Devilfish
13th May, 2008, 01:08 AM
Virgin Media has begun a tentative programme of switching off analogue transmission across its cable network.
Digital services have been available across much of the UK's cable network for several years, but about 200,000 homes are still watching analogue cable television provided by Virgin.
Under the "long term" region-by-region project, which is beginning this month, analogue subscribers in areas where digital cable services are already available will be offered transfers to new packages.
Virgin was, however, unable to provide details of what will happen in individual areas where it currently provides analogue cable services but not digital. They include parts of Milton Keynes, Westminster, Southampton, Slough and Leicester.
In some areas, digital services will be made available for the first time; however, a spokesman said the introduction of digital services would vary by area and also within "pockets" of each area.
Where digital cable services are not introduced, analogue TV subscribers will be forced off Virgin's cable network. The company said only that this would be a "small number".
"The programme starts in May 2008 and will be a long term project, with customers in Coventry and Glasgow being the first," said the Virgin spokesman.
"Customers moving to digital cable services will be able to receive over 140 channels as well as our pioneering on demand services with over 4,300 hours of TV and 500 movies to enjoy at the press of a button." About 30 channels are available to Virgin analogue cable customers at present.
"Customers in other areas will be contacted in advance to let them know their options and which great digital services they?ll be able to get in their area," the spokesman added.
In areas where analogue transmission will be turned off but no digital replacement introduced customers will be offered Virgin's off-network services. They include telephony, DSL broadband and a Virgin-branded digital terrestrial television set-top box.
Virgin chief executive Neil Berkett has said the company will look at developing a television-over-DSL service for areas outside its cable network next year.
Ceasing analogue transmission is likely to save Virgin maintenance costs, while freeing up spectrum on the cable network. The firm has signalled it wants to use the capacity to provide faster broadband internet.
The move is also part of the transition to digital television across platforms. Sky shut down its analogue satellite service in 2001, while analogue terrestrial transmission will be turned off across the UK by 2013.
Digital services have been available across much of the UK's cable network for several years, but about 200,000 homes are still watching analogue cable television provided by Virgin.
Under the "long term" region-by-region project, which is beginning this month, analogue subscribers in areas where digital cable services are already available will be offered transfers to new packages.
Virgin was, however, unable to provide details of what will happen in individual areas where it currently provides analogue cable services but not digital. They include parts of Milton Keynes, Westminster, Southampton, Slough and Leicester.
In some areas, digital services will be made available for the first time; however, a spokesman said the introduction of digital services would vary by area and also within "pockets" of each area.
Where digital cable services are not introduced, analogue TV subscribers will be forced off Virgin's cable network. The company said only that this would be a "small number".
"The programme starts in May 2008 and will be a long term project, with customers in Coventry and Glasgow being the first," said the Virgin spokesman.
"Customers moving to digital cable services will be able to receive over 140 channels as well as our pioneering on demand services with over 4,300 hours of TV and 500 movies to enjoy at the press of a button." About 30 channels are available to Virgin analogue cable customers at present.
"Customers in other areas will be contacted in advance to let them know their options and which great digital services they?ll be able to get in their area," the spokesman added.
In areas where analogue transmission will be turned off but no digital replacement introduced customers will be offered Virgin's off-network services. They include telephony, DSL broadband and a Virgin-branded digital terrestrial television set-top box.
Virgin chief executive Neil Berkett has said the company will look at developing a television-over-DSL service for areas outside its cable network next year.
Ceasing analogue transmission is likely to save Virgin maintenance costs, while freeing up spectrum on the cable network. The firm has signalled it wants to use the capacity to provide faster broadband internet.
The move is also part of the transition to digital television across platforms. Sky shut down its analogue satellite service in 2001, while analogue terrestrial transmission will be turned off across the UK by 2013.