General : Virgin TV (2024)

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

FAST channels are not the future. They are a passing fad.

So you say, without offering any evidence and completely ignoring audience stats.

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/rapid...189856.article
https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo...ldwide#revenue
https://whipmedia.com/wp-content/upl...nnels_2023.pdf

Although, never let a few facts get in the way of a prophecy.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

without being idiotic what is

TPTV? What is Rewind? can anyone confirm the channel numbers. didn't even know these channels existed.

Talking Pictures tv, channel 445. You'll love it

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

without being idiotic what is

TPTV? What is Rewind? can anyone confirm the channel numbers. didn't even know these channels existed.

TPTV is Talking Pictures TV on channel 445. Rewind isn't on Virgin, it's on Sky and last I heard they were looking into starting on Freesat and Freeview.

A lot of the smaller channels don't join Virgin because it costs too much compared to the other platforms and the extra ad revenue wouldn't cover the extra costs.

I've often wondered why Virgin don't agree to pay a notional carriage fee for these poorer channels to cover most of the price that FTA channels have to pay in order to be carried on cable. This way they make a little money and it's a better service for their customers.

When the UKTV channels were removed lots of channels like Hirse & Country were added to try and make up for it, so there must be some way to do it.

Originally Posted by epsilon

So you say, without offering any evidence and completely ignoring audience stats.

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/rapid...189856.article
https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo...ldwide#revenue
https://whipmedia.com/wp-content/upl...nnels_2023.pdf

Although, never let a few facts get in the way of a prophecy.

Interesting point from your third link

[Media Boy UK]

Digital Bits Rate has reveal that Virgin Media UK ARE SET to move That's Christmas (aka That's TV 3) soon to a new channel number.

Given that - That's TV 2 is set to launch on Virgin Channel 151 soon (Source
@UKCTVC).

So I feel will move from Virgin Channel 296 to Virgin Channel 152.

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/files...g?v=1731046607

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by epsilon

So you say, without offering any evidence and completely ignoring audience stats.

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/rapid...189856.article
https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo...ldwide#revenue
https://whipmedia.com/wp-content/upl...nnels_2023.pdf

Although, never let a few facts get in the way of a prophecy.

What I said was that they were a passing fad. I don’t deny or discount the fact that they have a growing audience right now, but my view is that the interest will subside over a few years as people want something new to watch.

The key really is the content, and if they manage to be profitable enough to screen new content, then clearly this will change things. I think the streaming channels are best suited to one-off dramas, films and general entertainment, because with a TV drama series you are following, these channels screen episodes one after the other and it’s difficult to nail down when the next episode outside of that sequence will be screened, due to the lack of a programme guide.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see, but I think these channels will be short-lived. I am happy to be proved wrong, though. If that’s really what people want, fair dos.

The younger generation like to view these one-off videos such as you see on YouTube - cat and dog videos and people doing stupid things, and perhaps that is what the FAST channels will morph into over time.

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

What I said was that they were a passing fad. I don’t deny or discount the fact that they have a growing audience right now, but my view is that the interest will subside over a few years as people want something new to watch.

The evidence shows otherwise with year on year growth forecast over the next few years. All backed by advertisers as this is utopia for them, the ability to target and track the audience. That is where a lot of the money is.

The key really is the content, and if they manage to be profitable enough to screen new content, then clearly this will change things. I think the streaming channels are best suited to one-off dramas, films and general entertainment, because with a TV drama series you are following, these channels screen episodes one after the other and it’s difficult to nail down when the next episode outside of that sequence will be screened, due to the lack of a programme guide.

There has always been a massive market for archive content. The content which they grew up watching or just that they have grown comfortable with. I don't really agree with your theory about one off dramas, that's a pattern for people who like to get absorbed in big drama productions, which isn't everyone. Much of the time, nowadays, we get TV channels releasing a whole series online as they start to show weekly episodes of a new show. Meanwhile, the streamers often adopt the method used by linear broadcasters and release a new episode each week. In any event, FAST channels are ideally suited to news, music channels etc which on-demand streamers are not.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see, but I think these channels will be short-lived. I am happy to be proved wrong, though. If that’s really what people want, fair dos.

We don't really have to wait and see. Just follow the stats and see how things develop. Remembering that advertisers and the whole marketing industry has a vested interest in this doing well.

The younger generation like to view these one-off videos such as you see on YouTube - cat and dog videos and people doing stupid things, and perhaps that is what the FAST channels will morph into over time.

Viewing cat and dog videos is more the way older generations use YouTube etc. TikTok, YouTube Shorts and the like are conditioning younger generations to expect their content in compartmentalised 2 minute packages. They don't develop the concentration span to watch long drama productions, so we'll have to see what impact that has on your prediction for the on-demand future.

