Virgin TV (2026)
 

This is a continuation of the 'Changes to Virgin TV (2025)' thread which you can find here:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33713133

1. The old thread has been closed, but will remain for information purposes;
2. I will collate all the information from my various sources and post on Cable Forum;

In addition to that I will be on hand to answer any questions that arise and to provide links to other sources of information as they come up.

Thank you.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

another new thread, another new year. how time flies eh!

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

HGTV will NOT close on January 13th on Virgin Media.
Really +1 is testing on Virgin Media network at Virgin Media O2 HQ,

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

HGTV is becoming TLC isn't it MB?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I hope there is a badge.

There better be a badge.

I like badges. Fabric preferably.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Only on Freeview and maybe Freesat and Freely. My EPG has confirmed that HGTV is still broadcasting on Virgin after January 13th.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The VirginMedia EPG appears to be just copying the same generic listing week after week with no episode details - I would no trust it that far out

Digiguide and HGTV website currently show 'programmes no longer available' after 13th January.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

EPGs aren't fully reliable mate, i'm going to go with it is closing for now.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HGTV_(UK_%26_Ireland)

I think I'd trust that over a dodgy EPG. :)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The actual HGTV site program listings are showing no programs available from 14th January
https://hgtv.co.uk/tv-guide/undefined/?sd=2026-01-14

The listings on the broadcasters site only updated earlier today so there is till time for VM to update their EPG.

When the VM EPG differs from the website of the broadcaster's published schedule for programmes, you should email tivoguideerrors@virginmedia.co.uk

Although they don't usually reply to the emails they will update the EPG with the correct info/metadata.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

All EPGs - including VirginMedia, Sky and Freesat - should it closes down overnight on 13th January.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

More 'Sky Exclusive' box sets added to 'Sky Showcase' on demand with Virgin Media such as Band of Brothers, The Pacific and True Blood.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sky or Virgin must be planning something because otherwise it's strange to say the least, basically any of HBO back catalogue pre April 2022 leaves Sky channels on 25th March

non exclusive HBO content (that are part of former HBO output deal) left on Sky channels until their original 4 year licensing terms expire as per 2019 output deal , this is the case in Germany & Italy now.

e.g

Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms -
Euphoria 3rd and final season only
House Of The Dragon (season 1 exipres in August)
The Last Of Us (season 1 exipres in January 2027)
The White Lotus season 2 and 3 (season 2 exipres in October)
True Detective Night Country Season 4 only
Westworld season 4 only (until June - I suspect this might turn up in full on ITVX)
Dune Prophecy season 1
It Welcome To Derry
The Penguin
Task season 1
The Rehearsal (season 1 exipres in August)
The Chair Company season 1
I Love LA season 1
Somebody Somewhere seasons 2 and 3

+ some post April 2022 miniseries and cancelled series until their original 4 year licence expires

Top many HBO Documentary films on Sky Documentaries too mention but you can work out what's still on there non exclusively until their licence runs out,


This Virgin TV edit strangely lists Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms aswell?
https://www.virginmedia.com/the-edit...rime-video-itv

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Really +1
TLC HD^
TLC HD^
Quest HD^
Quest HD^
Quest Red
Quest+1^
Quest+1^
TLC+1^
TLC+1^
5 USA+1^
5 USA+1^

^Ch listed 2 times mean they will not be on same number uk wide TLC will be on Ch 113 in ONLY in England & Ch 128 outside England from January 13th - reported by Radio Times
.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Premier Sports Rugby 553 now available for all customers for no extra cost.... Although a lot of live euro matches are on Premier Sports 1&2 lol

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks. Do you know if this is this temporary or permanent?

Received an email Re: New channel guide.

It says there are two, one for those who subscribed since before October 2024 & one for after this time. Anybody know what the difference is?

Has anybody spotted any of the usual errors?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Seems to be a permanent addition.

Since October 2024, no new customers can get the smaller packs i.e. mix , mixit etc.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks, is this on all packs, or just the top packs?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

There was a 'click to dismiss' banner on my box this morning promoting the change. No end date was given, so it looks like its a long term change.

