TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

According to Virign Media's website I should be getting TV Hits as part of the top tier package (XL I think it's called), which I am on, but the content is still pay only. Can anyone tell me what the situation is please.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Their site refers to TV Choice, which is what will replace TV Hits. Anyone with the Virgin branded EPG on the XL package will get TV Choice included in their package.

Those who don't should have it included by June when they get the relevant software update :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Then perhaps a little note to that effect from the VM Team would have been useful within the text on the website to explain that so that people aren't confused by the different versions out there - not all VM customers will come looking here for intelligent answers - and has been shown from the OP's question, it's an easy mistake to make if things aren't explained properly in marketing stuff.

BTW, thanks Bob for clearing that one up for us.:tu:

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Thank you for that clarification.

Now given I live in Leeds it will be "coming soon" so expect it in the distant, not the enar future!

---------- Post added at 20:55 ---------- Previous post was at 20:41 ----------

Indeed. If it wasn't for this clarification then I'd be wondering myself. Not the best start for Virgin Media is it.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

BTW June was what was quoted in that letter-drop we got last month :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

UPDATE:

have just spent an 'entertaining' afternoon with CS on this issue and four people gave me four different answers. One said that TV Choice/TV Hits is paid for. The second said that it is free but the box says it is not and that when the box sends back the information the billing system will not charge me and that if I do get charged on my monthly bill then I should call CS and they will credit my account withy any charges. He added that when the software changes to TV Choice then it will be free and this will happen by May. The third seemed on a different planet and didn;'t even know what VOD was and what I was talking about I just hung up the phone when I was about to really have a go at him. The fourth said that browsing TV Hits was included but that charges apply to SOME of the content. I then followed this up by quoting the website and he said that "inlcuded" meant browsing the area is free and he gave me a teer's worth of free viewing. His advice was what the box says, goes - ie if the box says it is charged then I will be charged. None of the four people I spoke to said that TV Hits/TV Chocie is part of the XL package.

All did confirm that I was on the XL package but none of them said I would get this as part of the package and the STB says it is charged.

I think people should be very wary about all of this and be aware that you could get a nasty surprise if you are not careful. I'm not going to touch it with a long bargepole.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Like I said, wait till you have the Virgin branded software and then TV Choice will definately be free with the XL TV package :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

What is TV Hits/Choice?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

TV Hits is a PPV section (49p per episode of a programme on average) on the older version of NTL on Demand (i.e. the blue software)

TV Choice is the new name for TV Hits/Teleport TV when your STB software becomes black and Virgin branded. People with the XL (former Family/Supreme package) can watch programmes through this service at no extra cost. People on the Starter/Select (no longer available for new customers) , M (Free TV pack) or L (Base/Essential) packages can subscribe to the service for £5 a month*.

*At least those on the ex-Telewest side of things can - you'll have to get quadplay to confirm that ;)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

That's basically what the second CS person said. When I said I was worried that i would get charged he advised it might be best not to use it until the new software appears, whenever that may be.

Thats aid, I'm still inclined to come ehre for 100% accurate information so I'll ask what people ehre suggest I do. Should I wait until this enw software appears before using TV Hits/Choice in case I might get charged given that I still have this old software?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I believe that still stands as June :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Aye. The CS guy said May at the latest but this IS cable isn't it!

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

:td: And these are supposed to be the new, improved staff that are trained better to be able to answer questions properly? For a company whose reputation is riding on the staff's behaviour towards customers as well as content, it doesn't bode well for keeping RB's "Virgin magic" intact when an example like that happens.

Nor does it inspire confidence in the customer that it's safe to use the supposed "free" content thats meant to be theirs to view. The idea is good, but so far its lacking in execution.

All thats needed is clear, concise information available as has already been said, so that CSR's don't get hammered from now until June with endless calls asking the same question.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Exactly McYorkie. It was like the bad old days of ntl apart from the fact they answered the phone immediately.

The final CS person I spoke to did admit that he didn't know, which is fair enough, and also said that the Virgin Media website is confusing but he said that his colleages told him that it was an element of feee and paid-for, ie what it says on the box whereby some is free but most is paid for. he also told me that some of the films were also free which i find hard to believe. He did give me £10-worth of credits to spend on VOD programming.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

There has been the odd HD movie available free for SOME people with a V+ box since the Virign rebrand on Thursday - he could possibly be referring to them?

Other than that, the only other thing I have seen for free are making of... programmes associated with a new movie launching.

I admit, the new site is not really good enough to be honest. I think they were relying on people noticing a difference in the names, but they are too similar for that to be effective. How often we have seen sloppy wording cause NTL a headache?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Cool, I'm on the XL TV package and I forced my box to update and I have the Virgin Media EPG. I will check this TV Choice thing out later. Thanks. :) :tu:

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Possibly yes. That's what he told me.

