General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2014) Vol. 3

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

Id imagine most channel operators hate having to deal with virgin media. I know they're fighting for the best deal but it must be an awful effort for the operators. I'd be put off dealing with them. Everything is long winded

Every company has a duty to get the best deal, and they have professional negotiators to do it. That's business.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

Id imagine most channel operators hate having to deal with virgin media. I know they're fighting for the best deal but it must be an awful effort for the operators. I'd be put off dealing with them. Everything is long winded

Unless you're a broadcaster, it's probably hard to judge whether they're good or bad to deal with and I doubt any broadcaster would go on record with negative feedback!
In a way it could be harder as there's no market so it is down to your product and your negotiating position. Unlike satellite where you bid for EPG slots, buy regulated EPG info and buy satellite capacity.
But dealing with VM could be easier as there is just one entity to deal with. And dealing with VM could also open the doors to other cable networks in Europe saving broadcasters time and money. And VM can move swiftly; let's not forget the BT Sport deal was only signed the night before the channels went live!

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

Id imagine most channel operators hate having to deal with virgin media. I know they're fighting for the best deal but it must be an awful effort for the operators. I'd be put off dealing with them. Everything is long winded

it has to be a negotiation, Vince, or the companies offering the channels would be charging what they liked! Just look at the Sky situation and how they operate! Most people on these forums expect Virgin Media to get them the maximum number of channels for the cheapest possible price, and that's exactly what they are doing. And yet people still complain about the cost!

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Ultimately it's going to be about the money - Virgin wants a larger amount, TruTV is willing to pay a smaller amount.

We don't know that it's a case of TruTV paying to be on VM, maybe TruTV want to charge VM for being on the platform as is the case with their other channels.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

We don't know that it's a case of TruTV paying to be on VM, maybe TruTV want to charge VM for being on the platform as is the case with their other channels.

The question is - is it about money and the answer is yes. It's FTA on all the other platforms so it must be an advertising-funded channel, in which case TruTV would pay VM. Although as you infer, the two companies may indeed try and broaden the remit to consider the whole portfolio of Turner channels.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Where did TruTV advertising the Virgin EPG number?

All I saw was 'On Virgin Media' posted on their web site. The EPG number of Channel 245 was posted on Digital Spy.

Originally Posted by johnathome

I thought they did on Twitter?

I can't remember seeing anything, but I assume that they must have done if it has annoyed VM.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

The question is - is it about money and the answer is yes. It's FTA on all the other platforms so it must be an advertising-funded channel, in which case TruTV would pay VM. Although as you infer, the two companies may indeed try and broaden the remit to consider the whole portfolio of Turner channels.

I can only pass on what I was told, which was "it's not about money"...

E4 is a FTA channel, but receives a payment from VM for being on their platform.

If the delay is due to extra channels being negotiated for as well, it seems daft for everybody concerned for this to keep TruTV off VM until/if negotiations are complete. Personally, my gut feeling is that this isn't the reason for the channels non appearence and that this is a recycled rumour.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I can't remember seeing anything, but I assume that they must have done if it has annoyed VM.



I can only pass on what I was told, which was "it's not about money"...

E4 is a FTA channel, but receives a payment from VM for being on their platform.

If the delay is due to extra channels being negotiated for as well, it seems daft for everybody concerned for this to keep TruTV off VM until/if negotiations are complete. Personally, my gut feeling is that this isn't the reason for the channels non appearence and that this is a recycled rumour.

If it's not about money, I can't think what else it would be about. I would be interested to learn more and I appreciate there may be issues I'm unaware of.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I can't remember seeing anything, but I assume that they must have done if it has annoyed VM.



I can only pass on what I was told, which was "it's not about money"...

E4 is a FTA channel, but receives a payment from VM for being on their platform.

If the delay is due to extra channels being negotiated for as well, it seems daft for everybody concerned for this to keep TruTV off VM until/if negotiations are complete. Personally, my gut feeling is that this isn't the reason for the channels non appearence and that this is a recycled rumour.

Maybe it's a technical issue, then. Am I correct in saying that people had been complaining about the picture quality?

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Maybe it's a technical issue, then. Am I correct in saying that people had been complaining about the picture quality?

On Freeview it is on the most heavily compressed multiplex and, as with all channels on the commercial multiplexes, is in 3/4 resolution SD. Picture quality on Freeview won't be great but, presumably, VM won't be taking their feed from Freeview, so this shouldn't matter. They did have some issues with sound shortly after launching.

[DaMac]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

let's not forget the BT Sport deal was only signed the night before the channels went live!

BT Sport deal wasn't signed the night before the channel went live, it was signed the night before the first premier league match, the channel had been live for a week and a half, i missed Rio Ferdinand's testimonial match because VM didn't do the deal in time.

[nick.king]

Originally Posted by DaMac

BT Sport deal wasn't signed the night before the channel went live, it was signed the night before the first premier league match, the channel had been live for a week and a half, i missed Rio Ferdinand's testimonial match because VM didn't do the deal in time.

You could have gone to the match instead :-)

[gba93]

Originally Posted by nick.king

You could have gone to the match instead :-)

What a Man U supporter going to a match - heaven forbid

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by DaMac

BT Sport deal wasn't signed the night before the channel went live, it was signed the night before the first premier league match, the channel had been live for a week and a half, i missed Rio Ferdinand's testimonial match because VM didn't do the deal in time.

Sorry you missed the match you wanted to see, but I am sure the deal VM reached with BT was worth it in the end. BT would have been anxious to do a deal with VM to get the numbers up. I am sure that both sides were playing hard ball!

[vincerooney]

afternoon all. still chuckling at seeing my tivo box recording the x files...off the history channel 2.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

afternoon all. still chuckling at seeing my tivo box recording the x files...off the history channel 2.

Now l am no Einstein but that is frankly ridiculous.