The Virgin Media Television thread

iseegirls · 17-08-2018 2:55pm

icdg wrote: »

So the terms of TV3’s Heineken Cup deal become clear - they will be showing the same games as Channel 4, with only two of five pool stage games (final weeks fixtures are tba until closer time) involving Irish sides, Munster v Gloucester and Leinster v Tolouse. Maybe it was a take it or leave it affair, but they are now committed to showing three fixtures with no Irish involvement on one of their FTA stations.

Looks like Channel 4 and TV3 have only been given just the 1pm Saturday games, judging by the fixture list announced. What a weird deal. First match on VM1/VM Sports is Bath v Toulouse.

lertsnim · 17-08-2018 6:01pm

So we have another situation where many FTA viewers will be watching the British coverage due to the awful PQ of TV3 on Saorview.

Sam Russell · 17-08-2018 6:50pm

lertsnim wrote: »

So we have another situation where many FTA viewers will be watching the British coverage due to the awful PQ of TV3 on Saorview.

Ch 4 is SD on satellite (Freesat).

flazio · 17-08-2018 6:53pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Ch 4 is SD on satellite (Freesat).

Channel 4 HD is available on Astra (Sky boxes under "other channels")

Tigerandahalf · 17-08-2018 6:53pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Ch 4 is SD on satellite (Freesat).

The HD can be tuned in on the non-freesat section and it is there then. Just a case of switching between freesat and non freesat mode.

Sam Russell · 17-08-2018 7:35pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

The HD can be tuned in on the non-freesat section and it is there then. Just a case of switching between freesat and non freesat mode.

I'll try that.

lertsnim · 17-08-2018 7:42pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Ch 4 is SD on satellite (Freesat).

OK. Channel 4 HD is FTA on channel 16 on my non Freesat box.

icdg · 17-08-2018 8:05pm

They had a row with Freesat. But ultimately Freesat is just an EPG and a common specification for set top boxes, it doesn’t “carry” any channels, and you can still tune Channel 4 HD in.

Meanwhile, confirmation (if any was needed) that these Heineken Cup fixtures will air on Virgin Media One, not exclusively on the Sport channel:
http://www.epcrugby.com/2018/08/17/2018-19-heineken-champions-cup-and-challenge-cup-fixtures-announced/

(Starred bit in italics at the end of the body of the press release)

deezell · 17-08-2018 8:30pm

Expect Virgin to make a serious bid for the Ireland fta matches in the 2019 rugby world cup, Eir sport have the Irish rights but having no fta network in ireland they have to flog them off. Thank b2 cheesus for ITV having the full rights in UK. If Sky or others had nailed it there would have been no fta of matches where the home nations were uninvolved.

Tigerandahalf · 17-08-2018 8:52pm

deezell wrote: »

Expect Virgin to make a serious bid for the Ireland fta matches in the 2019 rugby world cup, Eir sport have the Irish rights but having no fta network in ireland they have to flog them off. Thank b2 cheesus for ITV having the full rights in UK. If Sky or others had nailed it there would have been no fta of matches where the home nations were uninvolved.

I wonder would eir sport ever launch on saorview? Even an SD channel would be very powerful advertising for their product. A lot is often said how BBC3 (which is online only) gets great advertising from the main bbc channels on fta.
Given that eir's competitor Virgin/tv3 is on the platform already it would be interesting especially if the Saorview Connect box offered its full hd channels through a streaming app (if you have its fibre broadband). Would it not make sense for Virgin to also do likewise? Offer their hd channels through streaming?

deezell · 17-08-2018 8:55pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I wonder would eir sport ever launch on saorview? Even an SD channel would be very powerful advertising for their product....

Very valid case alright, the entire fta channel acts as a teaser for their subscription channels. Expect to see a lot of that on VM1

iseegirls · 17-08-2018 10:39pm

The schedule for both VM2 and VM3 are absolutely awful for their relaunch on Thursday 30th August.

VM2 has 3 hours of Jeremy Kyle, 3 hours of Tipping Point, 2 hours of The Chase, 2 repeats of Emmerdale and Coronation Street, 2 episodes of Graham Norton and Steve Wilkos.

VM3 had 4 episodes of Babushka, 2 episodes of Judge Rinder, Jeremy Kyle USA, Poirot, Doc Martin, Prime Suspect US, Heathrow doc.

So much ITV programmes. The soaps have moved over to VM2 and Late News at 10pm. VM3 keeps the Kids shows. VM2 has Celeb Big Brother, while VM3 has Celeb Big Brother BOTS.

