UPC losing itv2 etc, Sky getting them?

JohnDigital

According to the article below UPC loose itv2/3/4 tonight and another operator possibly Sky may have signed a carriage agreement for Ireland.

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/bad-news-for-fans-of-poirot-upc-is-losing-itv2-3-and-4-113698-Apr2011/

12 element

Interesting, might be better suited to the Cable, MMDS & IPTV Forum though.

zbluebirdz

UPC is cable - not satellite ...

This is most likely not going to affect satellite users - unless ITV decide that they want ITV2/3/4 to be pay/subscription channels. HD versions of ITV2/3/4 are already pay/subscription channels.

clln

Might it be that the Journal released its article a few hours before it would have got the April 1st date stamp?

channelsurfer2

probaly itv2hd etc. as they are exclusive to skyhd in the uk.. but as for the rights well tv3 has the irish rights to all itv original programming in ireland and has been known to very forcefully protect that right..thats why utv is not on sky ireland...

hdowney

possibly, possibly not. if you go on to upc website and look at the list of channels available with the packages itvs 234 are not there anymore when they used to be there. neither is channel4+1 which also used to be there

ftakeith

JohnDigital wrote: »

According to the article below UPC loose itv2/3/4 tonight and another operator possibly Sky may have signed a carriage agreement for Ireland.

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/bad-news-for-fans-of-poirot-upc-is-losing-itv2-3-and-4-113698-Apr2011/

yes he is right

check www.upc.ie, click on television, the channels are gone

freesat is getting better than upc

Minstrel27

ftakeith wrote: »

freesat is getting better than upc

Hardly.

clln

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

probaly itv2hd etc. as they are exclusive to skyhd in the uk.. but as for the rights well tv3 has the irish rights to all itv original programming in ireland and has been known to very forcefully protect that right..thats why utv is not on sky ireland...

If it is not a joke by the journal,UPC would also want to replace them overnight or just lose more customers.

Bravo and its +gone as well as Channel 1 with no replacements,they would be really pushing it unless they hope after the upgrade is complete to concentrate on BB+Phone.?

Is it possible they have given up on beating Sky for TV and HD in Ireland?

nothing on their website or info channel about this, not that it would stop UPC doing what they want.

hdowney

i got fed some 'different info' when i enquired as to why no itv234 the other day to a upc rep. he said it was because of where i live and the manner in which the upc product would be delivered to my house that those channels wouldn't be available. read into that what you will.....

Cantona's Collars

Gone from their website alright,bit cheeky of them classing RTE2's kids programmes as a separate channel aswell as TG4's plus I didn't know EWTN was a documentary channel:rolleyes:

UPC's flagship product is it's broadband service,they can't compete with Sky when it comes to tv.

Kristopherus

hdowney wrote: »

i got fed some 'different info' when i enquired as to why no itv234 the other day to a upc rep. he said it was because of where i live and the manner in which the upc product would be delivered to my house that those channels wouldn't be available. read into that what you will.....

If you are getting your signal via mmds, then you wont get Itv 3 & 4, only Itv 2.

Why would these channels be going to Sky? They are already FTA on the Sky platform.

MartyM

zerks wrote: »

UPC's flagship product is it's broadband service,they can't compete with Sky when it comes to tv.

Someone should tell them that! After completing an on-line order for their broadband and phone I was contacted a few hours later and informed that my total monthly bill would be €7.75 higher than the price quoted BECAUSE I wasnt taking their main product, i.e. TV! :rolleyes:

I cancelled the order on principal!

Kristopherus

Fcuk me. Itv 2 has just frozen in the middle of Batman:mad: Now a black screen.:eek:

clln

ITV 3 just went to a black screen bang on midnight............. ten minutes of a show were remaining..... really bad form by them

Cantona's Collars

Kristopherus wrote: »

Fcuk me. Itv 2 has just frozen in the middle of Batman:mad: Now a black screen.:eek:

Time to get Sky in so.;)

Minstrel27

clln wrote: »

ITV 3 just went to a black screen bang on midnight............. ten minutes of a show were remaining..... really bad form by them

They wouldn't have had a choice but cut it at 12 on the dot.

clln

on screen message now;

UPC is no longer authorised to transmit these Channels as ITV has exclusive rights.................blah blah blah.............

UPC plan to launch new channels shortly

What did UPC only learn of this today????

Yeah right UPC!

