Competition Commission takes no action shock!

The Guardian is reporting that the Competition Commission are bottling it when it comes to reviewing BskyB’s monopoly on pay TV film rights:

BSkyB is to face no action from regulators over its monopoly of UK pay-TV film rights, after the Competition Commission decided that video on demand rivals such as LoveFilm and Netflix provide a vibrant market for consumers.
The decision marks a U-turn by the competition regulator, which provisionally determined last August that BSkyB's contracts with the six major Hollywood studios – were anti-competitive and needed to be weakened to allow rivals to flourish.
"Virgin Media strongly disagrees with today's provisional findings by the Competition Commission and continues to support its earlier findings of 2011 – that Sky's control of movie rights is restricting competition in the UK," said a spokeswoman for Virgin Media.
"The recent emergence of providers such as LoveFilm and Netflix has done nothing to impact Sky's advantage and we're currently working to better understand the reasons for the commission's decision as we consider next steps.
"The commission states very clearly in these provisional findings that competition in the wider pay-TV retail market remains ineffective."

Now normally I would be on VM’s side here, but, as we’ve seen when Sky was forced to share Premiership football with another broadcaster (Setanta/ESPN) these things don’t always benefit the paying customer even if it does eliminate a monopoly. Where once you could get all your Premiership games from Sky for a single price you now have to subscribe to ESPN too (on Sky at least). If that happened with the movie channels we could find ourselves in a situation similar to the States where you have to take multiple premium priced services to have access to the five big Hollywood studios movies, costing the customer considerably more than we pay here. The current arrangement works well – if you are just an occasional movie watcher you probably just need the films broadcast on the Freeview channels, if you want first run you go to either FilmFlex on a pay per movie or subscribe to Sky Movies. If we had to pay for, say, Sky Movies for Warner Bros movies but VM Movies for Universal and Sony films, that would be a mess.
I can't believe VM is going to suddenly decide to invest in their own content again, so all I can suppose is that their complaining is more to do with reducing carriage fees for Sky Movies than any genuine demand to address a monopoly situation.

24 new HD channels launching on Virgin Media (for the Olympics only)

The BBC Olympics channels will occupy EPG numbers 550-573 for HD and 574-597 for SD. Also Eurosport 3D will return to its former channel number 523, apparently for the French Tennis Open.
Sad to say that VM hasn't added any other new HD channels since last autumn and the only one confirmed as "coming soon" is Alibi HD which is supposed to launch in July. BBC HD becoming BBC2 HD doesn't count, so when can we expect some new HD channels Virgin Media? It's been a very long wait and the arrival of the Olympics channels at least confirms there's no technical capacity restrictions denying us more HD content.

TiVo recordings on the go

TiVo are launching a new product, TiVo Stream, and according to this report from PaidContent it's coming to Virgin Media later this year:

"Set-top box maker TiVo has introduced a new Slingbox-like product that lets users stream live or DVR-recorded TV to tablets, notebooks and smartphones. Showcased Monday at the Cable Show in Boston, TiVo Stream enables users of TiVo Premiere or Premiere Q digital video recorders to view video from their multichannel subscription on devices including the iPad on iPhone. The transcoding product is similar to EchoStar’s Slingbox, but differs in that it streams or downloads programs to multiple mobile devices without disrupting living-room viewing. In addition, TiVo also unveiled a new IP set-top box that allows Premiere Q users to view live or recorded TV from any room in the house. TiVo will debut both products at retail, or through partnerships with multichannel TV service providers including DirecTV, Charter Communications, Suddenlink and the UK’s Virgin Media, later this year. "