Frustratingly, I dont get marketing emails from Virgin (and other companies). Outlook has a habit of marking them as spam and unsubscribes without my consent.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

All customers

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Can't help but wonder if this is another sign of (English) subscriber numbers for Premier's EPCR-offering being below expected - PS Rugby was launched to provide the overspill capacity for European games, and picks up the odd live one, but a good development for non-subscribers all the same.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

i wonder who reached out to who to get this deal agreed....

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Is anyone aware if VM will be reshuffling the Warner Bros. Discovery channels next week?

Over on Sky, the channels will now be sequenced as follows:

Discovery
TLC
Quest
Really
Food Network
Quest Red
ID
Discovery Turbo
DMAX
Discovery History
Animal Planet
Discovery Science

Compare that to how they are currently ordered on VM:

Really
Quest
TLC
ID
Quest Red
DMAX
Discovery
Animal Planet
Discovery Science
Discovery Turbo
Discovery History
Food Network

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

According to TV Guide magazines from Tuesday

TLC is on 113 or 128 in Scotland & Wales , Really is on 165.

Quest is on 128 or 137 in Scotland & Wales, Quest Red is on 137 or 146 in Scotland & Wales , Food Network is on 168

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks for the info.

So assuming all the other channels stay where they are, the new sequencing on VM will be:

113/128 TLC
128/137 Quest
137/146 Quest Red
165 Really
166 ID
168 Food Network
169 DMAX
177 Discovery
178 Animal Planet
179 Discovery Science
180 Discovery Turbo
181 Discovery History

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Why are the Scots and Welsh always so awkward about everything? Silly and unnecessary to require different channel numbers just for them.
In the digital Radio Times(pdf version), Quest channel list takes up 3 lines(up from 2). The actual programme details takes up 13(down from 14).

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

They've got Welsh footy on S4C too, its a disgrace...

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Agreed, viewers were obviously very low, enabling Virgin to offer a low block price to be able to offer it to all customers. Unusually, it was launched on Virgin and not Sky at first. Is it now available on Sky? If not Virgin may have though it worthwhile to offer it as a USP, a sort of pound shop version of the old TNT Sports 'at no extra cost' offering if you like.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Because we have regional channels that have been given channel prominence by the regulators.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Really not trying to be funny, does this mean any thing set to record needs to be reset

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I would hope recordings dont rely on the channel number, but I guess with VM, anything is possible.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

They don't

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Channels are given ID Numbers by Virgin.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Because the Scots and Welsh are being awkward. No valid reason to insist on different channel numbers for the same channel.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Isn't it the English being awkward and demanding that TLC goes on channel 113, even though that channel is already in use (for BBC Three) in Scotland & Wales?

Then again it could just be that WBD has paid Virgin a little bit extra to get their channels on the best available channel number in the respective nations.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If i was Virgin i would move the Local TV to channel 113 that are on Channel 159 in some areas of England and N. Ireland.

I would also (Base on EPG right now) have:

139. Challenge
140. Local TV Wales only
141. Seven HD
142. E4 Extra
143. More4 HD
144. TRUE CRIME
145. TRUE CRIME XTRA
146. LEGEND
147. LEGEND XTRA
148. That's TV (UK)
149. That's TV 2
150. That's TV 3
151. Comedy Central Extra
152. 5USA (Scotland only)
153. BBC ALBA HD (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
154. BBC Scotland HD (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
155. S4C HD
156. TLC HD
157. I.D.
158. Quest Red
159. DMAX
160. Discovery Channel HD
161 Animal Planet HD
162. Discovery Science
163. Discovery Turbo
164. Discovery History
165. Food Network
166. GREAT! tv
167. Blaze
168. Sky History 2 HD
169. Sky Documentaries HD
170. Sky Nature HD
171. Virgin TV Ultra HD (Not on TiVo Boxes)
172. U&Eden HD
173. Nat Geo WILD HD
174. National Geographic HD
175. PBS America HD
176. God TV

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

And the reason BBC3 being channel number 113 in Scotland and Wales is......? Scotland and Wales being awkward.
On the digital Radio Times, the channel number list takes up 3 lines, with 3 mentions referring to Scotland and Wales. Sky has 3 different channel numbers for BBC3. Same channel with same content. Just makes no sense.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks, didnt think so, but seem to have some missing every now and again , streaming comes into its own

