General : Changes to Virgin TV (2022)

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

No, that’s ITVXXX.

Don't forget the ITV App that only shows Australian soaps, dramas, comedies, and documentaries - ITV XXXX

[Media Boy UK]

2022:
New deal time for Virgin to broadcast local Channel 4 HD Channels when launch?

2019:
New deal with Channel 4 signed to launch All4 app on TV360 and V6 boxes in 2020.

2017:
Channel 4 buys old BBC THREE Slot on Virgin for E4.

2016:
4Seven HD launches on Virgin
Virgin sign new deal with Channel 4 - Their music channels moved channel numbers.

2013:
More4 +1 and More4 HD both launch on Virgin.

2012:
4Seven launch on Virgin
Virgin signs new deal with Channel 4

2010:
E4 HD launches but some other channels get move to new channel numbers.
https://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/20...nels.html#more

2009:
Channel 4 HD launches on Virgin.
Channel 4 signs new deal with Virgin.

[TimeLord2018]

All4 app launched on Virgin in June 2020
https://www.virginmedia.com/corporat...to-tv-platform

So perhaps a new deal was agreed then ?

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

All4 app launched on Virgin in June 2020
https://www.virginmedia.com/corporat...to-tv-platform

So perhaps a new deal was agreed then ?

I did forgot about that - now added to my list.

Thanks.

---------- Post added at 15:34 ---------- Previous post was at 15:21 ----------

I ask That's TV UK if they has any plans to launch UK wide on Virgin UK (Bar the local ones on Channel 159 in some parts of England and Wales)

I got a following back:

Sorry, we’re not currently available on Virgin Media in most of the UK. We will let you know if this changes.

[Rillington]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The replies above explain it, but basically ITV is modernising itself in preparation for the changeover to IPTV. This is likely to be a much more attractive proposition than Britbox and ITV Hub on their own. Britbox has mainly old material on it, which will not attract the kind of numbers they may have originally envisaged. The promised new material for ITVX should ensure that it is more successful.

Very possibly because as you say, it will combine both new and archive content.

I read that ITVX subscribers will get Britbox as part of their subscription. However will Britbox subscribers get ITVX as part of their Britbox subscription?

---------- Post added at 16:43 ---------- Previous post was at 16:40 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Netflix has been on TiVo for years before the V6 box launched, whereas Prime Video didn't launch until after the V6 did so the choices were different for both Virgin Media and Amazon.

Thanks for the reply Ben.

I would conclude that Amazon Prime will work perfectly well - albeit rather slowly - on Tivo boxes and that the decision to withhold it from TV-only customers was purely a business decision.

I also seem to recall that when Amazon first showed live Premier League matches, TV only customers were able to access the games whereas this was discontinued and that TV only customers can no longer access any sport that Amazon Prime shows.

---------- Post added at 16:46 ---------- Previous post was at 16:43 ----------

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

The trouble is that TV only customers can't upgrade to a more modern box, so have to use the old TiVo.

And that seems to be part of the problem as TV only customers are getting an ever more inferior product compared - includng less content - to VM's internet customers but presumably paying the same amount.

Out of interest, why are TV only customers not allowed to have a more modern box?

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by Rillington

Out of interest, why are TV only customers not allowed to have a more modern box?

VM don't have a modern TV box model with inbuilt internet. The last model to have this is the model TV-only customers currently have.

All the modern boxes connect to the separate broadband routers. Since TV-only customers don't have VM broadband routers there would be no way to update the EPG or use apps.

I'm guessing most customers take multiple VM products and VM don't think it's worthwhile for the development costs involved in developing another model box.

[Derekb108]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Britbox has launched on Virgin, and ITVX is also arriving later this year.

https://advanced-television.com/2022...-on-virgin-tv/

as the BBC has dropped their stake in britbox

however BBC Programs will stay on as there still partners, and will include ITVX Exclusives
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/itv...ox-1235195054/

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Rillington

Thanks for the reply Ben.

I would conclude that Amazon Prime will work perfectly well - albeit rather slowly - on Tivo boxes and that the decision to withhold it from TV-only customers was purely a business decision.

An app run slowly is itself part of the business decision, and app developers will have metrics as to what they class as 'perfectly well'.

As an app provider would I risk the customer experience impact and potential brand impact of having a newly launched app run slow enough to frustrate people using it? Unlikely.

[TimeLord2018]

Originally Posted by Rillington

Very possibly because as you say, it will combine both new and archive content.

