Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. I.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by Masque

I have tried SKY but after having them replace 3 STB's in a 4 month period we got rid as they broke the contract due to shoddy service, plus a 10 day wait for an engineer, never ever again, I would get Freesat before a SKY box.

I think every one has had different experiences no matter the supplier. My mother who is 87 would love Vm, but her area is not cabled, so she has Sky and has done so for over three years, she has never had a problem, whereas her friend has had three replacement boxes from Sky in that time.
I have been with Telewest and now VM for over 14 years, I have only ever had one box swapped out as being faulty, before that I was with Sky and never had a problem. My daughter has been with VM for 2 years and has had three replacement boxes, its all depends on the experiences the customer has had.

[Lew]

Originally Posted by mersey70

My LCD display is shot on my Samsung V+ and it's less than a year old, assuming it was new when I got it but I know I could phone up and get it fixed or replaced for free I was just worried I might get a replacement SA box as I often record radio shows so have never bothered as otherwise it's fine.

Maybe your Sammy is helping to prepare you for the display-less TiVo box.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by Masque

I was answering your question on other providers which I have tried in the past, once bitten twice shy.

I have told you to ring up before to get that box replaced, if he offers a SA explain why you need a Samsung.

I would just be worried if they only had a SA on the van even if I had already called, it's not a major problem anyway it's works fine apart from that.

Obviously the info appears onscreen if I press ok anyway.

---------- Post added at 19:48 ---------- Previous post was at 19:44 ----------

Originally Posted by Lew

Maybe your Sammy is helping to prepare you for the display-less TiVo box.

No Tivo for us, maybe in a year or so when it's established and offers a few more tricks and apps though, I wouldn't completely rule it out.

The LCD isn't a major issue, and the LCD display isn't really vital in my opinion but it's nice if you have it. My BT Vision box never had it and I survived!

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Masque

With the channels available on that package you would be better getting a freeview box from the local supermarket and sticking an aerial in the loft.

It was originally promoted to stop people going to Freeview. I'm not sure why they have stopped doing this, unless it was to get a large volume of boxes into peoples homes. They are more likely to use VM pay TV if they have a box there already. Perhaps they are now running low on boxes??

The VM "Freeview" package also includes Catch Up TV and the ability to buy PPV movies.

Originally Posted by Lew

I don't believe that Sky have any intention of letting any other provider carry Atlantic while it's a free channel on their platform. You'll note that it's also unavailable to BT Vision and TalkTalk customers. I think that they've probably priced it artificially high so that they can say "well, we've offered it to other providers but they're not interested". Once it moves into the Variety Pack later this year I'm sure the situation will change.

I agree.

Originally Posted by mersey70

DF where is the OD content from Pop, I thought it was launching when the linear channel closed?

There is Tiny Pop content but hasn't that always been there, or did Ben mean it was Tiny Pop OD content that was joining. I am not 100% sure if it has always been there though.

It's just when I emailed CSC about it they never mentioned Pop was joining TVC. it was quite a standard reply though.

I can't find it either.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It was originally promoted to stop people going to Freeview. I'm not sure why they have stopped doing this, unless it was to get a large volume of boxes into peoples homes. They are more likely to use VM pay TV if they have a box there already. Perhaps they are now running low on boxes??

I think that is what is called "hypothesising from insufficient information", or more commonly "making it up as you go along".....

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Hugh

I think that is what is called "hypothesising from insufficient information", or more commonly "making it up as you go along".....

Nonsense, it was clearly promoted as such at the time. As channels were added to Freeview, VM made them available to TV M customers. In fact, before VM gained access to Sky 3/Pick TV, Sky 1 was in the free* pack.

*Whilst TV M was free, one had to take a VM 'phone line to have it.

Richard, you need to re-read my post, and focus on the point I highlighted in bold, which is what I was commenting on.....

Has this thread turned into Sky v Virgin ?

I thought this thread was to discuss what is coming soon to Virgin

Originally Posted by winkle

Has this thread turned into Sky v Virgin ?

I thought this thread was to discuss what is coming soon to Virgin

With the absence of imminent channel releases this thread has become an open house to discuss what you want!

[ncfc1902]

Originally Posted by passingbat

The arts channels aren't premium channels; ESPN is.

Sky Arts is in the XL pack. Sky Arts HD could be classed as premium seeing Sky Charge extra for HD!

[Chad]

Does anyone have a link to the article in which Neil Berkett mentions 80 HD channels in 3 years?

I want to read the quote to see exactly what his words are. If he states Virgin Media will definitely deliver 80 new HD channels then great, if he states Virgin Media hope to deliver or could deliver 80 within 3 years then I'm nowhere near excited. What I'd like to know is exactly who is supposed to be broadcasting these 80 new channels? We're about 25 behind SKY currently however I can't see where the other 55 come from unless Virgin launch a +1 version of the HD channels we currently have, and could get soon.

Big thanks to anyone who can post the link for me.

[batchain]

Originally Posted by Chad

Does anyone have a link to the article in which Neil Berkett mentions 80 HD channels in 3 years?