Hannibal

Be interesting to see whether Sky get these channels officially as theyre freely available to manual tune, its just a nuisance with no EPG access so its generally out of sight out of mind.
UPC only got these channel last January I think so it seems pretty quick 14/15 months to be losing them again

Kristopherus

zerks wrote: »

Time to get Sky in so.;)

Ditched Sky, the robbin b**tards, 8 months ago. But I get all the Itvs FTA on the Sky box now. Just happened to flick to Itv 2 at 11.55 to see what would happen at midnight.:)

Macy0161

Kristopherus wrote: »

Why would these channels be going to Sky? They are already FTA on the Sky platform.

They could be going on the epg?

JDxtra

A very interesting development and one nobody here expected.

I assume Sky is the “other channel provider”. It’s a real shame for competition though as Sky have will now have a huge amount of exclusive channels and HD content.

UPC only had the channels for a little over a year. Sounds a bit odd for them to be pulled so quickly – presumably short notice was given to UPC or they assumed they could win the battle to keep them.

Let’s see what happens later today when Sky update their EPG (usually between 10am – 11am)…

Macy0161

I believe viewing figures wise (rather than content) ITV2 is doing pretty well in the UK, so I'd assume in Ireland too. However, long term, it might get sky users used to another channel they can get for free.

Cantona's Collars

I wonder how many UPC customers think it's an April Fools joke?

Would be interesting if they do go onto Sky's epg,believe it or not,that has been the main objection for a lot of people to getting Sky.A lot of cable customers are under the impression you can't get ITV on satellite,maybe now they will break out of their bubble and look into satellite tv-be it Sky or Freesat.
As Watty points out,the majority of channels watched are fta on satellite anyway.
UPC TV is very poor value for money and has just gotten worse,what channels are they going to replace the lost ITV's with? Not much else out there that's not tied up in exclusivity deals or worth watching.

channelsurfer2

JDxtra wrote: »

A very interesting development and one nobody here expected.

I assume Sky is the “other channel provider”. It’s a real shame for competition though as Sky have will now have a huge amount of exclusive channels and HD content.

UPC only had the channels for a little over a year. Sounds a bit odd for them to be pulled so quickly – presumably short notice was given to UPC or they assumed they could win the battle to keep them.

Let’s see what happens later today when Sky update their EPG (usually between 10am – 11am)…

my guess is that they will not appear on sky and that tv3 as the rights holders for ireland having paid millions to itv called their bluff and forced them not to renew the contract with UPC.... .anyway fair play to sky if they do appear for their coup..

Cantona's Collars

UPC's announcement.

ITV Channel Update
ITV2, ITV3, & ITV4 channels are no longer available



Unfortunately, ITV has withdrawn ITV2, ITV3, & ITV4 from the UPC channel line up, effective from midnight Thursday 31 March 2011 as UPC's carriage agreement with ITV has expired.

ITV was not in a position to renew the current agreement with UPC on any terms. ITV has an exclusive rights arrangement with another Irish channel provider for ITV programming content.

We have tried every effort to keep these channels but unfortunately we have been left with no option but to remove the channels as our contract has expired.

We are very disappointed with this outcome, we recognise that these are popular channels. However many of your favourite ITV programmes will continue to be available on TV3 and 3e. In addition we are planning to launch a number of new channels shortly. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

Note: UTV is not affected by this change.

Here is some further helpful information:

Will these channels be coming back?

No, but we are currently in discussions with a number of other channel providers. We plan to launch a number of new channels very soon.

Will I lose my ITV 2, 3 and 4 Digital+ recordings?

No, you will not lose any of your ITV 2, 3 and 4 Digital+ recordings.

Where can I watch my favourite programmes?

Many of your favourite programmes will continue to be available on UPC and these include the Xtra Factor, American Idol and Britain's got talent on TV3 or 3E. Gossip girl is available on TG4.

Will I lose any more channels?

The removal of ITV 2, 3 and 4 were outside the control of UPC. UPC has no plans to remove any other channels but we are working to replace the ITV channels. We constantly review the channels we offer so we can provide the best quality programmes to our customers.

channelsurfer2

yep... just as I suspected.. tv3 pulled them up enforced their exclusive agreement.

JDxtra

Sounds like TV3 caused it...

JDxtra

If it is TV3, their team of solictors are probably celebrating this morning. They won't rest though - I don't see why they would not now tackle getting UTV off the UPC platform...

Cantona's Collars

Typical TV3,along with this they are causing problems over the provision of Saorview/Saorsat,I watch very little on ITV/TV3 except for some football but it's sad to see one channel holding a veto over others.
Imagine if Sky did something similar-there would be uproar.

