Virgin Media High Definition & TiVo Services

Sky announces results and new services

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:56:00 +0000

BSkyB is to launch an internet television service in the first half of this year and will give customers the chance to pay for downloading films without a contract or satellite dish. Sky said the new service will allow customers to pay to watch its content on devices connected to the internet, including PCs, laptops, smartphones, games consoles and TVs. It will allow customers to choose whether to pay monthly, or rent a movie on a pay-as-you-go basis, it added. The new service will be available to non-subscribers via different packages. These include a monthly payment for unlimited access to Sky Movies, or viewers can rent a single film on a simple, pay-as-you-go basis.

BSkyB announced yesterday that the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player TV catchup services are to be available to its subscribers for the first time via the Sky Anytime+ video-on-demand offering.

Sky's new venture comes as it announced a slowdown in the number of subscribers signing up to its television services in the three months to 31 December. The figure was 40,000, down from 140,000 during the same period the previous year.

Sky Atlantic: one year old this week

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:44:00 +0000

It's been a year since Sky launched Sky Atlantic for its customers and Virgin Media baulked at the price Sky asked for it. In that time there have only been two series on the channel that have led me to rely on the "generosity of others": Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones. Other than those two, for me attractions on the channel have been relatively light. Sure, Mad Men will be a treat when it finally returns but to be honest I've been less impressed than I thought I would be and certainly not tempted to abandon my TiVo and head for the dark side. There are a few great series being repeated - Seinfeld and The Wire are now being re-broadcast in heavy rotation on Atlantic - but I've got those on disc already as have most who know them.
Having said all that, I'd still love to have Atlantic, even just in standard def.
This week sees the first anniversary of the launch of Atlantic (Feb 1) and the following week has Virgin Media's Full Year and Q4 2011 Results and Strategy Update on Feb 8th, so if there is going to be any carriage announcement for Atlantic expect it in the next few days. I don't expect anything but you never know - I think we have all the Sky channels in standard def except Atlantic and of course we have Sky1, the movie channels and Sport 1 and 2 in HD on Virgin. We even have Sky Anytime (although I haven't seen any of the promised HD on that yet) so it's odd that Atlantic is still held back.
So maybe Virgin could spare a few quid from that mega broadband upgrade £120m they're spending and at least give us Sky Atlantic SD. Pretty please?

New TiVo upgrade roll out confirmed

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:02:00 +0000

According to my TiVo's Discovery Bar the latest software update mentioned in my previous post will be deployed at 3am between 31st January and 9th February for TiVo(s) left on overnight.

New TiVo upgrade being tested

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:28:00 +0000

Virgin Media is piloting a small new code release for TiVo in a small number of areas at the moment.
In addition to a number of fixes after this software release a number of unsupported Apps will cease to work as these Apps create stability risks to the TiVo platform.
Virgin says "We know you're interested in using this sort of companion app so we're hard a work adding adding new features to our forthcoming TiVo Buddy app which we'll be launching later this year."
Jason has a longer post on this if you want to know more.
UPDATED: the "Apps" referred to aren't on the TiVo but to control the TiVo from smart phones or tablets.

Sky Sports F1 confirmed for Virgin Media

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:19:00 +0000

Virgin Media has confirmed that it will carry Sky's new F1 channel for its 9th March launch - but not in HD. It will be available to subscribers to the Sky Sports channels for no extra charge.
Full details below:

