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UKTV channels set to leave Virgin Media on Sunday

11th August - they’re back (July 2018)

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FG
FraserGJ
London Lite posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:


Can VM punters get out their contracts due to the loss of these channels? That may be a more effective form of protest.


From what I've seen on social media, apparently not, but I suspect the retention team will be busy offering discounts for those most affected by the loss of Eden and Good Food.

However, I won't be surprised if a minority of customers buy their contract out, so they can go to Sky or another provider for those channels.


I think Sky will offer to buy you out themselves if you switch. I think there is a limit on the amount they'll pay though. I saw an exchange on Twitter yesterday and Sky said ok to about £55 if I recall. Its added as a credit to the new Sky account.
BR
Brekkie
james-2001 posted:
DVB Cornwall posted:
I fail to understand why anyone who values their TV service doesn't maintain an aerial system for Freeview to enable them to retain viewing of at least some channels in the result of their prime service failing, either for technical or business reasons.


Depends- my grandmother's aerial blew off the roof in strong winds about 10 years ago, it would cost a bit to get someone to come out and fit a new one, and as she has Virgin there didn't seem to be much point in spending that money for an aerial she's rarely, if ever, use. Similarly, our aerial's still there but when you hook it up it barely works, last time I tried I could only get one MUX. Again, didn't seem worth the money getting someone out to repair/replace it when we have Virgin and haven't actually used the aerial for anything in nearly 20 years.

The cost of an aerial and installation is roughly equivalent to 2-3 months of a Virgin Media subscription (approx £150).


Obviously depends on what channels you prefer in your household but be interesting to see what proportion of viewing "Freeview channels" makes up viewing in Sky and Virgin households. Even Virgin themselves are basically saying UKTV's subscription channels lag behind their free portfolio and you would think the lower to mid-tier subscription channels are vulnerable in the current viewing landscape. Again Virgin seem to be making this argument more about on demand content than linear channels.


P.S. Could UKTV in theory sell their channels directly via cable or is that something they can only do, in theory, on satellite. I'm surprised really they've not added a premium add-on to UKTV Play for access to the pay TV channels.
Last edited by Brekkie on 21 July 2018 11:03am - 2 times in total
JA
james-2001
And now Virgin have tweeted saying it's apparently UKTV's fault for not giving them channels for free, not that anyone in the replies is sympathising with them:



BR
Brekkie
Comes across so classy doesn't it when these things play out in public. And Virgin are never going to win a Twitter war with Dave.
HA
harshy Founding member
Just stuck a little minidish point it to 28.2e most of their channels are free anyway any dvb-s box will do, Virgin isn’t good anyway with their poor insecure routers and clunky tv service.
TT
TellyTime
james-2001 posted:
And now Virgin have tweeted saying it's apparently UKTV's fault for not giving them channels for free, not that anyone in the replies is sympathising with them:





They've also said:

Quote:
We are still in discussions with UKTV but we have already invested in an extensive collection of new and high-quality programming for you to enjoy. Read more here: https://virg.in/3cr . We have only known for a matter of days that UKTV has decided to cut off its free channels from us. It is denying our customers its free channels, like Dave, unless we also take its paid channels, like Gold.
BM
BM11
Extremely childsh behaviour.
Sounds like Virgin have had a lot of cancellations and threats to do so already.
CW
Charlie Wells Moderator
Looks like Freeview has been trolling Virgin Media on the matter...


JC
JCB
Virgin need better PR people. They've done a terrible job of getting their argument across.
JK
JKDerry
If they had any business sense, they would pull off a deal now this evening and announce it by 9pm tonight. They need to give in. Many might think the 10 UKTV channels are not worth it, but they are, and even though people might scoff at them, they are just repeats, they are popular and Virgin Media will lose out.
JK
JKDerry
Where is Richard Branson when you need him?
KE
kernow
JKDerry posted:
If they had any business sense, they would pull off a deal now this evening and announce it by 9pm tonight. They need to give in. Many might think the 10 UKTV channels are not worth it, but they are, and even though people might scoff at them, they are just repeats, they are popular and Virgin Media will lose out.

Apparently the UKTV channels account for 25% of subscription-channel viewing on Virgin Media, which is a significant proportion.
Stuart, james-2001 and London Lite gave kudos

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