General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2015)

[Media Boy UK]

This is a continuation of all the 'Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 1, 2, 3 and 4' thread which you can find here:

VOL. 1 - http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...tv-2014-a.html
VOL. 2 - http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...-2014-vol.html
VOL. 3 - http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...-2014-vol.html
VOL. 4 - http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...-2014-vol.html

1. The old thread has been closed, but will remain for information purposes;
2. I will collate all the information from my various sources and post an list update every month, indicating any changed items in bold text;

In addition to that I will be on hand to answer any questions that arise and to provide links to other sources of information as they come up.

Thank you

December List update - December 29th update.

Keep up-to-date on the latest news on upcoming channel launches and other important events across all platforms of Virgin TV.

NOTE: I DO NOT WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA SO ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS LIST IS STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Colours on my list are as followed:

Media Boy = New Info just added.
Media Boy = Virgin Media News and links.
Media Boy = Local TV news, other Media news/Things.

=== Coming up on Virgin's Digital TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin Media ===
Dec 5th. Watch, Watch +1, GOLD, GOLD +1, Dave, Dave Ja Vu, alibi, alibi +1, Drama, Watch HD, Dave HD, alibi HD, YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY +1, Eden, Eden +1, Eden HD, Good Food, Good Food +1, Good Food HD, Home, Home +1 and Really is having an freeview to all M, M+ and L packages on Virgin Channels 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 190, 191, 194, 200, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 260, 261, 262, 265, 266 and 267 right now untill January 2nd 2015.

=== Soon ===
-That's Solent will soon launch in Southampton and surrounding areas.

=== December ===
No News...

=== January 2015 ===
5th Local TV Broadcaster STV Edinburgh will launch today on Virgin Channel 159 in some Edinburgh areas only.
5th. NBCU to rebrand Christmas 24 as Movies 24 on Virgin Channel 419 today at 6am.
5th. NBCU to rebrand Christmas 24+ as Movies 24+ on Virgin Channel 420 today at 6am.
5th. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Greats as Sky Movies Superheroes on Virgin Channel 404 today at 6am.
5th. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Greats HD as Sky Movies Superheroes HD on Virgin Channel 434 today at 6am.
5th. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Christmas as Sky Movies Drama and Romance on Virgin Channel 410 today at 6am.
5th. Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies Christmas HD as Sky Movies Drama and Romance HD on Virgin Channel 440 today at 6am.
5th. Sky Sports to rebrand Sky Sports Darts as Sky Sports 3 on Virgin Channel 504 today at 6am.
5th. Sky Sports to rebrand Sky Sports Darts HD as Sky Sports 3 HD on Virgin Channel 514 today at 6am.
6th. CSC Media to rebrand True Christmas as True Movies 1 on Virgin Channel 424 today at 6am.
Media Boy HQ has been told that both Sky News HD and Sky Sports News HQ HD will launch sometime this month.

=== February 2015 ===
No News...

=== March 2015 ===
No News...

=== April 2015 ===
No News...

=== May 2015 ===
No News...

=== June 2015 ===
No News...

=== July 2015 ===
No News...

=== August 2015 ===
No News...

=== Autumn 2015 ===
-The BBC may close BBC Three on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may close BBC Three HD on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC launch BBC One +1 on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.
-The BBC may add two extra hours per day to CBBC and CBBC HD on Virgin Media subject to approved by the BBC Trust.

=== September 2015 ===
No News...

=== October 2015 ===
No News...

=== November 2015 ===
No News...

=== December 2015 ===
No News...

=== By 2016 ===
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc as Sky Movies Aliens on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc HD as Sky Movies Aliens HD on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc as Sky Movies Gangsters on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc HD as Sky Movies Gangsters HD on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc as Sky Movies Valentine on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc HD as Sky Movies Valentine HD on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc as Sky Movies Oscars on Virgin Channel 4??.
-Sky Movies to rebrand Sky Movies tbc HD as Sky Movies Oscars HD on Virgin Channel 4??.

=== January 2016 ===
No News...

=== February 2016 ===
No News...

=== March 2016 ===
No News...

=== April 2016 ===
No News...

=== May 2016 ===
No News...

