Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Indeed and for the very same reasons.

If needs be I shall be taking a serious look at EE. I've come across a fair few offers in the past, such as 50% off for the duration of the contract.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Not for the full 24 months, it was for 6 months.

The lowest price is currently £20 for Now Entertainment+ HBO Max basic with ads which includes Netflix standard with ads

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

No chance mate.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The offer that I saw (some time ago) was for the full length of the contract (then 18 months). I have seen the offer that you refer to too though.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Never seen that offer , only the reduced price is for 6 months of 24 month contact,

BT TV/EE TV phased out 18 month contacts in early 2020.

Including Broadband 150Mb it's £49.99 , Virgin comparison - 360Mb, 200+ channels including Discovery channel and National Geographic and Netflix standard with ads is £33.99 excluding HBO Max basic with ads.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Is that on their stream box?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

On the website yes, I believe the TV 360 is still available to order for new customers in traditional cable areas via phone or WhatsApp for £49.95

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

You've been called out for this before. Your opinion is not the same thing as 'most other TV customers', unless of course you have the evidence to prove that, which you don't.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...v-service.html

[EXTRACT]

Broadband, phone and TV provider Virgin Media (O2) has this morning announced that customers of their pay TV service, at least those on their Virgin TV360 and IP-based Stream platforms, can now access four brand new streaming channels “at no extra cost“.

The four channels include Robot Wars (Ch235) from Passion Distribution; Demand Drama (Ch236) from All3Media International (aka – Banijay Entertainment); and both River Monsters (Ch239) and The Hotel Inspector (Ch253) from ITV Studios. The provider now offers over 40 streaming TV channels to customers and more are due to be added in the future.



These new (streaming) channels don't conjure up the same excitement as the launch of new conventional TV channels.

It's just no longer newsworthy. So much so, I'm wondering why I posted this at all! Sorry..

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I posted about it a week ago. https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...&postcount=796

I noticed the Advanced Television site posted an article showing incorrect channel numbers for the latest F.A.S.T channels yesterday. I contacted them and advised them of the error but they haven't rectified the article. https://www.advanced-television.com/...ming-channels/

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Well done to whom concerned in the picture quality of River Monsters, in that is in playing back smoothly.

---------- Post added at 15:44 ---------- Previous post was at 15:15 ----------

Why is all Amazon content in Dolby Vision on the Virgin Stream box.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

VM's boxes don't support Dolby Vision, just basic HDR10 and HLG.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I noticed that aswell with using Disney+ app aswell , everything is Dolby Vision on my TV regardless (multi room stream box), so this means some will be upscaled.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sorry, I must have missed your post!

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Details have been provided previously, check the thread archive.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

No one is going to check 55 pages, be realistic.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

It was around the time that Sky Atlantic was added to Virgin.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

In anycase the amount of customers on it vs those that aren't isn't the same thing 'most other TV customers' believe it to be inferior unless you can read their minds.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If they think it to be superior, surely they would have switched over by now after all the nagging via email, phone & daily STB messaging.

If you do an internet search, you'll see that the ratio of those that are unhappy with the 360 compared to those that are happy with it is huge.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Complaints posted online always far outweigh satisfaction posted online, no matter what the product or item is

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

True, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and figures show that most haven't switched over.

I suspect that, despite their efforts to try to get customers to switch, because most haven't they will be reluctant to force people to change over because of the risk of churn. Also, if people cancel the TV side, they may well cancel other services that they take.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Can you provide a link to the proof that most haven't switched over?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

So don’t switch over, then.

Ultimately, you will have to take Virgin Flex, and your only alternatives will be Sky Stream and the EE-TV offering (unless you go for a streaming box like Roku, Apple TV, a TiVo streaming box or the Amazon Fire system).

Sky Q is being phased out.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I am guessing ,not trying to put words in your post. You don't rate freely :)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The information is contained in this thread if you care to look for it.

---------- Post added at 18:32 ---------- Previous post was at 18:30 ----------

Sky Q will be around for at least another three/four years.