"Virgin Media, one of the UK's leading entertainment and communications companies, will be making the new Formula 1 channel from Sky Sports available to Virgin Media customers, ensuring they will be able to watch every possible minute of the Formula 1TM Grand Prix 2012 season.
"The new channel, Sky Sports F1, will join Virgin Media’s TV service from its launch in March. The channel will be dedicated to comprehensive reporting of the world's most prestigious and popular motorsport series, including live coverage of every race, practice, and qualifying session. Martin Brundle, David Croft, Georgie Thompson, Ted Kravitz, Simon Lazenby, Natalie Pinkham and Steve Rider will bring viewers all the news, views and live action from the start of the new Formula 1 season.
"The channel will be added to the complete Sky Sports package available through Virgin Media, alongside Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 4. Subscribers to this package will have the channel added automatically at launch. Sky Sports News is separately included in all pay TV tiers.
"Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this new channel right from the off as it’s certain to be an exciting Formula 1 season with a record number of races and six former or current world champions racing for the title.”
"Rob Webster, director of Sky’s commercial group, adds: “As the new home of the world’s most exciting motorsport series, Formula 1 is going to get the full Sky Sports treatment. Extending the distribution of our dedicated channel is great news for all Sky Sports subscribers, enabling millions of pay TV homes to enjoy the benefits of our innovative coverage and investment in must-see content.”

The new Lost?

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Coming to Watch HD (channel 125) in March, from J J Abrams, one of the co-creators of Lost.

New and returning HD series on Virgin Media

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:40:00 +0000

Birdsong - January 22 at 9pm on BBC One
Homeland - Feb 18 on Channel 4
Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy - January 26 on E4
Skins S6 - January 23 on E4
Mad Dogs S2 - January 19 at 9pm on Sky1
Spartacus Vengeance - January 30 on Sky 1
Alcatraz S1 - March on Watch (new JJ Abrams series)
Dexter S6 - Spring 2012 on FX
Falling Skies S2 - July on FX
Grimm - Feb 13 at 9pm on Watch
Leverage S3 - Feb 7 at 10pm on FX
Lost Girl S2 - January 19 at 9pm on Syfy
Suits - January 17 at 9pm on Dave
The Walking Dead S2(continued) - February 17 at 10pm on FX
True Blood S4 - Feb 5 at 10pm on FX

When will you get the broadband upgrade?

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:52:00 +0000

The new postcode checker is now out.

http://doublespeed.virginmedia.com/

BBC F1 for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:27:00 +0000

The BBC's F1 line up for the forthcoming season is

China - 15 April
Spain - 13 May
Monaco - 27 May
Europe - 24 June
Britain - 8 July
Belgium - 2 September
Singapore - 23 September
Korea - 14 October
Abu Dhabi - 4 November
Brazil - 25 November

Still no word on whether Sky F1 or Sky F1 HD will be available on Virgin Media, so this may be the only F1 on VM

Reminders for TiVo via Net Remote

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:16:00 +0000

Andy has added a Reminders feature to the Net Remote application which allows users to programme reminders so that their TiVo box changes channel when the reminder time is reached. He suggest that this might help people who are missing the reminder function that the V+ boxes had.

Details can be found on his website

http://www.andypwheeler.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tivoremote

Goodworkfella!

Virgin Media plans to double the speed of its customers' broadband

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:23:00 +0000

Virgin Media is to spend £110m on the 18-month upgrade programme.
The company says that those who subscribe to its up to 10Mb service – 74% of its 4.1m internet subscribers – will see their speed double to 20Mb.
Those on its up to 20Mb tier, 12% of the total subscriber base, will see their speed tripled to 60Mb.
The 9% who take 30Mb broadband will rise to 60Mb.
And the 5% who take services from 50Mb to 100Mb will rise to a speed of between 100Mb and 120Mb.
The top-tier speed – at 120Mb it will be the quickest offered in the UK – will enable customers to download a high-definition movie in about five minutes.
"As people are increasingly doing more online, and getting connected to the internet with lots of different devices, having a fast, reliable broadband service should not be a luxury," said Neil Berkett, the chief executive of Virgin Media.
"We want to make sure that consumers have access to the best value broadband service and that means a superfast connection."
Virgin Media intends to mostly fund the programme with the remaining £100m of the proceeds of the sale of its 50% stake in UKTV to US TV company Scripps.

