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For the first time in 15+ years, I wish I had Virgin and not Sky now
One word: TiVo.
I know it is quite expensive (£150 - £250 depending on subscription type) as you never own the box but after owning the original UK TiVo, it is a brilliant piece of kit.
Sky's VoD/EPG will definitely be inferior now. I think Sky probably know this which is why they are buying up content. However as Virgin offer catch-up TV and enough HD for me, I really wish I was in a Virgin area so I could give them a go.
I guess that is the main issue - Sky know that not everyone can get Virgin so it isn't really an issue for them.
For those of you who are in a Virgin area, are you considering changing?
http://tivo.virginmedia.com/
I know it is quite expensive (£150 - £250 depending on subscription type) as you never own the box but after owning the original UK TiVo, it is a brilliant piece of kit.
Sky's VoD/EPG will definitely be inferior now. I think Sky probably know this which is why they are buying up content. However as Virgin offer catch-up TV and enough HD for me, I really wish I was in a Virgin area so I could give them a go.
I guess that is the main issue - Sky know that not everyone can get Virgin so it isn't really an issue for them.
For those of you who are in a Virgin area, are you considering changing?
http://tivo.virginmedia.com/
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Comments
switch to the best you know it makes sence
Only one SCART, and no other analogue outputs, and no UHF RF connections either for those who use that for distribution to other rooms.
Although TIVO has a very high reputation among those who would want to use its facilities, I think the number of people who will defect from Sky to Virgin just to get it (if they can) will be a pretty tiny proportion of Sky's user base.
I shouldn't think the Sky bosses are losing any sleep over it!
I don't watch a lot of live tv due to shifts (except sports) so I'm going to wait and see what the first users report on how it works as pvr and if VM have manged to mess it up in anyway.
Also for myself if I move the loss of Skyplayer and being able to watch live sporting events on my laptop would be a big blow and most probably outweigh any benefit I'd gain from Tivo
Virgin Tivo looks like it will be a high cost (towards something which is NEVER owned) plus it requires you to stay on their top TV tier!
True. As has been seen by the new EPG roll out and to a lesser degree Anytime+, Sky seem to take ages rolling new products out though. Maybe TiVo will cause them to speed up a bit!
One of the things with Tivo as shown by Virgin is that you can start watching a program and then if the kids come in switch watching to a laptop or mobile phone.
Not sure how it will work away from the home but we will soon know.....
£250 and you DON'T own it ! AND you have to be on the Top tier...... and someone said Sky was a rip off !
also someone seems to have forgotten to put any connections on the back 1 x scart 1 xHDMI and that seems about it
What :eek: kids come in a YOU end up watching on a laptop or mobile phone!
Tell 'em to bugger off you are watching something:)
PJ
Yes I've spent time at my friends in the US and have used this feature very useful.
Unless I can watch live sports on a laptop away from the home I'd seriously have to think about it and the answer tbh would be no.
What are the advantages of owning the box?
One great advantage is if ever you lose your job or are short on money. You can simply stop paying SKY each month and you can still watch All the Free HD channels and 100s of SD channels. If a few months later you can afford/want the pay channels again, its just a quick call and you're all back up and running.
With Virgin they want the box back as soon as you stop paying them money.
You have to be joking right........:eek:
The only project known about was Darwin, the anytime+ project.
It takes Sky so long to even modify the current EPG that I wouldn't expect anything for several years. Even then it will probably not be as good as what Virgin offer with Tivo.:D
As to Sky channels being off Cable, Virgin's deal for Living TV channels was for 9 years on Virgin platform plus access to Sky channels for VOD etc.
.
Interview with Cindy Rose......Some quotes......
Read it all
“We are premium-positioning,” Rose says, whilst demoing the box for paidContent:UK at Virgin’s London HQ. “We’re initially positioning this as a high-end product as a tier on top of TV XL - £3 more expensive than the standard TV XL subscription. However, we intend to migrate our entire television customer base over to TiVo as our standard product within a matter of years, and not many years. That means, undoubtedly, we will course-correct, refine and review packaging and pricing decisions as we go to make that happen.”
http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-interview-virgin-medias-cindy-rose-on-the-connected-tv-explosion/
“We’re launching with a handful (of apps); within 12 months, we’ll have hundreds. We needed to start with the household names.” But the system is not yet so open that there is a software developers kit, nor a sense of what criteria for third parties’ admission should be - that will come in 2011. :eek:
Subscription services welcome
In the States, TiVo Premiere also offers third-party entertainment services from Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI), Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX), Pandora, Rhapsody, MusicChoice, Live365 and more. So could Virgin’s Brit TiVo offer equivalents like Lovefilm and Spotify?
“We’re talking to everybody - all those that you named and more,” says Rose. “We’re very open to all of them. It’s just a question of doing the right deal, making sure our customers actually want it - power to the people; we’re a Virgin company. We’ve got an online forum we’re moderating to ask what they want.” :eek::eek:
"It is, quite simply, stunning. Both super quick and intuitive, there's a raft of cunning technologies whizzing about behind the scenes that make for the most pleasant TV experience on the market today."
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/37064/virgin-media-tivo-box-unveiled
Also confirmed, Virgin TiVo will make use of the amazing new feature rich iPad app
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkJXxe7GLH4
So looks like if you are on any other TV package hard luck, you will have to upgrade to XL or will that be XL+
Good reply. I like competition also.
VM Day? Sky annouce Picnic.
BT get Sky Sports Channels? Sky raise retail prices.
VM get Sky HD Channels? Sky announce Sky Atlantic.
VM show off Tivo? Sky's response.......nothing, so far today.
I'm sure Sky will respond eventually, actually I hope they do because that will keep Virgin on their toes. And if today's news from Virgin makes Sky improve their software, then that's a win-win for the customer regardless of what platform you use.