VOD Has Channel 4 signed another deal? Possible clue.

cheekyangus · 28-03-2019, 12:54

It occurred to me today I was about to miss latest Big Bang Theory on Catch-Up, but upon going to the episode in question on my V6 the expiration date was 3 weeks time. So out of curiosity I looked closer. And last week's episode also had more than 7 days. And so does the last two episodes of Young Sheldon.

So does this mean Channel 4 now has 30 Day Catch-Up On-Demand AS STANDARD on Virgin Media? Previously only boxsets had longer days for them.

And does this, combined with the main Channel 4 on 104 becoming HD (currently only London region I believe) with the introduction of regional HD variants, mean Channel 4 have signed a new deal with VM?

If so, I wonder if there are more changes to come e.g. E4/More4/4Seven/Film4 HD swap outs and subsequent channel number changes to group all C4 channels (except Film4) together. Obviously not all the HD variants are currently on the same package levels, so 4Seven change is more likely than the others.

If there is a new deal I'd like the full Walter Presents boxset selection available to be part of it.

OLD BOY · 28-03-2019, 23:08

Interesting. Is it still ad free?

cheekyangus · 29-03-2019, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Interesting. Is it still ad free?

It's not been ad-free for a very long time. Most catch-up has adverts on VM these days, they even have VM TV branding on the front end.

OLD BOY · 29-03-2019, 07:42

Thank you, didn't know that. The only catch-up service I tend to use these days is the BBC i-Player.

Given that ads are now included, it would be appreciated by many if VM added the full ITV Hub and All4 service to its Apps and Games section. Then at least VM viewers would be able to subscribe to the ad-free versions as well as have a better selection of programming.

cheekyangus · 29-03-2019, 08:37

I doubt the selection would expand too much given that the BBC and ITV's BritBox service is now coming to the UK. And C4 is allegedly in talks to join them (or has expressed interest) so the big archives will likely be on BritBox, with a more recent selection on the broadcaster's own services.

I don't see Walter Presents being folded into BritBox if C4 become part of the organisation, hence my hope for that part of All4 being expanded on VM.

SonicMaster · 29-03-2019, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Thank you, didn't know that. The only catch-up service I tend to use these days is the BBC i-Player.

Given that ads are now included, it would be appreciated by many if VM added the full ITV Hub and All4 service to its Apps and Games section. Then at least VM viewers would be able to subscribe to the ad-free versions as well as have a better selection of programming.

I couldn't agree more.

muppetman11 · 29-03-2019, 09:49

I disagree at least currently you can skip the ads with VM and Sky's terrestrial catch up unlike the players on other devices.

SirThomas · 29-03-2019, 12:16

Never had any ads on our V6 - Took me a while before I actually noticed though tbh!
Bit of a hidden benefit to Virgin 4OD

Tom

cheekyangus · 29-03-2019, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirThomas

Never had any ads on our V6 - Took me a while before I actually noticed though tbh!
Bit of a hidden benefit to Virgin 4OD

Tom

Odd. There are ads at the start, and usually, but not always, during. Has been for a while. And I have a V6.

Maybe it's more likely on certain programmes? It's always there on Big Bang Theory.

OLD BOY · 29-03-2019, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I disagree at least currently you can skip the ads with VM and Sky's terrestrial catch up unlike the players on other devices.

Well, that is what I thought, but cheekyangus is saying that ads are on there.

Whatever the position, it would be good to have the choice.

muppetman11 · 29-03-2019, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Well, that is what I thought, but cheekyangus is saying that ads are on there.

Whatever the position, it would be good to have the choice.

I said you can skip the ads ie FFW.

cheekyangus · 29-03-2019, 20:40

Old Boy, muppetman11 is correct, you can fast forward the adverts, unlike the All4 apps on various devices.

The thing with fast forwarding catch-up on-demand content on VM is there's only one speed and there's a bit of lag unlike recorded shows.

The good thing about VM's implementation of adverts in catch-up is that they don't put an unreasonable number of adverts in compared with individual commercial broadcaster's own apps, and if you need to skip later VM don't move the skipped ads later e.g. on other services you could skip 2 ad breaks and get 7 ads as soon as you get to the point you want to watch, VM doesn't do this.