General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 1.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Bogof

His comment about TiVo makes sense, if they want to be world leaders in digital content they won't want to be licencing the most important part of their UI from a third party.

Why would they want 20 million customer familiar with and enjoying TiVo only for TiVo to decide not to re-licence the software one day and take a quarter of the customer base with them. Unlikely but ya gets the point...

Or maybe it's down the fact that they haven't licensed TiVo, have got a competing platform in Horizon (that got a few mentions), so he would want to talk down rival platforms as much as possible?

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Or maybe it's down the fact that they haven't licensed TiVo, have got a competing platform in Horizon (that got a few mentions), so he would want to talk down rival platforms as much as possible?

Talk up a product you are thinking of buying thats a plan

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Or maybe it's down the fact that they haven't licensed TiVo, have got a competing platform in Horizon (that got a few mentions), so he would want to talk down rival platforms as much as possible?

Rather like the Horizon middleware, and if it had been created sooner, vm would've got it too. Like the name too.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Itshim

Talk up a product you are thinking of buying thats a plan

Except they aren't thinking of buying TiVo, they are thinking of buying Virgin Media - who currently use TiVo.

I can't see Liberty doing a quick change with technology even if they bought VM, the TiVo rollout is too far advanced for that.

Plus I'm sure that even if there was the VM approach plan at the point of the interview, it's still all at a very early stage, so he wouldn't forshadow an plans in a promo interview for their existing cable services

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by heavyside

Is this the coming soon story to end all coming soon stories? Virgin Media about to be taken over by US cable co Liberty Global?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013...lobal-takeover

Yes and its been a long time coming.

When all the cable companies first started in the early 90's, it was long expected that they would consolidate into one company which they eventually did. It has been expected for a long time that a "big hitter" probably John Malone's Liberty would then take over the uk cableco now VM. I expect this will happen, vm getting taken over, but Malone might have competition ie someone like the giant US cableco Comcast who now own NBC Universal as but one example. But Malone is the favourite, always has been.

From that link you posted, what surprised me was that Branson's share of VM is under 3% now, so expect the final name change of UK cable soon.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by Horizon

Rather like the Horizon middleware, and if it had been created sooner, vm would've got it too. Like the name too.

Just had a look at Horizon it looks good.

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Here is an interview with the CEO of liberty global about the future of cable TV http://www.bloomberg.com/video/fries...lzkkWLN8g.html He says an interesting thing about TiVo towards the end.

Possible new boss of future VM.?? I know absolutely nothing about him, but I agree with him, cable isn't dead, far from it.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Except they aren't thinking of buying TiVo, they are thinking of buying Virgin Media - who currently use TiVo.

I can't see Liberty doing a quick change with technology even if they bought VM, the TiVo rollout is too far advanced for that.

Plus I'm sure that even if there was the VM approach plan at the point of the interview, it's still all at a very early stage, so he wouldn't forshadow an plans in a promo interview for their existing cable services

By product I meant Virgin Media - more thinking that they would look to get TiVo licence perhaps. But it could just be a straight forward take over, which would then lead to savings - really do not need so many duplicated services ( or perhaps thats not how Liberty operate) and clearly a saving to be made when setting up channels - Kiss of death on the other hand for SA I would think

---------- Post added at 12:33 ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 ----------

Originally Posted by Horizon

Possible new boss of future VM.?? I know absolutely nothing about him, but I agree with him, cable isn't dead, far from it.

Big hitter, hard player, rich man.But not as rich as Murdoch I believe

I recall him saying dont bother to go head to head with him as its a no win ( for me) situation. If I win I paid too much or something like that

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by Itshim

By product I meant Virgin Media - more thinking that they would look to get TiVo licence perhaps. But it could just be a straight forward take over, which would then lead to savings - really do not need so many duplicated services ( or perhaps thats not how Liberty operate) and clearly a saving to be made when setting up channels - Kiss of death on the other hand for SA I would think

---------- Post added at 12:33 ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 ----------



Big hitter, hard player, rich man.But not as rich as Murdoch I believe

I recall him saying dont bother to go head to head with him as its a no win ( for me) situation. If I win I paid too much or something like that

Indeed he did say that , but he did out manouver the Dark Lord to take control of Direct TV until he sold much of his stake.

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Itshim

Big hitter, hard player, rich man.But not as rich as Murdoch I believe

I recall him saying dont bother to go head to head with him as its a no win ( for me) situation. If I win I paid too much or something like that

It's not Malone I'm referring to. I was responding to that video link where the boss of Liberty Global (a company owned by Malone) was talking.

As for Malone, yes big hitter, hard player as you say. But just like Murdoch, he's old now and not involved in day-to-day things, which is just as well as he has had a terrible reputation in the States for how he treats cablecos there and customers. Coughs: sweating assets...

Malone is the ultimate boss and the one with the money, but if he buys VM, it will be someone whom he apoints to steer uk cable into the future.

---------- Post added at 13:26 ---------- Previous post was at 13:17 ----------

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Indeed he did say that , but he did out manouver the Dark Lord to take control of Direct TV until he sold much of his stake.

That was the ultimate blow against Murdoch.

Murdoch's dream was a global satellite tv company, Malone blew it pieces.

Anyway, these old farts are yesterday's news. Murdoch, Malone, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Sumner Redstone (viacom owner), Eisner (Disney's old boss) etc are all big media players from the last century. Who will be this century's big hitters is TBD (to be decided)?

[The Yank]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

This could be the news I have been hopping for a Company with real financial clout taking over VM.

With regard to the new channels it looks like Tecknix on DS is a reliable source of information.

fingers crossed

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

With regard to the new channels it looks like Tecknix on DS is a reliable source of information.

I have still to be given an update from my insider on Eurosport 2 HD plus any other channels (If any more not confirmed by Technix) set to launch. The last confirmed was the new Discovery deal last Friday.

The following is the views of Media Boy HQ:
No update since 10am from insider but I think next week 'things to happen' will be the rest of The Discovery Channels launching on Virgin on February 12th or February 14th.

[DJ-SWITCH]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

I have still to be given an update from my insider on Eurosport 2 HD plus any other channels (If any more not confirmed by Technix) set to launch. The last confirmed was the new Discovery deal last Friday.

The following is the views of Media Boy HQ:
No update since 10am from insider but I think next week 'things to happen' will be the rest of The Discovery Channels launching on Virgin on February 12th or February 14th.

What about DMAX+2

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by DJ-SWITCH

What about DMAX+2

Sorry to report - DMAX +2 is not set to launch due to Virgin Media only making room for DMAX +1 on Virgin Channel 171.

[DJ-SWITCH]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Sorry to report - DMAX +2 is not set to launch due to Virgin Media only making room for DMAX +1 on Virgin Channel 171.

Or in less its closing on sky, don't see the point in a +2 really theres only about too or three on sky