One advantage of EE is that it can record IPTV channels.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I can't see SkyQ being around that long - it is no longer on open sale and indications are the channels will be wound down from next two years. Sky have only committed to 2029. Some channels already left with Sky Stream now being their main platform.

EEtv can record IPTV channels - but there are not many on their EPG and it doesn't record radio.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I haven't got a subscription to Disney, but all of Prime and Netflix are in Dolby Vision to me. Given a lot of content shouldn't be it makes me wonder whether that content that should be Dolby Vision is treated correctly,or "upscaled" from a non DD version.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Another obscure reply... You might as well have typed Go find it yourself..... No links no believe

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

You have two choices, it's available if you want it, but i'm sight impaired so you'll have to make the effort yourself if it's important to you.

---------- Post added at 20:55 ---------- Previous post was at 20:50 ----------

I'd still consider it if it was only available until 2029.

That's a shame about radio, though all my radio recordings are from BBC stations and BBC Sounds has what is essentially a replacement for QuickView.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The other streaming boxes were only examples, Itshim.

---------- Post added at 21:03 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

Right on both counts. However, you will probably still have your beloved Virgin TiVo box at that point, so no need to sweat yet.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Manhattan Aero with Freely does use the TIVo OS although doesn't have Apple TV app unlike the Netgem PLEIO

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

SkyQ is still being sold, even if thats well hidden now.

I see no reason it wont be around for many years, even after satellite eventully shuts down.
Sky Q boxes are perfectly capable of doing streaming (and already do).
Why waste all those boxes out there, and risk driving customers away at the same time.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I wonder if, when they go streaming only. Virgin will cut costs by dropping new software onto their V6/360 boxes to make them into soley streaming boxes too??

These boxes are ageing now, but I imagine most faults are failing hard drives, which will no longer be used.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

That depends, do they need the Hard Drive to function, even as streaming only.

(Same with Sky Q boxes I guess, their Hard Drives could fail).

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yes, the Sky Q boxes will continue to work even without the satellite channels, but there must be the possibility that Sky will just disable the boxes completely when the satellite channels close down. Sky won’t make any money out of you if you just watch the streaming services.

I’m not saying they will do that, but I wouldn’t put it past them, would you?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Just been reading that someone can't get a Sky+ box without a HDD to boot up, so they're assuming that it needs one to do so.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

When Sky retires it satellite service, the Sky Q boxes will become virtually useless. Apart from no live TV, recordings will last for a little while and a few apps will keep going so long as Sky maintains the backend (for a few months I'd say as an interim measure until everyone is migrated over to Sky Glass/Stream).

There's a similar situation with Virgin Media's new fibre network for XGS-PON: the old V6 and TV 360 boxes would be obsolete and everyone must migrate to the Stream boxes.

Bottom line: we’ll be living in an IPTV video world, because everything will be streamed over IP.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Why would they not make any money ?
You would still be paying for their channels, just delivered by streaming, not the dish.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I assume the reason they want to remove the ability to record things is to force us to go back to watching adverts?

one step forward steps back.

piracy went down when netflix launched and everything seemed to be on there. the more streaming apps that launched later on and the cost got so high again to watch everything. now they'll remove recording ability and force people to rewatch adverts and will again question why piracy is going up again.

strange little world we live in. when i was a little kid i used to think people in positions of power must have been geniuses but now i see they're clearly not. As they say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If 'they' wanted to make you watch adverts on recordings, they could do.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

As I understand it, built in apps require active system validation tied to the subscription service, which depends on the main subscription infrastructure. You are assuming, I think, that Sky will continue to offer a service to these boxes when satellite TV closes down in this country.

As you know, traditional satellite broadcasts are likely to remain active until at least 2029 under current SES satellite contracts, so existing boxes will stay working until Sky forces a complete switchover to internet delivered operating systems.

