Virgin Media Summary

Virgin Media is one of the most popular telecoms providers in the UK, utilising the technology of fibre-optic cables in order to deliver its services, which include digital TV and broadband.  It is one of the leading competitors in the market, and has gained a reputation for breaking ground through pioneering new innovations in the UK, such as internet-connected set-top boxes and ultra-fast broadband speeds.

Virgin Media TV is sent to your home through fibre-optic cable, which is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to send digital signals for the purposes of TV and broadband internet.  Virgin Media customers who subscribe to the digital TV service can get one of the broadest channel selections available, as well as the option of premium content from Sky, such as Sky Sports and Sky Movies, and they can bundle it together with the renowned Virgin Media super-fast broadband and calls service.

With Virgin Media you can choose from different TV subscription packages - M+, L and XL.  This gives you the chance to pick the kind of viewing selection suited to your preferences, plus Virgin Media gives all customers access to a range of popular HD channels, at no extra monthly cost.

Through regular offers and the option to bundle TV, broadband and phone services, Virgin Media is able to offer its customers impressive value for money combined with high quality services.  A recent venture with TiVo has seen the introduction of internet-connected set-top boxes, which have proved an instant hit with customers.  These next generation boxes include features that add a new dimension to TV viewing.

Virgin Media’s extensive on demand library is a main feature of the TV service.  Customers can choose between pay-per-view and unlimited access to a range of TV series and music videos, and every customer can take advantage of the catch-up TV service.  Virgin Media On Demand also includes a wide variety of popular and new release movies ranging from action and drama to comedy and romance.

Virgin Media Services

Virgin Media offers TV, broadband and phone separately, or as bundle deals.  Each service is available in a different size, so if you want something more comprehensive then the option is there, and likewise if you want to save money or keep it simpler you can choose something smaller.  All the services are delivered via the fibre-optic network; keeping it simple, this network of glass fibres is specifically designed to send huge amounts of information at light speed.  This allows for ultra-fast broadband speeds, and high quality digital TV.

Virgin Media TV offers a wide range of channels, through three different packages.  Each package is named by size, so if you wanted every TV channel you would pick TV XL, and the channels cover a lot of interests and genres, including comedy, drama, informative, lifestyle and children’s TV.  Free-to-air channels like BBC One, ITV1 and Channel 4 are included, along with some channels from digital TV rivals Sky.

You can also watch in stunning, crisp high definition, because Virgin Media opens up HD broadcasts of channels at no extra cost to customers, and all Virgin Media boxes are HD-ready.  This means that as long as you have an HD TV, you can watch HD channels in line with your subscription, without paying extra.

With the Virgin Media V HD box, customers can pause, rewind and record live TV, so you never have to miss your favourite TV, or choose between programmes.  You can even record three programmes at once, whilst watching one already recorded to the set-top box.  If you wanted to get the latest in set-top box technology you could also choose TiVo with Virgin Media; this advanced box includes more features, better interactivity and a huge memory for recording loads of high definition TV.

Virgin Media broadband is top of the line in the UK, and download fanatics can look at deals for 50Mbps, and even 100Mbps in some areas.  The potential for fibre-optic broadband means that Virgin Media can continue to test and roll out faster broadband speeds to the country, leaving competitors behind.

With Virgin Media Phone, customers can get inclusive calls, good value and a range of call features, whilst saving money by choosing a Virgin Media bundle deal with TV and broadband.  As with broadband and TV, there are different packages to choose from, ordered by size, so you get to decide what level of service you have in the home.

Virgin Media Channels

Virgin Media TV offers a huge range of channels showing drama, comedy, sport, movies and special interest.  You can get the free-to-air channels such as BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and Channel 4, along with sister stations like BBC Three, ITV 2, E4 and Film4.  The other channels included depend on the package.

The bigger the viewing pack, the more channels you get.

So if you choose the TV XL package, you will get all the standard TV channels available with Virgin Media.  This includes all the +1 channels that broadcast shows an hour later, like ITV1+1 and Channel 4+1.  The XL package includes over 170 channels, whilst the smallest viewing package, M+, still gives you over 80.

A lot of popular special interest channels can be included with your viewing pack, such as Discovery Channel, Eden, Home & Health, National Geographic and Nickelodeon.

Virgin Media also ensures that some HD channels are available to all customers at no extra cost.  As long as you have an HD TV, you will be able to watch channels such as BBC One HD and Channel 4 HD without adding to your subscription cost, no matter which viewing pack you pick.  Remember that if you want every TV channel, you need to pick the biggest viewing pack.

