General : Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by epsilon

AC3 is Dolby Digital sound which doesn't necessarily mean that the video resolution is HD.

At time of posting my TiVo says that BBC One Scotland HD and Al Jazeera English are both runnng with AC3 Audio.

And both Al Jazeera Arabic Channel and Sky Witness SD Audio is MPEG1.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

That makes no sense as it wasn't posed as a question, but was you simply saying that those who don't use cable services shouldn't be using CF.

As I recall, Paul made it clear to you that everyone was welcome to post on this site whether they were a cable user or not and told you to stop saying this as you had said it previously.

...yet you chose to say it again at 18:50 yesterday to Legendkiller2K who provides very useful information to this forum. I'll leave it for others to draw their own conclusions as to who the troll stirring things up is in this particular situation.

Edit: After posting this I took a look at the changeling thread only to find that you've been posting off topic sarcastic remarks to those who take the time to keep this thread up to date:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...607636&page=88

Richard l do not care less if people post on sites they have no connection with. The question was why would they ? I can say that some people made contact not with me but with my friend . In your case why do you stay with virgin is a unfadable question. But its your choice. As your life is clearly so sad, lwish you well ,in finding the help you and some others clearly need. Just remember lincolns famous quote

[RichardCoulter]

Your behaviour on here suggests it's you that has a sad life and needs help as opposed to anybody else that I can think of.

Now troll off.

[saabmania2]

Wonder if we are going to get any new channels this year to replace the load we seem to have lost, VM seems to be getting worse value these days

[ScottishSteve]

Originally Posted by saabmania2

Wonder if we are going to get any new channels this year to replace the load we seem to have lost, VM seems to be getting worse value these days

It is the inevitable downward spiral, these channels are not just being dropped from VM they are closing entirely in favour of streaming services (mostly)

Totally outwith Virgins control

[RichardCoulter]

You're both correct IMO. As channels leave and VM increase prices, it provides less and less value.

The fact that it is outside the control of VM is true, but neither here nor there. They should be taking proactive action to mitigate this

Sky have done this by adding the streamers to their platform in order to add back (or even enhance) the lost content from removed linear channels. By working with the streamers instead of pretending that they don't exist, they are able to offer them at a discounted price or even for free.

[ozsat]

The additional stream services Sky have been adding are with a limited period of free access.

Discovery+ reverts to normal charge after into offer.

Many Sky users were upset when they found you could subscribe to Disney+ cheaper by going direct to Disney+.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

You're both correct IMO. As channels leave and VM increase prices, it provides less and less value.

The fact that it is outside the control of VM is true, but neither here nor there. They should be taking proactive action to mitigate this

Sky have done this by adding the streamers to their platform in order to add back (or even enhance) the lost content from removed linear channels. By working with the streamers instead of pretending that they don't exist, they are able to offer them at a discounted price or even for free.

[1701-e]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

You're both correct IMO. As channels leave and VM increase prices, it provides less and less value.

The fact that it is outside the control of VM is true, but neither here nor there. They should be taking proactive action to mitigate this

Sky have done this by adding the streamers to their platform in order to add back (or even enhance) the lost content from removed linear channels. By working with the streamers instead of pretending that they don't exist, they are able to offer them at a discounted price or even for free.

When Netflix was added to the TiVo I got it for 6 months free so Virgin have been doing this way before sky.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

You're both correct IMO. As channels leave and VM increase prices, it provides less and less value.

The fact that it is outside the control of VM is true, but neither here nor there. They should be taking proactive action to mitigate this

Sky have done this by adding the streamers to their platform in order to add back (or even enhance) the lost content from removed linear channels. By working with the streamers instead of pretending that they don't exist, they are able to offer them at a discounted price or even for free.

Any evidence to back up this accusation, Richard?

[OLD BOY]

I think Virgin will have to accept at some point that it cannot continue to charge for fewer and fewer channels. Sooner or later, the charge will need to be for packages of streamers instead. How exactly the financing of such an arrangement would work will be interesting.

