General Virgin Media & UKTV+ITV Channels - Page 61

OLD BOY · 12-08-2018, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

1) l think that retentions can see your viewing choice or are they very good at guess what channels you use.
2) l also think they can see your monthly bill(s) in my case .in my case £100's a month .Number of accounts paid from one source.

When I called I simply asked what the situation was with regard to cancelling.Given that I had just signed a new contract .With a great discount. Without saying anything else £10 per month extra discount for 18 months was offered . Are you saying l should offer to increase my payment ?

Given that your blessed UKTV channels are back and with five times the amount of on demand that you had before, I am astonished that you are still talking about compensation!!

denphone · 12-08-2018, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Given that your blessed UKTV channels are back and with five times the amount of on demand that you had before, I am astonished that you are still talking about compensation!!

Its called wanting their pound of flesh OB.

Mr K · 12-08-2018, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Given that your blessed UKTV channels are back and with five times the amount of on demand that you had before, I am astonished that you are still talking about compensation!!

Did he mention 'compensation'? It's not a word I or VM used when I rang up. It was money to source UKTV channels from elsewhere as VM had failed to provide. I didn't even ask for that, it was offered straight away after I expressed my polite disappointment at the loss of channels I regularly watch, after just signing a contract. It was the easiest retentions call I've ever made and offered straight away; they are lovely people

I really think they assumed UKTV weren't coming back. Seems VM have had a major change of heart, presumably due to customer pressure/cancellations.

OLD BOY · 12-08-2018, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

Did he mention 'compensation'? It's not a word I or VM used when I rang up. It was money to source UKTV channels from elsewhere as VM had failed to provide. I didn't even ask for that, it was offered straight away after I expressed my polite disappointment at the loss of channels I regularly watch, after just signing a contract. It was the easiest retentions call I've ever made and offered straight away; they are lovely people

I really think they assumed UKTV weren't coming back. Seems VM have had a major change of heart, presumably due to customer pressure/cancellations.

No, I just think they got the deal they wanted. Remember, in negotiations, you always demand more than you want. Virgin got their enhanced on demand content, a commitment from the BBC to negotiate a deal on their archive material, and who knows what the price will be.

As for the compensation bit, I agree that if you phone up to complain, then if you are offered compensation, that is fine. I have a problem with those who are after compensation despite not affecting their viewing habits, through sheer greed.

vincerooney · 13-08-2018, 10:59

Do we know what happened in the end? Who caved first do we think? VM having a lot of angry customers or UKTV losing a lot of money?

Either way VM get the extra on demand stuff which seems VM might have paid a little bit more and claim they got a good deal with that whilst UKTV may not have got the money they wanted but probably a little bit more than they originally were offered. Looks like both can claim to save face that way

telegramsam · 13-08-2018, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincerooney

Do we know what happened in the end? Who caved first do we think? VM having a lot of angry customers or UKTV losing a lot of money?

Either way VM get the extra on demand stuff which seems VM might have paid a little bit more and claim they got a good deal with that whilst UKTV may not have got the money they wanted but probably a little bit more than they originally were offered. Looks like both can claim to save face that way

My Guess is there was a bit of give and take on both sides,with each side walking away feeling that they're the winners.

Gavin-D · 13-08-2018, 12:01

@overnightstv

Saturday's return to Virgin of the UKTV portfolio saw all-day cable figures rise by 8%, and peaktime by 13%, compared with the previous Saturday

RichardCoulter · 13-08-2018, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by telegramsam

My Guess is there was a bit of give and take on both sides,with each side walking away feeling that they're the winners.

That's what usually happens, with each side then claiming to be the winner. This is exactly what happened after the Discovery deal with Sky.

It's good that the channels are back, but I still believe that this has damaged VM and will continue to do so for a long time. The UKTV channel and ITV disputes have drawn to the attention of the public and reinforced the fact that VM is the most vulnerable popular patform to be affected by channels being pulled. Their appalling PR didn't help either.

**Hugh** · 13-08-2018, 12:30

Well, when I mentioned this to family and friends that have VM TV packages, most of them hadn't noticed it, and the ones that did weren't particularly bothered - so it didn't seem to damage VM in their eyes, currently or for a long time in the future.

ozsat · 13-08-2018, 12:34

Just like the Sky platform v Discovery Channel dispute.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

The UKTV channel and ITV disputes have drawn to the attention of the public and reinforced the fact that VM is the most vulnerable popular patform to be affected by channels being pulled. Their appalling PR didn't help either.

MatthewEastaugh · 13-08-2018, 12:34

By contrast, while I only know of three people with Virgin Media outside of myself, two of them avidly watched Dave and one watched Gold and Alibi - so all of them definitely noticed, and were definitely annoyed by it.

ozsat · 13-08-2018, 12:35

People complain about these channels being removed yet it can take weeks before people find their favourite channel has gone.
I doubt if it hit VM as much as it hit UKTV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Well, when I mentioned this to family and friends that have VM TV packages, most of them hadn't noticed it, and the ones that did weren't particularly bothered - so it didn't seem to damage VM in their eyes, currently or for a long time in the future.

denphone · 13-08-2018, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Well, when I mentioned this to family and friends that have VM TV packages, most of them hadn't noticed it, and the ones that did weren't particularly bothered - so it didn't seem to damage VM in their eyes, currently or for a long time in the future.

Nothing like exaggerated media hyperbole which was in overdrive these past three weeks.

---------- Post added at 12:45 ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

That's what usually happens, with each side then claiming to be the winner. This is exactly what happened after the Discovery deal with Sky.

It's good that the channels are back, but I still believe that this has damaged VM and will continue to do so for a long time. The UKTV channel and ITV disputes have drawn to the attention of the public and reinforced the fact that VM is the most vulnerable popular patform to be affected by channels being pulled. Their appalling PR didn't help either.

Absolutely no proof of that from what l see currently Richard.

RichardCoulter · 13-08-2018, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozsat

Just like the Sky platform v Discovery Channel dispute.

Any disputes with Sky wouldn't affect the full suite of channels, all FTA/FTV channels would be unaffected.

There was also nothing to stop Discovery from retaliating by keeping their pay channels on Sky by making them FTA or FTV or making them a standalone subscription service (possibly making CA based upon subscription to their online service). As a closed platform this wouldnt be possible on VM, which is why I think that it was a bad move for VM to allow the increased possibility of channel cessation to be drawn to the attention of the public.

Their is absolutely no possibility that ITV could be removed from satellite by Sky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Absolutely no proof of that from what l see currently Richard.

Yes there is, various posts on social media to VM and on personal accounts say that people no longer trust VM to continue to carry channels.

As a result of the way that the spats between UKTV & ITV were made public, some people are blaming VM for the loss of Vintage TV.

OLD BOY · 13-08-2018, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Yes there is, various posts on social media to VM and on personal accounts say that people no longer trust VM to continue to carry channels.

As a result of the way that the spats between UKTV & ITV were made public, some people are blaming VM for the loss of Vintage TV.

Fair point, but the number of people venting their spleens on social media represent a very tiny fraction of VM's subscribers.

The silent majority were not that bothered, frankly.