So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1

**Markulous** · 23-02-2007, 06:28

OK, so Virgin Media and Sky were always on a collision course but now Sky is apparently asking too much for Virgin Media to carry Sky 1.

Be interesting to see who wins out - I'm sorry to lose some of the stuff on Sky 1 but have never been that happy with 'supporting' Murdoch!

Oh, and apparently that kicks in at the end of the month

**stepheno** · 23-02-2007, 06:56

I don't follow that - can you elucidate?

**Markulous** · 23-02-2007, 07:01

Depending on your viewpoint:

Sky want too much money from Virgin to show Sky 1
or
Virgin don't want to pay too much money to Sky to carry Sky 1

So, can Virgin afford to upset/lose Sky 1 watchers............. or Sky afford to lose the Virgin viewers (affecting their figures)?

Personally, think neither can do without each other and that, me being a cynical s**, they're just posturing in the public arena!

**stepheno** · 23-02-2007, 07:46

With you. I diddn't realise that Virgin showed Sky 1.

**Markulous** · 23-02-2007, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepheno

With you. I diddn't realise that Virgin showed Sky 1.

All us lucky NTL/Blueyonder subscribers have "benefitted" from Virgin's purchase of NTL/Blueyonder!

Rob Barron · 23-02-2007, 08:34

I am a was-Nynex-then-NTL-now-Virgin customer of long standing and if I am honest the loss of Sky 1 will be no big deal to most of us. Admittedly I have always bemoaned NTL's inability to strike a deal with Sky so that we too could watch footie and get the extras like player Cams and so forth but after using that on a friend's Sky dish for one football match it went from 'I must write begging letters to NTL to push them harder to get this!' through, at half-time, 'Yeh, it's pretty cool!' to, by the end of the game 'That player cam thing was a bit of a pain to watch' and the realisation that I hadn't used the 'Instant replay' button once in the second half. Anything worth seeing again got the usual repeat anyway.

So, Virgin are now on board and we have a new channel that allows us to choose from a whole selection of programs and we can watch them at whatever time we choose. Sounds great but my guess is it will be another year or so before I find any programme i actually want to watch rather than 'Oh well, i'll give it a ago!'

These much-vaunted take-overs are usually much more crash bang wallop than anything of any real substance but of course prices will soon go up 'but it will be worth it because now you'll get to watch as many repeats of Last of the Summer Wine as you like!'

Cheers,
Rob

**Dabhand16** · 23-02-2007, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

These much-vaunted take-overs are usually much more crash bang wallop than anything of any real substance but of course prices will soon go up 'but it will be worth it because now you'll get to watch as many repeats of Last of the Summer Wine as you like!'

Cheers,
Rob

Ain't that the truth.

fionaB · 23-02-2007, 09:00

I always thought Sky 1 was a free channel,,,,........ dont they get it on free view?

Fi

**Markulous** · 23-02-2007, 10:43

Nope! Sky 1 not free - not on Freeview (but maybe Sky 2 & 3 on FreeSat?)

***Dave*** · 23-02-2007, 10:49

I always support any actoins that knock the big guys down a peg or two

sejanus · 24-02-2007, 12:25

Sky 3 is on Freeview and does show one or two amusing programmes such as 'Cold Case' and 'Hex' (the latter sharing more than just the last two letters of its name with the wierd and wondrous 'Lexx')

fionaB · 24-02-2007, 12:54

well either way i cant move from cable, to get any picture on our television we have to have cable of some sort. Our house isnt high enough for a sky dish even with an extension pole and as we are surrounded by high buildings and the BP petrochemical plant it blocks the signal of what we call up here "cooncil" tele, it has to be cable unfortunately!

Fi

fujitsu1522 · 24-02-2007, 19:24

Virgin....lets see what there up to, If they put the prices up, I wont be paying, If they do, My photos that i took of Richard Branson launching Virgin cola, they will be going in the bin...he he, My prediction will be, you will get a first class service, with more on offer, not all the repeat junk, sky as on there multi chanells, as far as films are concerned, I think you will get newer films, I stopped subscribeing to skys films, they get repetative, and boring, not good value for money, lets see what Richard as to offer....

Rob Barron · 24-02-2007, 19:39

Ok, I am going to confess to getting it wrong here so make the most of it

....

I sat and had a play with the new Virgin channel last night (Ch 119) and was very impressed. Basically it has hundreds of programmes including the pic of progs from the main channels plus a lot or archived comedy, drama and documentary material.

I was able to choose whatever I wanted to watch, start whenever, pause it, fast forward or rewind or whatever and it gave me hours of entertainment without changing channel at all. I really enjoyed it.

Furthermore (sobs with the shame) it is free for the first three months to everyone and for people who have the full package (I do) it is guaranteed to be free forever!

Ok, I was wrong, the new Virgin Media might be better than the old NTL after all.

Furthermore, thanks to Richard Branson ensuring that he invested in quality trains for the mainline services, the terrible train crash last night resulted in (just) one person being killed and 5 seriously injured. It could so easily have resulted in massive loss of life and serious injury but the train, despite completely jack-knifing, running down an embankment and ending up doubled like a snake despite coming off the rails at 95mph, not even the drivers windscreen was shattered!

