Coming soon to Virgin Media 2008.

[the-cable-guy]

yeah its similar with PCNE its FTA on Sky but £5 p/m on VM.

[sakiblateef]

PCNE has been free for years on Sky and before Exntl combined with Telewest the prices for all the asian packages were low but since merger they have kept the Telewest prices for these channels which are slightly higher.

Some of the Asian channels should actually be included free in the XL pack. Sky currently offer the whole star package in their top package free of charge.

[Thebenster]

GCAP who own The Jazz & Gold are looking to sell two of their EPG Channel numbers on Sky so any of the two following channels will closed on Virgin TV they are:

Planet Rock
TheJazz or
Fun Radio.

NOTE: Fun Radio is only on in London on DAB and on Sky and Virgin Media

Info from Radio today[/quote]

The deadline for Planet Rock is 30th May

[paul_hadley]

With regards to ITV HD - the official ITV site says it will only be available on red button when it launches on Freesat, so if it does come to Virgin Media I would assume they would follow suit?

[the-cable-guy]

Originally Posted by sakiblateef

PCNE has been free for years on Sky and before Exntl combined with Telewest the prices for all the asian packages were low but since merger they have kept the Telewest prices for these channels which are slightly higher.

Some of the Asian channels should actually be included free in the XL pack. Sky currently offer the whole star package in their top package free of charge.

it seems stupid to me that channels are FTA on Sky (& elsewhere), but premium on VM.

---------- Post added at 22:53 ---------- Previous post was at 22:52 ----------

Originally Posted by paul_hadley

With regards to ITV HD - the official ITV site says it will only be available on red button when it launches on Freesat, so if it does come to Virgin Media I would assume they would follow suit?

ITV HD is currently testing FTA however from what ppl have been saying in a different post a Sky receiver cant pick it up atm, although FTA HD receivers can.

[JG3870]

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

it seems stupid to me that channels are FTA on Sky (& elsewhere), but premium on VM.

FTA Channels pay ASTRA to broadcast via satellite and the channel pays a fee to Sky to appear on their EPG and if they want to be seen on Freesat they have to pay Freesat a fee to appear on their EPG (which is seperate EPG to Sky's)

On cable VM pay a carriage fee to the channel itself so they can carry it and of course it becomes a premium channel so they can recoup the money spent on carriage fees from customers.

[grabbi]

Originally Posted by JG3870

FTA Channels pay ASTRA to broadcast via satellite and the channel pays a fee to Sky to appear on their EPG and if they want to be seen on Freesat they have to pay Freesat a fee to appear on their EPG (which is seperate EPG to Sky's)

On cable VM pay a carriage fee to the channel itself so they can carry it and of course it becomes a premium channel so they can recoup the money spent on carriage fees from customers.

Spot on.

[the-cable-guy]

Originally Posted by JG3870

FTA Channels pay ASTRA to broadcast via satellite and the channel pays a fee to Sky to appear on their EPG and if they want to be seen on Freesat they have to pay Freesat a fee to appear on their EPG (which is seperate EPG to Sky's)

On cable VM pay a carriage fee to the channel itself so they can carry it and of course it becomes a premium channel so they can recoup the money spent on carriage fees from customers.

i know how it works, it just makes you feel like cable is a rip off. also at 28 East depending on which satellite the broadcaster uses depends on who they pay as both Astra & Eutelsat have satellites there.

[Brettiex]

When a channel is on Sky or Freeview the channel pays for the EPG slot but when on Virgin, Virgin pays to carry the channel.

Is it just me or does this appear to be an injustice? While Sky and Freeview have it easy Virgin has to pay for the channels they carry. It's a shame really becuase Virgin are in a tough position. Why are they in this situation? If it was a level playing field Virgin may be in a better financial situation than it is today. And I know a lot has to do with poor management and the vast amount paid for laying the cables back in the 80's but surely it would help!

[the-cable-guy]

Freeview cant carry many more channels as its almost all being used up atm.

[TV Boy]

Keep up-to-date on upcoming channel launches and other important events across the two platforms of Virgin TV - week 20 update

Updated every Thursday before midday (on Cable Forum )

======== Freeviews on Virgin TV =======

Right Now
National Geographic channel is free to everyone for all of May. (Digital only)

======== Coming up on Virgin Analogue TV =======

Virgin will be starting the Analogue switch off soon. They will also upgrade some currently analogue areas to digital. More info here soon.

May
Analogue viewers in Coventry and Glasgow will be cut off sometime this month.

NOTE:
Virgin Media has initiated a scheme to shutdown it’s analogue Cable TV network..

Currently, around 200,000 Virgin subscribers only have analogue TV.

