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Virgin Media subscriber numbers

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12357…12

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    #122
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    SpaceTime wrote: »
    Seems they've a new version of Horizon out now. It's launched in Poland with a new box and its cloud based.

    That's the Pace built box they seem to be using :

    http://www.upc.cz/televize/prijimaci-zarizeni-digitalni-televize/hd_dvr_mediabox/

    I'm not sure about Poland, but this seems to be the cloud based Horizon service:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sO3MvhsC9Y

    It doesn't involve any set top box, can work straight with smart TV's.


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    #123
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    The whole concept is built around RDK which is a major new platform being developed by the various major cable TV providers and equipment makers. It's a bit like the way DOCSIS was developed for data.

    http://rdkcentral.com


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    #124
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Horizon is currently a fork / derivative of XBMC

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodi_(software)

    I'm not sure that that Ziggo product is the same thing. They'll still want a media gateway / box to provide DVR functions. Not many Smart TVs have 6 cable tuners on board. Although it may become irrelevant if you can fully cloud base everything and move away from linear TV entirely.

    I can see rights issues cropping up with Sky etc in this market if it comes to steaming all channels on demand and moving away from linear cable channels while Sky don't have the technology platform and network to do that yet...


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    #125
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    SpaceTime wrote: »
    I'm not sure that that Ziggo product is the same thing. They'll still want a media gateway / box to provide DVR functions. Not many Smart TVs have 6 cable tuners on board. Although it may become irrelevant if you can fully cloud base everything and move away from linear TV entirely.

    I can see rights issues cropping up with Sky etc in this market if it comes to steaming all channels on demand and moving away from linear cable channels while Sky don't have the technology platform and network to do that yet...

    For the moment they seem to be only releasing this in the more cost conscious Eastern European markets.

    I really don't think you need a large, expensive DVR, if everything is in the cloud. If you have 7 day catchup of all channels, on demand and the option to record and save in the cloud, then you really don't need anything complicated on the client side.

    Who needs six tuners, when you can basically have unlimited tuners to record unlimited numbers of shows in the cloud. To be honest, the whole concept of "recording" goes away with catchup services and on demand services.

    This service still supports linear TV, it just moves all the hardware, hard drives, tuners, recorders to the data center. To be honest the whole concept of having a big, expensive DVR, with a powerful CPU, lots of HDD space and 6 tuners sitting there most of the day, largely unused, is incredibly inefficient.

    Consolidated into a server farm, with de-duplication of recordings, etc. you would need far less resources to deliver the same level of service.

    It makes a lot of sense for them to use this approach in the low revenue, cost concious Eastern European markets.

    And to be honest, I think in the long term it would make a lot of sense for Ireland too and I'd love to have it myself.

    Imagine if the only hardware you got from UPC was a little stick that plugged into your HDMI port like an Amazon Fire TV. Now imagine if you launched the UPC app on your iPad and the exact same interface, with all your content, favourites, upcoming shows, recordings appeared there too, nice :D

    The only downside would possibly be channel changing speed * and of course you have no TV if the broadband service goes down.

    * This can be mitigated with clever programming and enough bandwidth. For instance you could also stream the channel before and after the current watched channel, perhaps at a lower bitrate, so that they appear quickly when you flick between channels.


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    #126
    Joo0
    Registered Users Posts: 417 ✭✭Joo0


    Just looked at this image of the horizon box on the Irish UPC website
    http://www.upc.ie/bundles/broadband-tv-phone/anytime-world-horizon-max-tv/_jcr_content/background_fullwidth/templatesection_3/section_content/nested_columns/parsys-1/image.img.png/1437553525552.png
    Is this any different than the original box?


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    #127
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Could just be a Pace version.


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    #128
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,481 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    UPC: Brian wrote: »
    Our MMDS service is based on retaining the license for this however, this is coming to an end next year and we're in the process of ending our MMDS service.
    We'll be direct contacting any customers at the appropriate time but this would stop any offers from being applied to MMDS serviced accounts.

    Looks like they've started informing MMDS subscribers that they're discontinuing the service and in the case of this subscriber who posted in the Tipperary forum it's being switched off at the end of Sept.
    bogs wrote: »
    Hi,could anyone advise me as to a tv dealer/installer in South Tipperary.UPC are discontinuing the service from 28/9/15 so it leaves us high and dry.


