[Merged] You have to give Sky their Due!!! - VM Screwed Up?

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Some people have very short memories. We've already got 12 of the Sky HD channels.

No sky basics though , only premium which the minority subscribe to.

[kgollop]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Anyone else think this thread is pointless?

The deal has been done and the channels are coming.. VM don't have to do everything at the same time as Sky launch Living HD.

As it's been said earlier, VM got the best deal they could... they don't want to be channel owner, they want to be a platform.

Pretty much agree DF. A launch date from VM would do away with all this though!

[dsmuk]

Originally Posted by spankysmagicpian

I'm pretty patient and tbh, I personally don't watch Sky 1 so the delay is no problem.

The only thing that gets me about all this is Virgin have had the ability to blow Sky and all competitors out of the water technology wise for many years now but through previously mis-directed management (?) and being bogged down by debt have lagged behind substantially.

Now it seems they are never going to catch up and firmly remain also rans compared to Sky which is a shame.

Agreed, find it amazing that some things that have been available in America don't appear to have been considered over here.

Features like

Start over - would love to be able to start a TV show again at the touch of a button.

Remote recording - been available for years on Sky but no mention of it via cable despite cable boxes having a full two way link to Virgin HQ.

Create your own playlists of VoD shows.

I know Tivo is coming and it going to (apparently) change our lives but I have had cable for over 10 years now and these features have been available around the world for years.

[LexDiamond]

The best place to get Sky HD is from Sky. This should be obvious to even a person who has no knowledge of satellite/cable but browses the two websites.

[spankysmagicpian]

Originally Posted by dsmuk

Agreed, find it amazing that some things that have been available in America don't appear to have been considered over here.

Features like

Start over - would love to be able to start a TV show again at the touch of a button.

Remote recording - been available for years on Sky but no mention of it via cable despite cable boxes having a full two way link to Virgin HQ.

Create your own playlists of VoD shows.

I know Tivo is coming and it going to (apparently) change our lives but I have had cable for over 10 years now and these features have been available around the world for years.

and don't forget the ability to watch previously recorded shows on any of the boxes in the house. I think that was one of the SA facilities at one time...at least in the US.

When VOD was introduced, I always thought it was a good idea if NTL (as was then) could cook up some sort of remote record facility for people (this was before V+ boxes) Choose to record something and it's recorded automatically and stored for you at the headends.

[frogstamper]

I don't know why VM do not just announce in advance when these channels are going to launch? it would stop all this speculation and give the appearance that VM are on the ball.
I'm more concerned about the upcoming HD versions of Eden and UK Food, VM have a financial stake in both of these channels so therefore you'd expect them to be at the front of the queue when they launch...as usual though Sky have already got UK Food-HD before VM and I'd lay odds they'll get Eden-HD before us also.
Surely having a stake in these channels should give VM some advantages??

[jfman]

Conveniently left out of the OP is the fact Virgin got £160m for VMTV and a new long term carriage agreement in place ensuring stability of channels on their platform.

To go through the 4 points:

1. Sky Movies Classics HD is just one HD channel. Considering Virgin didn't have any HD channels other than BBC HD until earlier this year the offering now, at the current price points, is better now than it was then.
2. Sky's advertising is always in some way going to play on it's superior offering. An offering that does come at a significant price premium over VIP 50.
3. As point 1.
4. Living HD is on cable anyway, I don't see why any subscriber should get upset about it.

[Stuart]

Re Sky advertising playing on it's superior offering. This is a fact of life. Sky are always going to do that. I dare say that VM, if the situation were reversed would do exactly the same.

The only thing that is going to stop *any* company doing that is if someone (OFCOM or the Government, probably) introduces rules banning any close links between TV channels and platforms.

[jfman]

I agree, my point was really that I don't see it being part of some tactical masterstroke for Sky to do something that's quite ordinary and could be fully anticipated.

If anything, Virgin have pulled the masterstroke by offering Sky Premium HD effectively free to top tier customers. Sky on the other hand can't, as Virgin's fee will no doubt be linked to Sky's retail pricing. Sky equally have little/no movement on phone line rental or broadband pricing.