Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2010) Vol. I

[joff81]

Originally Posted by daveetwo

He did confirm 7 more hd channels in the "coming months" but no names.

no actual number of channels given it only says "we plan to add even more in the coming months".

[daveetwo]

Originally Posted by joff81

no actual number of channels given it only says "we plan to add even more in the coming months".

I stand corrected, i read the EVEN as SEVEN! wishfull thinking i guess.

[Horizon]

Neil Berkett has just said on the VM conference call that the new V HD boxes will be able to take the TIVO downloads should he want it. Plus the new V+HD boxes released next year will all be TIVO compatitabile. Some will be in store by Christmas, with a major rollout of TIVO starting next year. A soft launch of TIVO to a few thousand customers will happen in the last quarter of this year.

BUT, he said with the new V HD boxes, there will be a couple of hundred thousand boxes seeded in the market that can take tivo by the end of the year, when the tivo rollout starts. He made NO mention of existing standard or V+ stbs.... Make of that what you will!

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Horizon

Neil Berkett has just said on the VM conference call that the new V HD boxes will be able to take the TIVO downloads should he want it. Plus the new V+HD boxes released next year will all be TIVO compatitabile. Some will be in store by Christmas, with a major rollout of TIVO starting next year. A soft launch of TIVO to a few thousand customers will happen in the last quarter of this year.

BUT, he said with the new V HD boxes, there will be a couple of hundred thousand boxes seeded in the market that can take tivo by the end of the year, when the tivo rollout starts. He made NO mention of existing standard or V+ stbs.... Make of that what you will!

As he specifically said a Tivo V+ would be launched, and that the V HD was capable (the exception that proves the rule) the implication was that the existing boxes (other than the V HD) would not be able to take the software. This is really unsurprising as the existing SD and V+ boxes are just not capable of running the new Tivo software, they simply don't have the capability to run flash lite.

[Horizon]

I have to say I cannot foresee VM going back to a situation where they have different software on different boxes. They've spent all the time merging everything together, only to split it again. Seems absurd. If what you say is correct about the flash lite, I would suspect that a cut down version of the tivo software will be put on all the existing boxes. But Berkett was clearly inferring otherwise, wasn't he?

[Media Boy UK]

Bravo HD update:

I have been told the following from an Virgin insider about Bravo HD.

We've not been told about it.

[devilincarnate]

Hi MB there was this question asked over on Twitter yesterday!

@virginmedia are you ever planning to get a virgin1 hd channel made? I really wanna watch Chuck in HD!

and this was the answer!

We've not had news on this happening yet, however happy to pass on your feedback as I'd like to see that too =)

So maybe soon?

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Horizon

I have to say I cannot foresee VM going back to a situation where they have different software on different boxes. They've spent all the time merging everything together, only to split it again. Seems absurd. If what you say is correct about the flash lite, I would suspect that a cut down version of the tivo software will be put on all the existing boxes. But Berkett was clearly inferring otherwise, wasn't he?

You can't just cut down the new UI to remove the flash lite requirement, it's a vital part of it, the ui runs on it. It's not like certain features use flash, the entire interface is flash.

No matter what you're going to have two different software versions with entirely different underlying OS's running on two different boxes, one flash based, one not, so what difference does it make if both are Tivo provided or one is and one isn't? Other than the added cost of having Tivo develop two seperate versions of their software.

You have to remember the long term plan is V HD will be the standard box, and the Tivo V+ the PVR, spending money developing a new ui for what are going to become end of lifetime boxes isn't good business sense.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

Hi MB there was this question asked over on Twitter yesterday!

@virginmedia are you ever planning to get a virgin1 hd channel made? I really wanna watch Chuck in HD!

and this was the answer!

We've not had news on this happening yet, however happy to pass on your feedback as I'd like to see that too =)

So maybe soon?

Until My Insiders or Virgin Media tell me that Bravo HD is coming I am putting it under rumour on my list on Post one - from the next update.

[Mikey1981]

Is there any news on Comedy Central MB? HD or even a widescreen version, they get quite a lot of new shows now and they currently transmit them in 4.3 only.

[zantarous]

I emailed them last year about HD and W/S and didn't get a reply.

Also a poster on DS has had a reply form ESPN regarding ESPNA HD and said that the channel was available for carriage but was up to individual platforms to carry in HD and the viewers contact their provider.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by zantarous

I emailed them last year about HD and W/S and didn't get a reply.

Also a poster on DS has had a reply form ESPN regarding ESPNA HD and said that the channel was available for carriage but was up to individual platforms to carry in HD and the viewers contact their provider.

I shall e mail VM and see what they have to say.

Originally Posted by EBD3000

Sky really would have something to complain about then.

Yes the general inpression from impartial observers of the media is ofcom let sky off lightly as after the announcement sky shares actually went UP,as the city breathed a sigh of relief.

Was that good enough for sky no they went about their work (as usual) with an army of solicitors/barristers and are now being heard in the competition appeals tribunal.

I hope the competition comission/ europe does get involved looking into sky honestly they must be the most litigeous company i have ever seen.

[virginruinedntl]

Sky News HD to launch on Sky on May 6th:

Sky News will be launching a HD channel to mark 2010's Election night broadcasts.

Sky News HD will be a simulcast broadcast of the content from the standard definition Sky News channel, and will launch on Thursday 6th May at 9pm. It will take the Sky channel number of 517.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News said: "We've made the news ourselves in 2010 by launching the first UK news service in HD with sharper pictures and enhanced services for HD viewers. It's an innovation which clearly defines Sky's strengths, our passion and our restless pursuit to be first and to be the best. The detail of Sky News HD is stunning - I hope our viewers will enjoy the new experience."

Wonder if Virgin will let us know when they will add it.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by virginruinedntl

Sky News HD to launch on Sky on May 6th:

Sky News will be launching a HD channel to mark 2010's Election night broadcasts.

Sky News HD will be a simulcast broadcast of the content from the standard definition Sky News channel, and will launch on Thursday 6th May at 9pm. It will take the Sky channel number of 517.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News said: "We've made the news ourselves in 2010 by launching the first UK news service in HD with sharper pictures and enhanced services for HD viewers. It's an innovation which clearly defines Sky's strengths, our passion and our restless pursuit to be first and to be the best. The detail of Sky News HD is stunning - I hope our viewers will enjoy the new experience."

Wonder if Virgin will let us know when they will add it.

I'd expect it to be a Sky "Exclusive" for a good while TBH... not one of my fave news channels though.