=== June 2016 ===
No News...

=== July 2016 ===
No News...

=== August 2016 ===
No News...

=== September 2016 ===
No News...

=== October 2016 ===
No News...

=== November 2016 ===
No News...

=== December 2016 ===
No News...

=== Local TV on Virgin Media ===
-All the following Local TV broadcasters may launch by 2016 on Virgin Channel 159:

-YourTV Manchester
-YourTV Blackpool & Preston
-Cambridge Presents
-That’s Basingstoke
-That’s Surrey
-That’s Reading
-That’s Salisbury
-That's Oxford

=== Unknown dates ===
-The BBC hope to launch English regional variants of its existing BBC One HD service as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland editions of BBC Two HD - but still need to be approved by the BBC Trust.

=== Channels ONLY in UPC Ireland areas ===
List last updated on December 22nd 2014.

ONLY TV CHANNELS THAT ONLY BROADCAST IN THE UK ON OTHER NETWORKS WILL APPEAR ON THIS PART OF THE LIST.

ALSO THE FOLLOWING LIST OF CHANNELS IS CURRENTLY BROADCASTING ON UPC IRELAND BUT NOT ON VIRGIN MEDIA:

Documentaries:
-History HD
-Nat Geo Wild HD
-CI HD

Lifestyle:
-Fashion TV

Music:
-MTV Classic

News:
-Sky News HD (DEAL SIGNS COMING SOON - CHANNEL NOW TESTING ON VIRGIN MEDIA).

Sports:
-Sky Sports News HQ HD (DEAL SIGNS COMING SOON - CHANNEL NOW TESTING ON VIRGIN MEDIA).

Kids:
-Disney Channel HD

Specialist:
-EWTN

Radio:
-UCB Ireland

Channels only in UPC Ireland areas.

©copyright 2014 Media Boy 2006 - 2014. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

==== Virgin Media's Deals with broadcasters ===
Full list now at: http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/p...adcasters.html

This part of list has now moved to my blog - follow link.

=== What is Media Boy on about??? ===
Here is what I mean when I post the following on Cable Forum:

Virgin Insiders - means just that.
'Do Not Post' order - means an Virgin insider has given me some info on things that set to happen but has told me not to reveal it right now.

=== Media Boy Extra info: ===
Liberty Global - http://www.lgi.com/
Media Boy Blog - For all things Virgin TV - http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/
Follow Virgin Media on ''twitter'' here - http://twitter.com/virginmedia
See Nialli's blog on Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services here - http://vmhd.blogspot.com/

=== Ask Media Boy ===
Last updated December 14th 2014.

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN MEDIA FROM?
A: Media Boy HQ gets all info from Virgin Media viewers, some Virgin Media workers (I called them Virgin Insiders or Virgin Sources) and Web Sites (NOTE: When I used web sites I will post an link to that web site).

Q: WHY HAVE YOU ADDED 'ONLY IN UPC IRELAND AREAS' WHEN THIS THREAD IS FOR VIRGIN MEDIA?
A: Virgin Media and UPC Ireland are now both own by Liberty Global.

Q: WHEN WILL SKY SPORTS NEWS HQ HD AND SKY NEWS HD LAUNCH?
A: Base on information Media Boy HQ has seen Sky Sports News HQ HD and Sky News HD are not set to launch until January 2015.

Q: WHY AM I NOT GETTING ''DISNEY CHANNEL HD'' FOR?
A: Disney Channel HD is only broadcasting in UPC Ireland areas right now.

NEW - Q: WHY HAVE YOU REMOVED 'ONLY IN SMALLWORLD AREAS' FROM YOUR LIST FOR?
A: Virgin Media have now axe the Smallworld brand. Viewers in the old Smallworld areas will now get the Virgin Media Channel lineup..

==== See you later ===
List last updated on December 29th 2014.

Next update: January 5th 2015.

A) If Virgin Media are set to launch more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV areas.
B) If Virgin Media are set to move more than TWO channels (TV or Radio) about in Virgin TV areas.
C) If Virgin Media are set to close or repackage more then TWO channels (TV or Radio) in Virgin TV areas.

©copyright 2014 Media Boy 2006 - 2014. An ''Keep it real and free'' Production.