Virgin has begun a program of area by area upgrades, but this is a long term program and at this point in time, it is unknown how many areas actually will get upgrades. It is also possible that Virgin will not upgrade everyone in some areas.

Some customers will actually be forced off the network, but Virgin claim this will be a small number.

Info from Cable Forum and Virgin Media.

======== Coming up on Virgin Digital TV =======

May
25th. British Eurosport and British Eurosport 2 may go widescreen on Virgin Media.
30th. Planet Rock may closed on Virgin Channel 924.
New look 4oD starts on Virgin Media.

June
2nd. Q Radio will re-launch on Ex-ntl Channel 929.
24th. NME Radio launches on Virgin Media.

By Summer
The Hits TV is to be rebranded to 4Music.

Summer
BBC Scotland is to launch BBC Gaelic on Virgin Media ( only in Scotland ).
The full launch of BBC iPlayer will appear on Virgin Media.

By July 1st
STAR hope to launch STAR One and maybe STAR Gold on Virgin Media by this date [NOTE: An deal have still to be signed so it may not happen. ]

August
An Virgin Media worker has started an rumoured that Virgin 1 HD is to launch this month.

Autumn
An 'new look' UKTV Channel starts. [ TV Boy think it will be UKTV Gold that will be rename. ]

Channels that will appear soon on Virgin Media [ Been Confirmed by the Broadcaster, BARB or by Virgin Media. ]
Nuts TV
Pop Girl
Channel 4 HD
JJB Sports TV - now testing on some NTL Boxes

Will happen before 2009
Virgin plan to remove all the Ex-ntl or Ex-Telewest channels so that Virgin Viewers can have the same lineup.

The following channels are rumoured to be coming to Virgin TV this year.
The National Geographic Channel +1*
Motors TV*
BBC TV Local Channels*
The History Channel +1*
Playhouse Disney +
True Movies 2
AnimeCentral
Cartoonito
TCM2
ESPN Classic
Bubble Hits
Al Jazeera English
ARY QTV and The Musik

* = Maybe coming to Ex-Telewest due to Ex-ntl viewers having them right now.

Other news
NBC Universal-backed kids' broadcaster KidsCo is rumoured to be in discussions with Virgin Media looking to launch a linear TV channel on their platform.
Liberty Global (Zone Horror owners) 'would consider' buying Virgin Media's television channels, it has said.
VMTV is rumoured to be going widescreen.
ITV are rumoured to be in talks with Virgin Media over they ITV1 HD Channel coming to Virgin TV soon [ We may get ITV on Demand, ITV2 +1 and ITV3 +1 as part of the deal ].
Five are rumoured to be in talks with Virgin Media over they Five on Demand coming to Virgin TV soon [ We may get Fiver +1 and Five US +1 as part of the deal ].
NASN is to be rebranded in 2008.
Virgin are rumoured to be in talks with Sky over their Basic channels coming back.
Motors TV are says to be 'currently finalizing the renegotiation of they contract' with Virgin Media
No news in months: Film 24 and Chello Zone are both rumoured to be in talks with Virgin.

The list of Channels THAT Virgin Media have worked on this week

Channels renamed/Move EPG:
No news this week...

New Channels added:
No news this week...

Channels removed from Virgin TV
No news this week...

New channels that are now testing on some Virgin Media boxes.
JJB Sports TV ( Ex-ntl only )

Virgin Media have still to move the following Ex-Telewest channels to match with EPG in Ex-ntl: areas.

TBA
Television X moves from 473 to On Demand
Playboy TV Nightly moves from 475 to On Demand
The Adult Channel Nightly moves from 477 to On Demand
Spice Extreme Nightly moves from 478 to On Demand
Red Hot TV moves from 480 to On Demand
Xplicit XXX Nightly moves from 484 to On Demand
Gay TV Nightly moves from 485 to On Demand

Virgin still have to sign deals for the following ex-NTL channels to appear on the ex-Telewest Network

EPG Channel Name
231. The National Geographic Channel +1
235. The History Channel +1
545. Motors TV
811. Zee Music
812. Alpha ETC Punjabi
833. Phoenix CNE
861. BBC One England
862. BBC One Scotland
863. BBC One Northern Ireland
864. BBC One Wales
865. BBC Two England
928. Radio: Magic
929. Radio: Q
930. Radio: BBC Radio Scotland
931. Radio: BBC Radio Wales
932. Radio: BBC Radio Ulster
934. Radio: BBC Radio nan Gaidheal
936. Radio: BBC Radio Cymru
962. Radio: The Hits
963. Radio: Kiss 100
964. Radio: Kerrang!
966. Radio: Smash Hits!

