General : Virgin TV (2026)

[RichardCoulter]

QVC Extra rebrands to QVC Christmas on 24/9/26.

[gunner45]

Originally Posted by cje85

This isn't actually correct. Every channel that appears on the EPG must be licenced by Ofcom and this includes FAST channels. All FAST channels that appear on the VM EPG are Ofcom licenced.

Here are the first few channels listed on the EPG. In some cases VM itself holds the licence on behalf of the channel. Real Wild and History Hit are examples below.

220 Inside Crime - https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/r...nsidecrime.htm
221 Real Wild - https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/r...a1realwild.htm
222 Mystery TV - https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/r...1mysterytv.htm
223 Haunt TV - https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/r...ba1haunttv.htm
224 History Hit - https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/r...historyhit.htm

This means they must also meet the Ofcom COSTA rules regarding advertising limits.

In many cases there are fewer ads on FAST channels and programmes have shorter run times as a result. Looking at Inside Crime, the documentaries that have 60 minute slots when shown on normal channels run for around 50-55 minutes and have odd start times like 13:26, 14:23, 15:17, 16:11 due to fewer ads meaning they don't fill a 60 minute slot.

Your post is substantially correct. VM's EPG is regulated and, interestingly, VM itself became the licensee for a whole group of channels — Real Wild, Real Crime, History Hit, Wonder, Demand Drama, Hotel Inspector, River Monsters, The Chat Show Channel and Saturday Kitchen. This gives VM substantial influence including how FAST ad income is split and enables VM's FAST operation to bolster its linear TV offerings via the EPG. (This may be for another thread, as I'm saying that linear no longer means just broadcast TV.)

I'll quibble with something: not every channel that appears on the EPG must be licenced by Ofcom as there are a few exemptions including some ECTT/Irish services.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by denphone

Repeats...

That appears to be the future for much of linear TV.

[Media Boy UK]

Today i was trying to find something to watch on my TV 360 Box and 5Select was listed as 5 Drama on Virgin Channel 130 when i want back a day it went back to 5 Select

[TimeLord2018]

The cream 5DRAMA logo has come from somewhere

With Quest , DMAX etc soon to be free to air sister channels , may make sense to make changes

[Media Boy UK]

Someone on X has told me that 5ACTION HD has moved from Channel 130 to Channel 138. With 5SELECT moving from Channel 138 to Channel 130 on Virgin Media O2.

[TimeLord2018]

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

Someone on X has told me that 5ACTION HD has moved from Channel 130 to Channel 138. With 5SELECT moving from Channel 138 to Channel 130 on Virgin Media O2.

It has, i assume they have done these changes early by mistake

[Media Boy UK]

BBC Expected To Announce TV & Radio Network Closures Next Week

https://deadline.com/2026/09/bbc-ann...ee-1237111317/

BBC licence fee could be axed and replaced by £11-a-month internet charge whether people watch live TV or not

https://www.dailymail.com/news/artic...TV-Labour.html

BBC to axe sports bulletins on its TV news channel

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...s-news-channel

Never really understood why the licence depends on watching "live" tv.

Surely a TV licence should be for what it says, i.e. households having a TV.

[Richardr]

Originally Posted by Paul

Never really understood why the licence depends on watching "live" tv.

Surely a TV licence should be for what it says, i.e. households having a TV.

What is a TV? People watch video on computer monitors, laptops, tablets, phones. Are all of those TVs?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Paul

Never really understood why the licence depends on watching "live" tv.

Surely a TV licence should be for what it says, i.e. households having a TV.

This used to be the case many years ago.

[Jaymoss]

It is just another floated idea that will have no chance of getting passed . Desperate measures for them to add to the next letter they send out

Originally Posted by Richardr

What is a TV? People watch video on computer monitors, laptops, tablets, phones. Are all of those TVs?

If used as one, yes.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Paul

Never really understood why the licence depends on watching "live" tv.

Surely a TV licence should be for what it says, i.e. households having a TV.

Because it was based upon receiving broadcasts, even of repeats.

[newapollo]

It's now been confirmed that 5Drama is replacing 5Select, but not until October 21st, so VM jumped the gun renaming the channel/DOG early.

https://www.paramount-mediahub.co.uk...2%80%93-5drama

"Public service broadcaster, 5 will launch a new channel 5Drama on October 21st which will become a dedicated home to the very best of 5’s hit UK drama, as well as a range of US and Australian series. 5Drama will replace 5Select in the line-up of channels available on all major digital platforms – and will move up the EPG*. (the article doesn't mention VM)

The schedule will run nostalgic US drama through weekday afternoons, building into more recent boxset hits ahead of peak. Peak time will open with 5 family favourites at 7pm and 8pm, followed by classic UK drama at 9pm and a second chance to catch some of 5’s biggest titles at 10pm, such as The Cuckoo, The Catch, Cold Call, The House Across the Street, The Au Pair, Number One Fan, The Rumour and The Fortune. Each day will close with a double bill of Australian drama. Weekends bring the channel's "super sleuths” on Saturdays, from Jessica Fletcher to Inspector Dalgliesh, with Sundays dedicated to UK drama marathons.