I read that ITVX subscribers will get Britbox as part of their subscription. However will Britbox subscribers get ITVX as part of their Britbox subscription?[COLOR="Silver"]

Isn't Britbox effectively being folded into ITVX ?

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by nodrogd

Arqiva did pull the plug yesterday, mainly because RT ceased paying the bills for the studio output, if indeed they are paying anyone for anything now.

Well Media Guardian did report on March 18th:

RT vanished from British television screens two weeks ago as a result of EU sanctions but the UK media regulator’s decision makes it almost impossible for it to return to the country’s airwaves.

The (OFCOM) decision does not stop RT, formerly known as Russia Today, publishing online output aimed at British audiences – which often reached larger audiences than the television channel – because Ofcom regulates only broadcast outlets.

The Guardian understands the parent company that produces RT’s UK-based output is in the process of being liquidated, with British-based staff expecting to lose their jobs. The television channel’s studios at Millbank Tower in Westminster were being emptied of equipment on Thursday afternoon.

https://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/20...ther.html#more

---------- Post added at 11:46 ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 ----------

Virgin Media O2 top bundles now include Netflix

Virgin Media O2 has refreshed its top packages, the Ultimate Volt bundle and the Biggest TV bundle, to include a Netflix Standard Plan.

https://advanced-television.com/2022...clude-netflix/

[ScottishSteve]

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

[/COLOR]Virgin Media O2 top bundles now include Netflix

Virgin Media O2 has refreshed its top packages, the Ultimate Volt bundle and the Biggest TV bundle, to include a Netflix Standard Plan.

https://advanced-television.com/2022...clude-netflix/

They missed a trick there, if they had announced that at the time of the price increase many folk would maybe have been OK taking the increase, however I wonder if you will be able to pay the difference to have the full 4 screen UHD Netflix.

TBH I am getting better value on my SkyQ deal which includes the 4 screen version and Discovery plus which now would be £21 a month between the 2 alone.

[TimeLord2018]

Originally Posted by ScottishSteve

They missed a trick there, if they had announced that at the time of the price increase many folk would maybe have been OK taking the increase, however I wonder if you will be able to pay the difference to have the full 4 screen UHD Netflix.

TBH I am getting better value on my SkyQ deal which includes the 4 screen version and Discovery plus which now would be £21 a month between the 2 alone.

You can upgrade to Netflix Premium for an extra £5pm

For those who want to upgrade from the Netflix Standard Plan to a Premium Plan, Virgin Media O2 is offering the option to do so for £5 more per month so members of their household can enjoy Netflix in 4K on up to four devices simultaneously.

https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022...-new-packages/

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

VM don't have a modern TV box model with inbuilt internet. The last model to have this is the model TV-only customers currently have.

All the modern boxes connect to the separate broadband routers. Since TV-only customers don't have VM broadband routers there would be no way to update the EPG or use apps.

I'm guessing most customers take multiple VM products and VM don't think it's worthwhile for the development costs involved in developing another model box.

Interesting observation, I had previously always assumed that requiring VM broadband in order to get a more modern box was a deliberate incentive to upsell.

Of course, they might have taken this into account when deciding whether to pay for the development costs too.

[Media Boy UK]

Media Boy UK sources says "UKTV eventually want all their channels FTA and on Freeview, plans are already in action to get Alibi and GOLD FTA and on Freeview, the general feeling is EDEN will be scrapped and morphed into yesterday."

[Rillington]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Isn't Britbox effectively being folded into ITVX ?

That's the impression I get. After all, all ITVX customers will receive britbox. Whether Britbox customers will get ITVX doesn't seem to have been announced.

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:13 ----------

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I had previously always assumed that requiring VM broadband in order to get a more modern box was a deliberate incentive to upsell.

Of course, they might have taken this into account when deciding whether to pay for the development costs too.

As had I and part of me thinks this might still be the case - downgrade the product more and more for TV-only customers in the hope they will get VM internet which I presume would make that customer a lot more profitable, and a lot more of value to the business.

---------- Post added at 14:19 ---------- Previous post was at 14:17 ----------

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

Media Boy UK sources says "UKTV eventually want all their channels FTA and on Freeview, plans are already in action to get Alibi and GOLD FTA and on Freeview, the general feeling is EDEN will be scrapped and morphed into yesterday."

Thank you for this, and I guess they could achieve this almost straight away by replacing any timeshift channels with these other channels.