Hello and a question!

fanoftels · 31-01-2010, 11:55

Hi, I've just joined the forum and have a query on a few channels I've stopped receiving on Virgin over the past week or two, I presume due to the digital revolution...

Although the vast majority of channels are still available, I can no longer get
ITV4 or Channel 5, and Film4 is only partially viewable (half the screen is composed of squares - dunno what the technical term is...).

If I had Freeview, I'm told I could just retune the box, however I don't know the process with Virgin cable.

Can anyone suggest how I can get ITV4, etc. back please? (I'm in the Glasgow area).

Thanks

Kymmy · 31-01-2010, 12:00

Welcome to the forum

Doubt if you can. All the analogue channels are being switched off. If they're digital through a set top box without a subscription connected to cable (not VM's freeview box) then you shouldn;t be getting them anyway

fanoftels · 31-01-2010, 12:17

Thanks for the quick reply. Whatever the tech issues, it seems unfair that, ITV4 aside, a free-to-air station like Channel 5 is no longer available if you have cable instead of Freeview, but I suppose that's life. I think I'll drop Channel 5 a note saying they should negotiate a lower rate with their advertisers due to all the cable punters not being able to see their ads...

Kymmy · 31-01-2010, 12:26

It's not tech issues..it's a simple case of a private company removing thier feed inline with the big digital switchover and it's happening all over the country.

Choices you have is get digital cable if available in your area, freeview, freesat or sky which are basically the same choices (sometimes restricted by area) that everyone has.

spiderplant · 31-01-2010, 12:45

Are you a Virgin Media customer? If so, give them a call and they'll fix it.

(If you're not a customer, still give them a call, and become one

)

fanoftels · 31-01-2010, 13:01

Hi spiderplant. Yeah, I'm a Virgin Media customer - I have my 'phone and broadband with them, as well as cable.

Not getting a free-to-air channel like Channel 5 seems crazy to me, in that it reverses the principle of you get what you pay for - you receive less for paying more!

RobboEdin · 31-01-2010, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanoftels

Hi spiderplant. Yeah, I'm a Virgin Media customer - I have my 'phone and broadband with them, as well as cable.

Not getting a free-to-air channel like Channel 5 seems crazy to me, in that it reverses the principle of you get what you pay for - you receive less for paying more!

If you are not receiving all the channels you should get as a Virgin Media cable TV subscriber then you simply phone them and they will come and fix it free of charge.

Kymmy · 31-01-2010, 13:10

Are you a TV subscriber (if so which package)? Are you in a digital area? Answer those two and it'll be a lot clearer as to what help anyone can suggest

fanoftels · 31-01-2010, 13:17

I subscribe to Virgin Media's XL package and live in Glasgow. According to the Digital UK website, the switchover via the Blackhill transmitter is due to take place betweeen April and June next year.

Kymmy · 31-01-2010, 13:19

OK, my first post then was in error as you're not on analogue which is what most people complain about when channels go missing

Ring up customer services and they should be able to reset the box.

I'm assuming that VM do not use the local feeds but a national feed??

spiderplant · 31-01-2010, 15:04

fanoftels: Your box has been affected by some engineering work that was done to the VM network in Glasgow recently. You'll need a tech visit to fix it, so give them a call on 151.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

I'm assuming that VM do not use the local feeds but a national feed??

A bit of both at the moment, but becoming national.