Virgin TiVo

[DandyCobalt]

I thought the new Virgin TiVo box was to be launched mid-December 2010?
http://whathifi.com/News/Virgin-Media-rolls-out-its-TiVo-powered-next-gen-entertainment-system/

Judging from the Virgin website, https://tivo.virginmedia.com/public/interest it seems like it has been pushed back to next year...

"Our new TiVo service is launching in early 2011. We can hardly wait!
Enter your details below to be the first to find out more"

What exactly do Virgin mean by "early 2011"? March?April?

They should have said.."We can hardly wait to send out a press release for something we don't have yet. Probably because we have to actually spend our 2010 PR Budget in 2010, so let's not have a little matter like having no product get in the way of a good story?"

 

[DandyCobalt]

We're now in "Early 2011" - anyone know when Virgin TiVo will actually be available to humans?

I haven't had my call from them yet, even though the delicious lady on their pre-registration website video complimented me for how quickly I'd heard about it.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Had the Virgin van man in this week to fix the phones...says that all very hush hush, but will be January for the new TiVo. Forgot to ask if he meant 2011.

 

[camac]

Hi Dandy

I was in a Virgin Media shop in Gyle Centre in Edinburgh yesterday and was told ( mind you this was after much deliberation between 3 of them) that it would be Feb or March before it was freely available.

At least their customer service is consistent.

 

[Anonymous]

I sent the e-mail, and i went in today. Im on tv "large package", the lady said that if you wernt on the tv "XL package", you would have to pay a little per month.

I have to pay an extra £5 per month cos i have the recordable V+ HD box. So we will have to see what they want per month for the new box.

My V+ box is ok but all the online (catchup/demand) content is slow on the menu's, and takes age's to load up,does my head in but dont use it too much.

I hope the new box is all singing,all dancing...lol...

Might be an idea for me to get a price to go XL tv cos you know that price will go up closer to the release date..

 

[Anonymous]

feb/march defo...

 

[DandyCobalt]

Still no sign of any life from Virgin on actually making TiVo available. Has anyone heard from them recently? That 2010 launch activity seems so long ago!

i tried ringing the Virgin helpline, but they didn't know anything about it.

The impatience is because, despite only getting Virgin in the last six months or so, we were given two of the older Scientific Atlantic HD+ boxes from the V van - and they are useless...to say the least/politely. Lucky our kettle is a slow one for making the tea - press a button on the virgin remote, then feel life pass you by before the box decides to respond.

 

[Anonymous]

Waiting to hear back from an local installer for virgin. What I did get out him was that some of the staff have had it since December and then it going to Virgin customer on the VIP50 and TV XL packages. New customers will not see it before May!

Will post more when I get the info

 

[Anonymous]

The staff in the Virgin shop in Bradford said they would be getting a box in to "show off" within the next 2 weeks and the emails would be going out to those who have registered an interest this week.

 

[camac]

I have had it confirmed by Virgin staff in one of their shops that the box will be available to customers from April 2nd.

But the sceptic in me will wait and see.

 

[Andy Clough]

Still waiting for mine too, with no delivery date yet confirmed.

 

[DandyCobalt]

camac:

I have had it confirmed by Virgin staff in one of their shops that the box will be available to customers from April 2nd.

But the sceptic in me will wait and see.

I'm learning so much about marketing from Virgin. Personally, I'm thinking about "launching" my new Teleportation Device in "Early 2011".

Ok, it won't actually be available until "Early-2150", but I could do a website page to get people to pre-register. Could maybe get them to pay a deposit too (hey, there's an idea Virgin?). Or has Branson already come up with the same idea for his space plane?

 

[camac]

DandyCobalt:camac:

I have had it confirmed by Virgin staff in one of their shops that the box will be available to customers from April 2nd.

But the sceptic in me will wait and see.

I'm learning so much about marketing from Virgin. Personally, I'm thinking about "launching" my new Teleportation Device in "Early 2011".

Ok, it won't actually be available until "Early-2150", but I could do a website page to get people to pre-register. Could maybe get them to pay a deposit too (hey, there's an idea Virgin?). Or has Branson already come up with the same idea for his space plane?

"With vision like that Dandy you could get a job with Mr Branson"

.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Really excited now!! Just got the email from Virgin....(honestly)...as far as I can decode, it means "don't expect any news for another 6 weeks"...but they've made it sound really great....this is for a product that was "launched" to the media last year!
At Virgin Media, our customers come first. That's why we'd like to offer you the chance to order your TiVo service before it goes on sale to the rest of the Great British public which we expect to be in April. What's more, we'll make sure you're first in the queue to have your service installed, with priority installation, just for Virgin Media customers.

If you're interested, you don't need to do a thing. We'll be in touch around the end of March to let you know how you can get the TiVo service before it goes on general sale. For now, you can sit back, relax and wait for all the good stuff to come to you.

