General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2019)

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by denphone

l suspect given time Prime Video will eventually be integrated into the Search & Discover menu on the V6.

It already does, Den. It's the UHD it can't seem to access for some reason. When you do a search, only the HD version comes up. I understand that they are working on this.

---------- Post added at 19:23 ---------- Previous post was at 19:22 ----------

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

Eventually... sigh.

Like they will eventually get around to updating the TCM logos that Sky and BT managed to do immediately. They have even added E! HD with 2 different logos on both the TV Guide and the website, neither of which are the same as on Sky and BT.

It's classic VM 😂

Personally, I'm not worried about the logos. But the Amazon search glitch needs fixing as soon as possible.

[fox35]

[QUOTE=OLD BOY;36006176]It already does, Den. It's the UHD it can't seem to access for some reason. When you do a search, only the HD version comes up. I understand that they are working on this.[COLOR="Silver"]

Is the OP not referring to the "Search & Discover" sub menu on the "Home" Page? A Prime Video header ideally should be listed in there surely, along side Netflix and YouTube.
I find the generic "Search" facility a bit hit and miss regarding Prime content. I always use Primes own search within the app anyway.

[SonicMaster]

[QUOTE=fox35;36006190]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It already does, Den. It's the UHD it can't seem to access for some reason. When you do a search, only the HD version comes up. I understand that they are working on this.[COLOR="Silver"]

Is the OP not referring to the "Search & Discover" sub menu on the "Home" Page? A Prime Video header ideally should be listed in there surely, along side Netflix and YouTube.
I find the generic "Search" facility a bit hit and miss regarding Prime content. I always use Primes own search within the app anyway.

That's correct.

[OLD BOY]

[QUOTE=fox35;36006190]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It already does, Den. It's the UHD it can't seem to access for some reason. When you do a search, only the HD version comes up. I understand that they are working on this.[COLOR="Silver"]

Is the OP not referring to the "Search & Discover" sub menu on the "Home" Page? A Prime Video header ideally should be listed in there surely, along side Netflix and YouTube.
I find the generic "Search" facility a bit hit and miss regarding Prime content. I always use Primes own search within the app anyway.

I was referring to Virgin's 'search and discover' page. Prime programmes do come up when you search for them, but it's only the HD version that appears.

Whether or not programmes are missing, I don't know as I've only searched for one or two programmes on Prime this way because I'm waiting for that UHD fix. However, those programmes I have searched for do appear. Maybe they are still adding stuff now - Amazon hasn't been on the platform for long. I notice that some Netflix shows don't appear immediately.

[cheekyangus]

If VM are moving over to the Horizon platform soon I don't see them putting the time, money and effort to fix the Amazon search thing on Tivo, they'll leave it be and just make sure it works on Horizon.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

If VM are moving over to the Horizon platform soon I don't see them putting the time, money and effort to fix the Amazon search thing on Tivo, they'll leave it be and just make sure it works on Horizon.

I can live with that if it's planned for this year, but I don't think they should wait for Horizon if they don't have a short time frame until launch. We still don't have a date and I suspect we will still be waiting this time next year.

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I can live with that if it's planned for this year, but I don't think they should wait for Horizon if they don't have a short time frame until launch. We still don't have a date and I suspect we will still be waiting this time next year.

I'd got the impression there may be trials/soft launch at end of this year with aim to launch next year.

What I was reading to get this impression I can't remember.

I may be in my own wee world...

[RegularCapital]

From what I understand, Virgin still wants to use TiVo for the backend and data and use the Horizon User Interface on top of it, from what I heard Liberty Global are working with TiVo in order to do this.

https://www.multichannel.com/blog/vi...-report-418549

Knowing that Liberty Global have been mass-selling their European assets to Vodafone and to other companies (also Liberty and Vodafone co-owns Vodafone Ziggo in the Netherlands), it seems that Horizon's software (as in the backend that powers the UI) could eventually be scrapped. The V6 box's remote has TiVo's patented thumbs up and thumbs down buttons and its said that the box will eventually use the new UI, so I don't think they're going to remove TiVo's key features. So Virgin will be able to incorporate Amazon's library in the search as only the "shell" of the software and how its presented will be changed.