[gba93]

Many thanks for all your good work over the past year.

[blue666666]

Here is hoping lots of good news in the new year

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by blue666666

Here is hoping lots of good news in the new year

Media Boy HQ is hoping to have an year like 2013 in 2015.

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Media Boy HQ is hoping to have an year like 2013 in 2015.

ha yes me too MB it was a good year! i remember the many "coming soon threads" you had to create to keep up!

As stated many thanks for your work over the last year. Much appreciated.

Here's hoping for a launch date for the sky HD channels soon, more HD channels to launch, more worldbox channels and some nice little surprises from VM!

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Media Boy HQ is hoping to have an year like 2013 in 2015.

One can only hope.

[OLD BOY]

Quote:
Originally Posted by harry_hitch View Post
Really, where did you see the reports for that? Or was it just some random customer service employees feeding a load of rubbish to placate angry customers.

You seem to be ignoring my comments about the e-mails sent to customers. It was explained to us that prices will be rising, and we were asked what people would think would provide the best value for the price rises. Atlantic was mentioned, along with many other offers. Why, if the negotiations are allegedly more realistic, would they be asking us now if we want Sky Atlantic as a trade off for big price increases?

Also, please explain how you think these negotiations go? Sky want a price everyone else is unwilling to pay. Please do answer this time, I am keen to hear what you think is actually discussed in these negotiations.

Please respond to my questions this time. I am beginning to think you can not answer them logically, and that you are just ignoring them hoping I will not ask them again.

With regards ITV Encore, it does ruin the whole Bravo idea. If Sky would not launch Bravo due to VM not taking it, why would they launch another channel without VM taking that one too?
Hi, Harry, sorry to get you so exercised about this, it is only a point of view. I have made clear on a number of occasions that I do not have inside information and that my logic on this is based on previous media reports. I do not take 'random customer service employees' as a source of information as they have been proved on many occasions to provide inaccurate responses to requests for information.

I am not trying to avoid your questions. I respect your point of view and I recognise that we all have our take on this. I was just stating mine. I am the first to agree that SA may well not come to our screens. I am simply trying to put an alternative point of view on what may be happening behind the scenes.

I note a lot of comment stating that 'SA will never come to VM'; 'there is no link between Sky Bravo, etc and SA'; 'Sky Bravo is no longer on the cards'; 'Sky will always want Sky Atlantic to be their USP', etc, and no-one is asking for sources to back these views up. So why am I being bombarded like this to justify my comments? It's not that we have not been here before.

The sources for my views have emanated from, yes, Broadcast Now, but also national newspapers and other websites. I am sorry that I am not sad enough to have kept all these references, although 1andrew1 recollects the Guardian article about Sky Bravo. Why are people choosing to ignore these media reports but hang on to unsourced or unnamed 'insider information'? They got it wrong over BT Sport, apart from one lone celebrity poster who has been much derided at various times, remember him?

To answer your specific questions, Harry:

E mail sent to customers

Virgin Media are seeking out customer views on an ongoing basis to ensure that their offering is in line with what customers want. If the deal with Sky has already been done (and I think it has been), this may enable them to frame their communications to customers appropriately (eg to tell us that adding SA to the offering and increasing the price is the result of popular demand).

The 'big price rise'

Clearly, this has already been announced and costed, so the customer survey surely couldn't be about whether or not to get SA. If they did so now as a result of that survey, we would be subject to further price rises. They can't spend the money generated twice over.

Negotiations

I am not privy to the negotiations, and in fact if these have been going on, the regular posters on here know nothing about them. Sky would have insisted on them being strictly confidential, and for good reason.

This is how the negotiations could have gone.

A better relationship now exists between Sky and VM - fact, both companies have acknowledged this. The internet deal between Virgin and Sky is some evidence of this increased co-operation. Whether there is a direct link there with SA, I don't know, but it would be foolish of Virgin not to try to capitalise on deals like this to encourage new deals in the future.

