Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III. - Page 47

clinteastman · 29-07-2011, 14:45

I have just sent an email the Neil Berkett asking what the reason for this is, likening it to a slap in the face of it's customers.

My suspicion is money, even though they own 50% is doesn't mean that can cut themselves a deal, that's anti competitive, also BBCW would have something to say about that. Sky are the ones with the seemingly bottomless pockets after all.

---------- Post added at 13:45 ---------- Previous post was at 13:45 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

I just fail to understand why VM do not carry these channels.
I am beginning to wonder if VM have enough band width to carry anymore HD channels.

It's not a bandwidth problem for sure.

jtaylor06 · 29-07-2011, 14:56

Nothing like watching HD repeats on Dave HD.

alwaysabear · 29-07-2011, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinteastman

I have just sent an email the Neil Berkett asking what the reason for this is, likening it to a slap in the face of it's customers.

My suspicion is money, even though they own 50% is doesn't mean that can cut themselves a deal, that's anti competitive, also BBCW would have something to say about that. Sky are the ones with the seemingly bottomless pockets after all.

---------- Post added at 13:45 ---------- Previous post was at 13:45 ----------

It's not a bandwidth problem for sure.

The reply should be interesting, although I doubt you will get more than the normal formatted answer of " We are always looking to improve our TV offer and we are in negotiations or we have no plans to add these channels at the present time.
At least you have let them know how you feel as I have on numerous occasions.

clinteastman · 29-07-2011, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

The reply should be interesting, although I doubt you will get more than the normal formatted answer of " We are always looking to improve our TV offer and we are in negotiations or we have no plans to add these channels at the present time.
At least you have let them know how you feel as I have on numerous occasions.

I don't know, I have already had a couple of frank phone calls with them. Like the time they said if they owned Sky Atlantic they would probably ask Sky stupid money for it too!

29-07-2011, 15:06

Dave HD is a stupid idea, but Watch and Alibi do show a bit of original content that is half decent (eg. Castle) so its good to hear they're coming albeit not to us at the moment.

Also, when are the Red Bee Media-designed catchup services coming (to non-TV devices)? Its nice to watch iPlayer on the laptop, but the picture quality from other channels is dire.

denphone · 29-07-2011, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Ted

http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/News/Most...-VoD-deal-Sky/

UKTV signs major VoD deal with Sky

UKTV, the digital TV broadcaster, has launched its first video-on-demand service, after signing a deal that will bring classic BBC programming such as 'Fawlty Towers' to Sky Anytime+.
Doctor Who: among programmes to be available on demand to Sky customers

As part of the deal, Sky will add three high-definition UKTV channels to the two it already offers. Watch HD and Dave HD are scheduled to launch in October and Alibi HD will go live in 2012.

Now I'm only guessing here but with Eden HD and Good Food HD already on Sky thats going to be 5 channels in HD made by a company that VM own 50% in that we have not been told we will get by a certain date if ever.......

Well done VM you should be ashamed.

Virgin will have to do a lot in the next 6 months tv wise to win any new customers as l find it staggering that a Vod deal was not done first with Virgin but done with Sky and the same deal seems to apply to the UKTV HD channels, one word staggering.

Horizon · 29-07-2011, 15:47

Hopefully once vm sell its stake in UKTV, any deal may involve vm taking all missing uktv channels along with any that Scipps (the purchaser-to-be of vm's stake) wish to add.

denphone · 29-07-2011, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horizon

Hopefully once vm sell its stake in UKTV, any deal may involve vm taking all missing uktv channels along with any that Scipps (the purchaser-to-be of vm's stake) wish to add.

And when will this be.

Horizon · 29-07-2011, 16:26

Your guess is as good as mine, but the deal according to media reports should finalise "soon."

alwaysabear · 29-07-2011, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

And when will this be.

You old sceptic you

devilincarnate · 29-07-2011, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horizon

Your guess is as good as mine, but the deal according to media reports should finalise "soon."

They have been saying that for a fair while now?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

You old sceptic you

That should be SEPTIC ( no offence DEN )

denphone · 29-07-2011, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

You old sceptic you

Well as like you we have heard so many rumours whether it be through the forum, Neil Berketts office, the Virgin tv man and several other sources but people are getting impatient and l can understand why at the moment but lets hope all our christmas presents will come before christmas in the form of what people want be it more HD and SD channels, more tivo functionality, the red button on tivo with Sky and BBC and many other things.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

They have been saying that for a fair while now?

---------- Post added at 15:37 ---------- Previous post was at 15:36 ----------

That should be SEPTIC ( no offence DEN )

Thats alright Devil as we can all pong a bit at times.

alwaysabear · 29-07-2011, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Well as like you we have heard so many rumours whether it be through the forum, Neil Berketts office, the Virgin tv man and several other sources but people are getting impatient and l can understand why at the moment but lets hope all our christmas presents will come before christmas in the form of what people want be it more HD and SD channels, more tivo functionality, the red button on tivo with Sky and BBC and many other things.

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Thats alright Devil as we can all pong a bit at times.

Well you know how I feel den, let us hope that Christmas comes early.

Rillington · 29-07-2011, 17:00

Indeed.

And this deal with Sky seems to indicate even more that VM really does seem to have a policy of not adding new TV channels. After all, MB's excellent "Coming Soon" posting has gone from a weekly update to a monthly update due to this apparent strategy by VM because he has nothing to report each month.

devilincarnate · 29-07-2011, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rillington

Indeed.

And this deal with Sky seems to indicate even more that VM really does seem to have a policy of not adding new TV channels. After all, MB's excellent "Coming Soon" posting has gone from a weekly update to a monthly update due to this apparent strategy by VM because he has nothing to report each month.

But people seem also to forget that since we have had the new encryption, Nobody has been able to see what channels are testing? So it just comes down to the little nuggets of info that some are able to get (may all be subject to change)