---------- Post added at 21:31 ---------- Previous post was at 20:35 ----------

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

Digital Bits Rate has reveal that Virgin Media UK ARE SET to move That's Christmas (aka That's TV 3) soon to a new channel number.

Given that - That's TV 2 is set to launch on Virgin Channel 151 soon (Source
@UKCTVC).

So I feel will move from Virgin Channel 296 to Virgin Channel 152.

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/files...g?v=1731046607

The channel move has been confirmed by UKCTVC on their X feed.
https://x.com/UKCTVC

[vincerooney]

anything coming soon for the tv360? software update? new channels? new apps? ill take anything at this point...

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by epsilon

The evidence shows otherwise with year on year growth forecast over the next few years. All backed by advertisers as this is utopia for them, the ability to target and track the audience. That is where a lot of the money is.

There has always been a massive market for archive content. The content which they grew up watching or just that they have grown comfortable with. I don't really agree with your theory about one off dramas, that's a pattern for people who like to get absorbed in big drama productions, which isn't everyone. Much of the time, nowadays, we get TV channels releasing a whole series online as they start to show weekly episodes of a new show. Meanwhile, the streamers often adopt the method used by linear broadcasters and release a new episode each week. In any event, FAST channels are ideally suited to news, music channels etc which on-demand streamers are not.

We don't really have to wait and see. Just follow the stats and see how things develop. Remembering that advertisers and the whole marketing industry has a vested interest in this doing well.

Viewing cat and dog videos is more the way older generations use YouTube etc. TikTok, YouTube Shorts and the like are conditioning younger generations to expect their content in compartmentalised 2 minute packages. They don't develop the concentration span to watch long drama productions, so we'll have to see what impact that has on your prediction for the on-demand future.

---------- Post added at 21:31 ---------- Previous post was at 20:35 ----------


The channel move has been confirmed by UKCTVC on their X feed.
https://x.com/UKCTVC

Not heard of UKCTVC before. What does it stand for and who are they?

[heavyside]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

anything coming soon for the tv360? software update? new channels? new apps? ill take anything at this point...

The latest version of the 360 software is 5.14. It is beginning to roll out to all 360 boxes. With this version the streaming apps are snappier.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

anything coming soon for the tv360? software update? new channels? new apps? ill take anything at this point...

I only have news on Channel changes that may happen by Friday (November 15th):

151 - That's TV 2 (NEW to Virgin Media UK)
152 - That's Christmas (Known as That's TV again in January 2025 - Virgin will move it from Channel 296).

I have seen nothing on any of the following That's Media Channels also being set to launch on Virgin Media:

That's Dance
That's Fabulous
That's Melody

---------- Post added at 12:19 ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 ----------

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Not heard of UKCTVC before. What does it stand for and who are they?

Stand for UK Cable TV Changes

They also runs one for Freeview/Freely:

UK Terrestrial TV Changes -
https://twitter.com/UKTTVC

[Media Boy UK]

NOTE TO ALL##

*My Virgin Media TV review of 2024 will be posted on December 14th anytime after 4pm
*Virgin TV (2025) will be launch on Cable Forum SOMETIME on December 30th.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

I only have news on Channel changes that may happen by Friday (November 15th):

151 - That's TV 2 (NEW to Virgin Media UK)
152 - That's Christmas (Known as That's TV again in January 2025 - Virgin will move it from Channel 296).

I have seen nothing on any of the following That's Media Channels also being set to launch on Virgin Media:

That's Dance
That's Fabulous
That's Melody

---------- Post added at 12:19 ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 ----------



Stand for UK Cable TV Changes

They also runs one for Freeview/Freely:

UK Terrestrial TV Changes -
https://twitter.com/UKTTVC

Thanks, I actually use that site, I thought it was a broadcaster or something that I hadn't heard of

[ozsat]

These type of channels are not on Sky Stream either.

Talking Pictures and the That's TV channels are on Sky satellite but NOT stream. The channels on VirginMedia linear are also on VirginMedia Stream.

Rewind is not on Sky Stream.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

TPTV is Talking Pictures TV on channel 445. Rewind isn't on Virgin, it's on Sky and last I heard they were looking into starting on Freesat and Freeview.

A lot of the smaller channels don't join Virgin because it costs too much compared to the other platforms and the extra ad revenue wouldn't cover the extra costs.

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Not heard of UKCTVC before. What does it stand for and who are they?

It's just the support feed on X for https://ukcabletvchanges.blogspot.com
Abbreviated, presumably, for people who don't like to type the whole name.