Two new HD channels on the way

Ranicand

Taken from the UPC site.



http://www.upc.ie/television/maxhdplus/

celticbest

I see that these are down are being part of the Digital Max HD Pack, let's hope you do not have to pay any extra for them....

surf board

Pretty poor offering of channels when we were all told the sky line up was coming months ago. No real surprise with MGM HD as they own a percentage of it. If Setanta HD was offered at the lower tiers it would be a little bit of incentive to switch. Come on UPC, wheres BBC1 HD etc for us?

bob11

Good News !!

According to their website Setanta Sports HD is also "Coming Soon" on the value pack ..


http://www.upc.ie/television/valuehdplus/

JDxtra

They are going for "exclusives" that won't be available anywhere else (same tactic as what Sky does). Customers would probably prefer to see UTV HD / BBC1 HD instead though.

Royale with Cheese

Sweet. Got HD in yesterday as it didn't really cost any more than we were originally paying, the €30 for the box aside. I'm a big sports fan and while some of the other HD content is nice, HD sports is all I really care about. Eurosport HD would have very little I'm interested in.

ESPN HD is grand but they don't have enough premier league for my liking. ESPN coupled with setanta would be a decent amount of HD games, although I'd obviously love to see Sky Sports HD added sometime in the next decade.

0ph0rce0

Pretty poor TBH thats what we were told to wait for in november???

Fair enough i aint to bothered by not havin sky HD, But is that really the best they can come up with? We'll have to wait another year to get 1 or 2 more HD channels then.

This setanta HD s**t?? Does it say if its setanta ireland or sports 1, cause there aint no way i'm payin thier sub to get the crap they show on thier subscription channel.

JDxtra wrote: »

They are going for "exclusives" that won't be available anywhere else (same tactic as what Sky does). Customers would probably prefer to see UTV HD / BBC1 HD instead though.

Exclusives!!! Really, there aint much they can get now thats not already out on other platforms!!

I'm sure setanta HD will be on sky the same time.

surf board

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

Pretty poor TBH thats what we were told to wait for in november???

Fair enough i aint to bothered by not havin sky HD, But is that really the best they can come up with? We'll have to wait another year to get 1 or 2 more HD channels then.

This setanta HD s**t?? Does it say if its setanta ireland or sports 1, cause there aint no way i'm payin thier sub to get the crap they show on thier subscription channel.



Exclusives!!! Really, there aint much they can get now thats not already out on other platforms!!

I'm sure setanta HD will be on sky the same time.

MGM HD is already on Sky. Has been for a while. I think Setanta HD is an exclusive for UPC for a while & probably won't a simulcast of Setanta Ireland or 1 (open to correction).

djimi

Given that Setanta 1 is a subscription channel I really cant see there being much of its content on Setanta HD if they are giving it away from free on the Max Pack to be fair.

Ranicand

surf board wrote: »

If Setanta HD was offered at the lower tiers it would be a little bit of incentive to switch.

It will be on the Value Pack along with BBC HD so that is two HD channels on the lowest pack.

surf board

Ranicand wrote: »

It will be on the Value Pack along with BBC HD so that is two HD channels on the lowest pack.

Its something at least, even if it is only 2 channels. Move up a tier & you get quite a few HD channels (if you like documentaries that is). Its 2 HD sports channels now that are available at a reasonable price.

mickeyboymel

Piss Poor gesture in my opinion, all of us HD subscribers have waited all year for a misreable offering of two channels, think I will wait for my contract to end next year and then dump UPC altogether for my television in favour of a Freesat HD Combo DVR Box which can also get the new terrestrial services here, and suffer the standalone charge for my broadband and phone. They really are neglecting the television side of their service - perhaps all the energies are going into the IPTV service in 2012?

jack presley

Great. I can watch the previous week's GAA matches and rugby games in HD!

An Tarbh

well given the bizarre choices that RTÉ and TV3 have been making this season we should be getting some good Champions League games at the least, plus their Europa League coverage but the best thing is at least we'll have the Rugby World Cup in HD.

Setanta said they're launching in January, don't know whether we'll have MGMHD before that, not that I'll be watching any of their content if their current schedule is anything to go by.

So no BBC1 HD or C4HD, E4 HD or UTV HD any time soon, not impressed UPC.

Infoanon

2 HD channels - one a very weak movie channel and the other a Sports channel where I suspect that the majority of any HD programming shall already be available on ESPN HD with the exception of any GAA (what rights do Setanta hold ?)

