

Is Virgin Media still in talks with Liverpool FC over its new HD Channel?

The "Channel no longer broadcasting" screen has been on air over the past two weeks now and still to be removed from Virgin Channel 544.

The last time Virgin did this was when ESPN was axe for two weeks just for it to reappear as part of the BT Sport deal.

Note: LFCTV was still on Virgin Channel 544 at time of posting.

I did tweet VM and got the reply they were "In talks! same said for MUTV HD

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by jj20x

Possibly, but it's not rocket science. They already carried the channels and should have had a reasonably good idea of what would make it onto the on-demand service.

Especially as they used to own 50% of the UKTV channels

IIRC the UKTV VOD service was created just before VM sold their stake in the company.

I do know for a fact that both Sky and Virgin Media were offered the service on exactly the same terms- Sky decided to take them up on it and VM didn't for the reasons given earlier.

I am making an assumption that UKTV have now decided to let VM have the service at the price they were willing to pay- a lower income stream than expected from a product is better than not providing it and receiving nothing.

---------- Post added at 22:32 ---------- Previous post was at 22:29 ----------

Originally Posted by jodash

I did tweet VM and got the reply they were "In talks! same said for MUTV HD

The mystery deepens...

[denphone]

Originally Posted by jj20x

Hmmm, could be worth watching.

The channel does seem to be getting off to a slow start. As the planning stage for this channel must have been some time ago, I would have expected them to commission new material at that stage.

Hopefully we will get this channel sometime next year.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jj20x

Hmmm, could be worth watching.

The channel does seem to be getting off to a slow start. As the planning stage for this channel must have been some time ago, I would have expected them to commission new material at that stage.

No, it's as intended. The channel was always going to rely on repeats during its first year.

Hopefully, the new stuff will coincide with the end of the exclusivity period with Sky and the channel will be launched on VM at that time.

---------- Post added at 16:11 ---------- Previous post was at 16:06 ----------

Originally Posted by leathertrousers2

Someone needs to explain to me the importance of Sky Atlantic as again everything is online and in the right places free. Why fund Murdoch any further?

Because we don't want to pay any more for it, nor do we want to view it on our computers or through additional equipment.

It's only free if you view it unlawfully or through an existing subscription using Unblockus or something like that.

Frankly, I just want to watch these programmes on my TIVO box. I am annoyed that we have to jump through hoops in the way you describe.

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by jj20x

Obviously, for Sky, it's a bonus. They get paid for providing duplicate services. For the consumer, it's not so good. The consumer has to pay extra, to duplicate services they already receive from their existing provider, and has to deal with the clutter of additional boxes.

I certainly wouldn't pay Sky to access services they are basically withholding from other providers. That just encourages them to withhold more.

spot on! thats exactly how i feel.

[Superblade7]

Originally Posted by jj20x

It does seem crazy that, in order to get these channels, we have to additional services which duplicate much of the content already available from VM.

I can see your point of view but I have a different view on it. I bought a TV for the bedroom about a year ago with the intention to get an additional STB installed by VM. Due to the package I was on it would have cost me about £11 a month extra to get a V HD box installed in the bedroom.

I therefore looked for alternatives and ended up getting a Roku streaming stick and Now TV. This gives me access to the on demand services of all the main channels I watch along with the added bonus of Sky Atlantic and up until this month, only cost me £4.99 per month compared to the £11.00 it would have been with VM.

So in a strange way, VM actually helped me get Sky Atlantic albeit probably not they way they would have liked!

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

No, it's as intended. The channel was always going to rely on repeats during its first year.

I know that's what ITV planned, I just find it odd that they introduce a new, supposedly premium, channel and for the first year only show repeats.

Hopefully, the new stuff will coincide with the end of the exclusivity period with Sky and the channel will be launched on VM at that time.

Which raises the question, why would Sky fund a period of exclusivity for a channel only showing repeats? We don't know how long the channel will be exclusive to Sky. I suspect that it may extend further, into the period when ITV Encore starts showing original content.