It appears that talks on the carriage of SA by VM were underway in September 2013 (Broadcast report) but the media also commented at the time that the Sky Bravo issue may have delayed these talks. Sky were desperate to get VM on board in order to make this channel viable. VM would have been mad not to link this with their desire to get SA at a reasonable price, and they would not have been too concerned about Sky Bravo since this is just 'more of the same' in the junk category. So VM, I believe, would have held out on this and made it clear they would not take Sky Bravo without Sky Atlantic.

Now in the meantime, the Now TV box was also about ready to be put out on the market. Sky may well have figured that if they could extract more money from Virgin viewers prepared to pay extra for SA, they would try that first. I believe they would have told VM to keep quiet about a deal until Sky had milked SA without VM for all it was worth before allowing us to have it. This has similar logic to it that BT employed regarding their sports channels.

So my message to everyone wanting Sky Atlantic is, don't give up hope. The deal may already have been done.

On the other hand......

---------- Post added at 12:34 ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anypermitedroute View Post
My original point of ITV encore is sky have paid money to itv just to keep it exclusive so why on earth would they need VM to launch another channel.

Bravo was reported by this website some now 18 months ago and was naming a so called inside source; perhaps misguided info, no more reliable than others who are on here. Perhaps even broadcast now was even using this website. If you remove this whole story then old boy your argument is groundless.

On the grounds negotiations, VM and sky have managed to agree on sky sports 3 HD, 4HD , F1HD, Sky news HD and sky sport news HD, all without SA on the table so I can't believe this bravo hold up has anything to do with VM. Also for muti billion pound company like sky who kept many exclusive channels you would of thought they would simply add another to their collection of exclusive. Yep hard to not believe

I don't know where you form the opinion we are dead against SA appearing, I would love to have it but I'm not going to wait and see again because of you self imposed "let's see this autumn" nothing change since last year when you mentioned it and I see no change now

The launch of the Now TV box and the need to get as many people as possible to pay for it before the Christmas season would have delayed any announcement on Sky Atlantic if it was coming to Virgin.

Your other points have been answered elsewhere.

I accept that these are your views, old thing, I just don't have the same fatalistic approach to life as you do!

[muppetman11]

Absolutely no mention of how many customers remain with Sky owing to the fact Atlantic isn't available elsewhere , I certainly fit into that category.

I'm pretty sure you'll find Sky does it's research on these matters.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it will never arrive but it will be on Sky's terms in my opinion , and personally I can't see that for a while.

[Media Boy UK]

@OLD BOY

Seen nothing of Sky Atlantic channels, Sky1 +1 and Pick +1 launching on Virgin Media.

[Dave42]

any date yet for SSN and sky news HD MB

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Absolutely no mention of how many customers remain with Sky owing to the fact Atlantic isn't available elsewhere , I certainly fit into that category.

I'm pretty sure you'll find Sky does it's research on these matters

It not even on UPC Ireland.

---------- Post added at 13:10 ---------- Previous post was at 13:09 ----------

Originally Posted by Dave42

any date yet yet for SSN and sky news HD MB

No confirmed launch date yet but Media Boy HQ thinks they will launch sometime from January 6th to January 15th.

We have also noted that Sky Sports News HQ are not broadcasting 24 hours this week.

[Stephen]

A gentle reminder as well that this is for rumours and news discussion for channels coming soon to VM and not a general chat thread.

Anything else you can either create a seperate thread or they may already be an existing one, for which you can do a search.

Thanks

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

@OLD BOY

Seen nothing of Sky Atlantic channels, Sky1 +1 and Pick +1 launching on Virgin Media.

To be honest, MB, I haven't seen any recent information on those channels. However, the media reports in the late summer of 2013 talked of discussions for VM to get all the missing Sky channels.

If we still haven't got them by the spring, then my hope will be fading on any agreement being reached soon.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Hi, Harry, sorry to get you so exercised about this, it is only a point of view. I have made clear on a number of occasions that I do not have inside information and that my logic on this is based on previous media reports. I do not take 'random customer service employees' as a source of information as they have been proved on many occasions to provide inaccurate responses to requests for information.

I am not trying to avoid your questions. I respect your point of view and I recognise that we all have our take on this. I was just stating mine. I am the first to agree that SA may well not come to our screens. I am simply trying to put an alternative point of view on what may be happening behind the scenes.