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    #129
    Wabbit Ears
    Registered Users Posts: 3,042 ✭✭✭Wabbit Ears


    SpaceTime wrote: »
    Could just be a Pace version.


    I never heard of a pace version of the horizon box.


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    #130
    7upfree
    Registered Users Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭7upfree


    bk wrote: »
    From reviews I've read from the UK, not only is it vastly superior, but most people seem to think it is also much better then Sky HD!

    How so? From the ads it seems you can only record two channels??


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    #131
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    7upfree wrote: »
    How so? From the ads it seems you can only record two channels??

    Very easy to use user interface that is fast and responsive.

    It learns from what you watch and record and based on that it gives very good recommendations for other shows you might like on the home page.

    BTW it actually has 3 tuners, so you can record two other channels while watching another one. Sky HD box only has 2 tuners and the Horizon box 4.

    http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/tvs-entertainment/pvrs/52517/virgin-media-tivo-1tb-review

    BTW 15 years ago, I used a second hand TiVo imported from the US and hacked to make it work with UPC analogue service. Obviously it didn't support HD, etc. but even back then the interface was nicer and faster then Sky HD is today! So I can well believe that new models are a big improvement.


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    #132
    Wabbit Ears
    Registered Users Posts: 3,042 ✭✭✭Wabbit Ears


    The horizon box has 6 tuners. 4 exclusively for recording.


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    #133
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,266 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Are Virgin media Ireland / UPC still part of the UPC/ Liberty global group?

    They are still meant to launch a multi room client box.

    Will they drop horizon and do with the same hardware as the UK?


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    #134
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,481 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    ted1 wrote: »
    Are Virgin media Ireland / UPC still part of the UPC/ Liberty global group?

    Will they drop horizon and do with the same hardware as the UK?

    UPC Ireland was moved from UPC to Virgin Media last Feb, both companies remain part of the Liberty Global group.

    No information regarding the change of STBs.


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    #135
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,511 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    They are still part of Liberty but no longer part of UPC Broadband.


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    #136
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    Wabbit Ears wrote: »
    The horizon box has 6 tuners. 4 exclusively for recording.

    To be honest, the whole idea of so many tuners is becoming largely irrelevant in our modern world of online services, catch-up TV, on demand TV and cloud DVR's

    IMO a fast, easy to use interface that makes finding content easy and does a good job of recommending content is far more important then lots of tuners.

    Just look at how Sky boxes only have 2 tuners, yet most people find it superior to the 6 tuner Horizon box!

    Interestingly even Liberty Global is seeing this shift in the market and is moving to a purely cloud interface and DVR in it's Eastern European markets.


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    #137
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,651 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    No tuner is perfect. But recording on the horizon box is more buggy than you'd expect. Even on one tuner. I find the box very slow when using 3 or 4 tuners recording at the same time.

    When it works its great. But fixes have taken ages and been of low quality.


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    #138
    7upfree
    Registered Users Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭7upfree


    bk wrote: »
    Very easy to use user interface that is fast and responsive.

    It learns from what you watch and record and based on that it gives very good recommendations for other shows you might like on the home page.

    BTW it actually has 3 tuners, so you can record two other channels while watching another one. Sky HD box only has 2 tuners and the Horizon box 4.

    http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/tvs-entertainment/pvrs/52517/virgin-media-tivo-1tb-review

    BTW 15 years ago, I used a second hand TiVo imported from the US and hacked to make it work with UPC analogue service. Obviously it didn't support HD, etc. but even back then the interface was nicer and faster then Sky HD is today! So I can well believe that new models are a big improvement.

    Thanks.

    Is it not the case that you can record three, but must then only watch a recording? Or am I wrong?

    http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1627745

    Doesn't Horizon have five??:confused:

    http://www.upc.ie/television/horizon-tv/


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    #139
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    7upfree wrote: »
    Is it not the case that you can record three, but must then only watch a recording? Or am I wrong?

    http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1627745

    Yes, that is correct.

    If you have your TV turned off, you can actually record 3 channels simultaneously.

