General : Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.

[joff81]

I have to admit ever since ESPN launched I've always thought it to be half assed in terms of being interested in trying to get rights for sports.
They seem only to be interested mainly in football but even that's just the crumbs that sky don't want which for the most is not really that good anyway.

I am mainly interested in motorsports and have to say ESPN has missed out on lots of sports that they could of picked up for peanuts that would be worth buying like the following :-

NASCAR NEXTEL CUL
NASCAR NATIONWIDE CUP
INDYCAR
WRC
FORMULA 3
WORLD SERIES BY RENAULT
AUTO GP

ESPN have also lost rights to sports that the had in the beginning like NHL and Baseball which is disappointing as ESPN are a US company.

Now it just seems to be ticking on showing sports without any regularity and in what seems to be random air times, they also don't seem to be taking advantage of the agreements they have. Take DTM ESPN have live rights to show qualifying and race but for some reason they haven't showed DTM qualifying since the start of last year, and up now not race this season has been shown live they have been full replays at MIDNIGHT which is pretty crazy for a one of the most popular touring car series currently running.

ESPN need to step up thier game of sell up and give a different channel operator the chance to do a better job than the half assed effort of ESPN.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by virginruinedntl

Well i can't see virgin giving XL customers a price drop that is for sure LOL

Well, does the price rise when they add a single channel? No. So why should it drop when they remove one?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Well, does the price rise when they add a single channel? No. So why should it drop when they remove one?

Very true Carl but obviously if the whole bouquet of ESPN channels were withdrawn from the XL pack then Virgin would have to act very quickly as there are quite a few who subscribe to the XL pack because of the simple reason that ESPN is free on there whilst with Sky you have to pay a extra £9 to get the ESPN pack.

[carlwaring]

A fair point

[Media Boy UK]

Virgin Media to close TV Email next week.

Virgin Media are to axe TV Email (It old Telewest name) on May 20th.

NOTE: Since about 2008 TV Email was not open to new viewers.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by MaverickJesus

What would happen to the XL TV tier if ESPN dropped out?

When Setanta Sports went into administration on 22nd June 2009, XL customers lost 7 channels being: Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Setanta Golf, Setanta Sports News, Rangers TV, Celtic TV and Arsenal TV. Customers also lost access to Setanta Sports On Demand.

At the time Virgin confirmed there would be no price reduction in the XL package stating customers didn't see a price hike when the channels were added in the first place. People called threatening to leave unless the price of their package was reduced. Virgin refused to budge.

ESPN then launched on 03rd August 2009, and was added to the XL package. During Setanta collapsing and ESPN launching, XL customers paid exactly the same for their package.

If ESPN goes nothing will happen to the XL package. If a new channel launches picking up the TV rights ESPN leave behind, I would imagine Virgin would try to do a deal to get the new channel on XL.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Chad

At the time Virgin confirmed there would be no price reduction in the XL package stating customers didn't see a price hike when the channels were added in the first place. People called threatening to leave unless the price of their package was reduced. Virgin refused to budge.

And rightly so, IMO, for reasons already stated.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Virgin Media to close TV Email next week.

Virgin Media are to axe TV Email (It old Telewest name) on May 20th.

NOTE: Since about 2008 TV Email was not open to new viewers.

Only on the ex-Telewest side of the business. ex-ntl TV Email continues for those that have it (for now)

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Only on the ex-Telewest side of the business. ex-ntl TV Email continues for those that have it (for now)

Thanks for update I was think this was an UK wide (Ex Telewest and ntl areas) thing.

[carlwaring]

Does anyone still use that? And if so, why?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Does anyone still use that? And if so, why?

l have never used it and l have been a Telewest/ Virgin customer for 12 years.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by denphone

l have never used it and l have been a Telewest/ Virgin customer for 12 years.

I did use it to until about 2005/2006.

[Henkesghost]

TV e mail slim times indeed

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Henkesghost

TV e mail slim times indeed

Come on Henke keep your chin up.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Does anyone still use that? And if so, why?

Not everyone has internet access.