General : Virgin TV (2025)

[Media Boy UK]

This is a continuation of the 'Changes to Virgin TV (2024)' thread which you can find here:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...712384&page=78

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.

Here is the CONFIRMED Channels news for Virgin UK and N. Ireland TV:

Testing (As of December 11th):
FAST Channels;
*Hell's Kitchen - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 233 if launch.
*Sky Artist of the Year - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 239 if launch.
*Egg Heads - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 253 if launch.
*Sky Sports Stories - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 558 if launch.
*Sky Sports Classics - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 559 if launch.
*Sky Sports Vault - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 560 if launch.

Linear Channels;
*Cruise1st.tv - Virgin will give it Virgin UK Channel 758 if launch.

January:
*1st. Sky Cinema Christmas HD rename as Sky Cinema Drama HD
*1st. Sky Cinema 10s HD rename as Sky Cinema Hits HD
*1st. Sky Cinema Action HD rename as Sky Cinema Stunts HD
*2nd. Sky Cinema Harry Potter HD rename as Sky Cinema Family HD
*2nd. Sky Cinema Monsters HD rename as Sky Cinema Sci-Fi & Horror HD
*2nd. Sky Cinema Kung Fu Panda HD rename as Sky Cinema Animation HD
*2nd. Sky Cinema Middle Earth HD rename as Sky Cinema Greats HD
*5th. Christmas24 rename as Movies24
*5th. Christmas24+ rename as Movies24+
*6th. Sky Sports Darts HD rename as Sky Sports F1 HD
*6th. Sky Sports Darts rename as Sky Sports F1
*6th. Sky Sports Darts UHD rename as Sky Sports F1 UHD
*TBC. Premier Sports Rugby HD may launch on Virgin Media.

February:
*TBC. Sky Sports NFL HD rebrand as Sky Sports Action HD
*TBC. Sky Sports NFL rebrand as Sky Sports Action

2025:
*Paramount Global to rebrand Channel 5 HD as 5 HD on Virgin Media UK^
*Paramount Global to rebrand Channel 5 +1 as 5 +1 on Virgin Media UK^
*The BBC to stop broadcasting BBC FOUR HD as an linear channel^
*The BBC to stop broadcasting CBBC HD as an linear channel^

^Changes dates not yet confirmed by broadcasters.

2026-2029:
*Warner Bros. Discovery Sport UK may rebrand Eurosport 1 HD UK as TNT Sports TBC HD (By Summer 2026)^^
*Warner Bros. Discovery Sport UK may rebrand Eurosport 2 HD UK as TNT Sports TBC HD (By Summer 2026)^^
*The BBC will close BBC Radio 4 Extra on Digital TV (By 2028)^^

^^ALL Changes dates not yet confirmed by broadcasters.

©Copyright 2025 Media Boy UK 2006 - 2025. A ''Doing it my way'' Production.

[Mr K]

I predict the BBC4 closure doesn't happen, and BBC3 might be for the chop again.

[nodrogd]

The link from the old 2024 thread is failing (has https:// twice in the link)

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr K

I predict the BBC4 closure doesn't happen, and BBC3 might be for the chop again.

They've changed their minds before, but my feeling is that both channels will go. They simply don't have the funding to continue broadcasting BBC3 and BBC4 without cutting back expenditure elsewhere.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

They've changed their minds before, but my feeling is that both channels will go. They simply don't have the funding to continue broadcasting BBC3 and BBC4 without cutting back expenditure elsewhere.

If I was BBC GM I would.

-Remove hours on end of BBC News (outside BBC News at 1, 6 and 10) from BBC One
-Full up BBC News time with shows from BBC Two.
-Merge the shows that BBC One don't want with BBC Four and become the all new BBC Two.
-Merge BBC Red Button (Linear channel) with BBC Three to become full time channel called BBC Three.
-Rebrand S4C as BBC Cymru.
-Close CBeebies and CBBC.

I would also:

-Launch BBC Scottish Parliament channel using BBC Scotland Space.
-Move S4C to BBC A on Freeview using unuse space outside Scotland.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

They've changed their minds before, but my feeling is that both channels will go. They simply don't have the funding to continue broadcasting BBC3 and BBC4 without cutting back expenditure elsewhere.

BBC4 is costing them diddly squat, but highly regarded. Little original content, but the BBC have an archive of quality content. BBC3 has few viewers: if aimed at the young it should have remained online.

If they want to cut back on costs, I'd stop doing rubbish like reality TV/ strictly / soaps / Mrs browns boys etc. Leave the crap to the commercial channels who need the viewing figures/advertisers Concentrate on quality drama and documentaries which is what they are good at.

[vincerooney]

evening all. heres to 2025! im sure it'll be another interesting one on here...

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr K

BBC4 is costing them diddly squat, but highly regarded. Little original content, but the BBC have an archive of quality content. BBC3 has few viewers: if aimed at the young it should have remained online.

If they want to cut back on costs, I'd stop doing rubbish like reality TV/ strictly / soaps / Mrs browns boys etc. Leave the crap to the commercial channels who need the viewing figures/advertisers Concentrate on quality drama and documentaries which is what they are good at.

If you call £22 million diddly squat, OK….

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

If you call £22 million diddly squat, OK….

Which is 0.4% of the BBCs income....

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

If you call £22 million diddly squat, OK….

They still make the very occasional new programme, I guess the rest must be for repeat fees.

[Media Boy UK]

Rumour - More Channel 4 digital Channels may get axe in 2025

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-...t/true#M151966

[TimeLord2018]

4seven is pretty pointless nowadays that could go.

I can't see them closing E4 after recent news about The Simpsons although possibility they lose both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon on 30th December both the channel and On Demand unless they agree some new deal with WBD , both will be on Max in the UK.

[Media Boy UK]

An brand new FAST Channel has started to test in Virgin Media HQ called Loves Pets.

Testing on Virgin UK (As of January 3rd):

FAST Channels;
*Hell's Kitchen - set to launch on Channel 233
*Sky Artist of the Year - set to launch on Channel 239
*Love Pets - set to launch on Channel 243
*Egg Heads - set to launch on Channel 253
*Sky Sports Stories - set to launch on Channel 558
*Sky Sports Classics - set to launch on Channel 559
*Sky Sports Vault - set to launch on Channel 560

Linear Channels;
*Cruise1st tv - set to launch on Channel 758

Still no launch date known.

https://ukcabletvchanges.blogspot.com/

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

An brand new FAST Channel has started to test in Virgin Media HQ called Loves Pets.

Testing on Virgin UK (As of January 3rd):

FAST Channels;
*Hell's Kitchen - set to launch on Channel 233
*Sky Artist of the Year - set to launch on Channel 239
*Love Pets - set to launch on Channel 243
*Egg Heads - set to launch on Channel 253
*Sky Sports Stories - set to launch on Channel 558
*Sky Sports Classics - set to launch on Channel 559
*Sky Sports Vault - set to launch on Channel 560

Linear Channels;
*Cruise1st tv - set to launch on Channel 758

Still no launch date known.

https://ukcabletvchanges.blogspot.com/

Good grief!

[Mr K]

So far then, more cheap crap channels, and anything half decent at risk of being axed.

The dumbing down of our 'culture' continues...