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

First world problems ( if it is a problem..)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Funny, I don't remember that referendum. It's probably something Virgin sorted out in a dimly lit room with the DCMS with a memo sent to the BBC after the event. Poor Scotland and Wales getting the blame, was your haggis and leek soup served cold or something? :D

Reusing channel numbers across regions does create one hell of a mess though. Maybe the Radio Times should go back to its roots and print regional editions. Problem solved.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Didn't know they had stopped, when was this?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

About three years ago it became national editions only.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Dont't care, loving this channel, free fix of rugby. That's a first fo r me from Virgin.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

No need for different channel numbers. All broadcasters have to stick to it. I mentioned Sky having different channel numbers. Just all so unnecessary. If people frequently use a particular channel, then they remember the channel number, no matter what is is.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Probably considering Quest Red is getting promoted from 168.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Exactly, which then gives Food Network the opportunity to leap from 190 to 168.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Never really taken a lot of notice of the number.Never found it that much trouble to scroll through

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sure, but for broadcasters further down the list, the risk is that a viewer scrolling through the EPG will select some other channel before reaching theirs.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Too many numbers to remember these days, and they keep changing, I just look at the number in Digiguide.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I just press the MIC button and say the channel name I want

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I am there nite mare I only look at favourites :erm:

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Everyone will have their own way of discovering content but the broadcasters aren't trying to target everyone with this sort of move. Only the EPG scrollers.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

finally learnt the TNT sport numbers and they blooming changed them

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Can someone with the minimum pack plesse check to see if TLC HD is now available after it became a free channel today?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Nope. Still getting the upgrade message.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I would if I could. Sorry.

As an aside, it became available on Freesat yesterday (and Quest SD closed.)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

TLC was added overnight to the basic Flex package, if the channel is still not accessable then a box reboot is suggested.

The TLC channel should be working on all other tiers.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

You can watch TLC via discovery+ app or website at no cost now too.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Thanks.

TLC HD has subtitles on all platforms, apart from Virgin!?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

All WBD Channel and 5USA +1 that change channel numbers on Tuesday has been given new ID Numbers to viewers may need to readd them.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Although subtitles were missing on both TLC and TLC+1, I was able to view them by clicking on Teletext in the Info drop down box on both my Stream and 360 boxes.

Subtitles are now available on both channels on my VM set top boxes.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

What's the 5USA + change? It's not changed for me.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Only in Scotland.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

What was the change?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

is VM going to get HBO Max as an app?

VM are lagging behind Sky now with streaming subscriptions included in some packages. i know we get Netflix but you'd have thought VM would make some additional deals by now

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Following the changes this week, there's now a huge amount of Warner Bros. Discovery content available On Demand with Virgin Media compared to what was previously included:

TLC 18 series
Quest 19 series
Quest Red 31 series
Really 29 series
Food Network 80 series
DMAX 55 series

ID 67 series
Discovery 39 series
Animal Planet 38 series

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

No idea yet mate, i think they will as WBD want HBOMAX widely available.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

All we know is that Virgin has been in talks with the company to get HBO Max, but as usual, we’re being kept in the dark about whether these talks have been successful. We’ll soon know as HBO Max will appear in the UK in March..

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

5USA +1 is on Channel 362 in scotland

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Where was it prior to the change you reported?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Channel 320. Still on that channel outside Scotland.

5USA is on Channel 120 outside Scotland.

5USA is on Channel 162 in Scotland and BBC ALBA is on Channel 120 in Scotland.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Is they a easy why to find them :confused:

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

On the Virgin TV 360 box you can go to TV SHOWS > CHANNELS and then select any of the channels to view all of the shows.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

any highlights or is it just a lot of random trash....

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

And if you haven't upgraded?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Self inflicted wounds!