Cancelled US shows

Sky Living HD's The Ringer and Secret Circle are no more, and don't feel as though you're missing out with Sky Atlantic's Awake - that's been chopped too. Gone for good as well are BBC HD's Pan Am, Watch HD's Alcatraz, Sky 1 HD's House and Terra Nova,
(And anyone who's been downloading The River and Missing will find they've been canned too.)
Quite a big cut then, all in all. Did any new US series of note establish itself this time around?
Even Sky Atlantic struck out with Luck and Bored To Death quickly canned, and only really Game of Thrones (the most pirated show around - go figure!) is on a solid footing both critically and commercially, whilst Boardwalk Empire  and Mad Men draw small audiences for such expensive series but survive as critical darlings.
Every autumn the new US shows are hyped and every spring the majority are canned. Personally, I'm getting to the point where I won't even start watch new US shows unless they get strong reviews and US audiences: it just ain't worth investing the time for incomplete stories. (And if they start on terrestrial channels then get picked up by Sky, that's pretty much a sure sign they're not long for this world too.)

Moving house...moving TiVo?

A question for any Virgin Media staff looking at this blog: if someone moves house from one Virgin connected  premises to another, can their TiVo (and all its recorded programmes) be relocated at their new address?

ITV 2, 3, 4 HD channels remain exclusive to Sky

According to Smallworld owner David Durford:

"ITV2 HD is not available to us due to the lock-out signed into the carriage agreement with the other operators. We would like to carry it, and in time we will be able to. I can't go into to much specifics but we have discussed it with ITV at the moment but (as with Five) the cost of them is prohibitive at this moment in time, due to the Sky contract. That may be why VM are holding back, but of course I cannot speak for them."

(Smallworld is a triple play cable operator serving the west of Scotland and some Northern English towns. Its TV channels line up is pretty much the same as VM but I don't think there's any direct relationship between the two companies. It doesn't carry Sky Atlantic but does have the other Sky channels that we have, including the HD versions.)

Pirate Bay "blocked"

Never been to Pirate Bay before, but it appears Virgin Media is already blocking it (see pic).
The High Court ruling also appears to have given a massive promotional push to the bit torrent site: 12m additional visitors according to a story on Torrent Freak, which also reports on how to bypass the block if you so desire (not that I'm suggesting anyone does that).
Not that the block will have any effect. Type torrent+mad+men into Google and you'll get over 7 million results...

Virgin Media "must block Pirate Bay"

For those who resorting to "alternative means" to obtain their HBO fix in the absence of Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media, a kick in the teeth. According to the BBC:

File-sharing site The Pirate Bay must be blocked by UK internet service providers, the High Court has ruled. The Swedish website hosts links to download mostly pirated free music and video.
Sky, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk, O2 and Virgin Media must all prevent their users from accessing the site. (BT requested "a few more weeks" to consider their position on blocking the site.)

Fox renews Fringe for a fifth and final season

It's been touch and go for almost twelve months but now there's confirmation that Sky1 HD's Fringe will return for a fifth and final season, albeit with only 13 episodes to wrap up the tale of Walter, Peter and Olivia.
“Fringe is a remarkably creative series that has set the bar as one of television’s most imaginative dramas,” said Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly. “Bringing it back for a final 13 allows us to provide the climactic conclusion that its passionate and loyal fans deserve. The amazing work the producers, writers and the incredibly talented cast and crew have delivered the last four seasons has literally been out of this world. Although the end is bittersweet, it’s going to be a very exciting final chapter.”
“We are thrilled and beyond grateful that Fox – and our fans – have made the impossible possible: Fringe will continue into a fifth season that will allow the series to conclude in a wild and thrilling way,” said co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams. “All of us at Bad Robot are forever indebted to our viewers and the amazingly supportive Fox network for allowing the adventures of Fringe Division to not only continue, but to resolve in a way that perfectly fits the show.”
“This pickup means the world (both of them) to us, because we love sharing these stories with our enthusiastic fans,” added Fringe showrunners and executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman. “On behalf of the cast and crew, we applaud our fans and Fox for allowing us to imagine the impossibilities together for so long. Season Five is going to be a conclusive thrill ride for all of us.”

