TiVo : Will Virginmedia ever match Sky's channel line up?

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Honestly? you mustn't have been looking very hard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_TV#On_demand
I imagine that by now its well over 7,000 hours.

How much content does Sky VOD have? (they have HBO programmes, unlike Virgin)

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

How much content does Sky VOD have? (they have HBO programmes, unlike Virgin)

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Anytime%2B#Content

there are around 1,000 Hours of Sky Anytime+ content.

[andy_m]

As of January this year it was 1000 hours, which includes stuff from Sky Sports, so you presumably have to subscribe to the Sports channels to get the full 1000 hours, and 619 films for movies subscribers. I'm not sure how that compares with the number of Sky movies on demand on Virgin, but clearly there is significantly more general programming available on demand on cable for xl customers. However, Sky fans will, quite rightly IMO, argue that what is important is quality rather than quantity, and that's a matter of personal taste. It would seem incredible that there could possibly be better quality on a service that offers just 1/7 of the content, especially considering there isn't that much of it that's exclusive, but it's certainly possible.

[Telly_]

Sky has a lot more than 1000 hours of programming, a lot of VM's VODis catch-up from BBC, 4OD ect which is included in the total hours.

Sky will have the full ITV,Demand5,4OD,BBC iPlayer soon so their content will increase even further.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Stephen

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Anytime%2B#Content

there are around 1,000 Hours of Sky Anytime+ content.

Well that's clearly wrong here's a quote from it

Anytime+ offers around 1,000 hours of content from Sky Arts, Sky Box Office, Sky Movies, Sky1 and Sky Sports, along with material from other broadcasters, such as the Disney Channel, ESPN, HBO, National Geographic and UKTV

Sky Store has 1040 movies at an average of 2hrs per movie that's 2080 hrs
Sky Movies OD has over 500 movies so at least 1000 hrs plus there are many boxsets , Sky catchup content , content from other channels included so that figure is way off the mark.

Originally Posted by andy_m

but clearly there is significantly more general programming available on demand on cable for xl customers

Fair point , VM also have a complete terrestrial catchup service and it's OD service is available on all their STB's and not dependant on BB speed , however it is worth remembering Anytime+ only started towards the latter end of 2010 considerably later than cables OD service , it's a service which Sky are now beginning to see as essential.

It's the old adage what's good for one person isn't necessarily for another , they are both decent services and basically boil down to a persons individual requirements.

[Alan Fry]

Alright how much content is there from Sky Anytime+/Sky Store/BBC iplayer/ITV Player/4OD/Demand 5 and how much is there from VM VOD/FilmFlex/BBC iplayer/ITV Player/4OD/Demand 5?

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Well that's clearly wrong here's a quote from it



Sky Store has 1040 movies at an average of 2hrs per movie that's 2080 hrs
Sky Movies OD has over 500 movies so at least 1000 hrs plus there are many boxsets , Sky catchup content , content from other channels included so that figure is way off the mark.



Fair point , VM also have a complete terrestrial catchup service and it's OD service is available on all their STB's and not dependant on BB speed , however it is worth remembering Anytime+ only started towards the latter end of 2010 considerably later than cables OD service , it's a service which Sky are now beginning to see as essential.

It's the old adage what's good for one person isn't necessarily for another , they are both decent services and basically boil down to a persons individual requirements.

I never said it was right or accurate. It's the only thing I could find relating to hours of content. Still it's way behind VMs 7,000 hours or there abouts.

[m419]

Originally Posted by Telly Bear

I'm just wondering if Virginmedia will ever match Sky TV's channel line up?

I ask this because Sony Movies is free to view, the CBS channels are also free but none appear on Virignmedia. This channels are not in contracts with any other provider but yet they are not on VM.

So does (yes DOES not dose!!!) anyone here think Virginmedia are really committed to new channels and I am talking exclusively about general entertainment channels here CBS and Sony movies.

Yes, but CBS Action,Horror,Extreme Sports and CBS Reality are actually available on Virgin TV, Sony Movies will come eventually

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by m419

Yes, but CBS Action,Horror,Extreme Sports and CBS Reality are actually available on Virgin TV, Sony Movies will come eventually

Media Boy has just told me that Sony and VM are not currently in talks with each other over Sony Movies Channel, however we will wait and see!

[m419]

Originally Posted by Telly Bear

Iknow when I had VM their wasn't really that much but I can tell you on Sky anytime+ their is(goes to anytime+ on sky box) bare in mind each channels has pages of content. I do honestly suspect Skyanytime+ will surprise many VM customer for speed and content.

Channels with ondemand content on Anytime+ on Sky.
ITV Player
Sky1
SkyLiving
SkyAtlantic
Watch
Gold
Dave
Comedy central
FX
CHallenge
MTV
Skyarts1
Skyarts2
Alibi
Bio
Discovery real time
Discovery home&health
Home
Good food
Skymovies(all channels)
Sky sports
Skysports f1
ESPN Classic
Skynews
Discovery
Animal planet
NatGeo
Natgeo wild
History
Military
Eden
Crime
Cartoon network
Boomerang
Nickleodeon
DisneyXD
Disney channel
Disney Junior
NickJr
Cartoonio

That I disagree, I was actually disappointed with it, Virgin TV' Vod is much better and its slow, and you have to wire it up to a router.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Stephen

I never said it was right or accurate. It's the only thing I could find relating to hours of content. Still it's way behind VMs 7,000 hours or there abouts.

I truthfully have no idea how many hours each provider has , however clearly that wikipedia links figures are no longer correct , does it really matter so long as we can all find something to watch. We'd be here all day discussing the pro's and cons of each service and the truth is only the individual customer can decide that.

[Chad]

So to take if back to the original question of will Virgin Media ever match Sky's channel line up nobody knows and only time will tell.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Chad

So to take if back to the original question of will Virgin Media ever match Sky's channel line up nobody knows and only time will tell.

But apart from Sky Atlantic there are not very many must have channels that Sky and even the great one from on high believes that.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Telly Bear

Sky will be networking Sky boxes in beta as early as July,So you'll be able to watch recordings from one box on another box in a different room. .

I know the July is just a beta date but VM/Tivo were first of the blocks with this; why are they taking so long to implement it? If Sky beat them to it, it will be a disgrace and missed opportunity for a limited time USP.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by passingbat

I know the July is just a beta date but VM/Tivo were first of the blocks with this; why are they taking so long to implement it? If Sky beat them to it, it will be a disgrace and missed opportunity for a limited time USP.

From what l have heard PB there is no chance of Sky beating them to it as my sources from a Sky insider indicate that Virgin will beat Sky to this by at least 6 months with networking to come sometime later this year.