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

kida · 04-01-2010 05:50PM

might contemplate Setanta at 10 especially with ESPN now free

decies · 04-01-2010 06:09PM

decies wrote: »

Am in waterford with cable digital max ,digital sports and setanta premium pack,will i get espn and espn america for free now.At the moment espn classic not coming through.Thanks

Was on to dublin girl upc just 5 mins ago she says it will be end of month before espn is added on

everdead.ie · 04-01-2010 06:18PM

I'm a bit confused does anyone know if the skysports is free for the first 2 months thus instead of the €95 its actually 65 first 2 months or after the first 2 months it goes up to €125(95+30) i was onto a sales person and although he was very confusing he gave me the impression it was the latter but when i rang back they where shut

campo · 04-01-2010 06:32PM

everdead.ie wrote: »

I'm a bit confused does anyone know if the skysports is free for the first 2 months thus instead of the €95 its actually 65 first 2 months or after the first 2 months it goes up to €125(95+30) i was onto a sales person and although he was very confusing he gave me the impression it was the latter but when i rang back they where shut

I presume you are on about Fibre Ultimate it seems to me that it is 65 for 1st 2 months then 95 there after when I spoke to them they basiaclly said the more you have the more you save????

for instance the above is 95e but for an extra 10e you get MRV and 30mb BB

everdead.ie · 04-01-2010 06:37PM

thanks one more question what does mrv mean? Multi room viewing sorry light bulb just went on

Trevor451 · 04-01-2010 07:11PM

Just got itv 2,3,4 now

paulm17781 · 04-01-2010 07:17PM

I have the new channels but so far ITV2 is the only one in the guide. I have the DVR, anyone else having similar?

Kane · 04-01-2010 07:19PM

Trevor451 wrote: »

Just got itv 2,3,4 now

Me too!! Dublin Area.

119 - ITV2
121 - ITV3
136 - ITV4

everdead.ie · 04-01-2010 07:36PM

I have itv 2-4 in Galway too

eoinoc333 · 04-01-2010 07:42PM

Nice one, same for Limerick too.

channelsurfer · 04-01-2010 07:57PM

I note that the 64euro package for new customers will be 74euro for existing analogue customers wanting to upgrade !!! now why on earth would that encourage you to upgrade.... it would more likely encourage you to ring up and cancel unless they offered you the new price. another thing too is do they guarantee it will be 64 euro or is it only a 12 month offer and then you pay 74 euro after that? the small print is the key word.....

coylemj · 04-01-2010 08:26PM

paulm17781 wrote: »

I have the new channels but so far ITV2 is the only one in the guide. I have the DVR, anyone else having similar?

Have ITV2, 3 and 4 as per Kane's channel layout above, I'm on the southside of Dublin and all three channels are in the guide.

For someone on the Value pack with a Digital+ box (no HD in my area yet), are there any more new channels coming down the line?

TV3 won't be too pleased that NTL are giving ITV2 for free as this channel was used for the likes of the X-Factor follow-up program which you could only view on TV3 if you lived in Ireland and didn't have Freeview or Freeesat. Would NTL be giving these channels away for free all of a sudden as a response to losing customers to Freesat?

dubber · 04-01-2010 08:52PM

campo wrote: »

I presume you are on about Fibre Ultimate it seems to me that it is 65 for 1st 2 months then 95 there after when I spoke to them they basiaclly said the more you have the more you save????

for instance the above is 95e but for an extra 10e you get MRV and 30mb BB

or for €1 more you can lose the phone:

http://www.upc.ie/tvandbroadband/option2/

it would be good if someone willing to ring up could confirm what the deal is!

icdg · 04-01-2010 09:08PM

Once again a number of merged threads into this one, please use this thread to talk about today's changes to Chorus NTL's channel line-up and packages.

The ESPN deal is a major surprise and was not flagged at all in advance. ESPN's still a new channel (only four months old) and it is surprising that it is abandoning its premium status, at least on Chorus NTL. It will (along with Setanta Ireland) be a major draw for the platform. Paradoxically it may actually slightly improve Setanta Sports 1's subscriber numbers (despite the fact that with ESPN covering some of the same material, such as the Top 14, it looks like worse value than ever) since those hardcore sports fans who simply couldn't afford to subscribe to three sports packages and chose ESPN over Setanta might revert to Setanta. ESPN America is a pleasant bonus and good news for those of us that prefer their sports with lots of commercial breaks...