There is zero clear identity for either VM2 or VM3 now, and is just a vehicle to show as much ITV repeats as they can.

VM1 stays the same, with Judge Judy back on that day. New series of The Tonight Show, and documentaries from David McWiliams' Back To The Future and Ireland's Deadliest Feud. News at 8 moves Emmerdale to 8:30.

Elmo · 18-08-2018 12:28pm

VM1 stays the same, with Judge Judy back on that day. New series of The Tonight Show, and documentaries from David McWiliams' Back To The Future and Ireland's Deadliest Feud. News at 8 moves Emmerdale to 8:30.

Strange to move Coro St and Emmer repeats back to VM2, perhaps the expect news and those repeats to improve 3e’s audience level, but they then end up depleting be3’s.

Either come to an arrangement with ITV that you get to broadcast Emmers at 7:30 on Thursday night or broadcast the Thursday news at 7:30.

What are they calling the news programme?

lertsnim · 18-08-2018 1:26pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I wonder would eir sport ever launch on saorview?

Only if they do something like Freesports in the UK I'd say.

Elmo · 18-08-2018 2:03pm

lertsnim wrote: »

Only if they do something like Freesports in the UK I'd say.

eir would also want to be in Virgin EPG, madness that they let go of the 107 slot.

Anyone know if Virgin Media THREE is moving?

icdg · 18-08-2018 2:54pm

The whole affair was and still is madness, but eir thought selling broadband subscriptions was more important than selling standalone eir Sports subscriptions.

Elmo · 18-08-2018 4:12pm

icdg wrote: »

The whole affair was and still is madness, but eir thought selling broadband subscriptions was more important than selling standalone eir Sports subscriptions.

As do Virgin Media. I don’t know why Virgin Media want exclusive rights to Virgin Media Sports.

icdg · 18-08-2018 4:22pm

I personally think they’re missing a trick by not at least offering it free to their own phone and broadband customers. When you’re trying to get people to watch a sports channel with no exclusive content you want eyeballs on it. Because at least that way you can sell advertising.

iseegirls · 18-08-2018 6:20pm

Elmo wrote: »

What are they calling the news programme?

The 10pm bulletin on VM2 is called Late News. VM1 just says News At 12.30, News At 5.30 and News At 8. No idea whether that will change name closer to the date.

Elmo · 18-08-2018 6:25pm

iseegirls wrote: »

The 10pm bulletin on VM2 is called Late News. VM1 just says News At 12.30, News At 5.30 and News At 8. No idea whether that will change name closer to the date.

Could they not have called News at 8, Evening News!

dublinman1990 · 19-08-2018 3:13am

I observed a site called Presentation Archive which has all of the pre launch idents for Virgin Media One up there.

All I can say by looking at them is mother of god; the TV3 faces in them look bloody miserable.

Will you lighten up folks. You're presenters at a TV station not at a funeral home.

Elmo · 19-08-2018 10:57am

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I observed a site called Presentation Archive which has all of the pre launch idents for Virgin Media One up there.

All I can say by looking at them is mother of god; the TV3 faces in them look bloody miserable.

Will you lighten up folks. You're presenters at a TV station not at a funeral home.

Pre-launch... I worry these are launch!

Maz2016 · 19-08-2018 1:04pm

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I observed a site called Presentation Archive which has all of the pre launch idents for Virgin Media One up there.

All I can say by looking at them is mother of god; the TV3 faces in them look bloody miserable.

Will you lighten up folks. You're presenters at a TV station not at a funeral home.

The old logos are so much better

Elmo · 19-08-2018 6:54pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59rEOq4jI8c

political analyst · 19-08-2018 7:56pm

TV3/VMI's ratings probably will drop like a stone when Red Rock fans realise it has been axed.

iseegirls · 19-08-2018 9:39pm

political analyst wrote: »

TV3/VMI's ratings probably will drop like a stone when Red Rock fans realise it has been axed.

There's only been 13 episodes in about 16 months of Red Rock on TV3. There is no reliance on Red Rock, and has not been the ratings winner they had hoped - especially when they regained Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

mikeym · 19-08-2018 9:56pm

iseegirls wrote: »

The schedule for both VM2 and VM3 are absolutely awful for their relaunch on Thursday 30th August.

VM2 has 3 hours of Jeremy Kyle, 3 hours of Tipping Point, 2 hours of The Chase, 2 repeats of Emmerdale and Coronation Street, 2 episodes of Graham Norton and Steve Wilkos.

