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The Box Plus Network to be removed from Virgin Media

All the network's channels including 4Music to be removed. (April 2017)

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PA
PATV Scunthorpe
I felt this is somewhat worthy of a thread.

The Box Plus Network which owns and runs the music channels 4Music, The Box, Box Upfront, Box Hits, Kiss, Magic and Kerrang! have announced that all channels are to be removed off of Virgin Media from 1st May.

Full Statement here: http://www.boxplus.com/latest-news/the-box-plus-network-on-virgin-media

Edit: since posting, the statement has been deleted. The quote below is what was written (copied from VMPhil's post)

Quote:
As of May 1st, The Box Plus Network’s channels The Box, Box Upfront, Box Hits, 4Music, Kiss, Magic and Kerrang! will no longer be available on Virgin Media. As the UK’s largest and most-watched music television network, we would love to continue entertaining Virgin’s audience however, it no longer makes economic sense to remain on the platform.

We’ll still serve our audience with dedicated music and pop culture content we know they will love. Discovering new music and showcasing emerging talent is at the heart of what we do, so it is a real shame to disappoint our Virgin viewers who have supported us along the way.

But there is a silver lining, Virgin viewers will be able to catch all of our content on Freeview, Sky, Talk Talk, YouView, BT TV, Freesat, Now TV, Amazon Fire, EE TV, at www.boxplus.com and via the Box Plus mobile app available on iOS and Android.

Posted by The Box Plus Network - 2017-04-25 16:24:3
Last edited by PATV Scunthorpe on 25 April 2017 9:17pm
JA
james-2001
Is this another Discovery like tactic to try and get viewers on their side and persuade Virgin into a last minute deal?
JF
JetixFann450
I'm not surprised Box Plus is deciding to do the 'last-minute deal' tactic, where they basically remove all of the networks channels and wait for the company to give them a last minute deal. It's more likely Box Plus Network is to be removed, because it isn't as more widely known as Discovery, which helped Discovery stay on the platform of Sky.
PA
PATV Scunthorpe
james-2001 posted:
Is this another Discovery like tactic to try and get viewers on their side and persuade Virgin into a last minute deal?

I'm not sure whether this could be the case or not, as Virgin provide all of the channels, but (with the exception of 4Music) are hidden behind their subscriptions with the L package being needed to access all the channels, M being needed to unlock The Box, Kiss and Magic. While Sky also provide all the channels, but for free. I have Sky and unless there is something else I want to watch (which is generally new episodes of shows) I'm watching the BX+ Channels all the time (even while typing this I am watching Box Upfront), and the half of the channels that you would have to pay for on Virgin can also be accessed via a Internet-connected Freeview TV through 4Music's red button.
VM
VMPhil
james-2001 posted:
Is this another Discovery like tactic to try and get viewers on their side and persuade Virgin into a last minute deal?

While there was some merit to that as Discovery has unique shows and original content spread across its various channels, the same content from these channels (i.e. music videos) is also available on the other music channels, predominantly MTV's, which are also available on Virgin Media.


I'm not sure that losing these channels will be the biggest loss with the exception of Magic, if only because Virgin doesn't have MTV Classic. Though it does have Vintage TV.
RE
Rex
Three months after the Sky vs Discovery spat, Virgin Media and the Box Plus Network have failed to agree on carriage terms.

I don't see this as a huge loss to Virgin. Most of these channels have little to no pay value, for Virgin at least, and much of the music videos shown are not just on MTV's channels, but on YouTube. Viewing figures will take a slight hit however.

The tactic of getting viewers on the side of the broadcaster worked heavily for Discovery, as it largely had a viewer base that was loyal, and most were concentrated across Sky. Some of the channels were integral to part of the Sky packages.

I don't see that happening with the Box Plus channels. Not a huge loss to Virgin.
LL
London Lite Founding member
Not a major loss is it? A bunch of low quality PQ channels that are barely watchable. If anyone is that desperate to see pixelated Kerrang! and Kiss, there are options online to watch instead.
PA
PATV Scunthorpe
I do agree that it won't be a major loss, but I think what will make it a little bit more significant is that the Virgin Media customers who may not have E! For example (I don't know what subscription you need to unlock it), will not be able to view Keeping Up With The Kardashians and the other various spin offs for example (I now await the laughter of those who think that no one actually watches these.) and those interested in The GRAMMYs as 4Music has the exclusive U.K. broadcast. Also other exclusive reality shows such as Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood and The Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.

But that's just my opinion, I reckon quite a few Freeview viewers tune in for the 8 Out Of 10 Cats repeats, who says the same doesn't go for 4Music.
BR
Brekkie
The statement seems to have vanished from the site. Earlier the statement implied all their content was available on Freeview but currently it isn't - just 4Music and three further channels via the red button. Would be good if they could make their full smart TV app (as on Now TV) available via 4Music on Freeview.
VM
VMPhil
Bit odd. I still had the page open so here's the statement.

Quote:
As of May 1st, The Box Plus Network’s channels The Box, Box Upfront, Box Hits, 4Music, Kiss, Magic and Kerrang! will no longer be available on Virgin Media. As the UK’s largest and most-watched music television network, we would love to continue entertaining Virgin’s audience however, it no longer makes economic sense to remain on the platform.

We’ll still serve our audience with dedicated music and pop culture content we know they will love. Discovering new music and showcasing emerging talent is at the heart of what we do, so it is a real shame to disappoint our Virgin viewers who have supported us along the way.

But there is a silver lining, Virgin viewers will be able to catch all of our content on Freeview, Sky, Talk Talk, YouView, BT TV, Freesat, Now TV, Amazon Fire, EE TV, at www.boxplus.com and via the Box Plus mobile app available on iOS and Android.

Posted by The Box Plus Network - 2017-04-25 16:24:39
PA
PATV Scunthorpe
Official tweets by The Box Plus Network and 4Music account have also been deleted.

Unless something has been agreed possibly?
BR
Brekkie
Sounds like it.

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