There are other premium channels to check out as well, including some from digital TV competitor Sky.  If you’re a die-hard sports fan and want the unrivalled sports coverage from Sky Sports, you can include those channels at an extra cost to your monthly subscription, and those that want to add to the library of films with Virgin Media can always add the Sky Movies channels for more choice.

Aside from the channels, Virgin Media customers can also use a vast library of on demand content, including movies, music and TV series.

Virgin Media Packages

With Virgin media you can choose whether you want the basic TV package, the comprehensive option, or something in between...

With the M+ package you still get the free-to-air channels, along with access to Virgin Media’s huge catch-up TV and on demand library.  Move up to size L, and you get more channels, with the same access to an array of TV shows, movies and music videos at the touch of a button.  Finally, with XL, you get all the channels, Catch-up TV and unlimited access to TV Choice On Demand, which is a massive library of TV including comedy, drama and documentaries, all available whenever you want to watch.

Every package includes free-to-air, such as BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, plus the sister channels like BBC Three, ITV2 and E4.

Virgin Media TV – M+

• Over 80 channels

• On demand films, TV series and music

• Bundle with broadband

Virgin Media TV – L

• Catch-up TV

• More than 120 channels

• Movies, music and TV shows on demand

• Save money and bundle with broadband

Virgin Media TV – XL

• Over 170 channels

• TV Choice On Demand

• Catch-up TV

• Deals available when taken with broadband and calls

Once you have chosen a package you can always decide to upgrade to get more channels.  The packages for broadband and phone work in a similar way, and you can combine any of the packages to get a deal that suits you.  For example, if you want the most comprehensive Virgin Media broadband package, with the minimum TV offer, then you can select this as your tailored Virgin Media subscription.  These bundle deals are convenient, because you are only dealing one with one provider, and it can save you money as it is often cheaper than getting the services separately.

Virgin Media Boxes

Free V HD Box

• HD-ready for high definition

• Energy efficient standby mode

• Ready for 3D viewing

This is Virgin's standard box and comes free with all TV packages letting you get the best out of Virgin TV. It gives you Virgin TV On Demand, allowing you to access a fantastic range of programmes and films whenever you fancy. You can experience your favourite films in high definition or watch the action in 3D as the V HD box is ready for both of these features, as long as you have a HD or 3D Ready TV.

Free TiVo 500GB Box

• Pause, rewind and record live TV

• Set whole series to record with Wishlist™

• Record two channels and watch a third

• Record up to 250 hours of standard TV

• Record up to 50 hours of high definition TV

• HD-ready and 3D-ready

Virgin Media welcome you to the future of TV. The 500GB TiVo box can record a huge 250 hours of standard TV or 50 hours of HD. Search and find your favourite programmes, discover new ones and set them to record on-line from anywhere in the world. By using the the thumbs up and thumbs down buttons on your remote, this clever little box learns what you like and suggests programmes that it thinks you might want to watch. A revolutionary piece of kit in the world of TV, available to you at no extra cost when you order a Virgin TV package.

TiVo 1TB Box

• Pause, rewind and record live TV

• Set whole series to record with Wishlist™

• Record two channels and watch a third

• Record up to 500 hours of TV

• Record up to 100 hours of high definition TV

• HD-ready and 3D-ready

Virgin TV's 1TB TiVo box offers customers the same fantastic features as the 500GB box but can store over double the amount of recorded TV. This enables customers to record and store a massive 500 hours of standard TV and 100 hours of HD TV. Wishlist, TiVo suggests, and the search and record service all come as standard. A revolutionary piece of kit, with double the storage.

Digital TV Guides

3D TV Explained

3D TV is the next revolutionary step in home viewing, giving you an immersive, vivid and breathtaking new experience when you watch sport, movies and TV. Our guide tells you more about this stunning format.

What is HD?

High definition TV offers viewers enhanced picture and sound quality, improving the whole experience and making movies, sport and TV much more vivid and crisp. Read our detailed guide about HD TV.

What is Digital TV?

Digital TV broadcasts images and sound through a digital transmission, which is an enhanced, more efficient way to send a TV signal. Read more about digital TV, the benefits and subscription services.

Types of Digital TV

Digital TV can be broadcast in different ways, such as via satellite or fibre-optic cable. This short guide will tell you more about each method of digital TV signal broadcast, and the relevant providers.

The Digital Switchover

The Digital Switchover is shutting down the analogue signal throughout the UK, changing all TV services to digital. Our guide tells you about the process, benefits, cost, TV boxes and what you have to do.

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