http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a43031/virgin-media-to-lose-sky-channels.html

 

According to a statement from Virgin Media, Sky is to pull its basic channels from the cable operator's platform at the end of the month.

 

Sky One, Two, Three, News and Sports News will be removed from the Virgin Media service following the breakdown of talks last night. Virgin claimed this morning that Sky were asking for double the previous rate for the cable company to carry the channels.

 

A statement from Virgin Media this morning said that "following an intensive series of meetings over the last week," it anticipated a withdrawal of these channels by Sky at the end of February.

 

It went on to say: "The nature of these negotiations leads us to believe that this outcome has been deliberately engineered by Sky in order to suppress competition and coerce Virgin Media's customers into switching to its service by denying them access to the basic channels.

 

"This view is reinforced by Sky's decision to broadcast, at the height of negotiations on 12 February, a series of promotions claiming that the channels were about to disappear from Virgin Media's network. This was nothing more than a heavy-handed attempt to exert undue influence on the negotiating process."

 

 

 

The negotiations do not impact Sky's premium sports and movies channels which will continue to be available to Virgin Media customers.

 

Virgin Media said that "despite a dramatic and sustained decline in the basic channels' popularity in Virgin Media households" and "the disappointing performance of some recent programming," Sky had consistently demanded a carriage fee more than double the existing arrangement. It added that Sky had continued to demand a price that "bears no relation to the channels' popularity and is radically out of line with the way it values competitors' channels on its own network."

 

Officially, negotiations are still ongoing with Virgin Media still hoping to seek an agreement on terms that make commercial sense for both parties. At this point, however, it feels that Sky offers no prospect of "a commercially viable agreement" being reached "to continue carriage of these channels on Virgin Media's platform."

 

Commenting on the anticipated withdrawal of Sky's basic channels, Steve Burch, president and chief executive of Virgin Media said: "Sky's behaviour is a heavy handed and anti-competitive response to that challenge and consumer choice has been reduced as a result. I'm pleased, however, that at a time when they're taking content away, Virgin Media is giving people more."

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My comment on this, is that is rather unfair by sky. They must be worried about the competion.

 

I can see this going on and on

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Skys Response

 

Sky is "surprised and disappointed" by Virgin's "premature" announcement that Sky's basic channels would be withdrawn from Virgin TV at the end of this month, the broadcaster claimed this afternoon.

 

In a statement that pointedly referred to one of Virgin Media's former names, NTL, Sky accused the company of trying to "free-ride" and denied that it - as Virgin claimed this morning - wanted to double the price of channels such as Sky One.

 

"With several days remaining and active discussions continuing, we're surprised and disappointed that NTL/Virgin chose to attack Sky and suggest, prematurely, that their customers will miss out on Sky basic channels from 1 March," the company said this afternoon.

 

"Unlike the open satellite platform, NTL/Virgin's cable network is closed. The only way Sky's channels can be available to cable viewers is if NTL/Virgin chooses to carry them.

 

"NTL/Virgin can't expect to free-ride on Sky's commitment to bring viewers the best TV. They need to decide whether they are going to invest in the programmes that their customers enjoy."

 

Some details about the ongoing negotiations were revealed by Sky. The most-recently made offer - which the broadcaster said "remains on the table" - includes carriage of high definition services, Sky Three, and Sky Arts.`

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Vrigins Response

That's quite a humorous letter.

I heard something about 24 being lost. Not being a 24 viewer, where is it on now?

Oh Hull are winning 2-0 against Birmingham.

 

Sorry, but on of the advantages of working on the laptop is that I can watch Sky.

 

Sky 1 losing 24?

Either Channel 4 or the Sci-Fi channel.

you're watching the championship via the internet?

Nope, via the TV :)

i'm sure i posted on this thread, but my reply appears to have been eaten by arnie :angry:

Can't really understand why Sky is so indescribably expensive, especially the sport channels! The cost/performance ratio of Sky Sports is absolutely risible compared to different pay-tv stations in Europe.

i'm sure i posted on this thread, but my reply appears to have been eaten by arnie :angry:

arnie doesn't delete posts either :rolleyes:

Arnie is still around?

Yep.

I have Sky. I like it. Most of the time there is something to watch. It is ridiculously expensive though.

Sky Plus is one of the best inventions around :)