Trouble at Vintage TV?

Vintage TV was removed from Freesat earlier this year due to rising carriage fees, and last week they permanently left Freeview.

Now they're saying they're off air on Sky and Virgin temporarily as they are making changes "to ensure that it’s accessible to as many viewers as possible"(!)


a516 article: https://www.a516digital.com/2018/08/vintage-tv-vanishes-from-more-tv-screens.html

I swear this story is familiar. I think this sort of thing has happened with another channel 'temporarily' vanishing before, but I just can't put my finger on it.

On a more serious note, they were telling viewers to contact Sky for assistance earlier. This looks like it is less than planned.

Hi Deano. Have you contacted @SkyUK for assistance?

— Vintage TV (@VintageTV) August 7, 2018

Sounds like the beginning of the end for what is one of the better music channels, especially after leaving freesat and now freeview.

I've had Vintage TV tuned in via other channels on Freesat since it left the EPG, and it isn't even broadcasting anymore.

Sounds like it could be becoming an online-only channel. With the loss of advertising revenue (which will outweigh the savings from not paying Sky's carriage costs), I honestly can't see it surviving as an online-only channel, especially given that they don't currently show any adverts in their online programmes.

Melody TV is similar to Vintage TV in France. They've been able to monitise their online stream with a small fee per month as well as getting on the main satellite and IPTV providers and have a spin-off IPTV channel for Franco-African classic music.

Unlike Vintage TV however, they've gained rights to old variety shows, pop concerts, music based films and documentaries, in addition to the old videos and artist interviews, which has made their product more viable. They're also in HD, unlike the 544x576 blur-o-vision in the UK.

Shame, Vintage TV is the channel I usually have switched on in the background

Just discovered there's a Canadian version of Vintage TV, which operates on cable TV, and the owner of Vintage TV UK is the largest shareholder.

Maybe the plan is to merge the 2 channels, or turn the UK channel into a simulcast of the Canadian version, in an effort to save money.

That's surely the issue with such channels - even if people have it on they're not going to be paying attention to the ads.

The live stream on the website is just a black screen and tone.

TVPlayer also has NOW 90s, which is more of the same.

Now 90s is on Virgin too, though only as a red button service through Clubland (and it keeps going down).