UPC - Channel Line Up and Package Changes from 4th January 2010 [Merged]

fulhamfanincork

DingDong wrote: »

To sum it up from what I heard the rest of the ITV's are to be added, some food channel which I can't remember the name of and FX. Sky arts won't be added but if there is a demand for it I'm sure UPC would try add it to the line up.

That would be quality ding dong. thank you.

Elmo

DingDong wrote: »

To sum it up from what I heard the rest of the ITV's are to be added, some food channel which I can't remember the name of and FX. Sky arts won't be added but if there is a demand for it I'm sure UPC would try add it to the line up.

And a reference that this is happening?

dunworth1

DingDong wrote: »

To sum it up from what I heard the rest of the ITV's are to be added, some food channel which I can't remember the name of and FX. Sky arts won't be added but if there is a demand for it I'm sure UPC would try add it to the line up.

that's great

its great that we have someone who can tell us whats going on


any word to as when they will be added

DingDong

January from what I heard.

NU8

Does anyone know if there will be any more HD channels added soon? Maybe ITV or FX HD?

Simon201

Any one hear any rumours about channel 4hd coming to NTL?

decies

DingDong wrote: »

To sum it up from what I heard the rest of the ITV's are to be added, some food channel which I can't remember the name of and FX. Sky arts won't be added but if there is a demand for it I'm sure UPC would try add it to the line up.

If there was a demand for it!!!Like it took them how long to get eurosport back?? What about demand for proper teletext - interactivity or god forbid subtitles for people who need them.

DingDong

NTL removed eurosport from the line up not UPC. It was under UPC's control it return. Teletext is carried on the digital service, its content is supplied by the channels themselves. Interactivity is a bit of novelty in my opinion, but I sure it will eventually be provided it. I'd be more excited about the introduction of VOD and a catch up TV service.

Since UPC has took over they have turn the cable network on it heads introducing a load of new services DVR,series link,HD, fast cheap broadband etc. They aren't even finished yet, they are to speed another 90 million euro in 2010 improving services. We are not talking about some broke amateur company. Cable TV is UPC business, Liberty Global UPC's parent company recently spent 2 billion euro buying the second largest CATV company in Germany. Not many companies have that sort of funds. UPC are giving the people what they want, granted it can't all be done with the flick of a switch but they are getting there.

paulm17781

Elmo wrote: »

And a reference that this is happening?

DingDong's info has always been reliable in the past. Other than the dates things are happening (not his control) he's never been wrong about what UPC are about to do.

Infoanon

DingDong wrote: »

Interactivity is a bit of novelty in my opinion, but I sure it will eventually be provided it.

Think its more than a novelty - BBC in particular are putting more and more of their sports on the 'red' button and viewers do get annoyed when they cannot watch or continue to watch the options available .Sky also make use of the 'red' button.

Its an area UPC will have to resolve sooner rather then later if they want to get customers to stop switching to Sky.

You are right with your other sentiments - if UPC had not taken over the cable system from NTL does anyone think there would have been the huge investment and upgrade that there has been ?!

Elmo

Infoanon wrote: »

You are right with your other sentiments - if UPC had not taken over the cable system from NTL does anyone think there would have been the huge investment and upgrade that there has been ?!

Virgin might have done something with the company? Not really sure how Virgin Cable is doing in the North or Britain.

veronica

I rejoined UPC last year and was surprised with the service had left them to go to Sky about 12 years ago.I kept Sky but have UPC tv/Broadband/phone. If I had to rate the service in the last year I would give it 7/10 loss of 3 points would be for TV service not up with sky by a long shot. Phone had problem twice but was resolved after long periods through to customer service which is very very......... poor and they need to get sorted no point in pouring millions into their service if they do not have a customer service dept u can get direct contact with! But their Broadband excellent! Also like text service to remind u your bill is due and recent info on ITV channels but website does not keep up with this service as there is no info on these extra channels yet.It will take time but if they keep going the way they are then they could over take SKY but must get above sorted and listen to customers!

Mossy Monk

Infoanon wrote: »

.Sky also make use of the 'red' button.

Its an area UPC will have to resolve sooner rather then later if they want to get customers to stop switching to Sky.

Even if they do sort out interactivity there is nothing to say that Sky will provide them with any of their red button programming.

Elmo

veronica wrote: »

Phone had problem twice but was resolved after long periods through to customer service which is very very......... poor and they need to get sorted no point in pouring millions into their service if they do not have a customer service dept u can get direct contact with!

I really don't understand why customer services call centres don't allow their Representatives use email facilities. For customers in work situations it is an easier method to reach a company and they don't expect an instant reply nor do they expect that they should have to hold on the line for 20mins before a CSR hears them. I know somebody here is about to tell me how email just isn't an option in a call centre (bull****).

OTT. Apologies but the thread seems to be meandering from ITV channels to customer service to broadband to infrastructure.

Cupart

NU8 wrote: »

Does anyone know if there will be any more HD channels added soon? Maybe ITV or FX HD?

I would not hope ITV HD as they currently only broadcast around 1-2 hours per day in the evening The rest of the time there is only a ident telling us that this channel is not broadcasting at the moment :rolleyes:

Last thing I saw on ITV HD (on a SKY HD box) was the Queens yearly christmas speech and it lasted 10 min... Same as BBC HD and Sky News SD.

Mossy Monk

ITVHD is not an actual channel though. It's intended audience is Freesat viewers via the red button. It is handy for football games as the picture on the SD ITV is pure ****.

Elmo

Mossy Monk wrote: »

ITVHD is not an actual channel though. It's intended audience is Freesat viewers via the red button. It is handy for football games as the picture on the SD ITV is pure ****.