In theory, you could still access other non-Sky satellite services operating in Europe, but that assumes that Sky don't disable the boxes completely. What are the chance$?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

SKY would simply license their content to streaming services, infact they already are doing this with Netflix.
Companies like SKY always have something up their sleeves to keep the cash flowing.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The only one assuming anything seems to be you.
I said they can continue to use the boxes to provide all their channels via streaming, if they so wanted.
There are no assumptions in that statement, its perfectly possible, as Sky already do it, with Sky Sports+.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Well, perhaps you will be proved right, but as I’ve said, Sky could disable the box altogether. I’ve assumed nothing.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If Sky disabled their boxes and made them obsolete, it would cost them a fortune as they would be obliged to pay to have them all recycled.

Far better for them to provide even a limited service and gift them to their former satellite customers. Then, if they become obsolete at some point, the responsibility to recycle them passes to the individual owner.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sky themselves aren't exactly hiding their desire to move to streaming, when they published this report

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/artic...igital-divide-

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

putting adverts on recorded content? i didnt know they had that ability.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

To be clear, thats a report for Sky, not by Sky, with a few "could"s.
As to "minimal audience demand", that seems quite an assumption.
Also while I can certainly believe 94% of adults have internet, I find it harder to believe 92% use a VOD service.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

They're probably including people like me to further their cause. I don't like VOD, so don't use it apart from when a programme has overrun and my recording has cut the end off.

Including someone who only uses the service once every couple of months for a minute or two would be very disingenuous.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

SKYQ was designed to be able to switch to iptv mode if satellite ever gets switch off, it can run on the same basis as SKY stream.
Wether or not they'll keep recording functionality though is anyones guess.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sky Q never had an IPTV mode. The box is for broadcast TV and the only live streaming is from third-party apps like BBC iPlayer which manage the streams themselves. However Sky's own catch-up and on-demand on Sky Q is downloading to disk as the box cannot do streaming. This is why Sky must migrate all legacy boxes to Sky Stream, its IPTV service which is delivered exclusively through Sky Glass and the Sky Stream puck. Virgin Media will be doing the exact same thing in migrating all the TiVo, V6 and TV 360 boxes onto its Stream boxes.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Does anyone know if there are any particular complexities in recording IPTV, as the only platform that does it is BT EE. A box was supposed to come out that could record Freesat, Freeview & IPTV, but when it launched the IPTV record function was missing, leading me to wonder if, for some reason, be it legal or technical, that doing this was problematic

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Seems to me (as an outsider that doesn't watch TV) that there's a concerted effort to do away with 'recording' stuff to watch later.

I guess if people want to watch things at a time of their convenience, there are ways to make money from it by those who broadcast.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

https://www.t3.com/tech/tvs/humax-au...-order-details

An example of a freely box that records there are more than one

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

But can only record the terrestrial aerial (DTT/Freeview) Channels, cannot record IPTV channels

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

BT uses IP multicast with IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Actually yes it can be switched to IPTV mode but wether or not SKY do that is a different matter.
I myself have SKY stream it does have occasional glitches.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

So how do all the Skysports+ streams work ? and where is what you say actually documented ?

---------- Post added at 18:07 ---------- Previous post was at 18:03 ----------

Its not going to be technical, if you can generate a signal to drive a TV set, you can generate one for recording.

Perhaps we'll all end up back using VCRs to record (or at least the more modern equivelent, to record the generated video to disk).

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yes, i'd go for this as I don't want to have to start watching adverts again, nor paying to have them removed. I also want to be able to watch things to my convenience, not the broadcasters before they remove it

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Marvelous, I threw out all of my Videos (music/films) years ago . . . :D

Will we see the return of the Video Hire shops? (in place of vape shops maybe haha)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Among other factors, there are issues with the agreements for the big public service channels. In particular, the BBC doesn't allow recording, a so called recording on the EETV box is just a pointer to the iPlayer. For the ITV channels, fast forward is disabled [as it is on Virgin Stream when an ITV channel is paused].

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Think i'll be better with a generic box that can record Freeview & Freesat then, topped up by dipping in & out of streaming services as/if and when required. Most of my recordings are from Channels 1-5.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

A lot of TVs do that - mine does.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

True. Most TVs now can record to a USB device. However, recording multiple channels, or recording one channel when watching another is not usually possible. And obviously the TV needs to be left in standby to record, which is not a good idea if you are leaving the house unoccupied for any time.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sky Sports+ is Sky's only real streaming on its Sky Q platform, but that doesn't make Sky Q an IPTV box. When satellite is shut down, Sky won't invest in all the backend to enable Sky Q to continue only this streaming when it has the puck as a ready replacement.