Kensington

I only watch Vincent Browne on TV3. Everything else is either rubbish chatshow waffle, sensationalist Low budget "documentaries" or ITV imports.

3e is even worse.
No widescreen signalling, horrendous picture and audio quality and there's an annoying green flicker every two or three minutes.

Get a FTA box or use Other Channels on sky if you want ITV programming that badly. You'll also get BBC's, channel 4's and channel 5 too.

Plumeria

My parents watch ITV3 nearly every day for Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. They'll find out today that it's gone

Is there any other (inexpensive) way for them to access that channel?

Can't think of any other business that can simply take away part of their service with no warning, no partial refund, and no immediate replacement. Amazing really.

mike65

FTA sat all the way, you can pick up a basic set up for under a 100 euro

JohnDigital

So that's the story then, that's a shame, I was hoping that we were in for some extra choice on the sky EPG

12 element

mike65 wrote: »

FTA sat all the way, you can pick up a basic set up for under a 100 euro

You'll get it cheaper than that, especially if you already have the dish up!

mike65

Well obviously!

mightybashful

would this be an excuse to get out of a UPC contract? :mad:

12 element

I doubt it, I'd say they have themselves well covered.

galtee boy

ITV has an exclusive rights arrangement with another Irish channel provider for ITV programming content.

How do we know for certain that it's TV3 and not a deal with Sky to put ITV 2,3 & 4 on the Irish Sky Epg ? "another Irish channel provider" is open to interpretation ! However I suspect if it was Sky, we would see the channels on the Epg today. TV3 do show a bit of ITV2 programming, but I didn't think they showed a lot of ITV 3 & 4 stuff ?

hdowney

zerks wrote: »

Gone from their website alright,bit cheeky of them classing RTE2's kids programmes as a separate channel aswell as TG4's plus I didn't know EWTN was a documentary channel:rolleyes:

UPC's flagship product is it's broadband service,they can't compete with Sky when it comes to tv.

ok so what is EWTN? and for that matter what is that channel in their list that is a diamond with an f in it?!?!? they should just tell you the name of the channel not have you guess.

not that the kiddy channels matter much to me but are you saying that they created two seperate channels that just show the same stuff as rte2 and tg4 are showing at the same time kiddy wise?

hdowney

galtee boy wrote: »

ITV has an exclusive rights arrangement with another Irish channel provider for ITV programming content.

How do we know for certain that it's TV3 and not a deal with Sky to put ITV 2,3 & 4 on the Irish Sky Epg ? "another Irish channel provider" is open to interpretation ! However I suspect if it was Sky, we would see the channels on the Epg today. TV3 do show a bit of ITV2 programming, but I didn't think they showed a lot of ITV 3 & 4 stuff ?

they don't show a lot of itv3&4 stuff, but maybe 3e do - i have never watched that channel! i do feel like it could be tv3, they are trying to take over and be the dominant big boy in the irish market, and buying up the rights to itv programmes deffo helps them. but if they dare try to get utv off irish screens there will be trouble. i mean they show a lot of itv shows alright, but all in the same vain - gameshows and reality telly. they don't show any of itv's crime dramas or anything - no lewis, midsomer murders etc. so if they want to get rid of utv over here they'd wanna start showing more of them type of programmes too. people are not all one dimensional muppets.

but it could also be sky. it could be a way for them to earn more revenue, get more customers etc. cos i am sure if the itvs went onto the irish epg as proper channels they would try and find a way to block them coming in through fta - it is the sky way after all. so that way the only way you could get them in is through a sky subscription. wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they tried something sneaky like that. as to whether it would work?...

Dman001

Is it even possible for a Station like TV3 to take channels off UPC because they obtained exclusive rights to their shows? To me it sounds like Sky obtained the rights to have the ITVs exclusively in Ireland.

galtee boy

Anyone on these boards that has inside contact in UPC ? that could "discreetly" find out if it is SKY or TV3 that's behind this ? surely it will come out sooner or later anyway ?

Cantona's Collars

hdowney wrote: »

ok so what is EWTN? and for that matter what is that channel in their list that is a diamond with an f in it?!?!? they should just tell you the name of the channel not have you guess.

not that the kiddy channels matter much to me but are you saying that they created two seperate channels that just show the same stuff as rte2 and tg4 are showing at the same time kiddy wise?

EWTN is a Catholic Religious channel.The one with the diamond is Fashion Tv.Who really wants those channels?

