And? As of now they do not own VM. I was talking about now not what could happen in the future.
The deal closes this quarter but the two organisations are acting in a joined-up way. So, last month we saw Virgin Media issue one of the world’s largest junk bonds since the end of the financial crisis to help fund its $23.3bn acquisition by Liberty Global. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e390f1a-7049-11e2-ab31-00144feab49a.html#axzz2P1cwdDP4
Though I wonder if VM will be thinking of using Sky Atlantic as a 'replacement' for ESPN on the XL package? It doesn't sound like talks with BT over their sports channels are going well so this could be a reasonable bone to throw at customers who would otherwise feel as though they've lost out. And you would assume it will cost them considerably less than the £2 odd per customer they pay ESPN.
If they get it they could include it in their David Tennant TV ad. After all it's the only Sky channel they don't mention when they say you can have what you want :P
Though I wonder if VM will be thinking of using Sky Atlantic as a 'replacement' for ESPN on the XL package? It doesn't sound like talks with BT over their sports channels are going well so this could be a reasonable bone to throw at customers who would otherwise feel as though they've lost out. And you would assume it will cost them considerably less than the £2 odd per customer they pay ESPN.
I was thinking about the XL pack situation after August as well. I wouldn't rule out Sky Atlantic, though I'm sure Virgin would not want to encourage Sky to set up more channels like this. The other channel I could see it adding to the XL pack would be Premier Sports with a guarantee that it goes HD on Virgin first.
Though I wonder if VM will be thinking of using Sky Atlantic as a 'replacement' for ESPN on the XL package? It doesn't sound like talks with BT over their sports channels are going well so this could be a reasonable bone to throw at customers who would otherwise feel as though they've lost out. And you would assume it will cost them considerably less than the £2 odd per customer they pay ESPN.
This might be a sort of carrot from Sky to try and stop Virgin from doing a deal with BT to include BT Sports in one the standard packages.
I'm comfortable, in the second part of your television-related question, I'm comfortable that we have the tools to ensure that our XL customers will remain advocates. I'm hopeful that we will end up with the right solution in respect to BT sports and that may come in, in a flavor that is different from where we're looking at the moment, who knows? We're having appropriate commercial conversations as we do with all of our suppliers. I mean, clearly, sports is a little bit more emotive and it maybe hits the front page of the press all the time, but we don't really treat it any differently from any other piece of contenders. We evaluate what is worth to us and that's what we're prepared to pay and obviously at the triple point where you go above that, it's because you believe that economically, you're better without it. I'm not signaling anything from there, I'm just giving you our general philosophy as to how we approach content. I'm comfortable, to the core of your question, that we have the tools at our disposal to ensure that our XL customers remain happy.
i no for a fact that sky atlantic were never be part of virgin plans
as i got it from a source on twitter
ok there few good programs on it most just download it so why bother with it
I've no doubt that just as Sky Atlantic soon followed the release of Sky 1 to virgin, as soon as Sky agree a price for Sky Atlantic they will create another new channel and move all the new shows on that one.
The prospect of Sky Atlantic becoming available to Virgin Media’s 3.8 million TV subscribers has moved closer after it emerged that talks between the two companies have reopened. ...
... Sources have indicated that the operators have now reopened negotiations and, although a deal is not imminent, they are significantly closer to agreeing a price for Sky Atlantic than they were two years ago.
One source said a “degree of realism” had entered the talks. ....
....Carriage negotiations for Sky’s other channels on Virgin Media are due to be renewed this month, at which time a deal for Sky Atlantic is likely to be discussed.
Virgin Media could also be looking to replace ESPN, which will close this summer, in its premium XL package.
It will want to ensure it keeps churn low for its top bundle and has not yet struck a deal for BT’s forthcoming sport channels. A move for a high-profile channel such as Sky Atlantic could help it retain customers.
Does depend on how into your sports you are. However nice Sky Atlantic might be it's not football or whatever sport you might watch on ESPN.
It seems that sport is a bigger draw for tv subscription services than things like the Game of Thrones though.
I must admit that I'm getting irritated by the amount of ads I'm seeing on Sky Living for Sky Atlantic shows. Last week, I was enjoying the closing moments of Hannibal on Living and they flipping interrupted last 15 seconds of dialogue with an ad for Ray Donovan on Atlantic?????
Comments
"The Gold Price"
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e390f1a-7049-11e2-ab31-00144feab49a.html#axzz2P1cwdDP4
Though I wonder if VM will be thinking of using Sky Atlantic as a 'replacement' for ESPN on the XL package? It doesn't sound like talks with BT over their sports channels are going well so this could be a reasonable bone to throw at customers who would otherwise feel as though they've lost out. And you would assume it will cost them considerably less than the £2 odd per customer they pay ESPN.
This might be a sort of carrot from Sky to try and stop Virgin from doing a deal with BT to include BT Sports in one the standard packages.
as i got it from a source on twitter
ok there few good programs on it most just download it so why bother with it
The Liberty Media deal might make things a little more frosty.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2013/06/10/sky-d-extends-cable-pvr/
Very interesting, although it has been suggested that this could well be the time for it to happen! Fingers crossed.
It seems that sport is a bigger draw for tv subscription services than things like the Game of Thrones though.