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

[toby53]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

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

Thought we were all one happy family now

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by toby53

Thought we were all one happy family now

They are legacy services so no work was done to combine them

[toby53]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

They are legacy services so no work was done to combine them

Thanks Ben but I was joking honest

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by MaverickJesus

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

Well, they could spend the money to benefit non sports fans (for a change) and get Sky Atlantic added.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Well, they could spend the money to benefit non sports fans (for a change) and get Sky Atlantic added.

Excellent idea but unlikely to be taken up PB.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Media Boy

BizAsia: Star UK to make “historical� announcement in May.

Asia media web site ''BizAsia'' is reporting that Star TV UK will be making an historical announcement in the first week of May.

They think it maybe an new Star branded HD channel or Star News is set to rebranded as ABP News.

More info as I find it...

http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/st...ncement-in-may

Info thanks to BizAsia.

Star News is broadcasting on Virgin Channel 802.

Update: Star Plus HD to launch in UK on Sky Digital in July.

Star Plus HD is to launch in July on Astra.

http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/st...-in-july-in-uk

and Star News will rebrand as ABP News in June.

With Star TV ending its deal, Media Conteent and Communcations Services (MCCS) has confirmed that its flagship brand ABP will be rolled out across its news channels from Frday 1st June.

http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/st...ed-as-abp-news

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Well, they could spend the money to benefit non sports fans (for a change) and get Sky Atlantic added.

sky will not let anyone have it for one and it not must have as the crap viewing figures it gets show so so over rated

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Dave42

sky will not let anyone have it for one and it not must have as the crap viewing figures it gets show so so over rated

Maybe the viewing figures are crap Dave but there are many Virgin customers who would love to see for a start the HBO content that is prevalent on the channel.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Dave42

crap viewing figures it gets show so so over rated

To be honest mate I wouldn't make too much of the viewing figures , I've watched quite a few of the shows off Atlantic without turning the channel on. Most of my Atlantic viewing has been off Anytime+ boxsets.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

To be honest mate I wouldn't make too much of the viewing figures , I've watched quite a few of the shows off Atlantic without turning the channel on. Most of my Atlantic viewing has been off Anytime+ boxsets.

yes but sky wont let anyone have it MM nothing VM can do about it sadly

---------- Post added at 18:03 ---------- Previous post was at 18:01 ----------

Originally Posted by denphone

Maybe the viewing figures are crap Dave but there are many Virgin customers who would love to see for a start the HBO content that is prevalent on the channel.

nothing VM can do Den mate sky wont let anyone have it i would like VM to get it for the people that want it but not going to happen with sky in control

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Most of my Atlantic viewing has been off

The coastline

[andy_m]

I'm sure time shifted viewing is taken into account when it comes to viewing figures.

As for whether the xl package price would change if ESPN were to go I would point out that ESPN is much more than just three channels, it's Virgin's only way of competing on Sport with Sky. If they let free Premier League football leave their xl pack they'll quite simply lose customers.

---------- Post added at 20:33 ---------- Previous post was at 20:01 ----------

Sorry, I misread Anytime+ for Sky+.

Sky must have some way of providing on demand viewing figures-you'd think they'd probably want to do so, even if it was only to provide a base for negotiations over advertising revenue.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by andy_m

I'm sure time shifted viewing is taken into account when it comes to viewing figures.

As for whether the xl package price would change if ESPN were to go I would point out that ESPN is much more than just three channels, it's Virgin's only way of competing on Sport with Sky. If they let free Premier League football leave their xl pack they'll quite simply lose customers.

---------- Post added at 20:33 ---------- Previous post was at 20:01 ----------

Sorry, I misread Anytime+ for Sky+.

Sky must have some way of providing on demand viewing figures-you'd think they'd probably want to do so, even if it was only to provide a base for negotiations over advertising revenue.

Sorry I was editing my post when you posted I've deleted now and started again I'm sure your correct but I believe BARB consolidated time shift figures are only for 7 days after broadcast however I'm not 100% and am happy to be corrected. Here's Sky's take on the Mad Men viewing figures.

http://corporate.sky.com/skyviews/sky_atlantic_hd/mad_men_more_than_an_overnight_success

[Rillington]

Originally Posted by Chad

Sorry I'm a little puzzled. Does this mean Smallworld can't get access to ITV2 HD "due to the lock-out signed into the carriage agreement with the other operators"?

I thought Adam Crozier confirmed about 18 months ago that the deal with SKY for ITV2HD, ITV3HD and ITV4HD was a non-exclusive deal. Adam Crozier also stated:

"Building new revenue streams by exploiting our content across multiple platforms is a key part of the ITV transformation plan."

It seems strange that some lock-out deal would be in place between SKY and ITV unless a deal has recently been agreed with ITV and Virgin, but not yet announced. Similar to the SKY deal with ITV, which made SKY the exclusive satellite broadcaster of the channels, maybe Virgin are the exclusive cable carrier of the channels which locks out Smallworld.

Why would ITV and Virgin delay announcing such a deal? Who knows. But remember it wasn't too long ago that Virgin, Eurosport and the BBC deliberately held back announcing their deal to bring 2012 Olympics to Virgin Media customers by way of linear channels.

Personally I view the post from Smallworld a a positive that the missing ITV HD channels might actually be on their way to Virgin soon.

David Durnford, Smallworld's MD, added that that cost of ITV2, 3 and 4 in HD is "prohibitive...due to the contract ITV has with Sky." He then speculated that this might be the reason that VM too said no for the same reason. One wold speculate that it is likely that VM is being asked the same amount of money and that VM has said no.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...1#post58094971

Isn't it such a shame that VM chooses not to be open like Mr Durnford chooses to be regarding answering people's enquiries about Smallworld which is why we are always speculating about everything concerning VM. Mr Durnford's openness and helpfulness is a credit to himself and how he chooses to run his company and this openness makes me sometimes which I could have Smallworld instead of VM even though Smallworld seems not to be currently offering any on demand services.

[Chad]

It's interesting that he goes on to say:

"I will be revisiting the ITV situation later in the year."

This suggests whatever is prohibiting at the moment won't be prohibiting him in 5 or 6 months time.

If, as he speculates, Virgin are being held back at the moment too then me might finally see the missing ITV HD channels in 2012.

It's a good thing this thread thrives on speculation