UPC HD does not really offer much compared to Sky unfortunately - and it does not bode well that even the obvious BBC 1 HD and ESPN America HD are not being added anytime soon.

guv999

I cannot believe the MGM HD choice. Its hardly going to attract any new customers or stop people looking to cancel either.
I guess Setanta will at least have some live HD footie, but not a great deal else that would attract people.
I think the 'coming soon' is also a bit premature - Setanta is not launching until January - a good two months off.
UPC would be much better off listening to their customers. Not withstanding the Sky HD content go for BBC1 HD, UTV HD etc.
These would surely be a lot cheaper to get a carriage licence for than Sky HD and be exclusive in that you could record them - something you cant do on Sky
I am also certain that a lot more people call in requesting them than MGM HD

0ph0rce0

guv999 wrote: »

I cannot believe the MGM HD choice. Its hardly going to attract any new customers or stop people looking to cancel either.
I guess Setanta will at least have some live HD footie, but not a great deal else that would attract people.
I think the 'coming soon' is also a bit premature - Setanta is not launching until January - a good two months off.
UPC would be much better off listening to their customers. Not withstanding the Sky HD content go for BBC1 HD, UTV HD etc.
These would surely be a lot cheaper to get a carriage licence for than Sky HD and be exclusive in that you could record them - something you cant do on Sky
I am also certain that a lot more people call in requesting them than MGM HD

I just dont get what they do be doing??

I know they havent got everyone cabled up for HD and its probably not worth thier while ATM to Invest in a ton of HD content.

But if you want to compete in a market surely having some sort of decent alternative to sky means more business..

I think they need to stop investing in thier 100mb broadband plans and get some cash into TV, i know people will say ohh yeah i need 100mb broadband, but really does anyone need that kinda speeds in thier house to watch youtube :P

You hear all the time virgin in court with sky, selling channels to get channels, doing everything they can to get content for tier customers, i know you cant really compare and they aint the same company but at least thier doing somethin about it

celticbest

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

You hear all the time virgin in court with sky, selling channels to get channels, doing everything they can to get content for tier customers, i know you cant really compare and they aint the same company but at least thier doing somethin about it

If anything UPC are a bigger company and should have more power then Virgin yet as you have stated they seem to only be interested in broadband at the moment.

I currently have there HD, Phone & 15mb package.

I have no need for any faster speed on my broadband for the current general web surfing we do at home.

There is however a major need for more HD content, my contract ends in January and I will be strongly thinking about a move to SKY if the UPC offering does not improve it HD line-up and also why can't we access the Red button interactive services on the like of BBC

If UPC were serious about there HD line-up then they could easily add the following channels as they are already available on cable in the UK so there should be no issues with SKY,

BBC 1 HD
Living HD
ITV 1 / UTV HD
SKY 1 HD
Comedy Central HD
Channel 4 HD
E4 HD
Five HD
FX HD
SyFy HD
MTVN HD
Film 4 HD

Kensington

celticbest wrote: »

There is however a major need for more HD content, my contract ends in January and I will be strongly thinking about a move to SKY if the UPC offering does not improve it HD line-up and also why can't we access the Red button interactive services on the like of BBC

If UPC were serious about there HD line-up then they could easily add the following channels as they are already available on cable in the UK so there should be no issues with SKY,

BBC 1 HD
Living HD
ITV 1 / UTV HD
SKY 1 HD
Comedy Central HD
Channel 4 HD
E4 HD
Five HD
FX HD
SyFy HD
MTVN HD
Film 4 HD

I don't think they have the space to add a load of HD channels at the moment or even regular non-HD channels. The analogue channels take up a good bit of the spectrum.

djimi

To be fair to UPC, if it was was easy as just adding the channels people are mentioning to their service then Im sure they would have done by now. Surely they would be looking to have the strongest HD package they can possibly have.

I could be wrong but Id be very surprised if there isnt some compelling reason why they havent added these supposedly "easily" added channels...

rebeve

Must agree that the tv package is poor. I have one freesat HD box , I will probably get another one ,and dump the tv part of my upc package. No BBC HD is the last straw for me.

Infoanon

Kensington wrote: »

I don't think they have the space to add a load of HD channels at the moment or even regular non-HD channels. The analogue channels take up a good bit of the spectrum.

There is space to add additional channels - I think its a lot more to do with the potential return on adding extra HD channels or SD channels Vs the cost of providing the services .

As it is HD has limited availability and is not yet a "must have" - article on Irish Times (found elsewhere on this forum) is a long the same lines.

Adding weak channels though is probably worse then adding none especially in the week BBC 1 HD launches and does not appear on UPC......

0ph0rce0

i see these 2 channels have been removed from the site in the little coming soon section?

Have they scrapped that idea already :rolleyes:

Ranicand

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

i see these 2 channels have been removed from the site in the little coming soon section?

Have they scrapped that idea already :rolleyes:

Still there.http://www.upc.ie/television/selectextrahdplus/

Mountjoy Mugger

Ranicand wrote: »

Still there.http://www.upc.ie/television/selectextrahdplus/

Also listed under http://www.upc.ie/television/valuehdplus/

Quite interesting that they're adding two one more HD channel to the Value pack, if that is indeed what's intended.

D'uh you've almost made my post irrelevant.

It's a shame that there's nothing else for the max viewer...

Ranicand

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

Also listed under http://www.upc.ie/television/valuehdplus/

Quite interesting that they're adding two more HD channels to the Value pack, if that is indeed what's intended.

Look again only one being added to the Value Pack not two.
Only Satanta on the Value MGM HD on Select and up.

celticbest

Ranicand wrote: »

Look again only one being added to the Value Pack not two.
Only Satanta on the Value MGM HD on Select and up.

