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UKTV channels set to leave Virgin Media on Sunday

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

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WO
Woodpecker
London Lite posted:
Woodpecker posted:
james-2001 posted:
Though Sky can probably weather such a thing better, they have a lot more money in the bank than UKTV do, which probably helps how they stayed off for 18 months. Plus Sky weren't investing anywhere near as much in their channels as they are now- I think the main home produced programme they were using in their adverts to try and get Virgin customers to switch was The Hogfather- and even that was a repeat. And Virgin had Lost, which was probably Sky's biggest import at the time, on demand too, which helped soften the blow. There weren't as many channels going walkies either back then, I think it was only Sky One/Two, News and Sports News we lost.

UKTV have said they couldn't continue doing what they're doing with the money Virgin are offering them- but with no deal from Virgin they're surely going to be even worse off? Which is why there's likely to be a deal in the near future. Even with the large number of people that will switch to keep the channels, there's going to be plenty who don't move and UKTV will lose a lot of ad revenue from them.

And with Sky Atlantic, isn't it the case that Sky refuse to offer the channel to Virgin full stop? So that one at least isn't Virgin's fault.


I did read a rumour on the other forum claiming that Sky Atlantic is set to launch on Virgin early next year. Whether that rumour has any substance to it, I have no clue, but I thought it was worth mentioning.


If it's 'that' forum, it's usually complete nonsense.


The rumour goes that when Virgin and Sky renegotiate their contract next year, Sky Atlantic is likely to form part of any new deal signed. It was that forum, so whether this is true or not, I don't know.
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
There will be a small hardcore number of UKTV fans who it would probably be enough to abandon the Virgin Media service for. But often apathy comes into play, especially if you have loads of other services bundled in like broadband, home phone, TV, mobile and it becomes too much of a hassle for most to go through switching. That's what Virgin will be hoping for, initial outrage, but for the vast majority acceptance. Whether they can bring new subscribers to the service without the UKTV channels is another matter entirely.

UKTV to lose this carriage will reduce their reach, a ratings decline and then the resulting loss of commercial impact and leverage with advertisers.

So not many winners here, but Virgin look to be digging in and hoping for it to blow over, which it may well do.
JA
james-2001
Square Eyes posted:
UKTV to lose this carriage will reduce their reach, a ratings decline and then the resulting loss of commercial impact and leverage with advertisers.


One reason why I think there'll be a deal, if not straight away, probably after not very long. The loss of Virgin's carraige fees and viewers is likely to hurt them quite significantly.
BM
BM11
Square Eyes posted:
There will be a small hardcore number of UKTV fans who it would probably be enough to abandon the Virgin Media service for. But often apathy comes into play, especially if you have loads of other services bundled in like broadband, home phone, TV, mobile and it becomes too much of a hassle for most to go through switching. That's what Virgin will be hoping for, initial outrage, but for the vast majority acceptance. Whether they can bring new subscribers to the service without the UKTV channels is another matter entirely.

UKTV to lose this carriage will reduce their reach, a ratings decline and then the resulting loss of commercial impact and leverage with advertisers.

So not many winners here, but Virgin look to be digging in and hoping for it to blow over, which it may well do.

Depends if Sky think running special deals (including some of reasons people might stay at Virgin) would attract plenty of new subscribers.
PL
plymouthbloke1974
Anyone going to record it going off the air? No Virgin here 😂
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
BM11 posted:
Square Eyes posted:
There will be a small hardcore number of UKTV fans who it would probably be enough to abandon the Virgin Media service for. But often apathy comes into play, especially if you have loads of other services bundled in like broadband, home phone, TV, mobile and it becomes too much of a hassle for most to go through switching. That's what Virgin will be hoping for, initial outrage, but for the vast majority acceptance. Whether they can bring new subscribers to the service without the UKTV channels is another matter entirely.

UKTV to lose this carriage will reduce their reach, a ratings decline and then the resulting loss of commercial impact and leverage with advertisers.

So not many winners here, but Virgin look to be digging in and hoping for it to blow over, which it may well do.

Depends if Sky think running special deals (including some of reasons people might stay at Virgin) would attract plenty of new subscribers.


Sky run special deals all the time, it's almost impossible to cancel without being offered a retention deal for starters, then there's new customer deals (which one can usually get as an existing customer if you ask nicely enough) and the odd one off promotions as well.
AE
AlexEdohHD13
I think both Virgin and UKTV are to blame for this mess for being equally greedy.
LL
London Lite Founding member
AlexEdohHD13 posted:
I think both Virgin and UKTV are to blame for this mess for being equally greedy.


I don't think it's down to greed at all, both companies want to keep their profit margins, while UKTV have mis-managed their channels to the point where sticking so many on Freeview, along with their 'premium' content has devalued their remaining paywall channels.

Virgin are right to offer a price that reflects the devaluation of UKTV's portfolio. It's UKTV's strategy of FTA and pay that has been mismanaged which has led to this situation, along with BBC Worldwide who insist that Virgin shouldn't allow their shows to be used on their catch-up service.
AE
AlexEdohHD13
London Lite posted:
AlexEdohHD13 posted:
I think both Virgin and UKTV are to blame for this mess for being equally greedy.


I don't think it's down to greed at all, both companies want to keep their profit margins, while UKTV have mis-managed their channels to the point where sticking so many on Freeview, along with their 'premium' content has devalued their remaining paywall channels.

Virgin are right to offer a price that reflects the devaluation of UKTV's portfolio. It's UKTV's strategy of FTA and pay that has been mismanaged which has led to this situation, along with BBC Worldwide who insist that Virgin shouldn't allow their shows to be used on their catch-up service.

There is a word I would call them: Buffoons.
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
AlexEdohHD13 posted:
There is a word I would call them: Buffoons.


Well that'll look good if you're at the negotiating table, I must say.
AE
AlexEdohHD13
Both of them are just passing the buck. UKTV blame Virgin. Virgin blame UKTV. If I we're a Virgin customer, I'd want my channels to stay.
JA
james-2001
As someone on DS said, they should come up with an interim agreement to keep the channels on while they negotiate, so us viewers don't have to suffer.

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