October 29, 2009

Virgin "plan to launch more HD channels"

VM Chief Exec's presentation to investors is now online
Slide 8 is the main TV information, which details the following:

• Significant V+ DVR growth potential from current 21% penetration
• Content investments focused on HD
– Plan to launch more HD channels
• Only 110k analog TV customers remaining
– On-track for analog switch-off in digital areas, freeing up significant spectrum

I gave a listen to Mr Berkett's words that accompanied this presentation but they gave us little clue as to when we could expect additional channels of a more highly defined hue, except it appears to be next year rather than this.

8 comments:

lee said...

Considering the odd glitches, the SLOWWWWW red button (i.e. on BBC), and the very slow program guide boxes, I would hope they wish to roll-out upgrades to the Samsung box too. I'd even be prepared to pay up to £20 to have the current awful-but-amazing-that-it-has-3-tuners V+ box.

lee said...

*have it replaced, that is!!

Mark said...

I'm frankly amazed this bears comment again.
Virgin have already announced that more channels will be added to their HD bouquet. Isn't there a Food Channel already confirmed for next year? We've already had Living HD launched in the last few weeks, was anyone truly expecting any more in 2009?

Nialli said...

I'd hope VM get ITV1 HD if it launches as a full channel this year, and it's good to see they're still looking to add more HD, albeit in 2010.

Lakota said...

Yes it is good.
My only concern, given the email survey I completed, is how much is it going to cost?

Mark said...

The E-Mail survey was only to gauge reaction, not a statement of intent! The already announced HD Food Channel certainly won't cost any more and if ITV HD launches on cable as Nialli hopes it will be subscription free too.
I think it's important to get this "announcement" in perspective. Notice the chairman said "Next year", not "in the New Year". I would expect these developments to be taking place in the latter half of next year rather than any time in the near future.I think Sky's Movie and Sports channels are further away than even than that.

Nialli said...

They can't charge for ITV1 HD as it's a PSB - it has to be free.
I think the VM email survey suggests they're looking at what would be an acceptable price point for additional HD services.
Berkett's words aren't really an announcement but just confirming what had already been said - there will be more HD at some point.

Mark said...

"They can't charge for ITV1 HD as it's a (Public Service Broadcaster)-it has to be free"

Yes, I think I already pointed that out in post six of this list of comments!
It's also pertinent to point out that Virgin is currently spending wads of cash on full page adverts in newspapers which describe cable's HD services as free as opposed to £9.75 with Sky. I doubt they'd be running such ads if any subscription HD chanels were on Virgin's agenda any time soon.