Coming Soon to Virgin TV

[Richupton]

Any news regarding ESPN Classic joining the Virgin portfolio??

[one2escape]

I think the 4 channels will be

c4hd
history
national geo
Disney Cinemagic HD

[Media Boy]

I have been told that two of them ARE rumoured to be ITV HD and Channel HD.

[virginruinedntl]

well that would make me very happy, those are the 2 most wanted channels for me, then setanta HD as for a 4th there quite a few good ones to choose from.

Wonder what resolution and bitrate virgin will use, bbchd is 17.6mbps mpeg2 1920*1080i on virgin cable, but cable channels have different bitrates for each 1 so its conceivable that the new channels could have 1440*1080i 12mbps or something, hopefully they will use same settings as bbchd as it looks nice in the current spec.

[moroboshi]

Originally Posted by virginruinedntl

well that would make me very happy, those are the 2 most wanted channels for me, then setanta HD as for a 4th there quite a few good ones to choose from.

I'm curious, why do people want ITV HD? Are you aware that it isn't a channel at all, just a very occasional red button service? It makes BBC HD look like the most content rich channel in history.

It would be disingenuous to say the least for Virgin to call it a channel, it doesn't even have it's own EPG number, let alone any kind of consistent schedule.

There are plenty of actual HD channels out there, including several documentary and movie channels. Surely these would be a vastly superior addition to the service!

[one2escape]

Originally Posted by moroboshi

I'm curious, why do people want ITV HD? Are you aware that it isn't a channel at all, just a very occasional red button service? It makes BBC HD look like the most content rich channel in history.

It would be disingenuous to say the least for Virgin to call it a channel, it doesn't even have it's own EPG number, let alone any kind of consistent schedule.

There are plenty of actual HD channels out there, including several documentary and movie channels. Surely these would be a vastly superior addition to the service!

3 Words

Champions League Football

[mhatter67]

Originally Posted by moroboshi

I'm curious, why do people want ITV HD? Are you aware that it isn't a channel at all, just a very occasional red button service? It makes BBC HD look like the most content rich channel in history.

Future proof yourself, when ITV/BBC HD channels end up on Freeview late 2009 filming productions in HD will be commonplace

[moroboshi]

Originally Posted by one2escape

3 Words

Champions League Football

Okay, fair enough, but a whole one of our precious 4 HD channels set aside for a ball game seems a bit much for me!

Give me some nice documentaries anyday.

---------- Post added at 18:14 ---------- Previous post was at 18:12 ----------

Originally Posted by mlayzell

Future proof yourself, when ITV/BBC HD channels end up on Freeview late 2009 filming productions in HD will be commonplace

Even if EVERYTHING on ITV was in HD I'd still struggle to find much to watch. The channel is tabloid rubbish in my opinion.

[demented]

Originally Posted by moroboshi

I'm curious, why do people want ITV HD? Are you aware that it isn't a channel at all, just a very occasional red button service? It makes BBC HD look like the most content rich channel in history.

It would be disingenuous to say the least for Virgin to call it a channel, it doesn't even have it's own EPG number, let alone any kind of consistent schedule.

There are plenty of actual HD channels out there, including several documentary and movie channels. Surely these would be a vastly superior addition to the service!

I think ITV HD isn't too bad. It has some fabulous films on such as Star Wars and True Lies. I know the hours are very limited but it contrasts sharply with the BBC who bring out the films for Christmas or Easter and then never bother for the rest of the year apart from a couple of Indiana Jones offerings and The Merchant of Venice. Some people out there want to watch films in High Definition. For those people who want a few films in HD, have similar tastes to ITV and don't want to pay a fortune for it, ITV HD fulfills an important niche. If people want to watch kids repeats, gavin and stacey, period dramas go to BBC HD, if people want films on a more regular basis go ITV HD.There is also the football of course. BBC HD isn't bothered about sport in the least unless it has Olympics or Rugby somewhere in the title. I rarely watch ITV but if I had access to high definition films on there I'd definitely watch it.

[moroboshi]

Out of interest, how would we record anything from ITV HD if it doesn't have an EPG number?

[demented]

Moroboshi, you know very well that ITV HD will become a proper "channel" in 2009 with a 5 hour prime time service (not that I'd define BBC HD as a full "channel" either and contrast with the current 6hrs weekdays BBC HD transmits). You don't like ITV HD, fair enough. I wouldn't watch Disney CinemagicHD in the highly unlikely scenario we got it and I wouldn't be watching too much Sky1HD or FXHD, but for others with different tastes it would be an extremely big deal. I don't really see the point of knocking other people's tastes and people declaring we should get Bobs Your Uncle HD and not Aunt Sally HD. HD is for everyone, so I hope people with different tastes to me get their programmes in HD and accept there will be additions I'm not that enthusiastic about. Why everyone else can't do the same is beyond me.

[moroboshi]

Originally Posted by demented

Moroboshi, you know very well that ITV HD will become a proper "channel" in 2009 with a 5 hour prime time service (not that I'd define BBC HD as a full "channel" either and contrast with the current 6hrs weekdays BBC HD transmits). You don't like ITV HD, fair enough. I wouldn't watch Disney CinemagicHD in the highly unlikely scenario we got it and I wouldn't be watching too much Sky1HD or FXHD, but for others with different tastes it would be an extremely big deal. I don't really see the point of knocking other people's tastes and people declaring we should get Bobs Your Uncle HD and not Aunt Sally HD. HD is for everyone, so I hope people with different tastes to me get their programmes in HD and accept there will be additions I'm not that enthusiastic about. Why everyone else can't do the same is beyond me.

Did you even bother to read my original post? My main complaint was that it was barely broadcast at all. If it's going to become at least a part time channel then okay, I wasn't aware of that.

[virginruinedntl]

Originally Posted by moroboshi

I'm curious, why do people want ITV HD? Are you aware that it isn't a channel at all, just a very occasional red button service? It makes BBC HD look like the most content rich channel in history.

It would be disingenuous to say the least for Virgin to call it a channel, it doesn't even have it's own EPG number, let alone any kind of consistent schedule.

There are plenty of actual HD channels out there, including several documentary and movie channels. Surely these would be a vastly superior addition to the service!

Champions League Football, Movies, they also do a few dramas like britannia high, the bill etc, those are the main reasons for ITVHD and of course more content will be added to it throughout the year, hopefully trevor mcdonald, x factor, britains got talent and other regular shows.

Channel4HD also has some decent stuff, some documentaries, skins, 8 out of 10 cats etc. Channel4HD is a full simulcast channel, some shows are upscaled SD, some are HD, so even non-hd shows will look much better: http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...al_TV/4HD.html

hopefully fonejacker, The it crowd, dispatches and other good channel4 shows will be broadcast in HD soon.

Originally Posted by Media Boy

I have been told that two of them ARE rumoured to be ITV HD and Channel HD.

Any idea when the hd channels are due to come on air , i understood
some where coming before Christmas, how i read the press release that
mr Brikett (think that how it spelt) said early in the month


regards
ufitm

[Media Boy]

Originally Posted by ufitm

Any idea when the hd channels are due to come on air , i understood
some where coming before Christmas, how i read the press release that
mr Brikett (think that how it spelt) said early in the month


regards
ufitm

Some new SD and HD Channels will appear on Virgin TV in the 1Q of 2009.

Note: 1Q = January 1st TILL March 31st.

As far as I know the CEO of both Virgin Media and BSkyB are doing an deal over the Sky HD coming to Virgin (And they still in talks). And not the Virgin TV Deal guys.