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Clubland TV is now on Virgin Channel 289 (was on Channel 292)

Are Virgin Media making room for That’s Rock, That’s Oldies and That’s Melody to launch on Virgin Media UK?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sorry , I am a if it ain't broke don't fix it kind of guy. And I still fail to find any reason to change , if I have too then I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
Having looked at a few sites , here , tec radar etc. I can find no reason to change from v6 , there is nothing that I would need that I cannot do at this time. But each to their own

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

My old Tivo box is on the way out. Breakup on all recordings so I presume the HDD is failing. Question is - will they replace it with a 360 or try and palm me off with a stream box? I'd like to know my position before ringing them. Looking at the relative specs I have absolutely no interest in the stream box - I wouldn't use any of the streaming features and would miss out on everything the traditional box does - mainly recording programmes to watch later.

I gather from a few web searches VM are trying to move people over to the stream box. That would be the end of VM TV for me - a deal-breaker. Would it be grounds to cancel my contract?

Any feedback welcome!

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I'm in a contract and don't even want the 360. Virgin seem to be able to force you onto stream with their 'We reserve the right to change your STB' clause in their t&c's.

If you want to carry on recording, Sky still offer Sky Q, but you now have to ring up for this (so that they can try to persuade you to have Sky Stream) as it cannot now be ordered online.

BT have some good deals, particularly if you want the sport channels as per another forum member:

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

We had that problem last week - powering it down for 10 minutes, then rebooting it seemed to resolve the issue.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Ah OK - will try that first - thanks. It probably hasn't been powered off for quite a few years!

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

It can be replaced with a TiVo V6 regardless of Richard says.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If that is the case, all well and good, but for how much longer when they want everyone on Stream, let alone the 360? Apparently, once in a contract, their t&c's allow them to change the STB without giving one the right to cancel, which is very problematic if you don't want the replacement box and are stuck in a long contract.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Have you done an entended watch of live tv to ensure thatis OK?

We don't watch much live tv and our recordings were breaking up at times.

Turned out to be a loose coax connection.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yes - no problem at all with live TV which makes me think it's probably the hard drive. I'll try a hard restart before ringing VM though. Thanks all.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

True Crime +1 is set to Close on January 31st on Virgin UK Channel 348.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

If you are perfectly happy with your TiVo, that’s perfectly OK, at least for now. I prefer the picture based screens, like Netflix, rather than lists.

But as you say, each to their own.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Sorry yet again I do not understand the reference to netflix guessing you liked to look at pictures, not read description. Having said that can't say I really care, watch Netflix a lot of the time and I never really thought about it :rolleyes: Starting to think that I will just use my smart TVs up to now the cost of bb and box is so close , with deals that I have stayed with it.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

It's called 'dumbing down' OB , less functionality, more pics... ;)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The kids menu, pictures because its too hard to actually read. ;)

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Battery manufacturers love it. Scrolling through hundreds of pages of pics wears out the batteries in the remote so much faster!

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

The V6 gives you the choice, don't other systems?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Wondering if anyone else is having issues with the TLC channel since the channel revamp and move? its almost as though it is lagging and freezing like the old days of buffering?

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Pause live TV for a short while and watch delayed - this is also a recording and uses your HDD in the exact same way.

If this confirms HDD issues, then further issues and eventual failure will only be a matter of time.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Yes, mine keeps stuttering for a second every now and then but it only started a couple of days ago for me.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

I might have known that there would be more daft comments coming my way sooner or later from olde worlde posters who have difficulty embracing anything new.

The picture menus make programmes easier to identify. You can get through rows of tiles in no time using this method. And of course descriptions of the content are also given if you want to know more about a particular programme.

If people prefer lists, that’s fine, a choice is available. Intolerance for people who have different views is not a virtue.

---------- Post added at 23:39 ---------- Previous post was at 23:37 ----------

The 360 enables you to view tiles or lists to view your recordings.

---------- Post added at 23:54 ---------- Previous post was at 23:39 ----------

Yes, TLC seem to be having problems since the revamp.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

You really are a muppet. If you want to see lots of daft comments, try reading your own posts.

As the saying goes, people often confuse New with Improved.

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Irony, thy name is OLD BOY…

Re: Virgin TV (2026)
 

Seems to be a few people having this issue all of a sudden, I'm experiencing this too especially on BBC 2. So guessing it's more of a virgin issue