Sky makes Â£160m bid for VM channels - Page 5

tvtimes · 22-02-2010, 15:33

We can all agree that if Sky buy them it would be detrimental to the channels apart from the odd member,

sherer · 22-02-2010, 16:09

this is the problem we have with Sky owning the content and the platform. It makes them too powerful and the only bargaining tool VM had against that they are selling off. Not sure if that really makes much sense but looks to be the way VM go.

tvtimes · 22-02-2010, 17:09

I could understand if VM had a clause where they could keep them for say 20 years or maybe even 15 years because that gives them plenty of time to service their debt properly and pay a significant portion of it, plus they will have been able to establish further growth by then as the full DSO would have come and gone and they could invest in their infrastructure and platform to compete better with Sky with their customer growth and therefore revenue. Or they could have the time to build up another channel portfolio. VM might aswell get out of the channel market now anyway because it has become so heavily saturated by the sheer amount of channels now available that it's hard to establish a decent audience share now anyway and even if you can it's hard to keep it up every day and it's only going to get harder in the future.

Their TV service needs significant investment to seriously challenge Sky and this will be made even harder once BT roll out fibre and Sky can piggy back on the back of that and offer a truly great VOD service. Sky seem to be ahead of Virgin in-terms of innovation, besides vod of course, they had HD first and are now creating a 3D service all while VM are still getting their hands dirty with HD only now. I hope VM are able to use the BT infrastructure (at a cost) to infiltrate the areas where cable is currently not available. then they can truly compete with Sky. I suppose they have to sell if they want to invest but just please VM not to Sky!

BenMcr · 22-02-2010, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvtimes

they had HD first

Technically Telewest had HD first as the TVDrive was launched before SkyHD was

Unfortunately Sky has always had deeper pockets than cable in the past so has been able to get to the actual content quicker. Also having a single technical platform has helped - rather than the 3 different ones Virgin have had to contend with.

tvtimes · 22-02-2010, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Technically Telewest had HD first as the TVDrive was launched before SkyHD was

Unfortunately Sky has always had deeper pockets than cable in the past so has been able to get to the actual content quicker. Also having a single technical platform has helped - rather than the 3 different ones Virgin have had to contend with.

I forgot they had BBCHD first

Ok SKY had the first real HD offering in the country.

Media Boy UK · 22-02-2010, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvtimes

I forgot they had BBCHD first

Ok SKY had the first real HD offering in the country.

Telewest has the old ITV HD Test Channel as well but I forget it channel number.

tvtimes · 22-02-2010, 19:36

But that's all it was a TEST channel.

Digital Fanatic · 22-02-2010, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvtimes

But that's all it was a TEST channel.

It did show some content to be fair.

tvtimes · 23-02-2010, 08:51

Why did they pull it then and only come back years later on freesat? How much content are we talking about?

BenMcr · 23-02-2010, 08:53

Wikipedia is your friend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_HD

Quote:

The channel originally existed on a trial basis from June until November 2006, primarily to show the World Cup games to which ITV had the rights

sherer · 23-02-2010, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvtimes

I could understand if VM had a clause where they could keep them for say 20 years or maybe even 15 years because that gives them plenty of time to service their debt properly and pay a significant portion of it, plus they will have been able to establish further growth by then as the full DSO would have come and gone and they could invest in their infrastructure and platform to compete better with Sky with their customer growth and therefore revenue. Or they could have the time to build up another channel portfolio. VM might aswell get out of the channel market now anyway because it has become so heavily saturated by the sheer amount of channels now available that it's hard to establish a decent audience share now anyway and even if you can it's hard to keep it up every day and it's only going to get harder in the future.

Their TV service needs significant investment to seriously challenge Sky and this will be made even harder once BT roll out fibre and Sky can piggy back on the back of that and offer a truly great VOD service. Sky seem to be ahead of Virgin in-terms of innovation, besides vod of course, they had HD first and are now creating a 3D service all while VM are still getting their hands dirty with HD only now. I hope VM are able to use the BT infrastructure (at a cost) to infiltrate the areas where cable is currently not available. then they can truly compete with Sky. I suppose they have to sell if they want to invest but just please VM not to Sky!

based on VM negotiations with Sky in the past I expect them to get screwed on the deal

tvtimes · 23-02-2010, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherer

based on VM negotiations with Sky in the past I expect them to get screwed on the deal

That's exactly what i expect mate. Vm will think they have got a good deal only to get screwed over later on and i think they will take a direct hit as Sky will hold all the cards.

Stuart · 23-02-2010, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Technically Telewest had HD first as the TVDrive was launched before SkyHD was

Unfortunately Sky has always had deeper pockets than cable in the past so has been able to get to the actual content quicker. Also having a single technical platform has helped - rather than the 3 different ones Virgin have had to contend with.

Not to mention the fact that Sky has shown an amazing ability to just abandon old platforms and technologies..

tvtimes · 23-02-2010, 16:54

It has now been announced on a certain rival site that Sky and VM have come to a deal where Living and Bravo will be available on Skyplayer! Will we be getting sky on demand i bloody doubt it!

zantarous · 23-02-2010, 19:31

If you google living bravo one of the top hits takes you to the full article. Is this a sign a deal has been done? Is VM getting anthing in return?