---------- Post added at 18:08 ---------- Previous post was at 17:40 ----------

Recording of streams isn't a technicality, it's all about the content owners refusing to allow it. There were particular circumstances which enabled BT to record PSB streams as its platform was originally a regulated YouView hybrid and the PSBs agreed to allow IP recording only for their own channels and under strict conditions. However this began to fall apart when the BBC forced all live streams through its iPlayer app in 2024, and other PSBs introduced restrictions on the live stream recordings.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks for the info. ISTR reading that, even if a recording exists, when attempting to play BBC recordings, it will play it from the iPlayer. I can't remember which platform this was, do you know?

I don't want this as I like to use the TiVo QuickView facility, or does the iplayer allow the stream to be speeded up (I belive that this option does exist on BBC Sounds).

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I think it's the EE TV Box Pro in "Internet Mode" where an attempt to play a recording results in a stream from the BBC iPlayer app. This is because the BBC doesn't allow any streams to be recorded, so a 'recording' is a cloud-redirect bookmark* to enable the iPlayer app to stream the programme.

* Sky calls it a playlist, Virgin Media a watchlist

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

aye this is correct.

quite handy but i imagine it'll be less handy and nice once they move to streaming tv only and no ability to record so having to watch things on the watchlist from itv and its terrible ads

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Oh come on, lets be fair about this.
Businesses pay large sums of money to TV companies to display their adverts, but the TV companies then allow viewers to 'skip' the adverts . . so maybe, just maybe, businesses are getting fed up with being, in a way, 'ripped off'

Two possible solutions:
1) TV companies change things so adverts can no longer be skipped.
2) TV companies don't bother with adverts anymore, and instead get their revenue by charging 5x the amount for their services to viewers

:D

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Well yes ITV are a free to view channel if you want no ads subscribe to itvx premium, do you complain at the ads on the channels you pay for like Sky one, Sky sports etc?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If I can avoid them I do, if not hay ho. Honestly I don't take any notice of them .

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

FAST channels Chat Show (243), Baywatch (244) and Trace Sports Stars (541) have been removed from Horizon boxes. Now showing information slate pointing to Inside Crime, Real Wild and Mystery TV.

The Virgin Media On Demand Streaming EPG shortcut (206) has been removed from the Horizon boxes.

The Apps shortcut for VM On Demand Streaming that was available on Horizon and V6 boxes has also been removed.

A search result for Baywatch has a link to On Demand Streaming (which hasn't been removed from Search yet, though how long for?) showing 198 episodes (seasons 1-9) available. The search also shows there are 109 episodes (seasons 1-5) of Baywatch available on ITVX

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I watch itvx via my pc connected to my tv my ad blocker blocks the ads so no adverts same with 4od and my5.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Good idea.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

1) Thats how it works on streaming.
2) Thats how it works on streaming (though not 5x).

On Paramount+ when I watch a film it shows the adverts first, then the whole film.
So I just kill the sound for 2 minutes while getting drinks, snacks etc, then watch it.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yes that was my point, both options give you the same end result . . streaming with no recording (from what I can see)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

You either find that ads cannot be skipped or you have to pay to watch ad-free. It's now standard SVOD policy by the likes of Netflix, Disney+, etc, to have their cheapest tier called something like 'Basic with Ads' if you choose not to pay. And YouTube has a bit of a nerve calling its ad tier 'Premium Lite'.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yes even SKY stream has a chargeable ad skipping option £6p/m.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Channel rebrand from August 13th:

Utsav Plus HD becomes Star Plus HD
Utsav Gold HD > Star Gold HD
Utsav Bharat > Star Bharat

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Is this permanent or are the Asian channels starting to indulge in the Sky Movies nonsense?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

