General How does VM get their channels?

Central · 23-02-2017, 10:37

Sorry if this has been asked or if its in the wrong section but been meaning to ask for a while.

Do VM get say the Sky channels as a direct feed from Sky or does it use dishes?

Same for the other channels? Is there one single dish that VM use for all the channels or again is it a direct fibre connection?

Cheers

spiderplant · 23-02-2017, 11:04

Some come by fibre, some from dishes. There might also be the odd channel received by terrestrial aerial.

ozsat · 23-02-2017, 11:32

Does anybody remember the days when local cable head-ends get some of the programmes delivered by tape?

HVC used to distribute by tape for local playout.

weesteev · 23-02-2017, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Some come by fibre, some from dishes. There might also be the odd channel received by terrestrial aerial.

All actually arrive on direct fibre feeds. Satellite backhaul hasn't been used for a few years now.

spiderplant · 23-02-2017, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by weesteev

All actually arrive on direct fibre feeds. Satellite backhaul hasn't been used for a few years now.

Many are received by satellite. Maybe you're confusing with the distribution to the regional headends?

Onramp · 23-02-2017, 18:49

Up until around 2001 - 2003 when the analogue system was being phased out, feeds came in from Sky to each hub site (AFAIK) along with local terrestrial channels that are specific to that site.

Since it all went digital however, the TV all now comes from the super headend as a multicast stream, which may have some remaining satellite-fed signals feeding into it (at the super headend).

I think the hub sites are still used for local playback of on-demand stuff - but the content is probably all IP based now and streamed from there rather than being dedicated a channel for it.

nodrogd · 23-02-2017, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onramp

Up until around 2001 - 2003 when the analogue system was being phased out, feeds came in from Sky to each hub site (AFAIK) along with local terrestrial channels that are specific to that site.

Since it all went digital however, the TV all now comes from the super headend as a multicast stream, which may have some remaining satellite-fed signals feeding into it (at the super headend).

I think the hub sites are still used for local playback of on-demand stuff - but the content is probably all IP based now and streamed from there rather than being dedicated a channel for it.

The dish farm at Hemel stayed in place until 2010 when it was finally demolished. The hubsite is over 1/2 a mile away in another part of the industrial estate. From the front only a small VM logo gives any indication as to what it is. At the back is a substantial backup generator & a huge yagi pointing at Crystal Palace. I wonder what the purpose of the yagi is. It seems to be a bit extravigant, as the signal from CP in this area is very good.