Great to see that there is no extra subscription charges for Satanta HD, can now look forward to every match in HD at next years Rugby World Cup....

mgsrocks

celticbest wrote: »

Great to see that there is no extra subscription charges for Satanta HD, can now look forward to every match in HD at next years Rugby World Cup....

Have the tv rights to the rwc been announced? I cant find any info on who will be showing it.

celticbest

mgsrocks wrote: »

Have the tv rights to the rwc been announced? I cant find any info on who will be showing it.

It's on the Setanta website,


http://www.setanta.com/ie/Customer-Info-Articles/SETANTA-BECOMES-FIRST-IRISH-CHANNEL-TO-GO-HD/gnid-77051/

SETANTA BECOMES FIRST IRISH CHANNEL TO GO HD

Setanta Ireland has announced that it will become Ireland’s first indigenous channel to broadcast in High Definition. The Setanta HD channel will launch by Jan 2011. Initially the channel will be available on UPC’s cable platform with a launch on satellite at a later date.


Michael O’Rourke, Co-founder and CEO of Setanta Sports, said “High Definition channels have become established over the past couple of years and HD is rapidly becoming the standard in sports broadcasting. We are delighted to be the first Irish channel to make the move to HD. Sports content shows off HD at its best. In 2011 our HD viewers will be able to see their favorite football teams in the Barclays Premier League, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League. Plus the pinnacle of Setanta’s 2011 rugby coverage will be the Rugby World Cup where we will be the only Irish broadcaster to show all 48 games live in High Definition.”


Other HD content that will be shown includes French Top 14 Rugby, Serie A from Italy, Open Championship Golf and many magazine sports shows. Also, Irish national and domestic sports action will be shown in HD for the first time. O’Rourke goes on to say “We are thrilled to be able to broadcast Irish sport in HD. This will include the 2011 Allianz National League GAA Football and Hurling as well as domestic soccer action including the Setanta sports cup. It is important to thank UPC for providing us with a platform to launch the HD channel. Their support has meant that we can launch the HD channel earlier than expected and it will be a great addition to their existing HD channels.”


Robert Dunn, CEO of UPC added: "We’re delighted that Setanta will be showcasing their first HD transmission across our digital platforms and UPC customers will be the first in Ireland to experience this from 2011. This partnership underlines our commitment in using cutting edge technology to help produce and distribute outstanding content and the HD format is adding a new dimension to home entertainment for our customer base.”


The launch took place at the new Convention Centre Dublin, Wednesday September 15th. At the event Setanta also confirmed the launch of a new App for iPhone and a ‘Setanta Goals’ service for other mobile phones and blackberrys. The main feature of both services is that subscribers will receive instant alerts each time there is a goal in their team’s game. This alert will open up a video of the goal within minutes of it being scored. The alerts will cover all 380 Barclays Premier League games. The Setanta iPhone App also allows users to watch the Setanta Ireland and the Setanta Sports 1 channels live on their iPhone and it delivers the latest sports news stories from home and abroad. . The App will be available on a monthly subscription basis through iTunes. A version for Android phones will follow. The ‘Setanta Goals’ service for mobile phones and blackberrys will have goal alerts and videos as well highlights for a weekly subscription fee. Both services will be available from October.

paddy147

Ranicand wrote: »

Taken from the UPC site.



http://www.upc.ie/television/maxhdplus/

2 more complete and utter shyte channels then.

What ever next arabic TV all in arabic??

Oh wait,we have that allready.:rolleyes:

djimi

Setanta HD would have been useful a couple of years ago when they had the PL games. In fact, if they had gotten the finger out that season and brought out a HD channel they might have actually survived.

celticbest

djimi wrote: »

Setanta HD would have been useful a couple of years ago when they had the PL games. In fact, if they had gotten the finger out that season and brought out a HD channel they might have actually survived.

Setanta still has a 3 o'Clock game on Saturdays

djimi

Not as many games as they had originally tho. As far as I can gather Setanta in the UK went belly under (which is why most of the Setanta channels are gone); whats left is the Irish Setanta which only provides Setanta Ireland and Setanta 1. From speaking with folk in the UK the general feeling I got was that if Setanta had had HD from the start then they might have been taken more seriously and might have survived over there.

celticbest

Long time with no post on this thread & still no sign of the 'Coming Soon' MGM HD channel.........

xtal191

Knowing UPC it will never come!

guv999

Actually mailed them about this the other day. They called me back and I was advised the following when they called me back:

We do not know when MGM HD will be launching - they seemed very surprised when I advised it had been 'coming soon' on the website since November.

Aido_b23

I personally think the Setanta HD is crap compared with EPSN HD, there must be a resolution difference. also seems more blurred and not as sharp. it's a country mile better than the SD version but that was pure crap anyway.

forzacalcio

Yeah ESPN HD is class, especially for the NHL, the difference is being able to see the puck with an untrained eye! Eurosport HD blasts them both out of the water though, amazing quality!