Coming soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 1

[Alan Fry]

Any rumours of New channels coming to VM going round the internet?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

Any rumours of New channels coming to VM going round the internet?

No.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

Any rumours of New channels coming to VM going round the internet?

Have a check as you seem to be connected to it

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Itshim

So lets be clear.
Kit & lines etc all in and running - surely the main expense.The longer in the less the upstart cost becomes. The cost of supplying the TV ,BB & Phone must in its self be low. & I guess given Virgins phone line rental no use or very low use would not incur a loss, OK little or no profit but not a loss. So how to you make a loss on a customer? accept that perhaps its a low profit per unit but a loss? The support staff .If that the case the whole business model is unsustainable surely.

That's true and why new customers must commit for a minimum one year term. If there is no prospect of making a profit, the spectrum/tangible assets may as well be used for another customer.

Neil Berkett once indicated that low profit/high churn customers like students were not a major area for concern.

Indeed, before analogue switch off, old analogue boxes were targeted at the student market. As they were soon to become obsolete, it mattered little if the box was not returned/damaged etc as it was basically worthless and 9 month contracts were issued. I wonder if they will do the same with the V+/NTL boxes in the future?

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Never said that Virgin make a loss on customers - I was saying that there is no need to quote 'a source' for a concept that is basic business sense.

Saying that though Ntl used to run accounts at a loss - as in some cases the services cost a minus figure each month i.e. the credits applied were greater than the services cost. Virgin spent a lot of time sorting those out.

However even now I'm sure there are some deals on a short term basis that mean that Virgin are running the account at cost in order to keep a customer

VM do currently make a loss on some customers and, whilst seeming illogical on the face of it, there are many and varied reasons why this may be done and is sound business sense.

However, one of the problems is that during the Sky Basics dispute, many customers were told that the discounts were "for life". Now VM staff have the unenviable task of having to tell the customer that this unsustainable promise can no longer be allowed to continue. This has probably had a negative impact on the company relationship with many customers eg future mistrust.

You have answered your own points within your own post as to why this does sometimes happen and why some will be allowed to continue and some won't.

Bizarrely as it sounds, depending on the circumstances, both can be sound business acumen.

I quoted that it came from an official VM representative in order to clarify that it was not just an assumption/guess on my part.

Originally Posted by dav

The retention deals are effective though. Mine is the main thing keeping me with VM. Currently, if VM cancelled my discount, Sky would be cheaper and offer more. If they do ever get around to cancelling my discount, it would probably mean a lost customer. (And if OFCOM grow a pair and kick the Murdochs out then it would means a little less conscience wrestling, making the decision even easier)

You are a prime example of what I mean. Sometimes it is more prudent to accept a lower profit in some circumstances, than receive none at all.

The vast majority of customers will blindly pay the advertised price, so it is still worth accepting business from those that won't.

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Not a lot

Has he asked? I'm sure he'll be okay. He's adding a box, not changing his services.

There's no harm in asking!


I wonder if VM will carry the placeholder timeshift channel from C4 that starts on satellite at the end of this month? It looks likely that the Sky EPG slot and possibly the spectrum too has been bought from the owners of Current TV.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I wonder if VM will carry the placeholder timeshift channel from C4 that starts on satellite at the end of this month?

They do it is called the pause button

[Tricky Trevor]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

Any rumours of New channels coming to VM going round the internet?

You seem to be asking the same question every 5 minutes. Besides,who wants rumours?, It's actual channel launches that matter which will come whenever Virgin are ready.

Just wait!

[RichardCoulter]

LOL


I have just tuned into Sky Sports f1 on VM and found it to be encrypted!

It does seem odd to encrypt a barker channel before the channel starts at 8pm.

I remember reading once that VM face additional logistical problems in activating and deactivating encryption. Maybe that's the reason.

It may also be the reason why Sky free weekends on VM start on Saturday mornings instead of Friday evenings as they do on Sky.

Does anybody know anything about this or what these additional problems are?

[spiderplant]

I doubt they'd want to make any change at 8pm which is prime viewing time. Better to do earlier in the day in case anything goes wrong - fewer customers would be affected, and more staff would be around to fix it.

[piquet41]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

LOL


I have just tuned into Sky Sports f1 on VM and found it to be encrypted!

It does seem odd to encrypt a barker channel before the channel starts at 8pm.

I remember reading once that VM face additional logistical problems in activating and deactivating encryption. Maybe that's the reason.

It may also be the reason why Sky free weekends on VM start on Saturday mornings instead of Friday evenings as they do on Sky.

Does anybody know anything about this or what these additional problems are?

VM are now running a "Williams factory F1 winter 2012" time lapse reel on the construction of its car, with i might add some horrendous music. This may or may not be why the channel is now encrypted?

[alwaysabear]

Just watching F1 on sky the picture quality from the studio is quiet soft IMO.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Just watching F1 on sky the picture quality from the studio is quiet soft IMO.

Seems fine to me

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Seems fine to me

Al right for some in HD

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Al right for some in HD

Just checked the SD channel your right it does have a soft look , the loop they were playing before seemed fine though

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Just checked the SD channel your right it does have a soft look , the loop they were playing before seemed fine though

Hopefully the live events will look more like the loop did.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Seems fine to me

And it seems fine here in Fareham as well.