Virgin Media News

[Nikesh]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

try reading the post

If you read the post correctly, you would see that I replied to the post before he edited it. Read the quote in my post.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by TV Boy

Sky Channels on Virgin Media Latest:

An incrasingly row could see BSkyB pull some of their Channels from Virgin Media next week, depriving cable viewers of hit series such as 'Lost' and '24'. The wrangle, which could see Sky One, Sky Sports News, Sky Travel and Sky News all removed from the cable firm, which was launched on Thursday by NTL Telewest.

BSkyB and Virgin Media have been locked in negatiations over the amount each pays to carry the other's TV Channels. Talks over whether Virgin Media will carry the Sky channels have a deadline of the end of the month. BSkyB is understood to be offering extra channels to Virgin Media, including Artsworld [Soon to be Sky Arts ] and Sky Three, as a package along with its basic channels. A Virgin Media source said: 'This is a totally economic decision for us. The negotiations are going right down to the wire.'

Info from The Mail on Sunday.

For more information see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOmlGnOwniw

[Nikesh]

Originally Posted by TV Boy

For more information see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOmlGnOwniw

Is that a real ad?

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Nikesh

Is that a real ad?

Yes

[Nikesh]

Originally Posted by TV Boy

Yes

LOLL Really I thought it was a joke!

[Stephen]

Well that is terrible, they called us NTL:Virgin which is wrong and also have the old contact number. It changed on thursday to 0845 454 1111.

Sky are utterly disgraceful.

[Media Boy UK]

An Virgin Media insider told me the following tonight

There is a few channels there in advance negetitions with, to
which they are hoping to add, but until the carriage is signed nothing can
be for sure.

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by TV Boy

For more information see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOmlGnOwniw

I noticed there was a video from ntl's retentions dept on there too. Looks like it was filmed just before Christmas. Oh boy....

It's been a few years since I've worked in a office environment, but its clear to see watching that, why standards have slipped so dramatically in companies these days....A professional environment, it most certainly is not.

Perhaps it's the "culture" Richard Branson is now encouraging within vm...

[DarkGashX]

So what is happening? Are we losing the channels? If so, my tv is going over to sky...

[Horizon]

...No, it's just pure speculation, nothing more than that. I'm sure a deal will be done.

[DarkGashX]

I hope so Sky One is one of the best channels I feel . Thanks for that Neptune.

[freakgirl]

I agree with you Dark Gash most of my favourite programmes are on sky one, I don't think it will happen, I think someone will cave in at the last minute

[Nikesh]

To be honest, I wouldn't mind losing Sky One because I hardly watch it anyway.

[Media Boy UK]

Here is the SKY VS Virgin Media:

Sky turns up heat on Virgin

Info from Media Guardian.

BSkyB has raised the stakes in its battle with Virgin Media by taking out ads asking cable customers to take on their suppliers.

Sky launched the adverts on channels such as Sky One last night telling customers of Virgin Media - renamed from NTL last week - that Sky's basic channels could be withdrawn from the cable system if Virgin Media did not pay a "fair price for them".

Customers were told to call Virgin Media's customer service line to lobby against any withdrawal.

The move "completely shocked" Virgin Media, which had no idea the adverts were being planned. One Virgin Media insider described the move as "bizarre".

Sky and Virgin Media are locked in negotiations over the cost of carrying each other's channels. These tense talks come on top of Virgin's complaints to regulators after Sky effectively blocked the cable company's takeover bid for ITV.

Sky was able to air the adverts without Virgin Media's permission as it inserted them into the feed it gives to the cable firm.

A Sky spokesman defended the move, saying the company wanted to give Virgin Media customers the chance to lobby against any withdrawal of its basic channels, which as well as Sky One include Sky Two and Three, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Artsworld and Sky Travel.

"It is a call to action on behalf of Virgin Media customers," the spokesman said. "We need to build up some support. We feel these channels are valuable to Virgin Media customers and we have invested a lot of money in them. We need to instal in viewers the danger of them potentially being pulled.

"We feel an obligation to let cable customers know there is a very real danger these channels could be pulled."
The spokesman added there was no fixed timescale for how long the adverts would run.

Negotiations on the new carriage deal are expected to be completed within the new few weeks.

Sky said it was requesting a "fair price" from Virgin Media which "reflects the proposed new terms and considerable value of its basic channels". A Virgin Media spokeswoman said the company did not comment on negotiations as they were confidential. But she added: "We are negotiating in good faith to ensure these channels are available to Virgin Media customers. We have no idea why Sky are saying we are doubting the value of these channels."

---------- Post added at 15:06 ---------- Previous post was at 14:12 ----------

There's now a pre-recorded message on the customer services number, saying along the lines of:

"If you're calling regarding the Sky advert about the potential loss of certain Sky channels, please be advised that negotiations with Sky to retain these channels are continuing. We have made no threat to drop these channels. A brand new channel, Virgin Central, featuring top drama from Britain and the US, launches next week on channel 119."

[Lambard]

Originally Posted by Nikesh

To be honest, I wouldn't mind losing Sky One because I hardly watch it anyway.

me toooooooo