June 28, 2012

Reminders arriving on TiVo

Currently in trial and reported on this thread at Cable Forum
When the reminder is due this pops up on screen. If you don't respond the Tivo changes channel to the set reminder.

It's life Jim, but not as we know it

Press Release: CBS Action beams aboard new app to Virgin Media’s TiVo service

Virgin Media’s revolutionary TiVo service today sees the arrival of a brand new interactive Star Trek app courtesy of CBS Action. The app will thrill aficionados of the legendary show as well as take newcomers behind the scenes of one of the world’s most successful television franchises.
Every episode of Star Trek: The Digitally Remastered Original Series which is exclusively broadcast on CBS Action (Virgin Media channel 192), will be featured in the app following each original broadcast. Additionally, the app will showcase cast interviews, the classic 1970s Star Trek animated series and rare documentaries on demand, plus a host of exclusive and original content including footage from the hottest Star Trek conventions, interactive games and monthly quizzes.
Easily accessible through the ‘Apps and Games’ section, the app joins Virgin Media TiVo’s rapidly growing portfolio of interactive services, which enables customers to discover new content and interact with shows they love in entirely new ways.
With just one click, viewers will be transported into the farthest regions of the galaxy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and into the control room. From here, they will be able to navigate through six menu options which will present them with a truly unique Star Trek experience.
On Demand
Viewers will be able to enter a gateway to catch up on the week’s episodes of Star Trek starting with Star Trek: The Digitally Remastered Original Series, available to Virgin Media customers for the first time thanks to CBS Action.
Starfleet Interviews
A vault of behind the scenes interviews with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise and its creators, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig, DC Fontana and Walter ‘Matt’ Jefferies.
Intergalactic Events
CBS Action will travel the universe to bring you insights, news and reviews from the most exciting sci-fi conventions. The channel’s Trekologist Raules Davies will give a fan’s eye view of the UK’s Collectormania and London Film and Comic Con and witness first hand FedCon from Dusseldorf. As an official partner of Destination Star Trek London, CBS Action has the rare opportunity to interview all five captains, which will be available on the App later this year.
Specials
Virgin Media TiVo customers will have on demand access to all 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series and two rare Star Trek documentaries: A Captain’s Log and Beyond The Frontier.
The Ultimate Quiz
Viewers will have the chance to test their knowledge with a fun and interactive quiz written and hosted by Raules Davies. With this ultimate grey matter test of all things Trek, Virgin Media TiVo customers will be able to interact with the quiz to determine their Starfleet ranking all the way from Cadet to Captain.
Supertreks
Viewers can select their favourite Enterprise crew member and watch an exclusive video showcasing their top five skills, as selected by Raules Davies.

June 20, 2012

New Sky EPG and HD comes to LoveFilm

A couple of news items about other platforms:
Firstly, Sky is rejigging its EPG in a (futile) attempt to compete with TiVo. Not coming until the end of the year (and even then it won't be on all boxes). More details at http://crave.cnet.co.uk/televisions/sky-gets-new-look-planner-and-tv-guide-50008175/
Meanwhile, LoveFilm has finally added HD to its (frankly pretty poor quality) UK streaming service. This news from Crave;
If you're watching on an Xbox, Blu-ray player or smart telly, you'll get a 720p stream. Only some titles are currently available in HD -- on its blog Lovefilm explains that flicks like Apocalypse Now and Attack the Block* will be streaming in glorious high definiton, as will TV shows including Planet Earth and Lost.

Unfortunately Lovefilm says it doesn't have studio rights to stream HD on the iPad, while PlayStation 3 owners are also left out -- though Sony's console currently streams in higher than standard quality apparently, as do Sony tellies and Blu-ray players.
I would personally recommend Apple TV over Netflix or LoveFilm from a picture quality perspective, but it's not anywhere near as cheap.
* Incidentally, Attack the Block is on 4HD this Sunday evening - a fine Brit flick from Mr Joe Cornish!

June 14, 2012

BT confirms its new Premiership coverage will be on Virgin Media

According to The Guardian:
BT promises its service will be available on Freeview, Virgin and Sky, and although no pricing has been outlined, costs are likely to start at about £10 a month – with fans having to fork out for both.

June 13, 2012

ESPN loses Premiership Football

ESPN HD won't be showing Premiership football from the 2013/14 season onwards after losing the rights battle for the 38 non-Sky games to BT. Sky secured five of the seven packages for 2013-14 to 2015-16, totalling 116 matches a year, while BT, ousting ESPN, acquired the rights for 32 games. Its package includes 18 of the 38 first-choice picks, Saturday lunchtime and Bank Holiday games being the main menu for BT. What happens now with ESPN and carriage of BT on Virgin Media is anyone's guess. But remember this is not next season but is the season after, so don't expect any details to be announced for some time.

June 02, 2012

Spotify issues?

If you have had issues using Spotify over your Virgin Media account, they'd like to hear from you. Check out VM's Spotify Issues thread.