Already acknowleged ITV-be in SD is free on all platforms, but the Virgin platform is unique in that the platform is not free. You can buy a Freeview Box and connect it to an aerial, you can buy a Freesat box or a sky box and connect it to a dish and other than the cost of the kit there is no ongoing subscription for free to air content. You cannot buy a Virgin box and expect it to work for free. Not a Virgin subscriber but doesn't it cost extra to rent a box capable of receiving HD (even the totally free channels) ? I had a free box from Virgin for a while, it was SD only and the only way to watch free HD channels was to pay an increased rental charge, so how can you say the HD channels are free.
CH5-HD isn't free, neither are the ITV-HD channels other than ITV1-HD. Why would ITV-BE be free in HD. ?
Already acknowleged ITV-be in SD is free on all platforms, but the Virgin platform is unique in that the platform is not free. You can buy a Freeview Box and connect it to an aerial, you can buy a Freesat box or a sky box and connect it to a dish and other than the cost of the kit there is no ongoing subscription for free to air content. You cannot buy a Virgin box and expect it to work for free. Not a Virgin subscriber but doesn't it cost extra to rent a box capable of receiving HD (even the totally free channels) ? I had a free box from Virgin for a while, it was SD only and the only way to watch free HD channels was to pay an increased rental charge, so how can you say the HD channels are free.
CH5-HD isn't free, neither are the ITV-HD channels other than ITV1-HD. Why would ITV-BE be free in HD. ?
Isn't it the case with ITV2/3/4 HD on VM that you need the XL pack to get them? Is that the case also with Be HD or is that available as a basic HD channel along with 'M' subscription (or whatever it's called)?
Isn't it the case with ITV2/3/4 HD on VM that you need the XL pack to get them? Is that the case also with Be HD or is that available as a basic HD channel along with 'M' subscription (or whatever it's called)?
I have no idea, you need to ask Paddy C. Just know that viewing any TV on Virgin is not free, you have to have some sort of ongoing subscription (Same as Sky if you want to record anything).
I have no idea, you need to ask Paddy C. Just know that viewing any TV on Virgin is not free, you have to have some sort of ongoing subscription (Same as Sky if you want to record anything).
Oh yes, fully agree with you there, no doubt about it, that's where Virgin have you as in effect there's no such a thing as 'free to air' channels up the DCAB pipe. In the analogue cable days some cable franchises would keep your PSB channels active to connect in to a TV but that's long gone. Paddy C, can you fill me in on the ITV Be HD sub level question?
Mistake.
ITVbeHD, when it launches, will be like ITV2, 3 & 4 HD; pay channels.
The SD channel is on 118 though.
^^^ This +1. While this new HD channel is on Virgin Media, it's not yet available on any other platform as far as I am currently aware although that may change with time. That said, given the way ITV currently operates, I would also fully expected any ITVBe HD channel on satellite to be only available as a paid-for channel on Sky with a higher value subscription.
^^^ This +1. While this new HD channel is on Virgin Media, it's not yet available on any other platform as far as I am currently aware although that may change with time. That said, given the way ITV currently operates, I would also fully expected any ITVBe HD channel on satellite to be only available as a paid-for channel on Sky with a higher value subscription.
AFAIK, it will be the same as the HD versions for ITV2, 3 & 4. (Family Bundle on Sky)
If you connect a TV with a DVB-C decoder to VM cable it is possible to watch BBC, ITV, and CH 4 free to air but everything else is encrypted.
Not quite "everything else".
In the East London area you get BBC Alba/Four/News/One/One London/One NI/One Scotland/One Wales/Parliament/Three/Two/Red Button. CBBC, & CBeebies. Channel 4 (&+1), Channel 5, ITV, ITVBe, Pick, S4C, Sky News.
I won't watch anything on TV unless it's in HD. Advertisers note.
Many don't (to the PSB's on ALL platforms), still watch via 1/101, 2/102, 3/103 and 4/104 despite them all having access to HD versions of these channels.
Many don't (to the PSB's on ALL platforms), still watch via 1/101, 2/102, 3/103 and 4/104 despite them all having access to HD versions of these channels.
Except, of course, the anomaly whereby 2/102 is actually the HD Version
ITV & FIVE are surely losing potential viewers by not having channels in HD on FTA platforms?
How much lost advertising revenue is that costing them (if true)? Almost certainly far less than increased economic advanyages of NOT being FTA. Do you really think that if that was not true that they would already be FTA? Simple business economics.
Comments
ITVbeHD, when it launches, will be like ITV2, 3 & 4 HD; pay channels.
The SD channel is on 118 though.
ITV Be, ITV Be+1 and ITV Be HD are free on Virgin. Maybe they will be free on satellite as well?
Nothings free on Virgin Media, you have to pay a subscription. You can't go out and buy a box and watch the free channels.
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-launch-itvbe
Already acknowleged ITV-be in SD is free on all platforms, but the Virgin platform is unique in that the platform is not free. You can buy a Freeview Box and connect it to an aerial, you can buy a Freesat box or a sky box and connect it to a dish and other than the cost of the kit there is no ongoing subscription for free to air content. You cannot buy a Virgin box and expect it to work for free. Not a Virgin subscriber but doesn't it cost extra to rent a box capable of receiving HD (even the totally free channels) ? I had a free box from Virgin for a while, it was SD only and the only way to watch free HD channels was to pay an increased rental charge, so how can you say the HD channels are free.
CH5-HD isn't free, neither are the ITV-HD channels other than ITV1-HD. Why would ITV-BE be free in HD. ?
Isn't it the case with ITV2/3/4 HD on VM that you need the XL pack to get them? Is that the case also with Be HD or is that available as a basic HD channel along with 'M' subscription (or whatever it's called)?
I have no idea, you need to ask Paddy C. Just know that viewing any TV on Virgin is not free, you have to have some sort of ongoing subscription (Same as Sky if you want to record anything).
Oh yes, fully agree with you there, no doubt about it, that's where Virgin have you as in effect there's no such a thing as 'free to air' channels up the DCAB pipe. In the analogue cable days some cable franchises would keep your PSB channels active to connect in to a TV but that's long gone. Paddy C, can you fill me in on the ITV Be HD sub level question?
^^^ This +1. While this new HD channel is on Virgin Media, it's not yet available on any other platform as far as I am currently aware although that may change with time. That said, given the way ITV currently operates, I would also fully expected any ITVBe HD channel on satellite to be only available as a paid-for channel on Sky with a higher value subscription.
AFAIK, it will be the same as the HD versions for ITV2, 3 & 4. (Family Bundle on Sky)
In the East London area you get BBC Alba/Four/News/One/One London/One NI/One Scotland/One Wales/Parliament/Three/Two/Red Button. CBBC, & CBeebies. Channel 4 (&+1), Channel 5, ITV, ITVBe, Pick, S4C, Sky News.
I won't watch anything on TV unless it's in HD. Advertisers note.
Many don't (to the PSB's on ALL platforms), still watch via 1/101, 2/102, 3/103 and 4/104 despite them all having access to HD versions of these channels.
Except, of course, the anomaly whereby 2/102 is actually the HD Version
That's true, forgot about that!
How much lost advertising revenue is that costing them (if true)? Almost certainly far less than increased economic advanyages of NOT being FTA. Do you really think that if that was not true that they would already be FTA? Simple business economics.