It's Permanent
https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-...6/td-p/5332055

Back to their original names prior to January 2021, since Disney stopped using the Star brand on Disney+ last October
https://www.bizasialive.com/with-dis...to-star-in-uk/

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

any changing homes for different football leagues this coming season or is it the status quo from last year?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If you mean the UK, I think its all the same.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

All the same.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Apparently, in just under three weeks Great! are to rebrand one of their channels to a Christmas channel and, at some point, Sky History 2 is to be replaced.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I'd say more rebranded, apparently as MysteryX

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Do you know if this means a move away from history related programming to things like paranormal shows?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

F.A.S.T channel 542 Tennis Channel has been added to the Horizon boxes EPG.

Closure slates for 243 The Chat Show Channel, 244 Baywatch, and 541 Trace Sports Stars have been removed from Horizon EPG's.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

MysteryX is a subscription-based streaming channel from Hearst Networks launched in June 2026. It focuses on mysteries, UFO encounters, paranormal investigations, ancient civilizations, and unexplained factual programming.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

New look Entertainment Zones” added to the homepage on TV360 and Stream boxes.
https://www.virginmedia.com/the-edit...d-stream-boxes “

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

In fairness to VM, I think it's a big improvement

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Both of my main 360 boxes and both Stream boxes have updated overnight to version 5.28. There wasn't a 5.27 version released here or in Holland**

There is now a VM Infinity logo displayed in the top left of the main menu. The screen font has changed and is now more readable as there is more space between the lines giving a clearer appearance/layout. There is a new setting to set the time-out duration of messages and screens (Settings > Accessibility > Interface timeout)

** There was a problem updating one of the main 360 boxes with it displaying a CS1011 error (Account Retrieval error). I solved this by performing a Hard reset of the box by turning off the 360 by the switch on the back; then on the front of the 360 box holding down both the standby/power button and the - (minus) button at the same time. Then turning on the 360 again whilst keeping hold of those buttons for a further 30 seconds. The box then rebooted, downloaded the update, reset and booted up normally as a 360.


There's a TV Edit article relating to the new home screen for the 360 and Stream boxes (this is applied even without the update to build version 5.28 ) https://www.virginmedia.com/the-edit...d-stream-boxes

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yep, same v5.28 here in Belfast. All round great improvements though I'm sure some will complain about the home screen appearing every switch on. Lol.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Got to admit i do like that.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

It looks good.

Does that mean that every time you come out of standby, it defaults to the home screen and not live TV? If so, that's a bit rubbish

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sounds a bit like Sky Q, which always loads the home screen on startup, really irritating.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The home screen is quite deliberate as VM is strategically moving away from being seen as a broadcaster of live TV channels and towards an array of other IPTV services from apps, catch-up, on-demand and FAST. Sky Glass and Sky Stream do the same.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I had an email from VM today offering Ultra HD for £3.50pm instead of £7.0pm, but the offer closes on Tuesday I seem to remember.
My current TV will not get UHD I think, but I am looking to upgrade to a 55"OLED, I don't want to rush into a TV and later regret my choice in lieu of this offer.

I am not sure if VM CS can help if I get a 14 day cooling off period..

EDIT, I have just looked and I have until 6th September to make up my mind.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

You could previously access TV Shows and Movies from the top of the screen with 3-4 button presses, now you have to scroll down to select the tiles with 3-4 button presses.

It's exactly the same effort, just that you now click down and across rather than just across. I don't see the point to be honest.

TV Shows now includes rows for:

BBC iPlayer
ITVX
Channel 4
U
Disney+
Paramount+
Prime Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Pluto TV

The row for 5 has been removed, which suggests that they are planning to phase that one out in favour of Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

The pay TV channels with tiles remain Sky Atlantic, Sky One, Sky Comedy, Sky Witness, U&Alibi, U&Gold, Sky Crime, Sky Documentaries, National Geographic and Discovery.

They should also add Sky Nature, Sky Sci-Fi, Sky History, MTV, Comedy Central and Crime+Investigation, to that row, to increase the exposure for the other TV channels that people are paying for.