Any advice on my other question about whetehrt I should sue TV Hits/TV Chocie would be appreciated.

---------- Post added at 18:16 ---------- Previous post was at 18:15 ----------

How did you "force your box to upgrade?"

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I wrote the instructions on how to force an update on a Samsung box here.

BTW This is not recommended and you could 'brick' your cable box. Also, if Virgin Media find out, they will not be very happy and this isn't even guaranteed to give you the new EPG. Thought I would just let you know before you try it out.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I'd see what an Virgin CS employee on the forum has to say.

Calling all Virgin CS employees... ;)

Totally depends on which STB you have - and as Nikesh says, it's not recommended :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I'm assuming you meant 'use' TV Choice? I had to re-read the thread a few times trying to figure out what you were suing them over LOL ;) THEN I finally realised you meant use?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I spoke to cs regarding this issue she told me i would get free on demand on my V+ box the other box in the house will be charged.
So I'm confused shouldn't both boxes be free?:confused:

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Look, guys, this really is pretty simple.

If you've got the new black, Virgin EPG, whether on a V+ box or a regular STB, and you're on the top package, then the "TV Hits" or whatever the new name is will be free. If you're not on the top package, then you can subscribe to TV Hits for an extra £5 per month

If you don't have the black EPG, and were previously with Telewest, then exactly the same applies -- but I suspect you already know this, since that's how it's been since VOD was first launched.

If you don't have the black EPG, and were previously with NTL, then individual TV Hits programmes will be charged at the amount shown on-screen.

What is so difficult to understand about this?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

TV Choice is free on V+ (no costs listed), I'm on XL. Am currently working through cult Channel 4 classic Chelmsford 123 :D

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

TV Choice is also free on my Samsung box with Virgin firmware. Am well pleased about it, spent the last few nights working my way through Green Wing :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Nothing is difficult to understand when it is explained like that. But for those people now on the XL TV Package as per their bill it is quite clear from the website that the content is included. The website doesn't distinguish between 'firmware' types.

I remain on the old NTL epg and yet I have been allowed to add the £5 pm charge to cover the cost of the TV Hits content.

I approached CS and after much confusion on their part they agreed it is available to me as per the website. What I am paying £5 for now I have no idea - I am reluctant to access anything for fear of running up a bill. How absurd all this is.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

In fairness the site says TV Choice is free to XL customers, no mention of TV Hits. But like I said before, the names are quite similar :)

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Tristan has this way of putting thigns in a very direct straight-forward manner hasn't he!

Indeed Bob. However, I am on the XL package and find it annoying and irritating and a bit of a rip-off to say the least that I am not able to access this material as part of my package even though I am supposed to be getitng this stuff as part of my package because I am in the wrong part of the Uk and have the continued misfortune of being in an ntl area.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

But the content will be presumably, and yet there's no acknowledgement on the website about this similarity, and some CS staff seem to be as confused as customers on the subject.

There are plenty of us in the same boat, Rillington and the situation isn't about to change anytime soon until the VOD architecture on ex-ntl platforms is altered to allow for the free content being added to peoples entitlements. VM didn't seem to think through the possible implications properly of the change to VOD structure, and the reactions amongst customers when the new packs and pricing structure was placed on the website.

There's another possible sting in the tail too, if people try using the "free" content in TV Hits, on ntl, which according to some CSR's is now free, without the software change, and then find later on in the billing cycle that they've been charged for it all unexpectedly - that won't go down well.

All that this situation needed, was a simple note, like Tristan did, both on the website, and to Call Centres explaining clearly that unless you had the black software, that any existing paid for content in TV Hits remains paid for until the code change between now and June, and that no-one should expect not to pay for that content unless told otherwise by Virgin Media.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I agree.

However it still angers me that I am not able to access something which I am supposed to get as part of the package and that this content is wanting to charge me simply because I live in the wrong area. My friend who lvies in an ex TW area is on the same package as me, yet he gets all this content as part of the package, as I should do, but I am being told I have to pay for it. That sort of niggles.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

I got the letter today saying to go to TV hits and watch to my hearts content as it was now free, I went and had a look and the prices are still there so I rang them just to be told that it didn't start until tomorrow and it was only for 3 months as a "treat" ?????

So if I can't get it yet and it doesn't look like I will be able to for a while why have they written to me to tell me I can ?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

as did I - it turned up today (Tuesday). I shall mention this to VM the next time I can be bothered to call them up about it.

I did notice earlier that most of the TV Hits content had become free today (I am on the XL package) which, having read the CF article, will be due to the launch of Virgin Central but the odd programme still did say it would charge me to watch it.

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

Could I ask if these programs are free on the XL package?

"Desperate Housewives", "Lost" and "The OC"?

Re: TV Hits free for top pack subscribers.?
 

No, they're still 99p each.