Can you watch HD channels on a SD TV?

If you can why don't they just get rid of the SD channels and replace with HD?

I know it is also to do with space available but by removing the SD channel you do create space and you could easily let go of the +1s, teleshopping etc

deanh

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Even if they do sort out interactivity there is nothing to say that Sky will provide them with any of their red button programming.

Quite true. Sky will not provide red button services to virgin media in the U.K.

irlrobins

DingDong wrote: »

January from what I heard.

January 4th is what I heard. So I expect their website will start advertising it from Monday.

Infoanon

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Even if they do sort out interactivity there is nothing to say that Sky will provide them with any of their red button programming.

I agree that is highly possible/probable re Sky ! BUT that would not stop the BBC interactive services being added which I think many viewers would be very happy with, especially with sport events commencing again

Mossy Monk

Elmo wrote: »

Can you watch HD channels on a SD TV?

If you can why don't they just get rid of the SD channels and replace with HD?

I know it is also to do with space available but by removing the SD channel you do create space and you could easily let go of the +1s, teleshopping etc

You can watch HD channels on a SD television but to do so you would need a HD box. This is an added expense that people without a HDTV wont bother with.

As most people are now getting PVR's I do wonder how much longer +1 channels have left. I feel they are a massive waste of space.

Freddie59

Mossy Monk wrote: »

As most people are now getting PVR's I do wonder how much longer +1 channels have left. I feel they are a massive waste of space.

Just made the very same point on the Sky v NTL thread. They're becoming a moot point, especially in homes where there are multiple PVRs (we have two NTL ones).

who is this

Elmo wrote: »

If you can why don't they just get rid of the SD channels and replace with HD?

I know it is also to do with space available but by removing the SD channel you do create space and you could easily let go of the +1s, teleshopping etc

Agreed on +1s but at the moment many HD channels are not HD versions of other channels. For example, Discovery HD is not a HD version of Discovery - it is a HD channel from Discovery (i.e. the timetables arent the same)

bob11

From today's Irish Times :

UPC has paid €10 million to secure content two-year deals with American premium sports channel ESPN and with Britain’s ITV, in a move that will add nine channels to its digital TV packages. Details of these deals will be unveiled today.

The company is also planning a €10 million marketing blitz in the first six months of 2010 to try and win new customers to its TV services.

Under the deal with ESPN, UPC will carry the pay sports channel for free on its ‘‘max’’ and ‘‘select’’ digital packages along with ESPN America. This will give UPC subscribers access at no extra charge to ESPN’s 46 live English Premier League football matches on Saturdays, rights that the American company won after Setanta Sports folded in Britain earlier this year.

ESPN also carries FA Cup football and Guinness premiership rugby.

ESPN normally costs €12 a month and so will save UPC customers €144 a year in comparison to a Sky subscription. UPC already offers Setanta Sports Ireland for free on its digital services so its customers will get access to more than 50 live FA premier league games at no extra cost. This is likely to prove very attractive to sports fans.

In addition, UPC is planning to reduce the cost of subscribing to Sky Sports through its cable platform by about €2 a month. This will make it cheaper than taking Sky directly from the satellite provider.

“We are really trying to position ourselves as the home of live sport at a good price point,” said Mark Coan, UPC’s sales and marketing director.

“It’s a big investment for us and ESPN is the key one.”

Mr Coan estimates that consumers will save €300 on their sports subscriptions by switching to UPC.

UPC has also agreed a deal to carry ITV2, 3 and 4 on its digital service. These channels are not currently available to Sky subscribers in Ireland. ITV2 is the most popular digital channel in Britain.

These moves by UPC are aimed at stemming the flow of TV customers to Sky in recent years. At the end of September 2009, UPC had 509,900 TV customers. This was 8,800 fewer than at the end of June 2009.

By contrast, Sky has made great strides over the past five years and currently has more than 600,000 subscribers in Ireland, overtaking UPC as the biggest provider of pay TV here.

Sky’s success of late has been based around cut-price offers for its set-top boxes and high-definition services. The Rupert Murdoch-controlled broadcaster plans to launch 3D in Ireland this year.

UPC’s marketing campaign will kick off shortly, with a high-profile sports personality leading the charge.

Mr Coan said UPC would be focusing heavily on rural areas, where it has lost a large number of customers to Sky in recent years.

dunworth1

ITV2,ITV3 and ITV4 have been added here in limerick

ITV2 = 119

ITV3 = 121

ITV4 = 136

yom 1

Having Espn for free is a very nice addition to the Max and Select packages

Alun

dunworth1 wrote: »

ITV2,ITV3 and ITV4 have been added here in limerick

ITV2 = 119
ITV3 = 121
ITV4 =

Same here in Bray ... ITV4 is on 136. Can't say the schedule exactly inspires me and I couldn't give a toss about ESPN either to be honest. No need to be adding anything to my favourites list any time soon anyway.

Freddie59

dunworth1 wrote: »

ITV2,ITV3 and ITV4 have been added here in limerick

ITV2 = 119

ITV3 = 121

ITV4 = 136

And in Waterford.:)

Elmo

bob11 wrote: »

UPC already offers Setanta Sports Ireland for free on its digital services so its customers will get access to more than 50 live FA premier league games at no extra cost.

Doesn't Setanta Sports 1 show most of the FA premier league games?

Same here in Bray ... ITV4 is on 136. Can't say the schedule exactly inspires me and I couldn't give a toss about ESPN either to be honest. No need to be adding anything to my favourites list any time soon anyway.

Have to agree nothing on ITV really impresses me, TV3 must be disappointed with these additions.

paulm17781

Is FX there yet?