General : Changes to Virgin TV (2021)

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I can imagine you having some fine words for the channel if it ever made it onto VM. "Absolute dross" being two of those words!

Who me, Andrew, never.....

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

The 'On Demand' / 'Box Sets' folder for Lifetime on Virgin Media now has 'ends on 28th February', so their content (and possibly the channel?) is set to go on that date.

Same on Sky.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

The 'On Demand' / 'Box Sets' folder for Lifetime on Virgin Media now has 'ends on 28th February', so their content (and possibly the channel?) is set to go on that date.

Yes, I noticed that but thought I’d wait until the EPG listings got to March before posting on here. Yes, I think the channel will probably be departing.

Ah well, another one bites the dust. It was becoming quite a mixed bag in the end...

[SonicMaster]

Virgin Media boosts free TV offer in time for half term

Virgin Media is extending its free TV offering by making a variety of entertainment, lifestyle and learning-based programming available for all 3.5 million TV customers, at no extra cost.

From 15 February until 16 March, all Virgin TV customers in the UK will be given free access to 22 pay TV channels including Discovery HD, Comedy Central HD, E4 HD, Film 4 HD, FOX HD, Kiss, Magic, MTV HD, and National Geographic HD.

The free TV offering caters for a range of ages and tastes, with thousands of episodes also available on demand – from cult comedy sitcoms to jaw-dropping documentaries.

In addition, Virgin Media has partnered with Tastemade to bring a selection of its premium food and travel shows to its TV platform. Whether they are looking for money-saving meal plans or want to recreate a holiday at home, customers can tune into a variety of original series on demand, including The Pies That Changed My Life!, Plant-Based Budget Meals, and Travelling for your Tastebuds.

The giveaway builds on an existing offer after Virgin Media announced it was giving TV customers free access to seven kids pay TV channels for the whole of February, including Cartoon Network, Cartoonio, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, NickToons, Nick Jr, and Nick Jr Too.

What’s more, Virgin Media’s youngest viewers can access kids app Hopster for free until the end of March, providing a safe environment for pre-schoolers to learn through the stories they love.

David Bouchier, Chief TV & Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, said:

“We realise that it can be challenging to find fresh and interesting ways to keep the kids (and ourselves!) entertained, especially during the winter months. That’s why we’ve boosted our free TV offering just in time for half term, giving all of our customers access to a large choice of additional channels and programmes.

“Those looking for inspiration and ideas can also tuck into a selection of food and travel shows from Tastemade, which are now available on demand, at no extra cost.”

Customers will automatically be able to access the pay TV channels via their Virgin TV set-top box, with the Tastemade shows available on demand.

Notes to Editors

- From 15 February until 16 March, all Virgin TV customers will be given free access to 22 pay TV channels and programming including Comedy Central HD, Comedy Central Extra, MTV HD, E4 HD, TLC HD, ID, DMAX, More 4 HD, FOX HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Wild HD, National Geographic HD, Box Hits, Kiss, Magic, Kerrang, TCM HD, Film 4 HD, Sony SAB, Colors HD, Rishtey, and Rishtey Cineplex.

- From now until 2 March, all Virgin TV customers will be given free access to seven pay TV kids channels and programming including Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network HD, Cartoon Network +1, Cartoonito, Boomerang, Boomerang +1, Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nickelodeon +1, NickToons, Nick Jr, and Nick Jr Too.

- Tastemade has launched on Virgin TV, with a range of food and travel shows now available to watch on demand, at no extra cost.

- Virgin Media has extended free access to the Hopster app until 31 March 2021. Customers can access the app via their Virgin TV V6 set-top box.

https://www.virginmedia.com/corporat...-for-half-term

[cheekyangus]

DMAX...still Pay TV on VM.

Tastemade sounds worth investigating... though I'm currently deciding on lunch and haven't eaten today yet... so I may be being subconsciously influenced...

[RichardCoulter]

Lifetime now confirmed to be closing on 1/3/21.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Lifetime now confirmed to be closing on 1/3/21.

Yes, the programming has been deteriorating of late. The writing was on the wall.

Maybe we should start keeping a tally of the number of TV channels currently broadcasting. I think they may have started to reduce in number now, much as I predicted five years ago.

Or is that just my imagination?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, the programming has been deteriorating of late. The writing was on the wall.

Maybe we should start keeping a tally of the number of TV channels currently broadcasting. I think they may have started to reduce in number now, much as I predicted five years ago.

Or is that just my imagination?

They do seem to be reducing. There's various reasons being given, such as Covid fallout, licensing issues due to Brexit and competition from streaming services.

Freesat & Freeview intend to merge operations & in certain circumstance allow streaming channels onto the EPG.

Talking Pictures could be on the way out too:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...9#post36070499

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

They do seem to be reducing. There's various reasons being given, such as Covid fallout, licensing issues due to Brexit and competition from streaming services.

Freesat & Freeview intend to merge operations & in certain circumstance allow streaming channels onto the EPG.

Talking Pictures could be on the way out too:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...9#post36070499

Yes, I think that Sky Nature and Sky Documentaries are likely to be the last decent additions to our channel line-up. The golden age of linear scheduled TV channels is coming to an end, and this will be increasingly the case over the next few years.

In some respects, it is a shame. I remember vividly how excited we all were with the Disney Channel launch. Also, I remember clearly how happy I was when we were treated to new channels like SelectTV, the Granada channels and the Sci-Fi channel. I even stayed up to watch it when it only started at 1am on Mondays to Wednesdays, so I was pleased when cable offered the channel all day long!

However, time hurries on, and change will happen regardless of our attachments to the past.

The future is streaming. But that is a subject for another thread!

[Legendkiller2k]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Lifetime now confirmed to be closing on 1/3/21.

Came out of the blue this one as nothing at all came into our office about it, mind you A+E have always been very cagey with us.
The last we knew was LMN was considering a UK launch but that's most likely not happening now.

Another one to keep a eye on is TCM it's not doing very well apparantly.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Legendkiller2k

Came out of the blue this one as nothing at all came into our office about it, mind you A+E have always been very cagey with us.
The last we knew was LMN was considering a UK launch but that's most likely not happening now.

Another one to keep a eye on is TCM it's not doing very well apparantly.

TCM have been broadcasting older films of late, and in SD. Not the best mix!

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Legendkiller2k

Came out of the blue this one as nothing at all came into our office about it, mind you A+E have always been very cagey with us.
The last we knew was LMN was considering a UK launch but that's most likely not happening now.

Another one to keep a eye on is TCM it's not doing very well apparantly.

The FTA Blaze is a lot more successful than Lifetime and they own a placeholder slot on Freeview (TCC), meaning that people are speculating that they might be replacing Lifetime with another FTA channel, maybe using the old Lifetime programming.

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

TCM have been broadcasting older films of late, and in SD. Not the best mix!

Putting the Classic in Turner Classic Movies . Though old doesn't necessarily mean classic. The problem with TCM in UK, in my opinion, is it shows the same limited film selection over and over, such that Film4 and Sony's portfolio look positively brimming with variety in comparison.

[OLD BOY]

There have been some good films being shown on Sony Movies of late. Pity they don’t broadcast in HD.

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

There have been some good films being shown on Sony Movies of late. Pity they don’t broadcast in HD.

Agree. Didn't do justice to the TV premiere of Blade Runner 2049 last year.