---------- Post added at 21:10 ---------- Previous post was at 21:01 ----------

Originally Posted by Superblade7

I can see your point of view but I have a different view on it. I bought a TV for the bedroom about a year ago with the intention to get an additional STB installed by VM. Due to the package I was on it would have cost me about £11 a month extra to get a V HD box installed in the bedroom.

That's not really a different point of view but a different scenario. If you choose to have a Now TV box in another location instead of adding a V HD box you aren't duplicating services at that location. If you can do that and save money and still get the services you require that is all well and good.

[jobbie8]

I got a NowTV box with 4 months free entertainment pass, just to see what the service was like.
It's in my bedroom on top of one of my 3 Tivos. NowTV offers what I want, Fox, Atlantic, Spotify and it's very fast. Only thing is Netflix is missing.
I am now thinking about dropping at the very least my 3rd Tivo for a streaming box.
Virgin need to speed the Tivo up a lot.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by jobbie8

I got a NowTV box with 4 months free entertainment pass, just to see what the service was like.
It's in my bedroom on top of one of my 3 Tivos. NowTV offers what I want, Fox, Atlantic, Spotify and it's very fast. Only thing is Netflix is missing.
I am now thinking about dropping at the very least my 3rd Tivo for a streaming box.
Virgin need to speed the Tivo up a lot.

Regarding netflix you can get the roku stick for £30 now but i recommend holding on a bit and grab the Amazon fire tv stick if it's anything like the Amazon fire tv it'll be a cracking piece of kit.

[Superblade7]

Originally Posted by jobbie8

I got a NowTV box with 4 months free entertainment pass, just to see what the service was like.
It's in my bedroom on top of one of my 3 Tivos. NowTV offers what I want, Fox, Atlantic, Spotify and it's very fast. Only thing is Netflix is missing.
I am now thinking about dropping at the very least my 3rd Tivo for a streaming box.
Virgin need to speed the Tivo up a lot.

Originally Posted by theone2k10

Regarding netflix you can get the roku stick for £30 now but i recommend holding on a bit and grab the Amazon fire tv stick if it's anything like the Amazon fire tv it'll be a cracking piece of kit.

As theone says, the Roku stick has Now TV, Netflix, the terrestrial catch up apps along with a host of other apps you can add through the store. The device itself is a little sluggish to boot up and start shows but once it's going the streaming quality is excellent. I also like that it's discreetly hidden away behind the TV as it just sticks into one of the HDMI ports. It does need a power source though which can be either a normal plug or a USB port if you've got one on your TV. The interface will also be familiar to you as the Now TV box is a stripped down Roku box.

Can't comment on the Amazon Fire TV but would imagine that to have all the same apps - theone can you confirm?

So I guess whilst ever Sky Atlantic & ITV Encore are hopefully 'coming soon' to VM TV then there are plenty of alternatives out there.

[Stephen]

As a reminder we do have a thread for discussing streaming services

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...s-page-66.html

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by Superblade7

As theone says, the Roku stick has Now TV, Netflix, the terrestrial catch up apps along with a host of other apps you can add through the store. The device itself is a little sluggish to boot up and start shows but once it's going the streaming quality is excellent. I also like that it's discreetly hidden away behind the TV as it just sticks into one of the HDMI ports. It does need a power source though which can be either a normal plug or a USB port if you've got one on your TV. The interface will also be familiar to you as the Now TV box is a stripped down Roku box.

Can't comment on the Amazon Fire TV but would imagine that to have all the same apps - theone can you confirm?

So I guess whilst ever Sky Atlantic & ITV Encore are hopefully 'coming soon' to VM TV then there are plenty of alternatives out there.

I've posted your answer in netflix streaming thread mate to not take this thread off topic.
Regarding itv encore i think vm customers can expect it during the 3rd quarter of 2015.

[denphone]

How the price of subscription TV has risen.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...pounds-a-month