General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2023)

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Well, you only pay for the streamers, not the TV channels on the EPG, so yes, it’s cheaper. This is what I have said is coming for the last 8 years now.

But for actual viewers, in the real world, who judge things based on content and not the delivery method they now need to pay more to get less.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Hugh

You still can specify which channel (well, on our V6, you can).

Yes, it's one channel or all. You used to be able to select which channels you wanted to record from out of the ones available.

Even though the EPG synopsis still tends to show it, has anyone else noticed that recorded programmes no longer include the date a programme was first shown?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

But for actual viewers, in the real world, who judge things based on content and not the delivery method they now need to pay more to get less.

As I just pointed out, you only pay for the streamers that you want and not for all the channels you don’t want.

You will have to explain to me how that equates to increased payments and less choice.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

As I just pointed out, you only pay for the streamers that you want and not for all the channels you don’t want.

You will have to explain to me how that equates to increased payments and less choice.

It doesn't take much expertise OB to point out that in packages consumers used to get Discovery content, used to get Disney content, <insert further standalone streamers content>.

Start adding up these streaming providers and - unless your viewing falls into an extremely narrow category - you are paying more.

I find it extremely difficult to believe that all of this:-

2 V6 boxes with 360 software, Now, ITVX, Amazon, Netflix, Lionsgate+, Apple+, Disney+, Paramount +

Is cheaper than the top package that Virgin or Sky were selling 10-15 years ago, even adjusted for inflation.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

It doesn't take much expertise OB to point out that in packages consumers used to get Discovery content, used to get Disney content, <insert further standalone streamers content>.

Start adding up these streaming providers and - unless your viewing falls into an extremely narrow category - you are paying more.

I find it extremely difficult to believe that all of this:-



Is cheaper than the top package that Virgin or Sky were selling 10-15 years ago, even adjusted for inflation.

That’s a daft comparison. Firstly, there is a helluva lot more content on the streamers that is of comparatively higher quality. Secondly, you only pay for the streamers you want, so how much you are forking out is up to you.

And of course, as I’ve pointed out already, you don’t have to pay anything for the channels you don’t want with Virgin Stream - in fact, they are free.

You know through your own experience that it’s far cheaper to watch Sky on their streamer, NOW.

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

As I just pointed out, you only pay for the streamers that you want and not for all the channels you don’t want.

You will have to explain to me how that equates to increased payments and less choice.

Because if you want access to all the equivalent new content previously provided, before on-demand subscription services existed, by channels, you have to pay for all the on-demand services and this amounts to much more money than the previous channel bundles.

Say each on-demand subscription was £6 a month. You could get 5 content sources for £30 a month, whereas with the old fashioned channel bundle you'd get content from MANY more than 5 content sources for the same money.
If you like content from a large number on content creators the old channel bundles got you more and wider array of content providers.

And yes you could dip in and out of content providers, but if you like certain content on a monthly basis, especially if it's time sensitive (e.g. spoilers or live events), you can't really do this. Plus it's a right palaver/hassle/annoyance.

[Legendkiller2k]

I see the lovers tiff has started again on here.

[OLD BOY]

I see your argument, cheeky; if you rely on Freeview, it’s comparatively expensive. This is why I hope that by the time everyone goes to IPTV, most if not all streamers provide a free-with-ads version.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Legendkiller2k

I see the lovers tiff has started again on here.

[Media Boy UK]

Ideal World brand took over by TJC and will relaunch soon on 5USA.

*Ideal World is set to come back to Virgin Media broadcasting on 5USA every morning.
*TJC Beauty brand (seen right now on 5USA every morning) will close.

https://www.shoppingtelly.com/post/t...l-world-assets

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I see your argument, cheeky; if you rely on Freeview, it’s comparatively expensive. This is why I hope that by the time everyone goes to IPTV, most if not all streamers provide a free-with-ads version.

Unfortunately, the trend appears to be either "free with lots of ads", "subscription with some ads", or "subscription+ with no ads"…

[jfman]

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

Because if you want access to all the equivalent new content previously provided, before on-demand subscription services existed, by channels, you have to pay for all the on-demand services and this amounts to much more money than the previous channel bundles.

Say each on-demand subscription was £6 a month. You could get 5 content sources for £30 a month, whereas with the old fashioned channel bundle you'd get content from MANY more than 5 content sources for the same money.
If you like content from a large number on content creators the old channel bundles got you more and wider array of content providers.

And yes you could dip in and out of content providers, but if you like certain content on a monthly basis, especially if it's time sensitive (e.g. spoilers or live events), you can't really do this. Plus it's a right palaver/hassle/annoyance.

100% this. If you strip back the brands, and the technology, you need more products at greater cost just to stand still.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Unfortunately, the trend appears to be either "free with lots of ads", "subscription with some ads", or "subscription+ with no ads"…

Yes, that’s choice. All the TV channels apart from the BBC are beleaguered by ads, so no difference there, apart from the fact that we now have the freedom to avoid them.

---------- Post added at 20:28 ---------- Previous post was at 20:23 ----------

Originally Posted by jfman

100% this. If you strip back the brands, and the technology, you need more products at greater cost just to stand still.

I think you’ll find that most people were champing at the bit about having to pay for loads of channels they didn’t watch.

Realistically, if you subscribe only to Netflix and one other streamer, such as Discovery+ or NOW, that’s a lot cheaper than TV channel bundles. That additional range of choice you talk about is still available on Freeview.

The real problem I see is sport, because unless you are interested in only one sport, it can be very expensive to watch them all. Hopefully, there will be a solution for sports fans with time.

[Itshim]

Has anybody factored in the BB cost

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I think you’ll find that most people were champing at the bit about having to pay for loads of channels they didn’t watch.

Realistically, if you subscribe only to Netflix and one other streamer, such as Discovery+ or NOW, that’s a lot cheaper than TV channel bundles.

But you'd have 2 content suppliers and a narrower variety for the cost of a traditional smaller channel bundle that gave you MANY more suppliers and a wider variety for the same cost. And with those 2 on-demand services you're still paying for lots of content you're never going to want to watch.

This new normal you envisage isn't cheaper unles you have much narrower tastes or the flip flopping of on-demand services isn't an issue...and that's not the case for everyone.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

That additional range of choice you talk about is still available on Freeview.

No it isn't. This is pay on-demand versus pay channel bundles we're talking about. Freeview has a narrower choice. There's enough to get by with depending on tastes and time availability but it's not an equivalent.