    If you are watching something, then you can record that channel, plus two others.
    7upfree wrote: »
    Doesn't Horizon have five??:confused:

    http://www.upc.ie/television/horizon-tv/

    I was wrong earlier, it has 6 tuners:

    - 4 to record other channels
    - 1 to watch the current channel
    - 1 to preload the next channel in the EPG (for quick channel change).


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    #140
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,481 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Liberty Global (Virgin Media) Q3 2015 numbers published today (in brackets, quarter on quarter +/-)
    http://www.libertyglobal.com/pdf/press-release/LG-Earnings-Release-Q3-15-FINAL.pdf

    Video Subscribers - 375,600 (-3,700)
    --- Analogue Cable - 33,300 (-1,500)
    --- Digital Cable - 318,400 (-500)
    --- MMDS - 23,900 (-1,700)
    Internet - 371,300 (+4,000)
    Telephone - 357,900 (+5,500)

    Total Subscribers - 1,104,800 (+5,800)

    Premises - 503,600 (-1,600)


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    #141
    JTMan
    Registered Users Posts: 5,537 ✭✭✭JTMan


    YoY movements really show where the business is going:
    Analogue cable TV down 21%.
    Digital cable TV down 5%.
    MMDS down 25%.
    Broadband up 4%.
    Landlines up 6%.

    MMDS are on a rapid decent before next years switch off.
    Analogue cable down significantly.
    Digital cable numbers getting effected by early signs of cord cutting.
    Broadband up but not significantly.
    Generally unwanted landlines only up thanks to being included in forced bundles.

    The Liberty results say that Irish "homes passed" includes 100k homes that cannot get two-way communications. Is this MMDS capture area or is it homes in areas with very old coper wires?


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    #142
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,481 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    JTMan wrote: »
    The Liberty results say that Irish "homes passed" includes 100k homes that cannot get two-way communications. Is this MMDS capture area or is it homes in areas with very old coper wires?

    Both I'd say and not exclusively MMDS fed systems. I've seen posts here previously that said they had UPC internet but TV was MMDS fed at the head end.


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    #143
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,651 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Nothing new here really. Legacy systems being run down. People don't use the phone, but it gets bundled anyway, so its a meaningless statistic. There probably a few things happening. End of half price offers, cheaper offers from sky, more options for free to air. I think it suggests some strong competition, could make headway. Most seem to be content with keeping the status quo.


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    #144
    Szero
    Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭Szero


    The most important statistic has to be the number of customers. Virigin Media in Ireland have lost 18,500 customers over the last year while their UK wing grows.

    Sky, free-to-air, Eircom's TV offering, Vodafone's competitive broadband only package, legacy VM systems and soon Vodafone's pending TV offering are all taking their tole on VM Ireland.


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    #145
    rebeve
    Registered Users Posts: 856 ✭✭✭rebeve


    The mobile vm are offering reminds me of the Cork Multi Channel days . The service is beyond shocking , and it will do them harm .


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    #146
    7upfree
    Registered Users Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭7upfree


    rebeve wrote: »
    The mobile vm are offering reminds me of the Cork Multi Channel days . The service is beyond shocking , and it will do them harm .

    Is it that bad? Seems like great value!


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    #147
    Wabbit Ears
    Registered Users Posts: 3,042 ✭✭✭Wabbit Ears


    rebeve wrote: »
    The mobile vm are offering reminds me of the Cork Multi Channel days . The service is beyond shocking , and it will do them harm .
    post makes NO sense whatsoever. Its an MVNO on the three network, same as a number of other carriers.


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    #148
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    rebeve wrote: »
    The mobile vm are offering reminds me of the Cork Multi Channel days . The service is beyond shocking , and it will do them harm .

    That's just how brutal Three is.


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    #149
    7upfree
    Registered Users Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭7upfree


    L1011 wrote: »
    That's just how brutal Three is.


    I've been with Three for years. The actual service is excellent. However, if you have to contact them.................................


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    #150
    steveon
    Registered Users Posts: 3,905 ✭✭✭steveon


    7upfree wrote: »
    I've been with Three for years. The actual service is excellent. However, if you have to contact them.................................

    Threes customer service has now fully transferred to the old o2 customer care offices here in Limerick which to be fair was always excellent in the past....so time will tell if that improves threes customer service


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    #151
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    Interesting, if this trend continues, it looks like by next quarter Virgin/UPC will have more internet customers then TV customers.


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