 

[steadyguy]

Hi Dandy,

well I for one and many more who have had cable for many years are not excited. We are more angry than anything. Existing customers were promised they would be installed first. This has not happened. This latest Email that has been sent to all existing people who registered interest in getting Tivo is stating that it will be another month at least. If you read the forums people think that the high subs are getting a special deal. Again not so, I'm on VIP 50 and I have never been contacted except for this email on Monday saying they will be in touch at the end of March.

I have gone from enthusiastic to angry and I'm now not at all sure that when they ring I shall have it installed. I may spend the money on a new aerial and then consider whether I really need this outfit anymore. Sour grapes maybe but we as customers have reached the end of what we will put up with. If you are a new customer they will offer you the earth but if you are already taking the service you get nothing unless of course you threaten to leave.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

A friend of mine had his Virgin Tivo installed yesterday, so they are out there! He's gone a bit monosyllabic on me about what it's like, but when he's recovered I'll see if I can get some info out of him on it...

Cheers,

Fred.

 

[DandyCobalt]

"well I for one and many more who have had cable for many years are not excited. "

Steadyguy, I hope you noticed the sarcasm and bitterness in my polite post (and previous ones) - I think it's outrageous by Virgin, compounded by the WHFSV News today that mentions Virgin TiVo and that existing customers are already receiving TiVo boxes (or that's what it's written to sound like). Who might these lucky folk be, if even you as a VIP50 can't get one?

Apparently, they have 50,000 pre-registered for the TiVo - judging by their usual levels of incompetence, I expect very few of these (including me) will be able to get a TiVo this year. It's probably back to Sky for the Cobalt household, as soon as the 12 month contract imprisonment is over !!!! The broadband is very good (better than Sky) but the TV equipment and poor marketing is rubbish.

 

[steadyguy]

Hi Dandy, sorry I was steamed up I'm not like that usually. I just feel sorry for those that are excited by Tivo. I had one years ago which I got through ntl. I gave it to a relation and as far as I know it's still running, Not for long of course as they are shutting them down in June. It must be nearly 10yrs old so not bad.

For myself I can now think to myself do I really need this? I would have paid anything a couple of months ago but not anymore. Sadly the way they have handled this they must live on another planet. I couldn't believe it when they started giving chosen ones a free box and free subs. All done whilst others are waiting. I used to be loyal to them, not anymore. I can't move at the minute waiting for the contract end for raising speed of Broadband. But I shall now look for what is best for me not best for them.

 

[Ksutty]

It seems every other week I get mail from virgin trying to get me signed up to their TV and broadband packages, and id probably go for it if they could actually be bothered to install the cable on our estate!
I'm stuck with Sky and a terrible 2.5Meg connection.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Fred K:

A friend of mine had his Virgin Tivo installed yesterday, so they are out there! He's gone a bit monosyllabic on me about what it's like, but when he's recovered I'll see if I can get some info out of him on it...

I've just upgraded (or ordered it anyway) our Virgin broadband from 10mb to 50mb for about an extra tenner a month. With five wifi users in the house (they don't warn you about that when you have kids) the upgrade should suit everyone. And maybe Lovefilm will work online.

But....when I asked about TiVo (now that I'm a 50mb customer)....."We haven't started distributing it yet" was the reply. So, is it launched or isn't it? Are they distributing it yet, or not?

 

[DandyCobalt]

Just had our Virgin broadband upgraded from 10mb to 50mb. Needed a visit to install new router, so had to take the whole day off to wait for Mr Virgin Van Man. He thinks our Scientific Atlantic V+ HD boxes are rubbish too - good to know

Nice guy, 50mb up and running, but apparently Virgin TiVo has hit some problems in its trials with a few hundred Virgin employees - something to do with the 3rd tuner in the tivo box.

According to my "source", no-one is getting them installed yet, and doubtful anyone will before end-April. Early-2011 eh?

But...the new TiVo box might have Lovefilm, so as it has its own dedicated 10mb line, this might be good.

 

[camac]

I have been told " Offically" by staff in a Virgin Media store that it will be early May before it is offered to customers as i was given same info as Dandy Cobalt ( problems with tuner).

Here`s hoping it is May this year.

 

[camac]

I have been told " Offically" by staff in a Virgin Media store that it will be early May before it is offered to customers as i was given same info as Dandy Cobalt ( problems with tuner).

Here`s hoping it is May this year.

 

[steadyguy]

Well it appears the third tuner in the Tivo boxes is now working after an update last night. Wonder what the next excuse will be.

 

[Anonymous]

I got this email from Virgin on 18th March:

"Dear Douglas,
Thanks for registering to be in the running to get one of 1000 TiVo boxes, to enjoy on us for a year. As much as we’d have loved you to win one, sadly you weren’t successful in securing a free TiVo box in our prize draw. If you’d like to upgrade to our supercharged TV service, just sit tight. We're launching in April so we’ll be in touch in the coming weeks with an exclusive offer, just for our customers. And in the meantime, you can take another look at what our TiVo service can do for you.
The Virgin Media team."

I, along with many others on here have lost faith in what Virgin say when it comes to launch dates so wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't come out until August...