General : Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

It's not just about attracting new customers it's also about retaining the ones they have especially in a really competitive market.

I think it's pretty clear that right now, Sky Atlantic has been priced to be unviable for any provider - not just VM - to acquire it. TalkTalk, BT and Eir in Ireland don't have it. In fact, the latter two don't even have the Sky basic channels.

So given the pricing structure of Sky Atlantic, what should VM do? I guess VM's options which are not mutually exclusive include:

- Sit tight and accept that the lack of the channel weakens the offering and hope that HBO Online and other services come to the UK. I can see that in the future, HBO Online could come here especially now that there are 6.5m subscribers spread across the BT, TalkTalk and VM platforms who cannot access HBO's content. Plus many more potential access points via Smart TVs, PlayStations, Rokus, tablets etc. When will the tipping point occur?
- Pay Sky's asking price but lose money on every customer and risk the other Sky channels being raised in price to Atlantic levels.
- Doing something like the BT-AMC deal with a US studio which potentially weakens Atlantic in the future by removing some of its content and providing a bargaining tool with Sky apart from money and distribution.
- Ensuring that on-demand services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are available so viewers can see some Atlantic content at a later date. With Netflix in place since 2013, VM is halfway there.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I think it's pretty clear that right now, Sky Atlantic has been priced to be unviable for any provider - not just VM - to acquire it. TalkTalk, BT and Eir in Ireland don't have it. In fact, the latter two don't even have the Sky basic channels.

So given the pricing structure of Sky Atlantic, what should VM do? I guess VM's options which are not mutually exclusive include:

- Sit tight and accept that the lack of the channel weakens the offering and hope that HBO Online and other services come to the UK. I can see that in the future, HBO Online could come here especially now that there are 6.5m subscribers spread across the BT, TalkTalk and VM platforms who cannot access HBO's content. Plus many more potential access points via Smart TVs, PlayStations, Rokus, tablets etc. When will the tipping point occur?
- Pay Sky's asking price but lose money on every customer and risk the other Sky channels being raised in price to Atlantic levels.
- Doing something like the BT-AMC deal with a US studio which potentially weakens Atlantic in the future by removing some of its content and providing a bargaining tool with Sky apart from money and distribution.
- Ensuring that on-demand services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are available so viewers can see some Atlantic content at a later date. With Netflix in place since 2013, VM is halfway there.

HBO Go can't launch in the UK until at least 2020; Sky have exclusive rights to HBO content until then. And I'd be very surprised if Sky don't renew it before then.

VM have had ample opportunity to get a Premium US cable network; now the big ones are gone. AMC to BT and Showtime only recently to Sky. Starz is the only major premium one left.

[steveh]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Starz is the only major premium one left.

But although also owned by John Malone it doesn't have a great deal of original programming and little than anyone in the UK would consider a must-have: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...dcast_by_Starz

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by steveh

But although also owned by John Malone it doesn't have a great deal of original programming and little than anyone in the UK would consider a must-have: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...dcast_by_Starz

Agreed; the substantial ones are no longer available.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by passingbat

HBO Go can't launch in the UK until at least 2020; Sky have exclusive rights to HBO content until then. And I'd be very surprised if Sky don't renew it before then.

I was thinking of that kind of timescale, it will be interesting to see if Sky and HBO renew their deal.

[denphone]

One suspects they will given Sky's ability to flash their big wads.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by denphone

One suspects they will, given Sky's ability to flash their big wads.

In its favour, LGI owns 50% of HBO Netherlands.

[denphone]

l still think another new deal will be reached between Sky and HBO Andrew thus locking other providers out

[RichardCoulter]

Same here.

Just noticed that LFC TV is free to all customers until 6am Tuesday.

[denphone]

Well l better take advantage of that then.

[Ultimate.Conj]

No-one wants to watch that rubbish, even for free! hahaha :-)

[denphone]

That obviously depends on ones opinion....

[Ultimate.Conj]

All of the football TV channels are pretty naff...I imagine they are all near enough the same.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj

No-one wants to watch that rubbish, even for free! hahaha :-)

I don't know, it's a pretty good comedy show

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by denphone

l still think another new deal will be reached between Sky and HBO Andrew thus locking other providers out

I would have thought that it would be in HBO's interests to offer Sky an exclusive deal for first run rights, leaving other platforms to have access after the first runs are completed. This is what happened to AMC's 'Fear The Walking Dead'.

With this sort of deal in place for Sky, HBO could still set up their own web site for this country and add their library of programmes that have already completed their first showings.

Even if the exclusivity period lasted a whole year, it would be a lot better than now.