Virgin Media - analogue TV service reduction and switch off

All Analogue will be switched off - Dublin probably last but it's all getting switched off.

Delta2113 wrote: »

"There is a phased roll-out of the switch-off, with all areas being switched off by the end of 2019. 6 weeks’ notice will be given to each area before the switch-off happens."

-Virgin Media -evidence below.



https://www.virginmedia.ie/business/switchover/


https://www.virginmedia.ie/switchoff

Thanks. Wow. This is big news given the amount of people with old analogue connections. Surprised the media have not covered this.

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

€20 up front and €11 a month is €152 year one. You can get a combo box or second hand Freesat box for less.

Plus the cost of erecting an aerial and a dish. Saorview and Freesat option may not be so clear cut, especially if you live in an apartment.

While I have used the Analog cable until I stopped using it 10 years ago. It had a very good run when my late granny used to it years ago in her house. It is still a very limited service in not providing HD picture & sound for the minority of people who still use it today. The people who use the STB for VM would probably be a little annoyed that if their boxes break down in their house from 2020 onwards; they would not be in any position to use the analog channels as a backup service up until they're given a replacement VM box. But times change after this analog service has been used in Ireland long well since the 1960's. This switchoff was inevitable after such a long stint.

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

+1. Letter received in the post on Fri stating the analog service in Dublin 15 will be cut from 07-May-2018.

Does the letter say you will receive a Digital box for free? Or are they any charges mentioned?

When the analogue cable got turned off in Germany along with other European countries, they made the digital versions of the old basic analogue channels FTA, so that anyone with a recent TV (with a digital cable tuner built in, or even with a €30 set top box available in electrical stores) could carry on watching TV via the cable feed.

Obviously it’ll never happen, but surely it would be sensible for Virgin to do the same in Ireland, instead of just cutting off a feature that still gets a bit of use on second TVs.

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

They wern't free analog channels. There was no way to prevent broadband customers from tuning them in but it was a paid service.

Effectively free so. Plenty of households will be affected by this, particularly older folk who VM and UPC pretty much kept in the dark for years as to what they could receive for literally no extra cash per month. For many more customers, the secondary TVs upstairs, in other rooms, etc more infrequently watched, will be screwed.

Extra sub or SAT/saorview are the only options. thankfully, I’ve an octo LNB sitting in wait. Will have to get the ladder up soon.

Cue “mick, the satellite installer”. They’ll be everywhere.

dodzy wrote:

Effectively free so.

Indeed. But what will happen is people like the guy who posted earlier who only have broadband with virgin will get upset at the loss of a service they weren't subscribed to. I can't see virgin going out of their way to accommodate these folk.

Reply tp dodzy re satellite option.Height of satellite dish depends on line of sight,I have 3 dishes mounted on a back wall each 1.5 metres from ground.It is much easier for maintenance. Unless dish has to be attached to front of residence avoid height.

Not sure if this has been mentioned already, https://www.virginmedia.ie/newlineup/, https://www.virginmedia.ie/business/newlineup/

The Analogue TV channel line-up is reducing to nine channels soon.



To keep watching all of your current channels, you’ll have to switch over to digital TV.

This is happening so we can improve the performance and capacity of our broadband network and is the first phase of Digital Switchover in your area. Analogue TV will be switched off completely in your area in 2019. We’ll be in touch nearer the time to tell you how this will affect you.

How do I know if I am using Virgin Media’s analogue TV?

You will have one or more TVs in your home that have a limited selection of channels and these TVs will be connected with a white cable without the use of a Digital TV box. Once you receive a communication about the switch off, if you go to BBC1 you will see a logo in the bottom left corner of the screen. You can also check channels RTE1, TV3 and BBC1 for a scrolling message two weeks before the switch off in your area.



You will have one or more TVs on your premises that have a limited selection of channels (between 11 and 20) and these TVs will be connected with a white cable without the use of a digital TV box. There will be a capital A on the bottom left corner of the screen on BBC1 for 5 weeks before the channel reduction. Also for 2 weeks before the channel reduction there will be a scrolling message on RTE1, RTE 2 and BBC1.

When will we reduce the analogue channel lineup in others areas?

There is a phased roll out of the channel reduction, with all areas being reduced by the end of 2018.

They mention Cartoon Network will continue to be available, but in Dublin it was never available on analogue.

StreetLight wrote: »

They mention Cartoon Network will continue to be available, but in Dublin it was never available on analogue.

Unless they have mistaken Nickelodeon for Cartoon Network