TiVo : VM may again have a TV capacity shortage.

[RichardCoulter]

This is a series of posts from another thread.

Apparently, AATV are said to have told this person that VM told them that they could only launch their new music channels via an app.

Does anybody know if this speculation is true (or not)?

I was told that VM had fairly recently spent a lot of money on upgrading their headends etc to increase their capacity.

If there is a problem with capacity, maybe it's why we haven't been getting any new channels lately. Even Freeview has TruTV, YourTV etc.

Originally Posted by YouView

I contacted AATW about their weirdly branded app/EPG slot for their 4 music channels and their answer was they don't think their own AATW brand is strong enough to get noticed by viewers hence the messy way they have tried to create a single name out of 4 others.

When I asked why they aren't just listed in the EPG as proper channels rather than housed in a app when said that was the only method made available to them by VM, which I can't understand unless VM really do have a capacity issue and are limiting any new channels.

Originally Posted by YouView

AATW are saying that launching the channels in an app (as internet streams) is the only method made available to them by VM, I was suggesting that VM must have a capacity issue if they had to do this rather than allowing them onto the EPG as normal channels (like all the MTV music channels on VM, or all the AATW channels on Sky and Freesat).

Originally Posted by omnidirectional

AATW are part of Universal Music, the world's biggest record label so they aren't short of cash. They could easily launch Clubland etc as proper channels on cable if allowed by the gatekeeper (Virgin).

You have to wonder why channels like Spike, TruTV and MovieMix are on every platform except Virgin, and 3 MTV channels had to be removed to make room for Comedy Central HD, but it's always been like that with cable.

A while back, The Register did a really good article about how Virgin Media TV works, and the person they interviewed said:


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/08...e_sofa/?page=4

That's kind of what has happened with these AATW music channels. They've been allowed to launch, but only as an app which streams over the internet so the channels aren't using cable TV bandwidth.

[denphone]

From what l have heard they should have no capacity problems on the TV side.

[OLD BOY]

I think too much is being read into this, Richard. Increased use of apps appears to be Virgin's strategy for the time being.

There are advantages to this. For example, you can't skip the commercials (a plus for the broadcasters but a bummer for us) and V+ users are further encouraged to move to the Tivo to access this content.

I've said before on a different thread that over the years, we will be moving away from broadcast channels and this is just a part of what will become a growing trend.

[steveh]

It's not much different to Freeview HD's ability to have IPTV channels in the EPG for those that don't get enough viewers to justify broadcast distribution. Would be better if like Freeview the TiVo had the ability to launch a stream immediately you went to such a channel rather than having to go via an app, but maybe that will come one day.

[nomadking]

A lot of SD and HD capacity has to be reserved for the Olympics.

[Bob]

If capacity is such an issue (which I doubt it is) as well as the branding, then surely each channel could have simply had a static barker channel which would take up minimal capacity each?

I think the real issue here is the costs associated with carriage and maybe Universal music weren't prepared to pay what Virgin wanted and this was an agreed compromise? I always thought was the reason for some channels appearing/disappearing from the MTV portfolio.

Look at World Box - half those channels would never have a chance in hell of being carried by a traditional method and that was seen as a cost effective delivery method.

Just my viewpoint

[Media Boy UK]

If channels like Spike and TruTV wanted to be on Virgin Media UK that bad they can ask Virgin Media to remove one of their sister channels.

-5USA +1 or Channel 5 +24 can make way for Spike if Viacom ask Virgin to do so.
-Cartoon Network +1 or Boomerang +1 or TCM +1 can make way for TruTV if Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd ask Virgin to do so.

UKTV has ask Virgin Media UK to axe Eden +1 and Yesterday +1 so that Watch was launched on Virgin Media UK on launch day in the past.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I think too much is being read into this, Richard. Increased use of apps appears to be Virgin's strategy for the time being.

There are advantages to this. For example, you can't skip the commercials (a plus for the broadcasters but a bummer for us) and V+ users are further encouraged to move to the Tivo to access this content.

I've said before on a different thread that over the years, we will be moving away from broadcast channels and this is just a part of what will become a growing trend.

Indeed you have brought it up in a different thread. You appear to have let the discussion slide on the thread though OB. It's a shame, I was enjoying our interesting, yet ever lengthy, discussion. I await your reply to my last post when you head back to that thread. 😊.

On topic, I seem to recall someone from VM saying there were no issues with capacity a few years back.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

Indeed you have brought it up in a different thread. You appear to have let the discussion slide on the thread though OB. It's a shame, I was enjoying our interesting, yet ever lengthy, discussion. I await your reply to my last post when you head back to that thread. ��.

On topic, I seem to recall someone from VM saying there were no issues with capacity a few years back.

I'm sorry I've let a bit of a hiatus develop on the linear channels thread, Harry. I did read your post but I've been a bit too busy to respond (you did make quite a few points!). I will get back to you on them as soon as I can.

---------- Post added at 18:48 ---------- Previous post was at 18:46 ----------

Originally Posted by nomadking

A lot of SD and HD capacity has to be reserved for the Olympics.

Spiderplant has made it clear previously that Virgin Media does not have capacity issues.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

On topic, I seem to recall someone from VM saying there were no issues with capacity a few years back.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Spiderplant has made it clear previously that Virgin Media does not have capacity issues.

I remember reading this too, but maybe the spare capacity has been used up now?

I would think that VM, however, would have had the sense to future proof things when they carried out the work to increase capacity.

Maybe the less popular channels (which music channels are now) are going to be placed outside the DVB-C spectrum and onto IPTV before any capacity problems occur??

This scenario would mean that VM aren't short of capacity, but that AATV are actually telling the truth ie this was the only way that they could launch on VM.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I'm sorry I've let a bit of a hiatus develop on the linear channels thread, Harry. I did read your post but I've been a bit too busy to respond (you did make quite a few points!). I will get back to you on them as soon as I can.

---------- Post added at 18:48 ---------- Previous post was at 18:46 ----------


Spiderplant has made it clear previously that Virgin Media does not have capacity issues.

No need to apologize OB, this is only an internet chat room and I did raise plenty of points. I am happy for the hiatus to continue as long as is required..

[RichardCoulter]

It's also been suggested that this is more to do with the non TiVo boxes not being able to store anymore EPG data.

If you remember, during the Olympics, most radio EPG data was removed. VM renaged on their promise to reinstate this and went on to take away the EPG synopsises from channels that didn't really need it eg the Pin Protection Help channel and reduce the V+ guide from 8 days to 7.

IIRC, the remaining radio services that still had EPG synopsises had them reduced to one day.