2012 Olympics: BBC coverage on Virgin Media

I've had a few people asking about Virgin Media and the Olympics broadcasting from the BBC. According to the BBC:

"Virgin Media will provide its subscribers with 24 live streams of Olympic action from the BBC and Eurosport during the 2012 Games. The streams will be available in both standard and high definition at no extra cost while the provider will also carry 3D broadcasts when they occur."

Here is VM's own press release on the matter:

With the 2012 London Olympics just one hundred days away, Virgin Media today revealed a wide range of exciting Olympics content its customers will be able to enjoy throughout the Summer of Sport on Virgin Media TV, all at no extra cost. Featuring live broadcasts in both standard- and high-definition, interactive apps and even a wide range of events in 3D, Virgin Media’s unbeatable coverage of the Olympics, courtesy of the BBC and Eurosport, will provide fans the perfect destination for all their Olympic viewing.
For sports fans wanting to keep up with the absolute latest, in addition to the Olympics coverage on BBC One, BBC Three, BBC One HD and BBC HD, Virgin Media will also be bringing its customers 24 live streams in both standard- or high-definition* courtesy of the BBC.
This extensive coverage will mean that for the first time ever, every Olympic sport will be available to view live, whether it’s gymnastics, judo or show jumping. The 24 live channels will be available through the Electronic Programme Guide, or through a dedicated BBC Red Button application. For TiVo customers the BBC Red Button service will take advantage of the service’s IP connectivity and will be enhanced with an exhaustive catch-up offering allowing viewers to catch up on key moments of the games at a time of their choosing.
For die-hard Olympophiles looking for even more immersion, in addition to the regular coverage, Virgin Media will also be bringing its customers Olympics content in 3D courtesy of BBC and Eurosport 3D. The BBC will be showing the opening and closing ceremonies in 3D, alongside selected live events and daily highlights in 3D. Due to launch 27th July, Eurosport 3D will broadcast a mix of around eight hours of live coverage in 3D alongside four hours of each day’s main highlights and to provide the most comprehensive 3D coverage of the Games on British television. Aleks Habdank, director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media said: “With a full range of live channels in HD and the first Olympics in 3D, Virgin Media TV customers are going to be spoilt with an unbeatable experience for watching the 2012 London Olympics. This year’s unprecedented breadth of viewing options will allow fans of any Olympic sport to watch their favourite events live and on demand, and with BBC and Eurosport 3D, viewers will be able to immerse themselves in the Games as never seen before.” Virgin Media will also have a range of Olympics content available to watch at anytime through its pioneering TV on Demand service. Through the course of the Games, customers will be able to enjoy a range of catch-up content through BBC iPlayer, as well as selected highlights from Eurosport 3D to relive those spectacular moments with incredible depth and realism. Customers with Virgin Media’s TiVo or V+ HD services also have additional benefits such as the ability to record up to three channels simultaneously. For customers enjoying the Games live, TiVo also allows customers to tune into three separate channels at the same time, with TiVo automatically storing up to three ‘live buffers’ through its triple tuner feature. This allows viewers to flip channels at a whim and pause and rewind the action on any of the channels on the three tuners, even if customers aren’t recording the Games.

* Depending on a customer’s equipment, different services will be available:

TV Box	24 live BBC channels (SD)	24 live BBC channels (HD)	BBC 3D	Red Button Services	Advanced Red Button Services	Eurosport 3D	Eurosport 3D On Demand
V Box	•			•
V HD	•	•	•	•		•	•
V+ HD	•	•	•	•		•	•
TiVo 500GB	•	•	•		•	•	•
TiVo 1TB	•	•	•		•	•	•

[sorry about the overspill on the table]
Table 1: All customers will be able to receive BBC’s 24 live streams in Standard Definition; customers require HD compatible equipment to receive HD versions of the 24 live streams and 3D compatible equipment to receive BBC 3D or Eurosport 3D. TiVo customers will be getting advanced BBC Red Button functionality including with an exhaustive catch-up offering allowing viewers to catch up on key moments of the games at a time of their choosing.