On Demand Streaming EPG link closed:

Channel 206 - ID 2411  On Demand Streaming - On Demand Portal - Not on Original Tivo

- Hidden from the EPG - Hide1 flag added.

- Removed from Horizon configuration data. 

The On Demand Streaming EPG link has been removed from all devices.

Temporary Rebrand: 
- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand. 

Temporary Rebrands: 

- 2 movie channels with promotional rebrands. 

New Services - Pre-launch Configurations - Update:

ID 2421 BBC ONE Yorkshire  -  Internal Networks Only 

ID 2422 ITV1 Yorkshire WestHD  -  Internal Networks Only

- SDT root flags show that these service are running and encrypted - encryption added.  

The duplicate subscription code records for both services have been removed..  

 

 

Temporary Rebrand: 
- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand. 

New Services - Pre-launch Configurations:

 

ID 2421 BBC ONE Yorkshire  -  Internal Networks Only

- Short EPG Name: BBC1 Yorks 

- Added to TSID 101 SID 10127 on traditional cable networks.

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - channel 859. Typical of other additional BBC1 regional versions.

 

ID 2422 ITV1 Yorkshire WestHD  -  Internal Networks Only

- Short EPG Name: ITV1 Yorkshire WestHD 

- Added to TSID 102 SID 10248 on traditional cable networks.

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - channel 871. Typical of other additional ITV1 regional versions.

 

Both of the above: 

- Flagged as the Entertainment Genre.

- Flagged as HD. 

- Hidden from the EPG - Hide1 flag added. 

- SDT root flags show that these service are running and not encrypted - encryption not yet added.  

- Subscription codes added for M / Player / Mixit and above for traditional cable devices.

- Subscription codes added for the basic, inclusive channels, pack for Stream devices. 

- Added to 1 internal networks often used for pre-launch configuration.

   - Code Download Test (Portsmouth)

These services appear to be additional PSB regions to provide the correct regional coverage for new network build out areas. Those areas with terrestrial coverage from Emley Moor.

This is the first time a third BBC region has been added to a Virgin TV area. Previously, all BBC additional coverage regions used channel 858. 

 

Note: 

Although Yorkshire "West" would be an acceptable description for the regional coverage of BBC One, it is less acceptable for ITV1. Ofcom divides the ITV franchise in a North / South pattern, with the western part of the region editorially split between Leeds and Sheffield/Chesterfield. The Sheffield & Chesterfield transmitter groups taking the same programmes as the Hull / Lincoln (Belmont) area. For this reason, we will continue to use ITV's official names for the split coverage, Calendar North and Calendar South. If anything, Virgin's choice of regional names is only going to confuse viewers.

 

The subscription code records for both services were duplicated, so will be added to the SI Error list in due course. 

Service Closure - SDT Flags:

ID 2298  That's TV - Placeholder - End of Service

- SDT root flags show that this service is running and not encrypted - encryption removed. 

The SDT flags have been updated by Virgin TV to indicate that encryption has been removed following the removal of elementary streams on July 21st.

Service Closure - Housekeeping: 

ID 2298  That's TV - Placeholder - End of Service

The PMT and video stream (closure slate) have now been removed from TSID 3 SID 325 on traditional cable networks.

Service Closure: 

Channel 150 - ID 2298  That's TV - Placeholder - End of Service

- Hidden from the EPG - Hide1 flag added.

- Moved to placeholder channel 1822. - Releasing channel 150 for re-use. 

Hidden from the EPG after displaying a closure slate for 9 days.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands: 
- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand.

- 2 kids' channels with promotional rebrands. 

Changes to Information Slates:

 

ID 2020  Channel Update  -  Information Slate - Internal Networks Only

- Moved from channel 499 to channel 497

- Genre changed from Sport to Entertainment. 

 

ID 2055  Channel Update  -  Information Slate - Internal Networks Only

- Moved from placeholder channel 1899 to channel 498

- Genre changed from Sport to Entertainment.  

 

ID 2057  Channel Update  -  Information Slate - Internal Networks Only  

- Moved from channel 532 to channel 499

- Genre NOT changed from Sport.  

 

For all of the above:

- Restored to the EPG - Hide1 code removed. 

- Subscription codes removed for TNT Sports etc from when the slates were last used. 

- Subscription codes added for M / Player / Mixit and above for traditional cable devices.

- Subscription codes added for the inclusive (basic) tier for Stream devices.

- Removed from the NIT of all but 4 internal networks.

