General : Virgin TV (2026)

[kgollop]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Supposed to get activation email
https://www.virginmedia.com/the-edit...rts-on-hbo-max

Received the email this morning

[ozsat]

I wonder how long the activation option in the account is there before the email is sent out

Originally Posted by kgollop

Received the email this morning

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Paul

I disagree. NOW is a great alternative for people who want Sky channels, over the internet, without being tied into long (12/24 month) contracts.

I didn’t say it wasn’t. But the thing is, with HBO Max, the availability of Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media and the obvious deterioration in the quality of content, the number of subscribers to NOW will reduce. The only questions are (1) by how many and (2) will Sky Studios be able to ramp up production to fill the gap?

That will determine whether NOW continues to be a viable and worthwhile operation, unless it can survive on peanuts.

[TimeLord2018]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I didn’t say it wasn’t. But the thing is, with HBO Max, the anvailability of Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media and the obvious deterioration in the quality of content, the number of subscribers to NOW will reduce. The only questions are (1) by how many and (2) will Sky Studios be able to ramp up production to fill the gap?

That will determine whether NOW continues to be a viable and worthwhile operation, unless it can survive on peanuts.

Well the Now app as of year ago now operates on the same technical platform as the US only Peacock app

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Well the Now app as of year ago now operates on the same technical platform as the US only Peacock app

Yes, that’s true. How are Peacock’s viewing figures doing in the States? It never seemed to take off over here.

[ozsat]

Around 40million paid subscribers at end of 2025 and they offer a free service too.

UK was never going to take off - hardly any content put on it.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, that’s true. How are Peacock’s viewing figures doing in the States? It never seemed to take off over here.

[TimeLord2018]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I didn’t say it wasn’t. But the thing is, with HBO Max, the availability of Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media and the obvious deterioration in the quality of content, the number of subscribers to NOW will reduce. The only questions are (1) by how many and (2) will Sky Studios be able to ramp up production to fill the gap?

That will determine whether NOW continues to be a viable and worthwhile operation, unless it can survive on peanuts.

Doesn't just have to be Sky Studios (and isn't) , Girl Of With Dragon Tattoo series ordered by Sky will be produced by Sony's Left Bank Pictures.
https://www.sky.com/watch/the-girl-w...-dragon-tattoo

---------- Post added at 12:16 ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 ----------

Originally Posted by ozsat

Around 40million paid subscribers at end of 2025 and they offer a free service too.

Wasn't the free service discontinued

[ozsat]

There is still a basic service available without a subscription - most stuff is blocked.

I know you had to pay to get sport and pay even more to remove ads.

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Wasn't the free service discontinued ?

[TimeLord2018]

The paid tiers are now

Select (what the free tier used to be)
Premium
Premium Plus (no ads)

[ozsat]

If you login without any sub there is some content still opening although most is marked upgrade.

Dateline started playing OK

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

The tiers are now

Select (what the free tier used to be)
Premium
Premium Plus (no ads)

[Phunkenstein]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I didn’t say it wasn’t. But the thing is, with HBO Max, the availability of Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media and the obvious deterioration in the quality of content, the number of subscribers to NOW will reduce. The only questions are (1) by how many and (2) will Sky Studios be able to ramp up production to fill the gap?

That will determine whether NOW continues to be a viable and worthwhile operation, unless it can survive on peanuts.

I do think the loss of HBO needs to be taken in context... in terms of scripted programming they only ever delivered around a couple of hours of scripted programming a week in the best of times out of that pact... the way some people talk, they act like Sky's entire schedule compromised of HBO programming. In real terms, backfilling scripted HBO programming (regarding quantity) isn't exactly a huge endeavour.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Phunkenstein

I do think the loss of HBO needs to be taken in context... in terms of scripted programming they only ever delivered around a couple of hours of scripted programming a week in the best of times out of that pact... the way some people talk, they act like Sky's entire schedule compromised of HBO programming. In real terms, backfilling scripted HBO programming (regarding quantity) isn't exactly a huge endeavour.

I think HBO captured the British imagination. A lot of Sky Atlantic has always been junk, but it’s the content that excels that people go for. One of two HBO episodes each week was enough to gather a lot of interest.

I know that Sky will still be able to commission some material from some studios, but so much now is directed at the streamers by the studios, that there’s not a lot of good stuff left over these days.

I think it is worth pointing out that NOW is competing with those streamers, and if it cannot find enough exclusive content to make it interesting, it could sink without trace.