Great, balanced review of the TiVo

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:25:00 +0000

I don't venture onto AV Forums that often - too often in the past I go there, consider my home entertainment equipment sub-standard and ending up spending a fortune upgrading - but they've posted a huge, in-depth review of TiVo and it's an informative read:
Virgin Tivo-Digital Personal Video Recorder
(Thanks to Jason for pointing it out on his blog)

Virgin Media in 2012 - place your bets!

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:58:00 +0000

Years ago when I made my living as a magazine editor I always felt as though I was scraping the barrel when I published the traditional "reviews of the year" in the dying weeks of December. Writing this blog and it's no different - there's no news whatsoever on Virgin Media to report and it's not just silent nights, it's silent weeks on end. TiVo's had an update and is a much better product for it, we've had a few new HD channels this year but there's little on the horizon to get excited about, and even I'm getting bored with my banging on about the absence of Sky Atlantic from our screens. So what's a poor blogger to do?
Well, let me entertain you for a few minutes with my predictions for Virgin Media's 2012. No inside scoop on any of this, just pure speculation that I will no doubt read in twelve months' time and wonder what the hell I was thinking of...
1. TiVo will be the only option
The V+ is already absent as an option for new customers and I think VM will actively be looking to replace first the old SA boxes and then the Samsung V+'s from their customers' homes. This won't be universally popular but they have to evolve the service and bet the bank on TiVo. If they can port the TiVo interface onto the existing V boxes (the non-PVR HD boxes) the legacy Liberty software will be gone for good by the end of the year.
2. TiVo will no longer be a separate monthly fee
I'm surprised it still is. I will be stunned if that's the case by the close of 2012
3. New customers will arrive in dribs and drabs
I can't see the last of the digital refuseniks (who will lose their analogue TV next year) switching over in droves to VM. Most will opt for Freeview, some will be tempted to Sky, others will make the mistake of forking out for BT Vision's third rate service. Whilst Sky seems destined to produce outstanding results quarter after quarter, Virgin's 2011 numbers were far less impressive and I expect next year to be even flatter. Broadband will do okay but TV customers will stutter and splutter.
4. VM will continue to undersell and poorly promote its outstanding Video On Demand
It should have been a Sky killer, but even Samuel L Jackson couldn't sell this to the masses. Everyone I know who sees it loves it, it's the only real VoD TV service that delivers BBC iPlayer HD programming, and we all take it for granted, but do Sky customers know about it? I doubt it.
5. VM will finally get the HD versions of ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4, ESPN America, History and Universal
6. But we won't see Sky News, Sky Sports 3, Sky Sports 4 or Sky Sports News in high def
I don't think VM would want them even if Sky offered them
7. Sky Atlantic will appear on Virgin Media in the Spring
Mind you, I said the same thing last year. Will we get it in HD? You'd think not, but we did get Sky1 HD so you never know.
8. Networking your TiVo will remain one for the techies
It'll just be too confusing for your average household
9. TiVo Apps on tablets and smartphones will initially disappoint...
...but will take off big time once the software stabilises
10. Turner Broadcasting will finally embrace not just widescreen but also HD...but only on Sky
It's the last of the big broadcasters still in 4:3 land, but they will finally deliver TCM, CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito and introduce Adult Swim in the UK in full hi def (except for old SD stuff). On Sky only.
11. This blog will carry on
I sometimes wonder if it's worth continuing with VMHD, especially as the news is often thin on the ground and there are fine blogs from Media Boy and Jason that cover much of the same ground, but it still attracts an audience. I'll keep hanging in there if you guys still want me.
(Well, that's one I'll get right.)
Happy New Year, all!

Happy Christmas, one and all, great and... small...

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Ho ho ho - another Virgin EPG c**k up

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:51:00 +0000

From MediaGuardian:

Virgin Media's electronic programme guide began to see offence in words which otherwise would be happily broadcast on breakfast TV this weekend – Alfred Hitchcock, for example, became Alfred Hitchc**k, with a similar fate befalling BBC Radio 6 Music's Jarvis C**ker. Charles Dickens became Charles D***ens and Arsenal became A***nal. A Virgin Media spokesperson said: "Over the weekend a temporarily over-zealous profanity checker took offence at certain programme titles. The altered titles have been swiftly an*lysed and we're fixing any remaining glitches."

