Movies4Men Channel or Travel Channel.Will they be shown on Virgin Media

Mark_My_Word

Will either Movies4Men channel or the Travel Channel ever be included On Virgin Media. Both are available on ky who seem to have far more free channels available.

ottoni

Hi, I guess you've seen that actually sky have probably 150-200 extra channels on their platform compared to Virgin media. You see sky is what's called an 'open' platform, on that when sky first started in the uk, part of its license from ofcom was to allow any channel that wants to broadcast a space on skys epg, obviously sky accepted and charged these channels a hefty fee to do so. It really is a win win situation. These channels get a place on skys popular epg, make money from advertising and sky collect the fees they charge them.
Whereas virgin is a bit different. They are not an 'open' platform, but essentially a closed one, there is no obligation from them to carry all the channels that sky does. Also if virgin wants, for example movies4men on their platform, virgin have to pay them to be included! Virgin will only really carry channels that will attract the most viewers, more viewers means more advertising potential. A relatively 'niche' channel like movies4men doesn't attract a large audience, therefore doesn't attract much advertising revenue. Virgin essentially chooses what it wants on its platform. Virgin will never carry all of the channels sky does, of it did it would be put out of business. Hope this has helped explain a bit behind all of the scenes of virgin and sky.

david39

The Movies4Men channels have been bought by Sony, so expect some big changes there in the coming months which will give them a wider audience appeal.

Magic_Moments

Virgin Media does need to be competitive with Sky in it wants to maintain its share of the market. If this means spending a bit of money on new channels then surely this would be a short term loss but a long term gain by attracting additional customers. I would have thought The Travel Channel(on Sky 251) is partially funded by its advertisers anyway and I would certainly wish to see this channel added to the Virgin portfolio. With Sony apparently buying out Movies4Men then there must now be a chance of this channel be added in some shape of form.I would also like to see Vintage TV added as well. sometimes I wonder if Virgin ever listen to what their customers want and when they leave at the end of their contract they will try an offer an incentive for customer to stay