Ofcom's ruling also states that HD versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2 must be offered to rivals on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms". The deal struck by BSkyB today will allow Virgin Media access to HD channels but BT and Top Up TV will have to apply to the CAT to get HD access as and when their services can launch the higher specification channels.
17 comments:
YES YES YES, what a fantastic bit of news, as you say, its the news we have all been waiting for
Well it doesnt mean they will! since all HD channels are free on Virgin, to pay Sky for HD sports they will surely have to charge Virgin customers as well...i won't be forking out extra for a few HD footy games...
Perhaps they won't because of the 20% reduction in the cost of the sports. They could continue to charge exactly the same to the customer, which would mean you would not have to pay any extra for the HD???
But who knows, I do know that I would pay an extra charge for the HD Sports
Now we're getting somewhere.
I wouldn't expect VM to charge a HD premium here either. They don't have the same need to recoup initial investments in HD that Sky use to justify their HD fee, and considering how much noise they've been making about their "free" HD recently, it would be a bad PR move to turn around and introduce an HD fee.
Erich I would have to agree, after the recent blunders as well, I think it would be grave mistake. Bur as we all know VM do like to mix things up!!!
Why only sports? Have Ofcom forgotten that some people have no interest in sport, and would like to watch the likes of Lost, 24, House, Fringe and other big US imports in HD? And of course, there are also several HD documentary channels also currently Sky exclusives.
I'm just happy that finally VM customers will have the choice to take Sky sports in HD.
I being one of them (additional costs regardless).
I'm pretty excited and can't wait to find out when it may happen, how they will implement any charge and whether the red button will also become available.
Good times ahead! :)
I have looked at this blog almost daily just to see this one piece of news. Joy! Don't know how long it will take, but as long as I have The Ashes in HD I'm not too bothered. :-)
And strangely enough, from tomorrow VM will begin a TV ad campaign touting their HD capability.
Co-incidence??
http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1420500&highlight=
making the channels "available" is one thing, but sky still haven't said what they will actually charge VM for sky sports HD yet though, Ofcom ruled it had to be "fair" but i doubt sky's idea of fair will tally with anyone elses
Papers are suggesting VM will charge £15 a month for Sky Sports 1. Top-up TV £20 for SS1 & 2.
Ashes on SS3, then?
As per my posted on cable forum on the 18th Apr, yet again my source has come up trumps.
At the moment there is no confirmation on price for extra HD channels or the reduced Sky Sports deal.
What I can see happening is we do get Sky HD channels for no extra charge if XL TV customer but we would not get any savings for Sky Sports. (To get Sky Sports HD would mean you have to get the Sky Sports package)
VM whole add campaign is built around providing HD channels at no extra monthly cost/subscription.
So I guess I'm saying be prepared to get Sky HD channels but don’t expect to see reduced prices on your sports package.
Hey Big Red, if you read my 2nd comment on this post, i think that is exactley what I said. The 20% saving with wholesale pricing could be used for the HD charge, so that would mean no increase in costs.
I hope you're right guys, but I think we'll see a "Sky HD package" on VM for a monthly sub - Sports, Movies and Sky1, plus maybe Sky News and Arts in HD too. I don't think Sky will make its channels available for less on another platform, despite what OFCOM says.
Then again, I can see Sky dropping the HD monthly sub soon as it attempts to big up 3D. Saw it for myself this week - completely unimpressed.
If the rumours are true,Expect Sky to drop the £10 charge from june
I had a Sky installer due this Sunday, just phoned Virgin to subscribe to their HD offer instead as thought I'd bide my time with the upcoming sky sports 1 and 2 HD offerings until hopefully the movies as well, but the retention people (who shlould know more than the standard sales guy reading from a sheet) said they had no idea when the sky sports HD will be avaiable, it could be 1 - 2 years!! All the forums imply the sports offerings are imminent - in time for the new premiership season. Looks like the Sky man will still be coming - shame as I'd rather stay with Virgin, but they just don't have the offerings...
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