VM3 had 4 episodes of Babushka, 2 episodes of Judge Rinder, Jeremy Kyle USA, Poirot, Doc Martin, Prime Suspect US, Heathrow doc.

So much ITV programmes. The soaps have moved over to VM2 and Late News at 10pm. VM3 keeps the Kids shows. VM2 has Celeb Big Brother, while VM3 has Celeb Big Brother BOTS.

There is zero clear identity for either VM2 or VM3 now, and is just a vehicle to show as much ITV repeats as they can.

VM1 stays the same, with Judge Judy back on that day. New series of The Tonight Show, and documentaries from David McWiliams' Back To The Future and Ireland's Deadliest Feud. News at 8 moves Emmerdale to 8:30.

Jeremy Kyle USA was already shown by UTV Ireland when it launched.

Nobody wants to watch old shows.

Wise up Virgin Media.

iseegirls · 19-08-2018 10:54pm

mikeym wrote: »

Jeremy Kyle USA was already shown by UTV Ireland when it launched.

Nobody wants to watch old shows.

Wise up Virgin Media.

It was also shown on TV3 and 3e three times before UTV Ireland showed it. Have no idea why they're going to show the one and only series he made there yet again. 4 episodes of Jeremy Kyle between 9:30 to 14:30 over VM2 and VM3 every weekday. Ridiculous and lazy.

StaticNoise · 19-08-2018 10:58pm

Elmo wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59rEOq4jI8c

I really want to wish the Ballymount gang success in their rebrand and rehaul, but that piece relies too much on the rugby coverage, and the song brought nothing but misery to what should be an exciting, energetic promo. And that's coming from a die hard rugby fan.

They should have given that a real bang. You'd swear that was something from a channel wind-down as they were closing for good.

PS. Please don't give that bellend James Kavanagh airtime.

lertsnim · 20-08-2018 6:51pm

Jesus that promo would make you want to forget it quickly. Awful cover of that song.

iseegirls · 20-08-2018 9:22pm

Saturday Line-Up:

VM2: 6pm Poirot 7pm Marple
VM3: 5pm Poirot 6pm Ireland's Got Talent (r) ... 9pm Midsomer Murders 12:00 Britain's Got Talent (r)

Sunday:
VM2: 5pm The X Factor
VM3: 5pm Doc Martin 6pm Heartbeat 7pm Poirot

It's hard to distinguish what channel is which. The old 3e is definitely dead, with be3 spreading out over 2 channels. Poirot over the two distinctly shows this.

L1011 · 20-08-2018 9:46pm

So when will be the last airing of the 1998 closedown sequence then?

zeebre12 · 20-08-2018 9:51pm

When 3 news were covering Limericks homecoming this evening they made sure they got the Virgin Media promo. They said about workers in Limerick getting off early to go to the homecoming like staff at Virgin Media's store in Limerick got off early.

icdg · 20-08-2018 10:04pm

Only TV3 appears to have got the transitional idents - 3e and Be3 still using their regular idents. They have promotional break bumpers with their new logos, but they don’t transition between the old and new logo like TV3’s does.

Mind you it’s most important for TV3 - because right now people know you dial 3 (or 103) for TV3. But their new logo is the word “one”, breaking the link between brand and EPG position.

Maz2016 · 20-08-2018 10:22pm

I know they say people don't like change,I usually embrace it but I can't see one positive from this new re brand. Even the color indents I dislike. I think it is a very stupid move putting News at 8 on TV3/VM1. Take the Thursday for example, second episode of Emmerdale on at 8.30 instead of 8, I know this household will switch to UTV HD or ITV HD instead as we have free to air.

If I had to draw one positive, looking at the schedule for Sunday Sept 2nd, it looks like Sunday AM airs on VM1 and is not repeated on VM2 or VM3.

Mickey Mike · 20-08-2018 10:59pm

icdg wrote: »

Only TV3 appears to have got the transitional idents - 3e and Be3 still using their regular idents. They have promotional break bumpers with their new logos, but they don’t transition between the old and new logo like TV3’s does.

Mind you it’s most important for TV3 - because right now people know you dial 3 (or 103) for TV3. But their new logo is the word “one”, breaking the link between brand and EPG position.

