UKTV channels set to leave Virgin Media on Sunday

We live in a capitalist society where as part of that, companies are more than capable of doing deals without interference from the broadcasting regulator.

There are instances where the government should have input, such as ensuring jobs are kept at car and aerospace factories, but a media deal between a provider and a television company should be dealt with privately.

So why then have ofcom at all and have channel licenses? If those licenses can be abused and people lose out due to other reasons beyond their reasonable control.

Um..
Ofcom licence the right to broadcast to broadcasters as long as they adhire to the relivant parts of the Communications Act to do with UK television broadcasting standards..

..where and on what platform is none of their concern. Viewers loosing pay tv channels - as purple faced rage as it may be to you to loose Good Food and W - is not even on their radar to sort out. Neither should they.

Getting Ofcom involved on which digital tv platform a licencee broadcasts on would be a total waste of the regulators time. Only if, the UKTV channels were reclassified as PSB channels, would it register as a 'live' issue. But they aren't (even though most of the output of UKTV was orginally broadcast on PSB channels) so, move on.

And anyway, we all know what a mess a regulator gets into when it's given the keys to pick a platform and programming supplier.
The IBA and BSB, anyone?

We need a new broadcasting act because the current one does not help the public but the broadcasters acting as children.

And why would it a waste of time to make sure channels dont get away with treating viewers as pieces of dirt?

or to stop viewers acting like Children over a business matter.

Welcome to the free market, my friend. Pull up a chair and enjoy the ride, but if one company want's more money and profit, don't be afraid if the chair is kicked from under you every now and then...

Maybe if you read some of the previous replies instead of ranting, you may understand.

And who loses the most. The Public. So I am not pull up a chair but instead I will campaign 100% for the changes the broadcasting industry needs to help the viewer.

Go away and derail a thread that isn’t otherwise interesting

Here here. Just follow the link.

In real terms of VM viewers over the population - very little of the public are going to loose out.

Good luck with your campain to change the broadcasting industry singlehanded. Please let us know you how you get on.

I'm sure you'll attract a lot of support from bruised and hurt ex-Dave+1 viewers on Virgin Media marching on Parliament when it returns in September.
"WHAT DO WE WANT?"
"TOP GEAR ON DAVE"
"WHEN DO WE WANT IT?"
"EVERYDAY AT 9, 12, 4 , 6 AND 10"

There is an interesting contrast here: channels pay Sky to be carried on their platform. VM pay channels for the right to carry them.

Is that fair? Is it a sustainable business model?

Obviously it's more subtle than that in that channels that are part of Sky's packages will bring in revenue, but it's curious nonetheless.

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