I want to read the quote to see exactly what his words are. If he states Virgin Media will definitely deliver 80 new HD channels then great, if he states Virgin Media hope to deliver or could deliver 80 within 3 years then I'm nowhere near excited. What I'd like to know is exactly who is supposed to be broadcasting these 80 new channels? We're about 25 behind SKY currently however I can't see where the other 55 come from unless Virgin launch a +1 version of the HD channels we currently have, and could get soon.

Big thanks to anyone who can post the link for me.

It's not Neil Berkett and I'm guessing you'll be nowhere near excited.

Virgin Media Inc. Analyst and Investors Day (London)
Event Date/Time: Dec. 02. 2010 / 9:30AM GMT

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External...xUeXBlPTM=&t=1

"So first of all, we provide a separate service for video-on-demand that enables us to provide up to a billion video-on-demand events through next year, according to our forecasts. That is separate from the connectivity that you have in your TiVo box for when you want to be able to watch video over-the-top. It is separate from the broadcast connectivity that we have where effectively we are providing 300 standard definition channels, 30 HD channels at the moment, but with a path to grow to 80 HD channels over the next two years, or three years." - Paul Buttery, Virgin Media Chief Customer & Networks Officer.

--

Virgin Media Inc. Analyst and Investors Day (New York)
Event Date/Time: Dec 03, 2010 / 06:00PM GMT

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External...R5cGU9MQ==&t=1

"What we've also got is our broadcast capacity in there, so, at the moment, we provide 300 standard definition channels and 30 high definition channels. Over the next couple of years, we can grow the number of high definition channels from 30 to 80. We've allocated capacity for that, as the viewing habits start to change, as we move from SD to HD, and as we move from scheduled TV to more on demand TV or TV when you want it, we're able to adjust the allocation of that capacity and start to balance that between both TiVo, Video on Demand, broadband and broadcast. So, we have a highly flexible network that will be able to change as consumer habits change." - Paul Buttery, Virgin Media Chief Customer and Networks Officer.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by batchain

It's not Neil Berkett and I'm guessing you'll be nowhere near excited.

Virgin Media Inc. Analyst and Investors Day (London)
Event Date/Time: Dec. 02. 2010 / 9:30AM GMT

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External...xUeXBlPTM=&t=1

"So first of all, we provide a separate service for video-on-demand that enables us to provide up to a billion video-on-demand events through next year, according to our forecasts. That is separate from the connectivity that you have in your TiVo box for when you want to be able to watch video over-the-top. It is separate from the broadcast connectivity that we have where effectively we are providing 300 standard definition channels, 30 HD channels at the moment, but with a path to grow to 80 HD channels over the next two years, or three years." - Paul Buttery, Virgin Media Chief Customer & Networks Officer.

--

Virgin Media Inc. Analyst and Investors Day (New York)
Event Date/Time: Dec 03, 2010 / 06:00PM GMT

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External...R5cGU9MQ==&t=1

"What we've also got is our broadcast capacity in there, so, at the moment, we provide 300 standard definition channels and 30 high definition channels. Over the next couple of years, we can grow the number of high definition channels from 30 to 80. We've allocated capacity for that, as the viewing habits start to change, as we move from SD to HD, and as we move from scheduled TV to more on demand TV or TV when you want it, we're able to adjust the allocation of that capacity and start to balance that between both TiVo, Video on Demand, broadband and broadcast. So, we have a highly flexible network that will be able to change as consumer habits change." - Paul Buttery, Virgin Media Chief Customer and Networks Officer.

'Can' and 'Will' are quite different things indeed, that makes far more sense. Obviously he is just saying it is technically possible.

I don't think anyone seriously expects VM to carry 80 HD channels in less than 3 years, not unless they drastically change their pricing structure or HD is considered standard and dosen't attracts a premium but I think that is a while away. It's good to hear they expect to be technically able to provide it though.

As far as I know even BSkyB hadn't made such a claim either which is why I thought it fanciful when I first heard the claim being bandied around but having read that statement they were not saying they 'will' have 80 HD channels. And I doubt they will, in fact I am not so sure even Sky will.

But let's be fair, At least VM recognised they were way wide of the mark on consumers attitude to linear HD, even upto just a couple of years ago so at least they have listened.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by mersey70

At least VM recognised they were way wide of the mark on consumers attitude to linear HD, even upto just a couple of years ago

VM always said they would launch more HD channels when the time was right, which is exactly what they did.

Despite what you may think from reading forums like this, people simply weren't watching HD then. Take a look at the BBC HD figure in Sept 2008. Compare with the likes of Dance Nation and Horse&Country.

Even now, the HD simulcasts only get about a quarter the viewers of their SD equivalent. (Far less in the case of BBC1 and ITV1).

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

VM always said they would launch more HD channels when the time was right, which is exactly what they did.

Despite what you may think from reading forums like this, people simply weren't watching HD then. Take a look at the BBC HD figure in Sept 2008. Compare with the likes of Dance Nation and Horse&Country.

Even now, the HD simulcasts only get about a quarter the viewers of their SD equivalent. (Far less in the case of BBC1 and ITV1).

That is changing fast though.