General : Virgin TV (2026)

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Paul

The most likely item to fail in them is the disk, which is not hard to replace.

Indeed, but when a Virgin HDD dies they replace it with a whole new box. Maybe it's to save time. I wonder if they are discarded now or repaired? If the latter then, in theory, it should be a very long time until Virgin or Sky completely run out.

If streaming could be recorded that would appease a lot of people reluctant to changing, but only BT/EE boxes allow this. I suspect it's because they want people to have to use VOD for the ad revenue.

[gunner45]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Indeed, but when a Virgin HDD dies they replace it with a whole new box. Maybe it's to save time. I wonder if they are discarded now or repaired? If the latter then, in theory, it should be a very long time until Virgin or Sky completely run out.

The usual practice is for boxes returned by customers to go to central warehousing hubs managed by logistics partners where any refurbishment is done at the box level, e.g. software corruption is corrected with a firmware reflash, but not at the component level like hard drives as repair costs will far exceed the purchase cost of the unit. Rejected boxes are palletised in bulk and sent to approved authorised treatment facilities (AATFs) for recycling under strict UK waste regulations.

[Media Boy UK]

Paramount SkyDance and Warner Bros Discovery has now merge into SkyDance Corporation

SkyDance now own the following in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Channel 5 Ltd:
*5
*5USA
*5STAR
*5ACTION
*5SELECT (Soon to be 5Drama)

Own by SkyDance:
*TLC
*QUEST
*MTV
*Quest Red
*Really
*I.D.
*Food Network
*Really
*I.D.
*Food Network
*DMAX
*Discovery Channel
*Animal Planet
*Discovery Science
*Discovery Turbo
*Discovery History
*CNN HD
*Cartoon Network
*Cartoonito
*Boomerang

Paramount UK Partnership:
*Comedy Central
*Comedy Central Extra

Part own:
*TRUE CRIME (50% own by AMC)
*LEGEND (50% own by AMC)
*LEGEND XTRA (50% own by AMC)
*TRUE CRIME XTRA (50% own by AMC)
*TNT Sports (50% own by BT)

Nickelodeon UK Ltd:
*Nick
*Nick Jr
*Nick Jr Too
*Nicktoons

Skydancing At Last: $110B Merger Of Paramount And Warner Bros Discovery Officially Closes

https://deadline.com/2026/10/skydanc...ry-1237147750/

[TimeLord2018]

The Skydance press release today says the "direct-to-consumer streaming products will unify into a single service over time"

First step may be a HBO Max & Paramount+ bundle available direct ?

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

The Skydance press release today says the "direct-to-consumer streaming products will unify into a single service over time"

First step may be a HBO Max & Paramount+ bundle available direct ?

Short time saving monies, overtime prices will make the whole thing will no doubt cost more. Talking of monies see virgin junk bonds are diving

[SonicMaster]

I know it's unlikely, but when 5Drama launches on Virgin TV, replacing 5Select, I'd really like to see Virgin Media upgrade 5USA and 5Star to HD, along with 5Drama.

We already have 5 HD and 5Action HD so it would be good to have the rest of the 5 channels in HD here.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by SonicMaster

I know it's unlikely, but when 5Drama launches on Virgin TV, replacing 5Select, I'd really like to see Virgin Media upgrade 5USA and 5Star to HD, along with 5Drama.

We already have 5 HD and 5Action HD so it would be good to have the rest of the 5 channels in HD here.

Indeed. I thought Virgin were aiming to get as many channels as possible onto HD, these channels do exist elsewhere and they own their own capacity, so I can't see why they aren't now in HD.

[gunner45]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Indeed. I thought Virgin were aiming to get as many channels as possible onto HD, these channels do exist elsewhere and they own their own capacity, so I can't see why they aren't now in HD.