That's why I've said earlier VM1 should be removed from the no.3 slot. VMtv to be repositioned at ch.no 5,6 and 7 (keep them together) EPG 3 to be used for RTE Jr.

dublinman1990 · 20-08-2018 11:16pm

TV3 don't have any official special coverage available for the Pope's visit this weekend. It appears that the standard 5:30 news bulletin during the weekends will be sufficient along with some token coverage on Saturday AM & Sunday AM. If you want to go to see the Pope's visit on TV here over the two days. RTÉ will be the best place for it & maybe TG4 might give some coverage for the two days in Irish too.

Elmo · 21-08-2018 9:26am

New Virgin Media One promo I don’t think I saw Red Rock, music is cranberries but you’d think that would improve the dismalness of the first one.

It’s far too corporate IMO, VM2 & VM3 may get drowned in nothingness.

Ireland trains · 21-08-2018 11:54am

dublinman1990 wrote: »

TV3 don't have any official special coverage available for the Pope's visit this weekend. It appears that the standard 5:30 news bulletin during the weekends will be sufficient along with some token coverage on Saturday AM & Sunday AM. If you want to go to see the Pope's visit on TV here over the two days. RTÉ will be the best place for it & maybe TG4 might give some coverage for the two days in Irish too.

Rte definitely have the best coverage as well as extended six one and a slightly longer 9 and 1 o'clock news.
Bryan dobson will be presenting coverage of the pope in ireland

Mickey Mike · 21-08-2018 1:58pm

When the Pope arrive we'll be on our best behaviour.

iseegirls · 21-08-2018 5:26pm

Full coverage on one channel I think is enough. I'm guessing RTE are paying a good bit to broadcast various events surrounding the visit, and would probably rather or insisted exclusivity over it.

icdg · 21-08-2018 6:00pm

Maybe we can take the Pope talk elsewhere unless it’s specifically to do with TV3

Elmo · 21-08-2018 7:47pm

https://twitter.com/TV3Ireland/status/1031557216938192897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

dublinman1990 · 21-08-2018 8:36pm

Virgin have a match on tonight for the CL play off. Is the match from them on TV3 or Be3? I checked both the RTÉ Guide & Saorview EPG listings to see what was going on. The RTÉ Guide said it was on TV3. The Saorview EPG I checked earlier said it was on Be3. Talk about Virgin confusing their viewers yet again.

icdg · 21-08-2018 9:46pm

Be3 - they moved it after advance listings were already published. Possibly when they realised that there’d be no clubs from the big countries in it. Even if they’d qualified, RTE would have picked Celtic.

galtee boy · 21-08-2018 11:08pm

Reports on other forums that VM1 ( TV3), is swapping places on the Sky EPG with TG4, so TG4 will be at 103 and VM1 & 2 will be at 104 and 105. VM3 will stay at 116. I can't believe they are giving up 103, makes a mockery of EPG with a channel with 4 in its name at number 103. Would ITV move from 103 in UK ? No chance.

Mickey Mike · 21-08-2018 11:23pm

galtee boy wrote: »

Reports on other forums that VM1 ( TV3), is swapping places on the Sky EPG with TG4, so TG4 will be at 103 and VM1 & 2 will be at 104 and 105. VM3 will stay at 116. I can't believe they are giving up 103, makes a mockery of EPG with a channel with 4 in its name at number 103. Would ITV move from 103 in UK ? No chance.

And that should be done on Saorview as well, VM1, VM2 and VM3 on 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

gadget_hq · 22-08-2018 5:08am

rebrands are cool, exciting times. though i'm surprised sky didn't complain at vm being a platform now on saorview - though i guess until the BAI readvertise new muxes for Saorview for other broadcasters to be on the platform, we might then have a dtt free to air platform on par with freeview in the UK!

one day we dream

tomorrow it is a reality

and you know what they say about tomorrow lol

icdg · 22-08-2018 7:18am

galtee boy wrote: »

Reports on other forums that VM1 ( TV3), is swapping places on the Sky EPG with TG4, so TG4 will be at 103 and VM1 & 2 will be at 104 and 105. VM3 will stay at 116. I can't believe they are giving up 103, makes a mockery of EPG with a channel with 4 in its name at number 103. Would ITV move from 103 in UK ? No chance.

Have we a source for that? Not saying it’s not happening, but that’s one I find particularly hard to believe in the absence of more information.

Tigerandahalf · 22-08-2018 8:16am

It would be great if this pushed other brands onto saorview.
Sky could put on their news channel and advertise their packages.
Eir could put on a sports channel.

With more and more content being broadcast through streaming you wonder if sky sports, virgin sports and eir/bt could have their content on saorview through subscription to apps on the set top box.

The Virgin Media Television thread

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