   - Code Download Test (Portsmouth)
   - NGRHEE Bromley

   - TTA Knowsley DMC (Hayes_RHE)
   - VM Paddington 

 

The slates are not visible on customer devices as they are not currently in the NIT of customer facing networks. 

The slates are seemingly being prepared for re-use. At the time of the analysis, there were no indications of what they will be used for. 

 

As there was no monitoring on June 12th, it is possible that these changes took place then. Because of the nature of the changes, the exact date of the change isn't important. 

Temporary pop-up service - SDT Flags:

ID 1484  TNT Sports HD Final  - Pop Up Service - Placeholder - End of Service

- SDT root flags show that this service is running and encrypted - encryption restored. 

The SDT flags have been updated by Virgin TV to indicate that encryption has been restored. This makes little sense as there are, currently. no elementary streams to encrypt

 

 

New FAST Services - Launched:

Channel 235 - ID 2400  Robot Wars  -  FAST Channel Portal - Not on V6 or Tivo 

Channel 236 - ID 2419  Demand Drama  -  FAST Channel Portal - Not on V6 or Tivo 

Channel 239 - ID 2417  River Monsters  -  FAST Channel Portal - Not on V6 or Tivo 

Channel 253 - ID 2418  Hotel Inspector  -  FAST Channel Portal - Not on V6 or Tivo 

- All added to the NIT of remaining networks.

These FAST channels have now launched on TV360 and Stream boxes.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands: 

- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand.

Virgin TV returns to the practice of renaming Sky Movies channels with promotional names, following a period where channels were given their standard names.

- 1 movie channel reverting to its usual name following a promotional rebrand.

Virgin TV hadn't used the promotional service name, so no change was required.

Service Closure: 

Channel 150 - ID 2298  That's TV - Placeholder - End of Service

- End of Service and Placeholder flags have been added.

The end of service / placeholder flag combination preserves any recordings for a short period following a channel closure.  

The service has closed on Virgin TV, it is currently carrying a closure slate advising viewers of other channels with classic shows.

Temporary pop-up service - SDT Flags:

ID 1484  TNT Sports HD Final  - Pop Up Service - Placeholder - End of Service

- SDT root flags show that this service is running and not encrypted - encryption removed. 

The SDT flags have been updated by Virgin TV to indicate that encryption has been removed following the removal of elementary streams on July 8th.

Service Closure - Housekeeping: 

ID  235  National Geographic+1 - Placeholder - End of Service

The PMT and video stream (closure slate) have now been removed from TSID 3 SID 318 on traditional cable networks.

 

 

End of pop-up service - Housekeeping: 

ID 1484  TNT Sports HD Final  - Pop Up Service - Placeholder - End of Service

The PMT and the remnants of elementary streams have now been removed from TSID 14 SID 1402 on traditional cable networks.

Service Closure - Removed from the EPG: 

Channel 383 - ID  235  National Geographic+1 - Placeholder - End of Service

- This Service has been hidden from the EPG. - Hide2 flag removed with Hide1 flag left in place.

The closure announcement slate has now been hidden from the EPG after 7 days.

Temporary Rebrand - not actioned by Virgin TV: 
- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand - the service name was not updated by Virgin TV. 

Temporary Rebrand - not actioned by Virgin TV: 

- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand - the service name was not updated by Virgin TV.

Start of a Free to View Period:

Channel 801  -  ID 1689  -  Utsav Gold HD

Channel 802  -  ID 1677  -  Utsav Bharat

Channel 803  -  ID   424  -  Utsav Plus HD

Channel 805  -  ID   425  -  SONY TV HD

Channel 806  -  ID   422  -  SONY MAX HD

Channel 807  -  ID 1705  -  SONY SAB HD

Channel 808  -  ID 2032  -  SONY MAX2

Channel 809  -  ID   426  -  Zee TV HD

Channel 810  -  ID   427  -  Zee Cinema HD

Channel 811  -  ID 2350  -  Zee Punjabi

Channel 815  -  ID   430  -  B4U Movies

Channel 825  -  ID 2166  -  Colors Gujarati

Channel 826  -  ID 1562  -  COLORS HD

Channel 827  -  ID 1675  -  Colors Rishtey

Channel 828  -  ID 1927  -  Colors Cineplex

- Subscription Pack FTV Override Codes have been applied, making these channels available to all customers. 

Horizon data indicates that extra subscription pack codes have been added on these boxes, which don't support override codes, again making the channels available to all customers.

The override codes has also been added to SONY SAB HD even though this channel is already available to customers on the basic channel packages.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands:

- 1 kids' channels with a promotional rebrand.