Virgin Media and Paramount have a carriage agreement, and it needs to be changed for channels to be upgraded to HD. 5USA and 5Star are relatively old ad-supported channels whose audiences and programming were built around SD distribution. And here's the problem: advertisers rarely pay a higher rate for a commercial spot on 5USA or 5Star simply because it is broadcast in HD instead of SD. The viewer numbers remain roughly the same, meaning Paramount sees very little return on investment for the extra HD carriage fees. That carriage agreement is thus unlikely to change.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by gunner45

Virgin Media and Paramount have a carriage agreement, and it needs to be changed for channels to be upgraded to HD. 5USA and 5Star are relatively old ad-supported channels whose audiences and programming were built around SD distribution. And here's the problem: advertisers rarely pay a higher rate for a commercial spot on 5USA or 5Star simply because it is broadcast in HD instead of SD. The viewer numbers remain roughly the same, meaning Paramount sees very little return on investment for the extra HD carriage fees. That carriage agreement is thus unlikely to change.

But, as these channels exist anyway and are available at no extra cost elsewhere, I don't understand why there hasn't been/won't be an agreement to carry the HD variants. I get what your saying, but lesser channels have been converted. I can understand it on satellite//Freeview as it would involve the expense of extra capacity, but Virgin own their own and have spare capacity. As a channel FTA elsewhere, Virgin is unlikely to be paying any carriage costs, in fact Channel 5 will be paying Virgin to carry them as it's not a must carry channel.

Maybe Virgin want extra payment for the extra capacity needed and Channel 5 don't think it's worth paying it for no return, but it would improve the Virgin TV offering as a USP.

Perhaps it's also a way to try and get customers to convert to their streaming box??

[Media Boy UK]

UK broadcaster UKTV is set to launch more FAST Channels soon maybe on Virgin:

*Top Gear on U
*DIY SOS on U
*Antiques Roadshow on U
*Gardeners' World on U
*Casualty on U
*Holby City on U
*Eastenders on U
*Bargain Hunt on U

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-an...tal-tv/updates

[david_w2k]

Had a different message come up on my V6 box today - seems to be leaning more towards forced upgrades eventually.

I think I will give in and just do it soon especially as we don't record so much these days. Previously I had our boxes reverted back from TV360 (yes a rare case) so will be interesting to see if the upgrade even works lol. The main thing I did not like about TV360 were not being able to add programmes to record when they are not in the upcoming 14 day window (e.g. when box was new trying to setup recordings again) but not so important now I guess. The minor benefit will be not having to flick to my Firestick for all the apps.



We're upgrading customers from older TV equipment to Virgin
TV 360.

This means your current box will be retired or have its
software upgraded as part of a planned programme taking place
over the coming months.

Don't wait for your viewing to be disrupted in the coming
months. Upgrade to Virgin TV 360 now at no extra cost, with no
change to your current TV package.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by david_w2k

Had a different message come up on my V6 box today - seems to be leaning more towards forced upgrades eventually.

I think I will give in and just do it soon especially as we don't record so much these days. Previously I had our boxes reverted back from TV360 (yes a rare case) so will be interesting to see if the upgrade even works lol. The main thing I did not like about TV360 were not being able to add programmes to record when they are not in the upcoming 14 day window (e.g. when box was new trying to setup recordings again) but not so important now I guess. The minor benefit will be not having to flick to my Firestick for all the apps.



We're upgrading customers from older TV equipment to Virgin
TV 360.

This means your current box will be retired or have its
software upgraded as part of a planned programme taking place
over the coming months.

Don't wait for your viewing to be disrupted in the coming
months. Upgrade to Virgin TV 360 now at no extra cost, with no
change to your current TV package.

So what's the change "from older TV equipment"? The "equipment" is going to be the same, apart from the remote.
"disrupted" is not the same as "stopped".
Difficult to be sure of what's going on or what's going to happen and when. Clarity is needed. Not untrue, misleading, or vague statements.

Originally Posted by nomadking

The "equipment" is going to be the same, apart from the remote.

The message suggests that may not always be the case

your current box will be retired or have its software upgraded

[Dingbat]

Originally Posted by Paul

The message suggests that may not always be the case

It may refer to those older TiVo boxes that are still out there, and not the V6 - which as we know can be updated.