Its' also good news to see ITV2 and ITV4 join Chorus NTL and welcome back ITV3 (nee Granada Plus) after its much-missed (and little-explained) sudden absence. TV3 are the main casualties since it no longer has the monopoly on reality-TV scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel shows like The Xtra Factor and Britain's Got More Talent, which are on ITV2, though its EPG position should ensure viewer loss is minimal. ITV3 and ITV4 are less of a threat since they focus more on classic shows and imports respectively. If, as reported, Watch also arrives soon, it should compliment ITV3 nicely and fill a big hole left since UK Gold, sorry, Go On Laugh Daily, dropped its drama programmes to focus on comedy.

The UPC website is a bit of a worry alright. It doesn't make the changes all too clear and leaves you under the impression that you HAVE to take the PVR rather than it being an option extra. Of course, this is UPC's intention but many people may not want to pay the extra for the PVR and it should be clear that's its an opt-in rather than opt-out. Also it doesn't make clear whether or not the "Sports Fan" and "Family Sports Packs" actually include Sky Sports or whether its just free for the first two months and you have to pay extra afterwards. Very badly worded IMO.

"The ntl brand is used under licence from Virgin Media Limited. "
Four years its taken UPC to admit what we already knew. I think they've missed a golden opportunity here, with the move of ESPN to the basic tier, the other new channels added, and the launch of Fibre Power, to move to the UPC brand. "Chorus NTL A UPC Company" is a mouthful and a branding disaster. I don't know what they are paying Virgin for their continued use of the NTL name but I think they've done enough at this stage to finally become UPC Ireland, even in name. The UPC brand is out there - anyone that has a recent digibox has the UPC logo (even if its the old uppercase one) and EPG. So why have they not yet moved???

coylemj · 04-01-2010 09:18PM

icdg wrote: »

.... with the move of ESPN to the basic tier...

I have the basic UPC Digital+ package (Value) but can't see ESPN, it's on 407 in Dublin but I can't view it - is it supposed to be visible to people on the basic package? It's not listed on the Value pack bundle of icons on the UPC website today, I can see the ITV2/3/4 icons ok with 'new' flags on them but there's no sign of ESPN.

http://www.upc.ie/tv/valuepack/

DingDong · 04-01-2010 09:22PM

coylemj wrote: »

I have the basic UPC Digital+ package (Value) but can't see ESPN, it's on 407 in Dublin but I can't view it - is it supposed to be visible to people on the basic package? It's not listed on the Value pack bundle of icons on the UPC website today, I can see the ITV2/3/4 icons ok with 'new' flags on them but there's no sign of ESPN.

http://www.upc.ie/tv/valuepack/

You need to be on the new select extra or the max pack to get ESPN free.

Mossy Monk · 04-01-2010 09:42PM

icdg wrote: »

TV3 are the main casualties since it no longer has the monopoly on reality-TV scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel shows like The Xtra Factor and Britain's Got More Talent

Could it not be possible that programmes like this will be blocked on UPC much like how some shows are blocked on RTÉ through Virgin Media in Northern Ireland.

devnull · 04-01-2010 09:47PM

I think the packages must include Sky Sports after the two months are up for thie listed price, because if you look at the Matrix

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

Only the first two packs packs mention SKy Sports, the other three on their own pages mention Sky Sports free for two months also, but o nthe matrix they are not included, so it seems to suggest if it is not listed as included you will get it free for two months then have to pay, but as it is listed on the first three you will not have to pay extra and instead the first two months are discounted?

This would also I presume apply to the 95 euro pack as well if this is how they are doing it, as SKy Sports is listed in it.

icdg · 04-01-2010 09:47PM

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Could it not be possible that programmes like this will be blocked on UPC much like how some shows are blocked on RTÉ through Virgin Media in Northern Ireland.

