General : Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2017)

[RichardCoulter]

As per Spot, the London-based morning show Squawk Box has been interrupted by fire warnings which could clearly be heard over speakers - the show was being hosted by Steve Sedgewick who first carried on the discussion with his guests, and the backroom staff who could be seen behind him seemed completely unmoved, then the show went to a planned break and has not come back. They are now running continuous on screen graphics with music, presumably automated.

Singapore now taken over.

Something similar happened on the Lorraine show not too long ago, let's hope that it's a false alarm and nothing too serious.

[figgyburn]

Can someone tell me why we do not have CNN news in HD.Is there a big difference in price that virgin have to pay between SD and HD feeds.Does anybody have any idea what virgin pay for the SD feed and what the HD price would be.The CNN SD picture quality is garbage.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by figgyburn

Can someone tell me why we do not have CNN news in HD.Is there a big difference in price that virgin have to pay between SD and HD feeds.Does anybody have any idea what virgin pay for the SD feed and what the HD price would be.The CNN SD picture quality is garbage.

I don't know the answer to that, but I really do think, as larger TVs become mainstream, VM should be ensuring that all channels are shown in HD as contracts come up for renewal. Those channels available only in SD are generally those showing repeats of repeats of repeats and perhaps it will soon be time to abandon them if they don't step up.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by figgyburn

Can someone tell me why we do not have CNN news in HD.Is there a big difference in price that virgin have to pay between SD and HD feeds.Does anybody have any idea what virgin pay for the SD feed and what the HD price would be.The CNN SD picture quality is garbage.

There is no rate card price, it would all be down to what VM negotiates with the company and if any competitors have paid more for exclusitivity.

[nodrogd]

CNN HD is FTA on the Sky platform, but no sign of them joining Freesat, which would be a big coup for them considering the lack of HD available (it can be tuned manually in STB mode). I would not think the deal is exclusive to Sky if the service is FTA.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I don't know the answer to that, but I really do think, as larger TVs become mainstream, VM should be ensuring that all channels are shown in HD as contracts come up for renewal. Those channels available only in SD are generally those showing repeats of repeats of repeats and perhaps it will soon be time to abandon them if they don't step up.

At least one of the top bods in the industry agrees with you.

I recently read that one of the channel operators (can't remember which one) said that filling a (SD) FTA channel with old former pay TV material and hoping to make a profit are over.

I think it must have been Discovery during their recent dispute, or possibly TruTV.

[Inactive Digital]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

At least one of the top bods in the industry agrees with you.

I recently read that one of the channel operators (can't remember which one) said that filling a (SD) FTA channel with old former pay TV material and hoping to make a profit are over.

I think it must have been Discovery during their recent dispute, or possibly TruTV.

According the Broadcast, Discovery are set to launch a new FTA channel.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Inactive Digital

According the Broadcast, Discovery are set to launch a new FTA channel.

That is correct.

http://advanced-television.com/2017/...k-fta-channel/

Discovery confirms new UK FTA channel

Discovery Communications has confirmed that it will launch a second free-to-air channel in the UK later this year.

CEO David Zaslav revealed the plan during an earnings call with reporters, commenting: “While we never look forward to potential carriage standoff, the negotiation with Sky reaffirmed the strong value of our brand portfolio and the passion and engagement of our super fan communities. Our new agreement with Sky in the key UK and German markets includes new opportunities to launch new channels and services. So, we will be helped with more growth in the two biggest media markets in Europe in the years ahead. We will have more news to share in the coming weeks as we will be launching new services, including a second free-to-air channel in the UK, leveraging our strong existing IP to reach more viewers in the UK market, and the new free-to-air channel will make money for us this year.”


Discovery currently airs free-to-air channel Quest on Freeview, as well as Sky and Virgin, in the UK.

[denphone]

And was it not your prediction that companies are going to get rid of some of their Linear channels OB instead of creating them.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

That is correct.

http://advanced-television.com/2017/...k-fta-channel/

Discovery confirms new UK FTA channel

Discovery Communications has confirmed that it will launch a second free-to-air channel in the UK later this year.

CEO David Zaslav revealed the plan during an earnings call with reporters, commenting: “While we never look forward to potential carriage standoff, the negotiation with Sky reaffirmed the strong value of our brand portfolio and the passion and engagement of our super fan communities. Our new agreement with Sky in the key UK and German markets includes new opportunities to launch new channels and services. So, we will be helped with more growth in the two biggest media markets in Europe in the years ahead. We will have more news to share in the coming weeks as we will be launching new services, including a second free-to-air channel in the UK, leveraging our strong existing IP to reach more viewers in the UK market, and the new free-to-air channel will make money for us this year.”


Discovery currently airs free-to-air channel Quest on Freeview, as well as Sky and Virgin, in the UK.

I think it likely that Discovery Shed or DMAX could go FTA. Also, Quest is FTV on satellite, let's hope that there will be a cessation of this too.

Originally Posted by Inactive Digital

According the Broadcast, Discovery are set to launch a new FTA channel.

Thanks- looks like it wasn't Discovery that said it then.

[Aguero9320]

According to an article on a516digital, it says that Eurosport 1, DMAX and TLC are all FTA on satellite in Germany.

I could see all three becoming available (Quest merging into DMAX) and Discovery purchasing a third spot on Freeview and Quest +1 also to cease on Freeview as a result.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by denphone

And was it not your prediction that companies are going to get rid of some of their Linear channels OB instead of creating them.

In the future, yes, Den.

[Inactive Digital]

Originally Posted by Aguero9320

According to an article on a516digital, it says that Eurosport 1, DMAX and TLC are all FTA on satellite in Germany.

I could see all three becoming available (Quest merging into DMAX) and Discovery purchasing a third spot on Freeview and Quest +1 also to cease on Freeview as a result.

I suspect it could be a sport channel. Quest features a good amount of live sport and the last line of the quote sounds quite aggressive in terms of business expectations:

...leveraging our strong existing IP to reach more viewers in the UK market, and the new free-to-air channel will make money for us this year.

[theone2k10]

Originally Posted by Inactive Digital

According the Broadcast, Discovery are set to launch a new FTA channel.

Discovery shed going fta i think and discovery will launch discovery world too which will be behind a paywall.
Only guessing here as got no info on discovery at mo.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

In the future, yes, Den.

Spoken just like the modern day politicians of this country...