[cheekyangus]

The added streamers aren't automatically added to customer's subscribed packs. One didn't compensate for the other.

Having the app available doesn't give the TV provider any of the customer's streamer subscription money unless they go through that TV provider.

Many people will have existing Netflix or Spotify, etc, accounts that they are paying directly to the streamer and simply logging in. The likes of Sky and VM aren't automatically getting a share as soon as you log in to that existing account on that device.

I'm not expecting to get a Disney+ sub automatically included on my package as a result of the loss of FOX and (later) the Nat Geos. That would be "adding back lost content", just adding an app without the access to use it on an ongoing basis, isn't adding content, it's adding a non-interactive pretty picture on the TV screen.

Adding an app is just a tile on an electronic mosiac if no subscription is included.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I think Virgin will have to accept at some point that it cannot continue to charge for fewer and fewer channels. Sooner or later, the charge will need to be for packages of streamers instead. How exactly the financing of such an arrangement would work will be interesting.

Why not?

They're not saving a fortune from the channels that are leaving. Often it's genuinely in the order of pennies per subscriber per month.

Customers aren't going to leave Virgin in a hurry, losing bundle discounts, to buy a basket of two or three £5-15 a month streaming services.

All that's likely to happen is that the same users end up paying more for a standalone broadband service.

If I were to move to a standalone broadband product I'd have about £12 and lose all the channels in Maxit (inc. BT Sport) in the process.

[heavyside]

I believe Virgin Media is currently conducting a trial to bring most of the streaming services together and available to subscribers.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...t-service.html

[RichardCoulter]

That looks like the IPTV service for BB only customers that's being trialled.

Whether this is an attempt to upsell TV to BB only customers or if they are testing the water to see if they can eventually get rid of traditional TV and provide phone & TV via a BB only service remains to be seen.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

The added streamers aren't automatically added to customer's subscribed packs. One didn't compensate for the other.

Having the app available doesn't give the TV provider any of the customer's streamer subscription money unless they go through that TV provider.

Many people will have existing Netflix or Spotify, etc, accounts that they are paying directly to the streamer and simply logging in. The likes of Sky and VM aren't automatically getting a share as soon as you log in to that existing account on that device.

I'm not expecting to get a Disney+ sub automatically included on my package as a result of the loss of FOX and (later) the Nat Geos. That would be "adding back lost content", just adding an app without the access to use it on an ongoing basis, isn't adding content, it's adding a non-interactive pretty picture on the TV screen.

Adding an app is just a tile on an electronic mosiac if no subscription is included.

That’s why I said it would be interesting. A way will need to be found of monetising the new TV environment that is emerging, otherwise the TV side of Virgin’s business will no longer be profitable.

Perhaps they should buy ITV and take some income that way!

---------- Post added at 13:07 ---------- Previous post was at 13:04 ----------

Originally Posted by jfman

Why not?

They're not saving a fortune from the channels that are leaving. Often it's genuinely in the order of pennies per subscriber per month.

Customers aren't going to leave Virgin in a hurry, losing bundle discounts, to buy a basket of two or three £5-15 a month streaming services.

All that's likely to happen is that the same users end up paying more for a standalone broadband service.

If I were to move to a standalone broadband product I'd have about £12 and lose all the channels in Maxit (inc. BT Sport) in the process.

I cannot see subscribers being prepared to pay for the small number of pay tv channels that will be left if the current trend of diverting content to streamers and closing down channels continues apace, can you?

---------- Post added at 13:10 ---------- Previous post was at 13:07 ----------

Originally Posted by heavyside

I believe Virgin Media is currently conducting a trial to bring most of the streaming services together and available to subscribers.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...t-service.html

This may be offered to broadband-only customers in the first instance, but I can see Virgin developing this concept and offering it to existing TV customers in the future.