It seems that Liberty Global want to focus on the UK and Irish market, selling most of the European assets and the funds raised from the transaction will allow them to expand Virgin's network.

[fox35]

Originally Posted by RegularCapital

From what I understand, Virgin still wants to use TiVo for the backend and data and use the Horizon User Interface on top of it, from what I heard Liberty Global are working with TiVo in order to do this.

https://www.multichannel.com/blog/vi...-report-418549

Knowing that Liberty Global have been mass-selling their European assets to Vodafone and to other companies (also Liberty and Vodafone co-owns Vodafone Ziggo in the Netherlands), it seems that Horizon's software (as in the backend that powers the UI) could eventually be scrapped. The V6 box's remote has TiVo's patented thumbs up and thumbs down buttons and its said that the box will eventually use the new UI, so I don't think they're going to remove TiVo's key features. So Virgin will be able to incorporate Amazon's library in the search as only the "shell" of the software and how its presented will be changed.

It seems that Liberty Global want to focus on the UK and Irish market, selling most of the European assets and the funds raised from the transaction will allow them to expand Virgin's network.

Indeed, in much the same way that Sky Q uses Tivo software, under license, buried deep within its own firmware operation. So, I'm guessing features which are similar on both VM and Sky boxes, such as Series Link and the Search facilities etc, are Tivo patented and used under agreement. Just a different branded UI.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by fox35

Indeed, in much the same way that Sky Q uses Tivo software, under license, buried deep within its own firmware operation. So, I'm guessing features which are similar on both VM and Sky boxes, such as Series Link and the Search facilities etc, are Tivo patented and used under agreement. Just a different branded UI.

It's interesting that TiVo are prepared to do business with Sky after Sky screwed them over all those years ago, but I suppose with the passage of time, there are now different people involved.

Do you know if this means that TiVo patented features such as Wishlists, Quickview & Thumbs up/down could now theoretically be utilised on Sky Q boxes? This is one of the things that would put me off from moving over to Sky.

I don't think that Series Link & the search capabilities can be patented as the V+ (and many other boxes) had/have these features.

[jfman]

They're in the business of making money, not harbouring a vendetta over something that happened nearly twenty years ago.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

They're in the business of making money, not harbouring a vendetta over something that happened nearly twenty years ago.

We agree on that one. Additionally, Sky seems not to be so aggressive against its competitors these days.

[fox35]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It's interesting that TiVo are prepared to do business with Sky after Sky screwed them over all those years ago, but I suppose with the passage of time, there are now different people involved.

Do you know if this means that TiVo patented features such as Wishlists, Quickview & Thumbs up/down could now theoretically be utilised on Sky Q boxes? This is one of the things that would put me off from moving over to Sky.

I don't think that Series Link & the search capabilities can be patented as the V+ (and many other boxes) had/have these features.

I remember you could read the Tivo (Rovi) licensing agreement in a sub menu on the Sky box. Here is some basic info on the Sky agreement to use Tivo patented technology..
https://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...1013005690/en/

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

We agree on that one. Additionally, Sky seems not to be so aggressive against its competitors these days.

There's no point, it's not a perfectly competitive market. Where there's a small number of suppliers the trend is always upwards towards monopoly pricing levels - that's where everyone makes the most profit.

[japitts]

Originally Posted by fox35

Indeed, in much the same way that Sky Q uses Tivo software, under license, buried deep within its own firmware operation. So, I'm guessing features which are similar on both VM and Sky boxes, such as Series Link and the Search facilities etc, are Tivo patented and used under agreement. Just a different branded UI.

Two things comes to mind here.. both with series-links...

I understood that Sky's series links were much like the original V+, i.e. timeslot dependent and not sticky between series. The flip side being, I thought both were USP of TiVo and therefore USP for Virgin's TV service.

I'm not massively surprised that Sky use TiVo software (albeit not to the extent of VM) but it just makes me curious where the dividing line is...