NOTE: EMap Radio channels: ( Magic, Q, The Hits, Kiss 100, Kerrang!, Smash Hits! ) have all been sold to H Bauer.

Virgin still have to sign deals for the following ex-Telewest channels to appear on the ex-NTL Network

EPG Channel Name
830. Deutsche Welle TV
911. Radio: BBC Radio 4 LW
917. Radio: RTE Radio 1
920. Radio: WRN Europe
971. Radio: Deutsche Welle Radio

TV Boy Thinks: Virgin will keep Bauer Radio Channels, BBC TV and Radio Channels, Nat Geo +1, Motors TV, History channel +1 and ZEE channels and drop the rest.

I know that some radio channels are on Ex-Telewest in some parts of the UK and they will stay but will need to move all the BBC Radio channels that are only on NTL to new channels numbers so that all the Virgin Networks [ Ex-ntl and Ex-Telewest ] viewers can have them.

======= NON Virgin Media news =======
Digital UK Latest - last updated on the 1st of May 2008 at 11.30am
Transmitter news info:

November 2008
6th-20th. The Selkirk transmitter and its 11 relays, serving Scottish Borders starts switchover on 6 November 2008 and the process will be complete on 20 November 2008.

April 2009
8th & 22nd. The Beacon Hill transmitter group, serving Torbay and south Devon will switchover in two stages: stage one will be on April 8th and stage two on April 22nd 2009

May 2009
6 & 20th. The Stockland Hill transmitter group, serving Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset and Dorset will switchover in two stages: stage one will be on May 6th and stage two May 20th 2009

April and June 2009
The Caldbeck transmitter and its 38 relays, serving Cumbria and South West Scotland switches between April and June 2009.
The Douglas transmitter area and its 9 relays, serving the Isle of Man switches between

April and June 2009.
The Kendal transmitter area and its 8 relays, serving the south lakes switches between April and June 2009.

July/September 2009
Preseli transmitter area, serving south-west Wales will be converted between July and September 2009.
Carmel transmitter area, serving south Wales, will be converted between July and September 2009.
Kilvey Hill transmitter area, serving the Swansea area, will be converted between July and September 2009.
The Huntshaw Cross transmitter group, serving north Devon will switchover between July and September 2009
The Redruth transmitter group, serving west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will switchover between July and September 2009
The Caradon Hill transmitter group, serving east Cornwall and Devon, including Plymouth will switchover between July and September 2009

October/December 2009
The Winter Hill transmitter area, serving the entire Granada region and its dependent relays will all be converted between October and December 2009.
Llanddona transmitter area, serving north-west Wales, including Anglesey will be converted between October and December 2009.
Moel-Y-Parc transmitter area and Storeton Wales, serving north-east Wales, will be converted between October and December 2009.
Long Mountain transmitter area, serving east-central Wales, will be converted between October and December 2009.

January/March 2010
Blaenplwyf transmitter, serving west and central Wales, will be converted between January and March 2010.
Wenvoe transmitter, serving south-east Wales, including Cardiff, will be converted between January and March 2010.

TBC
Switchover will start in the West TV region in 2010.
Switchover will start in the STV North TV region in 2010.
Switchover will start in the STV Central TV region in 2010 and will finish in 2011.
Switchover will start in the Central TV region in 2011.
Switchover will start in the Yorkshire TV region in 2011.
Switchover will start in the Anglia TV region in 2011.
Switchover will start in the Meridian TV region in 2011.
Switchover will start in the London TV region in 2012
Switchover will start in the Tyne Tees TV region in 2012.
Switchover will start in the Ulster TV region in 2012.

WHY DO WE NEED TO SWITCHOVER?
Switchover is a complicated process, and needs to be done in stages so that everyone in the country will be ready for it.

The best way to check which TV region you are in is by seeing which ITV news service you receive or by going to Teletext page 106.

*The Channel Islands will be switching over to fully digital TV and this is currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2013. The actual dates for switchover in the Channel Islands are subject to negotiations with France.

Don’t worry; you'll get plenty of notice before services in your area are affected, and advice on what to do.

More info here: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when

Info from DigitalUK.

And now for me to say thanks to the following regular Virgin contributors of this thread who give me some of my Information.
They are:- harmitage, grabbi, JG3870, Jasmeet, buba3d, sakiblateef and Bob.

[the-cable-guy]

thanks for the info TV Boy.

[Eabs]

Thanks for the info TV Boy.

[JMcB]

nice one TV Boy very helpfull once again:-)

[Thebenster]

I just reset my box and it was doing some update which took a few minutes - what was this?