Virgin Media signs BBC Olympics deal, BBC TiVo Apps ahoy

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:53:00 +0000

From MediaGuardian:

Virgin Media has struck a deal with the BBC to give viewers access to hundreds of hours of extra coverage of major sports events next year, including live video streams from the London 2012 Olympics, through its TiVo service.
The wide-ranging deal will give Virgin Media customers access to "enhanced" BBC TV services – the additional video streams and interactive content accessed via the red button – for a range of the corporation's news and sports coverage next year.
Significantly, Virgin Media customers will now have access to all 24 streams of coverage that the BBC is broadcasting of various Olympic events.
However, the deal also covers the "red button" content of events including Formula One, Wimbledon and Euro 2012.
The additional video streams will only be available to Virgin Media customers who have a TiVo set-top box – a rival to BSkyB's Sky+ service that gives access to on-demand and interactive services.
Virgin Media will build a BBC sport app to go on the TiVo service which will go live in the first quarter of 2012.
The sport app will sit alongside a BBC News app, which is also under development, and the existing iPlayer catch-up TV service.

TiVo SD picture quality revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Interesting post from Lew over on Cable Forum looking at the difference between the original TiVo standard def under software 15.1 and how it now appears with the recent 15.2 upgrade, alongside the V+ too. His TV's a Sony KDL-40EX403 1080P LCD (the poor SD quality was mostly being reported on certain Sony and Samsung models).
Elsewhere in the thread there's the observation that SD and HD quality improves on the TiVo after a few days post installation. I'd observed this myself but didn't think it made a great deal of sense, but if others are seeing it maybe there is some truth in it.

No Five HD on Freeview - what will the BBC do?

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:04:00 +0000

Strange one this:

"Ofcom has been notified by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited that it does not wish to proceed with its application for the fifth HD capacity slot on digital terrestrial TV at the present time.
"Subject to any future Ofcom decision to re-advertise the slot, the capacity will remain with the Multiplex operator BBC Free-to-View Limited and can be used by it for BBC services or services provided by a third party via a commercial arrangement."

Currently, Freeview HD has HD versions of BBC1, BBC HD (soon to be BBC2), ITV1 and C4. So will the BBC add a third HD channel of its own or look for someone else to take advantage of the slot? The BBC could perhaps introduce BBC News HD or revive a BBC3/4/News HD channel, or other channels such as the HD versions of ITV2, E4, Dave or Film4 (still, surprisingly, a VM exclusive). Or maybe the Beeb will temporarily fill the slot with an Olympics/Wimbledon sports channel for next summer, possibly in 3D?

OT: brings out the fanboy in me...

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:55:00 +0000

Sky Atlantic series to debut on DVD and Blu Ray

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:49:00 +0000

The two big drama series in the Sky Atlantic / HBO stable are both debuting on disc early in 2012. Season one of Boardwalk Empire finally comes out on disc on January 9th, a ridiculous 15 months after it debuted on HBO and a month after season two has finished. Those waiting for season one of Game of Thrones will be happier as that box set will be released just before season two starts - March 5th.
Why the long gap? I don't think it's anything to do with the Sky Atlantic deal as they've both been delayed stateside too. It's, more likely part of HBO's strategy with it's HBO Go service and the competition with NetFlix.
Season five of AMC's Mad Men is scheduled for the spring on Sky Atlantic by the way. The show may appear on online services such as iTunes as previous seasons have been available there immediately after UK airing.

TiVo iPlayer issue resolved

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:10:00 +0000

I haven't experienced any problem myself but some customers have had issues with the BBC iPlayer App since the recent software update on the TiVo. A post over on the Virgin Media TiVo blog suggests the issue has been addressed by removing a bandwidth bottleneck on part of the network.