Quiet possibly. However, in the 40-odd year history of cable television in the Republic of Ireland, we have yet to see blocking of any programming (unlike on Sky). It would be a shame if it were to start now.

mike65 · 04-01-2010 09:55PM

Interesting! I gave up NTL for the freebie wonders of an FTV set up cos UPC were charging too much for too little and I was broke. I still am but if my cashstream should recover it could be a UPC three in one package rather than Sky that I go for.

patrickmooney · 04-01-2010 10:07PM

ESPN wasn't appearing for me, even though I'm on MAX and Sky Sports. It's just been fixed. I was told Watch, Yesterday and FX will be joining soon...

veronica · 04-01-2010 10:19PM

I am on the value pack if i upgrade to max+ am i right that this would be an extra €9 per month?Also have old cable in front room and according to today's info free installation if cable is available about 20 yrs old would it do?

fulhamfanincork · 04-01-2010 10:40PM

When will it be unlocked does anyone know?

I have the sky sports pack.

Rosser · 04-01-2010 11:00PM

patrickmooney wrote: »

ESPN wasn't appearing for me, even though I'm on MAX and Sky Sports. It's just been fixed. I was told Watch, Yesterday and FX will be joining soon...

any mention of sky arts? That's the one I'm really hoping for, they show some real gems and it's the only one I miss from my days as a sky subscriber

patrickmooney · 04-01-2010 11:17PM

Rosser wrote: »

any mention of sky arts? That's the one I'm really hoping for, they show some real gems and it's the only one I miss from my days as a sky subscriber

That wasn't on the list I was read out....

Rosser · 04-01-2010 11:22PM

patrickmooney wrote: »

That wasn't on the list I was read out....

that is why I asked, other people have mentioned that it was to be added....

whackball · 04-01-2010 11:31PM

hey all,

not sure if of any interest but here is what i did the week before Xmas.

I had basic €25 per month dvr pack and 10mb bb from UPC. I called and told them I wished to cancel the TV as I was considering getting SKY. They asked me what I wanted from sky and I said full pack (sports/movies etc) and also 4 x multiroom.

Sales girl said I could have it for €350 install or €140 for a self install plus a monthly fee of around €117. I told them to cut me off and they them asked would I speak to their customer loyalty team(didn`t know they had one) which I did.

After no fight on my side they waivered the install fee and for €103 a month I get 1 x HD pack dvr with everything inc ESPN and 4 x multiroom standard boxes.

also get 15mb bb and unlimited phone for €47, which my company pay for

anyway just thought i`d post it for the fact of now knowing UPC have a customer loyalty team

Infoanon · 05-01-2010 12:03AM

icdg wrote: »

The ESPN deal is a major surprise and was not flagged at all in advance. ESPN's still a new channel (only four months old) and it is surprising that it is abandoning its premium status, at least on Chorus NTL.

Its a good move by ESPN - next year 2010/11 they only have 23 premiership games so they would have expected a big drop in premium subscribers - now they have received a guaranteed sum from UPC which leaves all parties happy.

I believe this is similar to ESPN rollout in the US where the channel is normally a 'max' package but not a premium channel option - maybe someone can confirm.

Will there be an Irish advertisement opt out to follow ??

05-01-2010 12:08AM

Seems UPC are doing everything right at the moment (ok CC is still a disaster lol)
Think they deserve to get rid of the reputation NTL left them with.

Infoanon · 05-01-2010 12:10AM

Firstly I think congratulations are due to UPC for realising that they needed to improve their TV offering and the addition of the ITVs (btw is Men and Motors not ITV5 in all but name??) and the listed but not yet available FX . Watch if made avaialble as expected is also a welcome addition but why was the EPG not cleaned up at the same time ?

The ITV's on 119/121/136 makes no sense and is only equalled by 152+153 for the +1's - where is Watch and FX going to fit in (and Bravo is still in the 500's and reality is 126!)

I would like to see the +1's back beside their main channels , the ITV's together, Comedy 2 beside Comedy 1,removal of buzz/smile etc

As it stands the EPG is a mess - many years ago on this site it was suggested 101-109 Irish Channels, 110-119 UK Channels as in BBC1-4,ITV1-4 and then the non terrestials - Watch,Gold,E4,More 4 etc and many years on ,this line up would make a lot of sense for the 'entertainment' genre

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

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