March 20, 2010

Areas that will get the new HD channels in April

Check out Media Boy's listing on Cable Forum to see if your area has upgraded to NGTV (required for the extra HD channels).
Another way to check is to check channel 937 - if it's Radio London 94.9, you on NGTV, if it ain't, you may have to wait a little longer the additional HD line up.
Me? Looks like I'm going to have to wait - I think I'm Lewisham head end :o(

22 comments:

Lakota said...

Anyone any ideas on how to find out what 'headend' we're on then?
Nowhere on the list stands out to me as somewhere I might be connected to.

Unknown said...

I am in one of the not upgraded areas. Wonderful, thanks Virgin. Just when I thought things were getting better too.

paultrademark said...

All ready for the extra channels here.. apart from ITV1 HD

Anonymous said...

No suprise i am in same boat preston not been upgraded yet either.Probably be 31st may for us,Vm are a totally joke bet sky are laughing there bollocks off at this total cock up.

lee said...

Oh cummon guys...I appreciate its a wait, but we ARE getting them. I hardly think it's a major cock-up - I do agree the original press release should have been clearer, then I doubt there would have been an issue.

But waiting another 2/3 months? I hardly think it's THAT bad. Plus, you'd have gone to $ky if you were that peeved...

lee said...

Plus, Tivo software and their new interface later this year!!

Erich said...

It's funny, isn't it, if VM had initially come out and announced the HD channels for June, and then said some areas would actually be getting them by April, it would have been good news. However, doing it the wrong way around makes them look like a bunch of amateurs.

Square eyes said...

VM said there would be a number of new HD channels launched by June, this is a fact. However they also said that the start of the roll out would begin in April with more to follow.

And Lee is right, so some may have to wait a up to 3 months, at least when you get them you will not be charged £10 for them.

Nialli said...

My advice before people get too wound up about this is to see how the list looks on April 1st: we have no idea how quickly this roll out is happening and it could be that few are affected come the day. Only half of the headends are completed to date, but we do not know the roll out plan.
According to Digital Fanatic, a Virgin employee over on Cable Forum: "There's no point asking "When will my headend be NGTV?" as nobody is able to give this information.
"I understand everyone's concerns and we all want to get the new HD channels... sit tight... they are coming very soon....Only a very small amount of customers will be waiting until June."
Virgin could have managed the original messages better but what's done is done and we're all getting ITV1 HD on April 2.

Erich said...

VM said there would be a number of new HD channels launched by June, this is a fact.
Heh, no, the fact is that they announced an April launch for a number of HD channels, but then had to backtrack and admit that some people would only get them all by June. Before this happened, they had stated that they hoped to have 20-30 HD channels by July.

It's always the same with VM, and it will be funny to see if we get personal rocket packs and flying cars before they get around to actually releasing their new Tivo box.

lee said...

Erich, I find your bitter cynicism unfortunate. I'm not sure what 'debate' can be had, as you're just going to see the negative and assume lies all the time.

I certainly do understand cynicism on VM/HD subjects due to their previous history, but following the last 6 months, I would have hoped people can see that finally things are coming around. Just it's not going to please those who want everything up and running by next Tuesday!

Erich said...

Erich, I find your bitter cynicism unfortunate.
I'm just correcting Square Eyes' constant fabrications. It's important to get the facts straight. This is a very informative blog, and it detracts from its reputation to have posters who simply make things up, and then run away when confronted with the facts, as was the case with the Bravo/Living nonsense.

As for VM, the accuracy of their predictions and promises make the Met Office look like the Oracle of Delphi by comparison, so I hardly think a bit of cynicism is inappropriate, even if some posters don't like to be reminded of these shortcomings.

I'm not sure what 'debate' can be had, as you're just going to see the negative and assume lies all the time.
No, I don't think VM lied, they just got it wrong. Again. Of course, it's entirely up to you if you think that's a basis for a debate or not, but I'm curious why you would take issue with an entirely fact based argument, but let the obvious fabrications of other posters slide.

I certainly do understand cynicism on VM/HD subjects due to their previous history, but following the last 6 months, I would have hoped people can see that finally things are coming around.
And I have given them credit for that in other threads, but I'm not going to partake in the shameless VM shilling.

Just it's not going to please those who want everything up and running by next Tuesday!
Nobody said anything about next Tuesday, but the simple fact of the matter is that VM announced a launch date, and then later admitted that it wouldn't apply to all customers. If you ordered something by post with a specific delivery date, and it arrived 2 months late, most people would consider that unacceptable.

lee said...

I rescind some of my earlier comments, as your post indeed makes sense - one thing is that I felt you couldn't debate, which you clearly can, so I appreciate you proving me wrong there :)

I guess it also comes down to personality, I see things always as "glass half full", and am just glad that VM are FINALLY pulling their collective HD fingers our, whilst certainly seeing their faults - I ain't no VM shiller, but I certainly understand that during contract negotiations, neither side can say anything, hence the long silence, and I say long, because some of these negotiations will have taken months at least.

