TiVo : Richard Branson believes TiVo is a "weapon" against Sky

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

Does VM's VoD movie service get much business? It just seems quite expensive for what it offers.

yeah, it does well. It offers convenience I guess.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

Does VM's VoD movie service get much business? It just seems quite expensive for what it offers.

To be fair though most of the pay per view movie services are overpriced , Sky Box office is , Filmflex is , the PS3 service is.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

To be fair though most of the pay per view movie services are overpriced , Sky Box office is , Filmflex is , the PS3 service is.

I'd like a movie subscription service like the music ones, where you pay a fixed monthly fee and you can stream as much as you want. I do that with Napster for music.

I'm not sure if it will ever happen for movies though?

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by passingbat

I'd like a movie subscription service like the music ones, where you pay a fixed monthly fee and you can stream as much as you want. I do that with Napster for music.

I'm not sure if it will ever happen for movies though?

It does in America, and there's several not as good options over here. But honestly, Sky is preventing it from happening properly over here.

They have exclusive first run subscription on demand movie rights tied up with all the major studios so people just can't get the deals in place to make it viable. That's something that's been refereed to the competition commission though, so maybe in the future we'll see that change.

[BenJSmyth]

Originally Posted by TheDon

It does in America, and there's several not as good options over here. But honestly, Sky is preventing it from happening properly over here.

They have exclusive first run subscription on demand movie rights tied up with all the major studios so people just can't get the deals in place to make it viable. That's something that's been refereed to the competition commission though, so maybe in the future we'll see that change.

I think it's outrageous that Sky have on demand movie rights when they don't even have an on demand service to offer it! That is something the competition commission need to stamp out straight away. That is pure and simply preventing anyone else from offering the content. If Sky were offering the content then perhaps it'd be a little easier to stomach, but they are depriving consumers the right to choose.

Hopefully with Amazon now full owners of Lovefilm, they will be able to challenge Sky. Maybe VM and Amazon should work together for it. Then the Lovefilm service could be provided across the Tivo platform.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by BenJSmyth

I think it's outrageous that Sky have on demand movie rights when they don't even have an on demand service to offer it! That is something the competition commission need to stamp out straight away. That is pure and simply preventing anyone else from offering the content. If Sky were offering the content then perhaps it'd be a little easier to stomach, but they are depriving consumers the right to choose.

Hopefully with Amazon now full owners of Lovefilm, they will be able to challenge Sky. Maybe VM and Amazon should work together for it. Then the Lovefilm service could be provided across the Tivo platform.

Sky do offer movies on demand via Anytime and anytime+ as well as Sky Player admittedly it is only available to Sky customers though.

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Sky do offer movies on demand via Anytime and anytime+ as well as Sky Player admittedly it is only available to Sky customers though.

Sky do buy up exclusive VOD rights though which stops anybody else being able to do deals i am thinking about first run movies ect which ofcom i believe have now passed onto the competition comission to look into.

Sky in this way try to stifle competition and that also helps to keep prices high sadly.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by richard1960

Sky do buy up exclusive VOD rights though which stops anybody else being able to do deals i am thinking about first run movies ect which ofcom i believe have now passed onto the competition comission to look into.

Sky in this way try to stifle competition and that also helps to keep prices high sadly.

I agree that's not right however , the movie companies are also partly to blame as well IT'S CALLED GREED.

[Stephen]

I am sure VMs moviex are now 48hr rentals and not the old 24hr.

Also there is Picturebox at £5 a month and that is unlimited viewing, although mostly older movies but still some good ones.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Stephen

I am sure VMs moviex are now 48hr rentals and not the old 24hr.

Also there is Picturebox at £5 a month and that is unlimited viewing, although mostly older movies but still some good ones.

Yeah FilmFlex is 48 hour rental .. I sub to PictureBox, it does have a few older movies, but most are HD, so it's good value.

[passingbat]

I tried Picture box when it first launched, but not much of the selection appealed to me. HD was good but it only had a stereo soundtrack. That's a while back, so they may have improoved the selection now.

In the end, I decided on blueray rentals from Lovefilm. Their free streaming content is not too bad, but tends to be older films (the well known ones, anyway). Again only stereo sound though. But considering it's free with your subscription, it's good.

Ideally (for me), Lovefilm should launch an HD monthly subscription service and VM should carry it via Tivo. I think it could be a while before that happens though,

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I agree that's not right however , the movie companies are also partly to blame as well IT'S CALLED GREED.

Yes that is the case! However adding sky and the movie companies together = double greed, sky cannot supply VOD to a large part of their sub base due to phone line restrctions, or many subs not having a box that supports the service ,but the sheer power of their bank account makes sure nobody else can either competition commisson please do your job.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by passingbat

I tried Picture box when it first launched, but not much of the selection appealed to me. HD was good but it only had a stereo soundtrack. That's a while back, so they may have improoved the selection now.

In the end, I decided on blueray rentals from Lovefilm. Their free streaming content is not too bad, but tends to be older films (the well known ones, anyway). Again only stereo sound though. But considering it's free with your subscription, it's good.

Ideally (for me), Lovefilm should launch an HD monthly subscription service and VM should carry it via Tivo. I think it could be a while before that happens though,

I have Picture Box and it's a bit mediocre really with not an awful lot of choice.

It would be good if the rights issue could be sorted out and the streaming of TV programmes and films given to providers on a non exclusive basis, separate from linear TV rights.

Maybe the market will sort itself out without the need for regulation.

[ntl.wotcha]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

yeah, it does well. It offers convenience I guess.

Hardly a significant differential to most postal services. I have a couple of BluRays drop through my letter box each week for just £2 a go. Unlimited rental period too. And the worst inconvenience is I have to walk to the post box at the end of the street to send them back. To be honest I could do with the excercise !

As for Tivo being a weapon agaisnt Sky, well isn't it a bit like buying a super new gun and then handing over all the ammo to the enemy ? The Tivo box is useless without the content. I suppose Brandson could walk round the Sky office and bosh the receptionist over the head with it

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by ntl.wotcha

Hardly a significant differential to most postal services. I have a couple of BluRays drop through my letter box each week for just £2 a go. Unlimited rental period too. And the worst inconvenience is I have to walk to the post box at the end of the street to send them back. To be honest I could do with the excercise !

As for Tivo being a weapon agaisnt Sky, well isn't it a bit like buying a super new gun and then handing over all the ammo to the enemy ? The Tivo box is useless without the content. I suppose Brandson could walk round the Sky office and bosh the receptionist over the head with it

My thoughts exactly while I do believe TIVO could be a great product , I can't see VM trumping Sky on content anytime soon.