Virgin Media Community

[Colin_D]

Can anyone tell me whether it is possible to access the Talking Pictures channel via VM. This channel is available through normal Freeview TV and is an excellent channel for accessing the classic vintage films. If not available VM should consider adding it as current choice for this category is very limited in my opinion.

[apcyberax]

VM do not pick the channels and Talking picture would need to pay for to be supplied via cable. most freeview channels wont as most people can get freeview anyway

[Colin_D]

I''ve got Freeview as well as VM so can't buy into that theory! Most people I know have acress to Freeview (council) TV rather than overpriced subscription TV services such as Sky or VM!

[nodrogd]

It costs the channel owner for every platform they join. So while it is free to the customer, the channel owner only receives advertising & sponsorship income in return for their outlay.

TPTV has invested in a Satellite slot, which makes them available to both Sky & Freesat customers through just one deal with the Satellite operator (SES).

The slot they have on Freeview HD has restricted coverage (70% of the UK). This is currently supplemented in 2 areas by taking unused airtime on local TV stations in Brighton & Swansea.

While VM carries most of the other Freeview channels, the ones with tighter budgets have either gone down the subscription route on VM in order to afford a slot (eg Horror channel, CBS Reality) or not joined at all.

[frank_gm]

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Colin_D wrote:
I''ve got Freeview as well as VM so can't buy into that theory! Most people I know have acress to Freeview (council) TV rather than overpriced subscription TV services such as Sky or VM!

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So why should VM waste money on a channel which, as you say, most people have access to on Freeview?

[ozsat]

There is a lot of good stuff on this channel - and several local tv channels now relay it from midday to 6pm

[frank_gm]

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ozsat wrote:

There is a lot of good stuff on this channel - and several local tv channels now relay it from midday to 6pm

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But, to repeat the above, if most people have access to on Freeview what is the issue.

Otherwise get the channel to cough up, I don't want to subsidise them.

[ozsat]

The mux it uses is of limited reach so is not available on Freeview in many areas - and also only available to those with HD Freeview receivers.

[frank_gm]

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ozsat wrote:

The mux it uses is of limited reach so is not available on Freeview in many areas - and also only available to those with HD Freeview receivers.

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A choice by the channel provider?  From all I have read it would appear that they want to have a low cost option. If that is correct then it is perhaps not surprising that they are not on VM.

[ozsat]

The only capacity openly available now is limited