The Virgin Media Television thread

Dodge · 19-05-2023 1:12pm

And had been noted at the time, RTE were showing rugby at the same time.

coupons1987 · 22-05-2023 11:59pm

Anyone know what ever happened to series 2 of inside the k was never show or mentioned again after a big push at the autumn programme launch in 2021.

thesandeman · 23-05-2023 1:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120629656#Comment_120629656

Forgot about that. I've seen a few of the participants on various news reports alright.

iseegirls · 30-05-2023 8:59pm

Virgin Media dropped Schofields South African Adventure today at 4pm, albeit its a repeat that has been shown over 10 times already.

But was interesting to see them drop it, as it remained in the schedules (including tomorrow's episode) They haven't shown The Cube or 5 Gold Rings in a while, but are those shows all tarnished now, and will no longer be aired again.

iseegirls · 06-06-2023 8:22pm

Virgin Media TV securing 9 full days of World Athletics Championship this August.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/athletics/2023/06/06/coverage-of-world-athletics-championships-returns-to-irish-terrestrial-television

RoTelly · 06-06-2023 10:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120683800#Comment_120683800

Interesting to see VMTV reduce their executives with Mick McCaffrey taking on Sports along side news, he being UTV Ireland's head of news if I recall correctly. Did they ever replace Bill Malone.

batistuta9 · 16-06-2023 11:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120629656#Comment_120629656

Wonder did COVID affect it or lack of access? Can't remember now what length of time it covered but they'd need 'content' & likely are limited in what they can show.

I remember your post when see a promo for Dublin after dark on Monday at 10, pushing the tonight show back to 11, similar to what with inside the k I think. Not sure if it's a series or one off

https://www.virginmediatv.ie/en/epg/initial/details/tv/crid%3A~~2F~~2Fgn.tv~~2F24946589~~2FSH047740510000~~2Fspecial%2Cimi%3Ab142350540dca013da43d65b43f45cc53d1e91b6/empty

iseegirls · 17-06-2023 9:52am

Virgin Media adding the U20s Rugby World Cup to their sports rights this summer. Starts next Saturday. 19 live games. Although looking at the fixtures, they're not organised in a typical tournament way, with all the teams playing Saturday, then a break for a few days, and then all playing again on another day during the group phases.

https://www.the42.ie/virgin-media-rugby-world-cup-6094921-Jun2023/

Digifriendly · 17-06-2023 1:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120725918#Comment_120725918

This has been the format for quite some time in U20s RWC. Tournament tends to showcase stars of the future. NZ have been the most successful side to date.

Glad to see FTA coverage.

deezell · 17-06-2023 2:42pm

Thats good news indeed, I expect its VM2 for the most part, HD on player. The format is interesting as everyone plays the same number of matches, so there's even a playoff for 11th and 12th place, which I think determines the seedings going forward. Note Scotland absence from the top tier.

thesandeman · 08-07-2023 8:08pm

Totally random Carry On movie on 4 now 🤔

deezell · 08-07-2023 8:17pm

Must have found an unlabelled cassette in a drawer, put it in to see what was on it, and got distracted and left it running. That'd be it.

thesandeman · 08-07-2023 8:34pm

Best thing they've done. I haven't seen it since the 80's 😀

Hopefully nobody #woke happens to spot it.

Charles Slane · 26-07-2023 6:30pm

VMTV's licence has been renewed for 10 years.

deezell · 26-07-2023 6:50pm

Whereas MYTV licence an URTV licence probably won't be renewed for the next ten years.

27-07-2023 11:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120900292#Comment_120900292

I suppose they got away again without having at least VM1 in HD on Saorview as part of their PSB obligations. I know its in HD on the player now, but many probably wouldn't access it this way.

iseegirls · 27-07-2023 1:16pm

Virgin Media One and Two are valued components of Ireland’s media landscape, enhancing choice and diversity for Irish audiences with home-produced and international content in areas such as news and current affairs, entertainment, drama, sport, factual and lifestyle.

Can't see how they can keep a straight face when they say that especially regarding VM2. Much like that channel along with VM3 and VM4 - it's pure and total all ITV Studios programming nowadays.

Look at how much Chase they showed yesterday. Between 7am-3am, there were only 3 hours where The Chase WASN'T ON

07:30 VM3 The Chase Australia
08:20 VM3 The Chase Australia
09:10 VM2 The Chase
10:10 VM2 The Chase
11:00 VM4 The Chase Australia
12:00 VM4 The Chase Australia
13:00 VM1 The Chase
14:00 VM1 The Chase
16:00 VM4 The Chase Australia
17:00 VM4 The Celebrity Chase
18:00 VM2 The Chase
19:00 VM2 The Chase
20:00 VM2 The Celebrity Chase
23:00 VM4 The Celebrity Chase
00:00 VM4 The Family Chase
00:55 VM3 The Chase Australia
01:50 VM3 The Chase Australia

Then there was this in the Indo a few days ago:

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/virgin-media-tv-boss-tells-minister-rte-should-be-removed-from-the-commercial-advertising-market/a735051809.html

Can only see the headline, but main thing here is "RTÉ slammed for paying BBC €20m for ‘content already available in the territory’"

Come on now Paul, look at your entire Virgin Media TV schedule. Apart from the news, Ireland AM, Six O'Clock Show and The Tonight Show - all the rest is made up of ITV programming - which is as you say "already available in the territory"

Glaceon · 27-07-2023 1:26pm

This is what I've regularly used as an example when I hear people suggesting that RTE be scrapped; if you leave it to this shower we wouldn't have an English language Irish TV sector at all.

deezell · 27-07-2023 2:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120903300#Comment_120903300

We'd all end up saying 'behhah"and "mowhah" and "brihan" for better, motor and Britain, though we probably wouldn't say the last one at all.