Virgin Media adds three but no more HD yet

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:08:00 +0000

Virgin Media has added three additional channels but none are high definition.
Sony Entertainment Television is on channel 193 and has TV shows such as Hustle, This Life, Huff and newer series such as The Tudors, along with Sony movies including Spider-Man 3 and Surf's Up.
We also now have CBS Action on channel 192 which includes Star Trek Next Generation and NCIS in its lineup.
And finally news channel NDTV, India's most watched English news network, on 621.
Hardly Sky Atlantic but some will be pleased.

TiVo on the iPad - US App works...kinda...

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:06:00 +0000

Thanks to Richard for the following:

The US TiVo app can be made to work on the VM TiVo but needs a few tricks and a PC or mac set up running a piece of software that tricks the Tivo iPad app into thinking the VM tivo is a US Tivo. For those who want a sense of what is possible with the ipad/phone app, there is a great posting on Cable Forum with some brilliant people contributing more than a simple few words, but actual coding and testing time.
BUT BE WARNED, the Tivo app was never designed to work on the VM Tivo so sometimes crashes because the responses are not what it expects.
If you look at Post #241 and #242 which are the replies to sn00p where he posts the PC and Mac files, you will see both the link to the files and the replies where people are testing and say it works.
I’ve been using the old versions of the ‘hack’ and this version and they all work fine(ish) this latest version is definitely more stable and easier to use to use and less of a problem for IT illiterate. Thanks to sn00p we have this app.
So 3 things…
1. YOU USE THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Do not critisie people for things not working and do not flame or slam people for this contribution. It was a hack to show the US Tivo app.
Do not criticise VM or TiVo for the iPad app. This app was never designed for the VM product and is in no way supported.
Do not ask for support, this is a hack for people who know what they are doing not for the masses who don’t know how to spell ‘IP address’
Don’t start if you don’t know what you are doing and do not get upset if you have problems, you used at your own risk.
2. You need to know how to get a US only app from itunes for free.
Don’t ask, use Google it is well documented .
3. You need to do all the network setup on the TiVo and put in the right settings. Read the guide from Jason on his Virgin Media TiVo blog site.

Richard added
"The app does crash, usually when you are trying to select from the 'my shows' area. This is because the VM TiVo is sending back info the ipad app doesn't understand and so 'bang' the app closes. However, the ability to browse, set recordings, manage seasom passes etc without stopping what you watch is brilliant. The speed is really quick. I've not tried on the iphone, but it should work on there."

I asked my old friend Scottivo to give this a look (I just knew he wouldn't be able to resist) and here's what he wrote back
"Downloaded the Mac file and had it working in less than a minute, once I'd got the Media Access Key code from the TiVo menu. Looks very impressive. Changed channels, then played the start of a Modern Family ep from My Shows but when I pressed Stop it took me to the Media Access Key page again and wouldn't let me out. I had to reboot the box. No pics showing so far but EPG is all there."
So it is probably worth waiting for the real thing to launch, but for those who enjoy playing, Christmas has come a little early...

Spotify...does anyone else have problems?

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Sound on the TiVo has drop outs more frequent than I can cope with, and what's worse the iPhone App crashes out after ten minutes every bloody time. Infuriating. Last week was fine and I haven't changed anything - is anyone else experiencing this?
UPDATE: I've now update my iPhone to iOS 5.01 and reinstalled Spotify, and it's been playing all day without a single hitch. So, a reminder that the "cloud" can be an infuriating, flawed experience for all the treasures it may hold. Ho hum

Virgin's deadline for Christmas installations: December 9th

noreply@blogger.com (Nialli) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:55:00 +0000

If you're planning to sign up to Virgin Media broadband and TV services in time for the Christmas break you must complete your order this week.
Virgin Media has set a deadline of midnight on Friday December 9th 2011 for a guaranteed installation.
Consumers who order a Virgin Media TV, phone and broadband bundle after this date may have to wait until after Boxing Day to see their service activated.