ITV HD for Virgin? (was "Freesat")

Chabrol · 22-06-2008, 18:15

Will Virgin be giving us the free HD channel from ITV being broadcast on Freesat?

homealone · 22-06-2008, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chabrol

Will Virgin be giving us the free HD channel from ITV being broadcast on Freesat?

Currently the ITV HD service is exclusive to Freesat, as far as I know.

22-06-2008, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chabrol

Will Virgin be giving us the free HD channel from ITV being broadcast on Freesat?

Will Virgin be getting the equipment for free required to receive, decode, re-encode, multiplex and distribute the free channel to its 50 or so headends?

Its a no on both your question and mine.

Chabrol · 22-06-2008, 21:10

Thanks for your answers, guys. Not sure whether to take the plunge and buy Freesat now, or wait a bit.

Probably will wait.

homealone · 22-06-2008, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chabrol

Thanks for your answers, guys. Not sure whether to take the plunge and buy Freesat now, or wait a bit.

Probably will wait.

Personally, I'd wait, I think the TV industry is in too much a state of flux, atm, to be committing to another new delivery platform, just now.

Fine for people who already have a suitable satellite dish, provided the receivers aren't too pricey, possibly, but for those that don't, paying for a dish to be installed may be a bit too much of a risk just to get BBC & ITV in HD??

harmitage · 22-06-2008, 23:34

The ITV HD service isn't a chanel as such. It's a streamed alternative viewing option available via the freestat red button.

Is it technically viable for Virgin to offer this option? My understanding is that is a definitine No for Sky but I don't know about VM. Any of you tech wizards on the forum know?

If it was viable there would no doubt be some complicated business/ internal political reason why it's not happening yet so I won't hold my breath.

N00N00 · 23-06-2008, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

Fine for people who already have a suitable satellite dish, provided the receivers aren't too pricey, possibly, but for those that don't, paying for a dish to be installed may be a bit too much of a risk just to get BBC & ITV in HD??

I disagree - Freesat has the HD specification sorted out and has decent HD content already.

Freeview on the other hand haven't really decided what they're doing in terms of specifcation, and with the government so incredibly determined to sell all the tv spectrum off so it can't be used for HD things don't look good at all.

This, combined with the fact that Virgin's HD offering is such as joke makes Freesat look very attractive indeed.

As well as being better than Virgin's HD offering, you could also cancel your Virgin package and thus not have to worry about being constantly overcharged or receiving bills that are almost impossible to understand.

Personally I'm just waiting for the next batch of Panasonic integrated Freesat tv out in the Autumn.

26-06-2008, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmitage

The ITV HD service isn't a chanel as such. It's a streamed alternative viewing option available via the freestat red button.

Is it technically viable for Virgin to offer this option? My understanding is that is a definitine No for Sky but I don't know about VM. Any of you tech wizards on the forum know?

If it was viable there would no doubt be some complicated business/ internal political reason why it's not happening yet so I won't hold my breath.

Your understanding for Sky is incorrect. Sky offered ITV this red button linking to their HD channel, but ITV rejected it. ITV have lost out on upto 200,000 viewers as a result. Strange for a channel relying on adverts for income.

ITV have been pushing the freesat only feature for a while now, doubt they will add Virgin unless they make it worth ITV's while.