I note a lot of comment stating that 'SA will never come to VM'; 'there is no link between Sky Bravo, etc and SA'; 'Sky Bravo is no longer on the cards'; 'Sky will always want Sky Atlantic to be their USP', etc, and no-one is asking for sources to back these views up. So why am I being bombarded like this to justify my comments? It's not that we have not been here before.

The sources for my views have emanated from, yes, Broadcast Now, but also national newspapers and other websites. I am sorry that I am not sad enough to have kept all these references, although 1andrew1 recollects the Guardian article about Sky Bravo. Why are people choosing to ignore these media reports but hang on to unsourced or unnamed 'insider information'? They got it wrong over BT Sport, apart from one lone celebrity poster who has been much derided at various times, remember him?

To answer your specific questions, Harry:

E mail sent to customers

Virgin Media are seeking out customer views on an ongoing basis to ensure that their offering is in line with what customers want. If the deal with Sky has already been done (and I think it has been), this may enable them to frame their communications to customers appropriately (eg to tell us that adding SA to the offering and increasing the price is the result of popular demand).

Surely you must realise this is most likely way VM will potentially get SA as opposed to talks that started 18 months ago? At no stage have Sky said they have lowered their price for all other providers, it would be good PR for them if they did.

The 'big price rise'

Clearly, this has already been announced and costed, so the customer survey surely couldn't be about whether or not to get SA. If they did so now as a result of that survey, we would be subject to further price rises. They can't spend the money generated twice over.

No they can't spend it twice, but the emails came out before the price rise was decided upon. If I remember correctly, the price quoted in the email was less than has been agreed upon.


Negotiations

I am not privy to the negotiations, and in fact if these have been going on, the regular posters on here know nothing about them. Sky would have insisted on them being strictly confidential, and for good reason.

This is how the negotiations could have gone.

A better relationship now exists between Sky and VM - fact, both companies have acknowledged this. The internet deal between Virgin and Sky is some evidence of this increased co-operation. Whether there is a direct link there with SA, I don't know, but it would be foolish of Virgin not to try to capitalise on deals like this to encourage new deals in the future.

It appears that talks on the carriage of SA by VM were underway in September 2013 (Broadcast report) but the media also commented at the time that the Sky Bravo issue may have delayed these talks. Sky were desperate to get VM on board in order to make this channel viable. VM would have been mad not to link this with their desire to get SA at a reasonable price, and they would not have been too concerned about Sky Bravo since this is just 'more of the same' in the junk category. So VM, I believe, would have held out on this and made it clear they would not take Sky Bravo without Sky Atlantic.

Now in the meantime, the Now TV box was also about ready to be put out on the market. Sky may well have figured that if they could extract more money from Virgin viewers prepared to pay extra for SA, they would try that first. I believe they would have told VM to keep quiet about a deal until Sky had milked SA without VM for all it was worth before allowing us to have it. This has similar logic to it that BT employed regarding their sports channels.

So my message to everyone wanting Sky Atlantic is, don't give up hope. The deal may already have been done.

On the other hand......

---------- Post added at 12:34 ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 ----------

The launch of the Now TV box and the need to get as many people as possible to pay for it before the Christmas season would have delayed any announcement on Sky Atlantic if it was coming to Virgin.

Your other points have been answered elsewhere.

I accept that these are your views, old thing, I just don't have the same fatalistic approach to life as you do!

Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions old boy, but they don't really seem to do anything other than regurgitate your previous thoughts, in different wording. I appreciate you taking the time to answer them though. Thank you. I will drop the subject now though as I think you are a little deluded if you still think reported talks from 18 months ago will the only reason of potentially getting SA. I welcome your reply though. I hope it comes for those who want it, but I think the free BT Sport deal scuppered any chance of it arriving. VM'S TV package with BT sport and Atlantic would, in my eyes, blow Sky's offering out of the water. Good luck, I will be pleased for you if SA arrives and someone comes out and says "it's taken 18 months of painful talks, but we finally got there."

[Bircho]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

We have also noted that Sky Sports News HQ are not broadcasting 24 hours this week.

It never broadcasts 24 hours. 11 pm to 6 am (7 am at weekends) is repeated hourly.