I think ultimately, with the on-demand, better broadband and other offerings, VM offer so much more than just HD so at times think some people get a bit too het-up about it, HOWEVER, I do understand this is an HD forum, so I am cheating really by considering other aspects of their service ;-)

Erich said...

I guess it also comes down to personality, I see things always as "glass half full", and am just glad that VM are FINALLY pulling their collective HD fingers our, whilst certainly seeing their faults - I ain't no VM shiller, but I certainly understand that during contract negotiations, neither side can say anything, hence the long silence, and I say long, because some of these negotiations will have taken months at least.
The shiller comment wasn't aimed at you. As for VM's silence, I don't actually mind that. They've made it clear that they're in talks to add more HD, and it goes without saying that they can't make any promises until actual deals have been reached. The long-standing problem has been their unwillingness and inability to compete with Sky on HD, and now that they're finally getting their act together, it's not helpful to promote the launch of new channels with the mention of events that will have taken place before they can even deliver the channels to everyone.

I'm less concerned about the comment about 20-30 HD channels by July. I don't think anyone believed that was going to happen anyway, but it does make you wonder about the Tivo rollout as well, and you can't blame people for pointing to Sky's superior handling of matters like that. While VM are struggling to get their TV service just up to modern standards, Sky announce something as ground-breaking as 3D broadcasts, and 3 months later, right on schedule, they're up and running.

I think ultimately, with the on-demand, better broadband and other offerings, VM offer so much more than just HD so at times think some people get a bit too het-up about it, HOWEVER, I do understand this is an HD forum, so I am cheating really by considering other aspects of their service
I think that's fine, as long as you make the distinction when discussing specific aspects of the service. HD is not the be-all-end-all for everyone. In fact, many people can't even tell much of a difference, and there's no question that VM's combination of phone, broadband and TV is very attractive. I just find their incompetence and lack of ambition frustrating, when it comes to TV. Not just in terms of how long it has taken them to get their act together with HD, but their VOD service is potential next-gen technology with stone age implementation. Hopefully the Tivo thing will change that, but given their track record, I'm only (very) cautiously optimistic.

What's even more absurd is that I recently went round to a friend of my girlfriend, and her husband had a media PC setup running his shared VM card, and had done so for about 6 years, and his setup actually looked superior to even those new Tivo screenshots we've seen. It's just jaw-dropping that regular customers have had to be stuck with VM's ZX Spectrum-like UI, while pirates and card sharers have had superior alternatives for years.

Square eyes said...

Erich, where the hell do you get off...

I happen to work for VM, and the information I gave about the HD roll out was correct. Yes VM could have handle the release of information better, but hey not everyone is perfect.

And I don't understand why you are moaning about the HD content, because as you stated in a previous post - you are more interested in 3D...

Anonymous said...

The all situation is a total shambles.Vm`s PR team are a disgrace,To come out an announce all these new channels at the same time sky are offering free HD boxes and then less than 2 weeks b4 launch now say that half there customers are now not getting them and could be waiting till nearly june is a joke.Surely this is false advertising and would be interested to hear what ofcom thought of this,I know several people who have cancelled with sky due to the first annoucement and are very annoyed now that the channels promised are not going to be delivered as first stated .
Its all well and good people saying we have waiting so long so another month or so is no hardship,Surely this does not make it right.

Erich said...

I happen to work for VM, and the information I gave about the HD roll out was correct. Yes VM could have handle the release of information better, but hey not everyone is perfect.
I haven't said the information they gave out wasn't correct, but the official announcement regarding the new HD channels was that they were going to launch in April. It's unprofessional and embarrassing to have to admit that some areas won't actually receive the channels for another 2 months, never mind the fact that people have to find that information in "small print" somewhere in the FAQ secsion of their website.

And I don't understand why you are moaning about the HD content, because as you stated in a previous post - you are more interested in 3D...
The fact that I'm more excited about 3D doesn't mean I'm not interested in HD. And let's be honest, as a VM customer, I won't be getting 3D anytime soon.

lee said...

omg, I can't WAIT until Nialli set's up his VM3D blog....


;-)

bradmcr said...

I have to say that I am annoyed with the fact that Virginmedia have upgraded parts of Manchester, which all seem to be outside Manchester, yet us who actually live in a Manchester postcode have not been upgraded to NGTV. If Virginmedia could provide a timetable of when these upgrades will happen then we might have more patience, I would be anyway especially since I have just upgraded my boxes to both be HD.

Erich said...

Well, I'll be..!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a209948/virgin-media-outlines-3d-on-demand-plans.html

Maybe that 3D blog isn't that far off after all.

lee said...

*collapses*


I did notice their new box (sans HD) was listed as "3D-ready"

Media Boy UK said...

The following area will join NGTV this week -

Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Joining NGTV this week.

I have found out the areas that Virgin Media are updating this week:

March 23rd:
Manchester (Stretford, Withington, Rochdale, Oldham.)
Hersham

March 24th:
Croydon

March 25th:
Manchester (Birkenhead, Bromborough, Salford, Wardley.)
Basildon