General : Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Is this a follow up to the David Boucher (Chief Clown) 'Sorry, we've lost the channels because of our own greed and incompetence' email ? Personally I got neither.

What we will all get very shortly is a letter along the lines of 'we've simplified your bill with an increase. But we have given you UKTV as a bonus ! '

Even Dick Turpin wore a mask......

Don't you mean:

'Sorry, we've lost the UKTV channels this was because of UKTV greed'

And Virgin Media will need to now increase you bill to pay for UKTV greed.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by denphone

Mr K you are rather cynical sometimes...

Only sometimes Den ? But you know I'm right

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by ozsat

I think you need to check you facts.
ITV can be removed from Sky and in fact were not on Sky for a long time.
Sky can not refuse to carry them if fees are paid and ITV can withdrawn them.

---------- Post added at 15:40 ---------- Previous post was at 15:35 ----------

So you would just pay up and be quiet?

My point was that ITV can decide not to be on Sky, but Sky cannot stop them if they want to be.

---------- Post added at 21:02 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

Originally Posted by ozsat

I think you need to check you facts.
ITV can be removed from Sky and in fact were not on Sky for a long time.
Sky can not refuse to carry them if fees are paid and ITV can withdrawn them.

---------- Post added at 15:40 ---------- Previous post was at 15:35 ----------

So you would just pay up and be quiet?

I don't know the full facts, so can't say what I would have done, but I would have handled the PR side in a much more professional manner.

---------- Post added at 21:06 ---------- Previous post was at 21:02 ----------

Originally Posted by 007stuart

Quite right, that's the problem with social media. The phrase "empty vessels makes the most noise" comes to mind.

Social media is now a more powerful tool amongst younger people than TV, radio or newspapers. Organisations who don't take this on board do so at their peril.

---------- Post added at 21:11 ---------- Previous post was at 21:06 ----------

Originally Posted by Pierre

OK, but as long as you have a DVR STBm no worries. Which is what you get with everyone for the last 15 years so I would think that wouldn't be so much of an issue now. Good old technology.

My comment was in relation to my intention to get the UKTV channels back by signing up to TV Player. I didnt in the end as you can't record the channels and there is no VOD so, as live TV was the only option and no use to me because of one of my disabilities, I didn't sign up in the end.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

My point was that ITV can decide not to be on Sky, but Sky

My comment was in relation to my intention to get the UKTV channels back by signing up to TV Player. I didnt in the end as you can't record the channels and there is no VOD so, as live TV was the only option and no use to me because of one of my disabilities, I didn't sign up in the end.

I never got round to buying the Now TV box that VM suggested I buy to access UKTV, and nicely gave me the money and subscription for.

Oh well, a few meals out on VM this year. Cheers to the Chief Clown David Bouchier, top bloke

[Unknownguy]

I also got the email. Nice of them to send one for channels we shouldn't have lost in the first place if both sides had played ball and thought of the customers and the vast sums we pay them!

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Mr K

I never got round to buying the Now TV box that VM suggested I buy to access UKTV, and nicely gave me the money and subscription for.

Oh well, a few meals out on VM this year. Cheers to the Chief Clown David Bouchier, top bloke

Laughable isn't it, a pay TV company suggesting that you go to a much cheaper competitor and giving you the money to do it 🤣🤣🤣

That said, they probably failed to realise that only GOLD is on Now TV.

Good on you Mr K is what I say.

[MatthewEastaugh]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Don't you mean:

'Sorry, we've lost the UKTV channels this was because of UKTV greed'

And Virgin Media will need to now increase you bill to pay for UKTV greed.

I'm guessing Media Boy's insiders are now fully aware of the inside dealings of the contract negotiations, and have the exclusive that it's all down to UKTV demanding a tonne more money (rather than the information reported by such unreliable outlets as The Times and The Guardian that Virgin wanted a 50% reduction).

Either that, or he's making it up as he goes along again. One of those, definitely.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Now that VM and UKTV have kissed and made up. I GURRANTEE that VM will put the prices UP.

And will say that WE have listened to our customers. And given more value for money.

What a load of crap

[MatthewEastaugh]

There's also the point that they've already increased prices for new customers... And did it while UKTV was still missing, so wouldn't have been the reason for higher costs:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33706653

[dodgem22]

The prices would be going up regardless just as they do every year its got nothing to do with UKTV

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by dodgem22

The prices would be going up regardless just as they do every year its got nothing to do with UKTV

exactly

[RichardCoulter]

I agree. Like any company, VM will charge the maximum that the market or individual customers will stand. This is why list prices are reduced for those of us not prepared to pay them.

If people are happy to pay the list prices, all well and good for them and VM. Those that aren't will be viewed as less profitable, but a lesser profit is better than no profit and boosting the fortunes of a competitor.

Now that the UKTV channels have been restored, i'm happy to stay with VM, but if the day ever came that my discounts were reduced, i'd be downgrading or leaving for a competitor company and their new customer discounts.

I've heard that UKTV are to do a similar thing as Sky did when they were temporarily taken off VM and will be repeating the programmes that we missed over the three weeks or so that they weren't on VM. Has anyone else heard this?

[Stephen]

There is no need to repeat them.

They will be On Demand I'm sure.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by dodgem22

The prices would be going up regardless just as they do every year its got nothing to do with UKTV

Depends on the level of the increase and whether they use UKTV as an excuse, even though charges to them weren't increased. Inflation increases are fair enough, but in recent years prices have been inflation busting and sometimes more than one increase.

---------- Post added at 08:32 ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 ----------

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Don't you mean:

'Sorry, we've lost the UKTV channels this was because of UKTV greed'

And Virgin Media will need to now increase you bill to pay for UKTV greed.

Seems your info sources at MB HQ aren't very good ! Sack them if I were you

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by MatthewEastaugh

I'm guessing Media Boy's insiders are now fully aware of the inside dealings of the contract negotiations, and have the exclusive that it's all down to UKTV demanding a tonne more money (rather than the information reported by such unreliable outlets as The Times and The Guardian that Virgin wanted a 50% reduction).

Either that, or he's making it up as he goes along again. One of those, definitely.

I am sure they have given him a full reports. Telling him it is for him to determine how much he can tell the pleps that slavishly follow him . watch the long list of gold options next will be l told so!