Respect to Virgin for making sure that safety was a major priority when investing in new technology, as with the tilting train.

Cheers,
Rob

23-02-2007, 06:28	#1 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,691	So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 OK, so Virgin Media and Sky were always on a collision course but now Sky is apparently asking too much for Virgin Media to carry Sky 1. Be interesting to see who wins out - I'm sorry to lose some of the stuff on Sky 1 but have never been that happy with 'supporting' Murdoch! Oh, and apparently that kicks in at the end of the month

23-02-2007, 06:56	#2 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,634	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 I don't follow that - can you elucidate?

23-02-2007, 07:01	#3 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,691	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 Depending on your viewpoint: Sky want too much money from Virgin to show Sky 1 or Virgin don't want to pay too much money to Sky to carry Sky 1 So, can Virgin afford to upset/lose Sky 1 watchers............. or Sky afford to lose the Virgin viewers (affecting their figures)? Personally, think neither can do without each other and that, me being a cynical s**, they're just posturing in the public arena!

23-02-2007, 07:46	#4 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,634	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 With you. I diddn't realise that Virgin showed Sky 1.

23-02-2007, 08:34	#6 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,204	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 I am a was-Nynex-then-NTL-now-Virgin customer of long standing and if I am honest the loss of Sky 1 will be no big deal to most of us. Admittedly I have always bemoaned NTL's inability to strike a deal with Sky so that we too could watch footie and get the extras like player Cams and so forth but after using that on a friend's Sky dish for one football match it went from 'I must write begging letters to NTL to push them harder to get this!' through, at half-time, 'Yeh, it's pretty cool!' to, by the end of the game 'That player cam thing was a bit of a pain to watch' and the realisation that I hadn't used the 'Instant replay' button once in the second half. Anything worth seeing again got the usual repeat anyway. So, Virgin are now on board and we have a new channel that allows us to choose from a whole selection of programs and we can watch them at whatever time we choose. Sounds great but my guess is it will be another year or so before I find any programme i actually want to watch rather than 'Oh well, i'll give it a ago!' These much-vaunted take-overs are usually much more crash bang wallop than anything of any real substance but of course prices will soon go up 'but it will be worth it because now you'll get to watch as many repeats of Last of the Summer Wine as you like!' Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

23-02-2007, 09:00	#8 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,453	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 I always thought Sky 1 was a free channel,,,,........ dont they get it on free view? Fi

23-02-2007, 10:43	#9 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,691	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 Nope! Sky 1 not free - not on Freeview (but maybe Sky 2 & 3 on FreeSat?)

23-02-2007, 10:49	#10 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,909	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 I always support any actoins that knock the big guys down a peg or two

24-02-2007, 12:25	#11 (permalink)
sejanus Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 289	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 Sky 3 is on Freeview and does show one or two amusing programmes such as 'Cold Case' and 'Hex' (the latter sharing more than just the last two letters of its name with the wierd and wondrous 'Lexx')

24-02-2007, 12:54	#12 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,453	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 well either way i cant move from cable, to get any picture on our television we have to have cable of some sort. Our house isnt high enough for a sky dish even with an extension pole and as we are surrounded by high buildings and the BP petrochemical plant it blocks the signal of what we call up here "cooncil" tele, it has to be cable unfortunately! Fi

24-02-2007, 19:24	#13 (permalink)
fujitsu1522 Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wales Posts: 115	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 Virgin....lets see what there up to, If they put the prices up, I wont be paying, If they do, My photos that i took of Richard Branson launching Virgin cola, they will be going in the bin...he he, My prediction will be, you will get a first class service, with more on offer, not all the repeat junk, sky as on there multi chanells, as far as films are concerned, I think you will get newer films, I stopped subscribeing to skys films, they get repetative, and boring, not good value for money, lets see what Richard as to offer.... __________________ Peter Holt

24-02-2007, 19:39	#14 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,204	Re: So Virgin Media (ex NTL) to drop Sky1 Ok, I am going to confess to getting it wrong here so make the most of it .... I sat and had a play with the new Virgin channel last night (Ch 119) and was very impressed. Basically it has hundreds of programmes including the pic of progs from the main channels plus a lot or archived comedy, drama and documentary material. I was able to choose whatever I wanted to watch, start whenever, pause it, fast forward or rewind or whatever and it gave me hours of entertainment without changing channel at all. I really enjoyed it. Furthermore (sobs with the shame) it is free for the first three months to everyone and for people who have the full package (I do) it is guaranteed to be free forever! Ok, I was wrong, the new Virgin Media might be better than the old NTL after all. Furthermore, thanks to Richard Branson ensuring that he invested in quality trains for the mainline services, the terrible train crash last night resulted in (just) one person being killed and 5 seriously injured. It could so easily have resulted in massive loss of life and serious injury but the train, despite completely jack-knifing, running down an embankment and ending up doubled like a snake despite coming off the rails at 95mph, not even the drivers windscreen was shattered! Respect to Virgin for making sure that safety was a major priority when investing in new technology, as with the tilting train. Cheers, Rob

25-02-2007, 17:03	#15 (permalink)
fujitsu1522 Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wales Posts: 115