They advertise the kids programming shown in the mornings as separate channels-a bit like advertising a movie being shown on RTE as a movie channel or the GAA coverage as a sports channel.

It seems TV3 are to blame for the loss of ITV2 etc,they have no control over satellite so anyone with the channels on satellite are safe.

liamtech

I can definitely see some disgruntled UPC customers bailing over to Freesat/FTA-28.2 because of this - after all there's no ITV2/3/4 on sky!

I would say Decent satellite installers should have a ITV2 lovers deal for these customers -

Dman001

zerks wrote: »

EWTN is a Catholic Religious channel.The one with the diamond is Fashion Tv.Who really wants those channels?

They advertise the kids programming shown in the mornings as separate channels-a bit like advertising a movie being shown on RTE as a movie channel or the GAA coverage as a sports channel.

It seems TV3 are to blame for the loss of ITV2 etc,they have no control over satellite so anyone with the channels on satellite are safe.

But I can't see what control they would have over a Cable Provider like UPC? Surely if it was TV3 that took the ITVs off UPC, there would be some Competition Law to prevent them? But I can see how Sky could have reached an agreement with ITV to show them exclusively in Ireland.

Cantona's Collars

Dman001 wrote: »

But I can't see what control they would have over a Cable Provider like UPC? Surely if it was TV3 that took the ITVs off UPC, there would be some Competition Law to prevent them? But I can see how Sky could have reached an agreement with ITV to show them exclusively in Ireland.

Sky don't show them in Ireland (not officially anyway) They are not on Sky's epg. They are available fta on satellite and Sky are required by law to allow people tune in fta channels on their boxes so that's how Sky customers get them.
Any satellite receiver can pick them up so TV3 have no control over them.Plus many along the East coast of Ireland can pick them up via the UK freeview service simply by using an aerial pointed at Wales etc. and a freeview box.Again TV3 have no control over that.

Mr McBoatface

Dman001 wrote: »

But I can't see what control they would have over a Cable Provider like UPC? Surely if it was TV3 that took the ITVs off UPC, there would be some Competition Law to prevent them? But I can see how Sky could have reached an agreement with ITV to show them exclusively in Ireland.

I imagine it's simple enough, for example :- TV3 has the right to broadcast X-Factor and the Xtra-Factor in Ireland ... they have paid for these rights. These shows are shown on ITV so by UPC broadcasting ITV it is in affect breaking an exculsivity right TV3 has paid for. I'd imagine TV3 where threatening to sue UPC and UPC bottled it.

Dman001

zerks wrote: »

Sky don't show them in Ireland (not officially anyway) They are not on Sky's epg. They are available fta on satellite and Sky are required by law to allow people tune in fta channels on their boxes so that's how Sky customers get them.
Any satellite receiver can pick them up so TV3 have no control over them.Plus many along the East coast of Ireland can pick them up via the UK freeview service simply by using an aerial pointed at Wales etc. and a freeview box.Again TV3 have no control over that.

I am aware the channels are FTA, but there is nothing stopping Sky approaching ITV and reaching an exclusivity agreement with ITV to show the channels in Ireland through their EPG to give us full Planner and Sky+ functions, along with HD channels. UPC would then lose out on the channels.

I'm just don't think that TV3 could force UPC to take the ITV channels off air by simply obtaining the rights to the ITV shows. As mentioned before, ITV 3/4 show alot of older shows that TV3 don't show or have ever shown. It is possible that TV3 got the rights to these shows but I just can't see them going to the effort and cost just to get the ITV channels off UPC, especially when the ITV channels are FTA and UPC has a significantly smaller number of customers in comparison to Sky (who can pick up the channels for free).

Macy0161

jobyrne30 wrote: »

These shows are shown on ITV so by UPC broadcasting ITV it is in affect breaking an exculsivity right TV3 has paid for. I'd imagine TV3 where threatening to sue UPC and UPC bottled it.

IF that is the issue, TV3's problem would be with ITV, not UPC (assuming UPC were paying to broadcast the ITV suite of channels).

whitealbum

Even if TV3 has exclusive rights to XFactor etc, why didnt TV3 get UTV removed from UPC's EPG?? If any channel was causing TV3's viewership to drop it would have been UTV.

ITV2/3/4 don't really cause any problems for TV3 with the exception of Xtra Factor nonsense etc etc

I wonder has Sky something up's it sleeve here? Also, did anyone notice on the Sky Adverts recently for their HD Service they said "more HD channels were coming very soon"....could it mean Sky have the rights to the HD variants of ITV 2/3/4??