[chinamug]

What a shame for the majority of viewers in ROI who wil have gone from seeing the matches in HD on RTÉ to crappy sub-par SD on Virgin Media.

Virgin Media's channels (One, Two, Tree and Four) are all available in HD. The only one that isn't is Virgin Media Extra, but this is an exclusive to Virgin Media customers.

I quite like some of the Christmas pres on Virgin Media channels, but think they've been used for a good few years.

I know VM broadcast (and simulcast) a lot of ITV programming (not just that from ITV Studios, but from a number of other independents as well), as well as the BBC, and its good to see some of the older ITV stuff that's not been on in the UK for a good few years. This morning we were treated to the Stephen Mulhern gamshow, Pick Me! and last night we had the 2020 Royal Variety Performance. I'm not sure but the Soap Quiz that goes out annually seemed to be edited slightly different on VM than it was on ITV as a reference to Emmerdale's lockdown episodes was edited out.

They're not available on Saorview in HD. If you don't have SKY or Cable (or other pay services) you don't have Virgin Media in HD. That's about 35% of the households in Ireland, give or take a few per cent. About 10% of Households only have Saorview, so the other 25% have Freeview overspill or Freesat/Free to Air Sat. (about 2% of Households only have UK TV) You can be sure a lot of them aren't watching the blurry pictures of Virgin Media when they can Access ITV 1,2, 3 and 4 on HD on Satellite. The lack of choice on Virgin Media can be shocking, Occasionally The Chase is on Virgin Media 2, 3 and 4 at the same time! There are 16 episodes of the Chase or the Chase Australia on across the 4 channels over the next 24 hours, and probably one is new if you're lucky.