RoTelly · 27-07-2023 4:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120903300#Comment_120903300

Problem is that RTÉ have ruined English Language programming, but IRTC/BCI/BAI/CnaM really need to consider what they are saying.

SPDUB · 29-07-2023 10:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120904402#Comment_120904402

I've no idea what you mean by this statement

RoTelly · 02-08-2023 10:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120913962#Comment_120913962

I mean to say that the Regulator (IRTC/BCI/BAI/CnaM) over the course of the last 30 years have failed to properly regulate the licence holder.

The idea that "Virgin Media One and Two are valued components of Ireland’s media landscape" and that the are "enhancing choice and diversity for Irish audiences with home-produced and international content" is a complete load of waffle from the CnaM.

And because of this lack of home produced English Language programming and lack of competition we have what we have from RTÉ.

TV3/VMTV have never been a strong competitor in the market place.

deezell · 02-08-2023 2:46pm

Apart from the football rights, VW are great channels for quiz shows, or a quiz show, and ads for casino apps and gambling. Such a huge part of Irish culture, mate.

channelsurfer2 · 02-08-2023 4:18pm

VMTV have a business plan that wraps around as little investment as possible while advocating for the complete removal of RTE from anything other than their view of what a public service broadcaster should be.

They complain at every step of the process but wont invest in anything unless its cheap and cheerful and easy to make money on.

iseegirls · 31-08-2023 4:16pm

A lowkey launch by Virgin Media. They oddly seemed to celebrate it yesterday, with some sort of press embargo on it until today. Even their socials, and official site have very little.

And maybe that's to reflect the lack of anything in their schedule. No official press release, so by going through some online pieces, there's the following:

Irish New and returning:

Grá ar an Trá
To Die For: Cosmetic Surgery In Turkey
The Guards: Inside The K (S2) - starting on Monday
The Salvage Squad
Faith & Courage: The Sinéad O'Connor Story
Confessions of a Crime Boss - starting on Monday
Born Too Soon - starting on Tuesday
Livin With Lucy
Gogglebox Ireland - starting on Wednesday
The Group Chat
The Tonight Show - back on Monday

The "Thank God we have ITV programming to fill 4 channels" section:

Big Brother
I'm A Celebrity
The Voice
The Graham Norton Show
Litvinenko
The Long Shadow
My Mum, Your Dad

(I'd say just check out the ITV press pack - and expect about 80% of this to appear on VMTV: https://www.itv.com/presscentre/sites/default/files/2023-08/ITV%20Autumn%20Brochure%202023.pdf )

Sport

Rugby World Cup 2023
UEFA Champions League
Europa League
Conference League
Euro 2024 qualifiers
SSE Airtricity Premier Division
UK horseracing
WWE Raw & Smackdown
PGA Tour Highlights
NFL including Superbowl
Sport Stories: WWE superstar Sheamus

thebo · 04-09-2023 6:41pm

No HD for the rugby world cup in 2023

RoTelly · 04-09-2023 7:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069176#Comment_121069176

Shared rights with RTÉ. RTÉ and Virgin Media will broadcast the Final.

lertsnim · 05-09-2023 8:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069176#Comment_121069176

I do wonder how many viewers they lose for rugby when the same game can be watched in HD FTA on ITV or BBC. It doesn't seem to bother them too much.

icdg · 05-09-2023 8:29am

It doesn’t. People with FTA setups forget that VMTV One and Two are available in HD on pay platforms. And a lot of people really don’t care about seeking out the HD alternative, they dial the number that they’re familiar with and watch the picture that’s put out. Many specifically want the Irish commentary and will watch the Irish broadcast for that reason.

This business of VMTV being SD only on Saorview is done to death on this thread and over on the Terrestrial forum too, it comes up around virtually every major sporting event VMTV cover and the arguments are well worn at this stage. There’s a FTA HD option in the VMTV Player for those who really want it.

deezell · 05-09-2023 9:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069176#Comment_121069176

RTE in HD, VM player in HD as the man says. End of issue. ITV has sole broadcasting rights in the UK. Its available also to stream on ITV HUB/ITVX, the latter I've managed to hack onto my android set and receive with a proxy DNS. They're also offering 4K streams for £3.99 sub per month, I'll chance a month and see if it works. It didn't when the footie WC was on 4K BBC iPlayer, also similarly available on my android TV, as the stream was free and hugely oversubscribed. 5 minutes and I was chucked off. This time the sub might make it work.

The Virgin Media Television thread

Comments

Irish New and returning:

The "Thank God we have ITV programming to fill 4 channels" section:

Sport