Virgin Media launches Virgin Free TV across the UK

paul_hadley · 02/04/07 - 11:10

Virgin Media has today launched a digital TV service to consumers living in non-cabled areas - expanding availability of its quadplay of broadband, phone, mobile and TV services beyond its cable franchise network.

The service uses the digital terrestrial television platform (DTT) and a new set-top box to offer consumers:

over 40 free-to-air TV channels and over 25 digital radio stations
an easy to use eight-day, Virgin branded, on-screen TV guide
high quality reception plus access to interactive content via the red button
customer service support online and over the phone
plug 'n'play installation
low power consumption using just 1/15th of the energy of a standard 60W lightbulb

Full press release - http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=980528&highlight=

Sounds interesting...

System · 02/04/07 - 11:11

Glad to see VM forward planning for the eventual demise of cable!

Daveoc64 · 02/04/07 - 11:17

So people in a non-cabled area get more channels on the free package and some that cable customers can't get at all?

System · 02/04/07 - 11:22

Daveoc64 wrote:

So people in a non-cabled area get more channels on the free package and some that cable customers can't get at all?

Think of the profit matgins for VM:

None of the cabling costs, no engineers to send out for installs - all they have to supply is a £10 digibox!

Hope they invest the super-margins into improving cabled services.

paul_hadley · 02/04/07 - 11:23

How I understand it is they're just launching their own terrestrial set top box that works through an aerial - ie. Freeview with a Virgin box. It would be quite good if they could launch a subscription package on terrestrial for it - like Sky was apparantely planning - something to rival Top Up TV - but there's not much bandwidth on terrestrial/Freeview, so probably not realistic. They could easily turn UKTV Gold on terrestrial into a subscription package with a few other channels though.

[Deleted User] · 02/04/07 - 11:24

nojo608 wrote:

Think of the profit matgins for VM:

None of the cabling costs, no engineers to send out for installs - all they have to supply is a £10 digibox!

Hope they invest the super-margins into improving cabled services.

This is actually a method of getting offnet customers onboard in preparation for launch of the offnet IPTV product later on.

welwynrose · 02/04/07 - 11:25

nojo608 wrote:

Glad to see VM forward planning for the eventual demise of cable!

why would cable disappear in this country I'm quite happy with cable thank you very much

Nightdeamon · 02/04/07 - 11:28

im in a analouge cable area which means no DTV does this mean i can get this box as im in a DTT area or do i have to wait for this feasibility study to end and wait for them to re CAB the area ( ex tw area of W. London)

Nightdeamon · 02/04/07 - 11:31

Daveoc64 wrote:

So people in a non-cabled area get more channels on the free package and some that cable customers can't get at all?

to name a few:

- Sky Spts news
- Sky News
- Sky Three

They're be able to use ADSL to stream live channels and VOD in the future a la homechoice meets BT Vision but superior aparently

firehawk1 · 02/04/07 - 11:33

not sky news or sky three of course...remember the dispute?

since when was there an "eight day" on screen tv guide? :rolleyes:

Nightdeamon · 02/04/07 - 11:35

firehawk1 wrote:

not sky news or sky three of course...remember the dispute?

since when was there an "eight day" on screen tv guide? :rolleyes:

Yes but remeber theyre using Freeview which has those channels unless they have not used them on their epg and it problary uses the DTT EPG data to make it 8 days

the dispute was for cable carriage they just using a Virgin branded Freeview box which all of freeview inter8ctive services

Daveoc64 · 02/04/07 - 11:38

firehawk1 wrote:

not sky news or sky three of course...remember the dispute?

since when was there an "eight day" on screen tv guide? :rolleyes:

That was my original point.

People on the DTT Free TV package will get more channels than those on the cable Free TV Package and some channels that nobody on Cable is able to get.

The Guide is 7/8 days on Freeview (certainly not 1 day).

NEWLINEtv · 02/04/07 - 11:39

more on this topic is @ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=559022

Nightdeamon · 02/04/07 - 11:43

Daveoc64 wrote:

That was my original point.

People on the DTT Free TV package will get more channels than those on the cable Free TV Package and some channels that nobody on Cable is able to get.

The Guide is 7/8 days on Freeview (certainly not 1 day).

You get every FV channel from you local TX

http://www.virgin.net/allyours/digitaltv/channels/

tvtimes · 02/04/07 - 11:57

I wonder when the big brother series starts will these Offnet customer's have the exclusive interactive content from the house like cabled customer's?

[Deleted User] · 02/04/07 - 11:58

I was curious about the new service (although I'm with TUTVA & pretty happy with it). Basically it is just a new box where you get customer support (something the normal freeview service doesn't get). As per the website;

What is Virgin Free TV?

Virgin Free TV is a brand new service that allows you to watch digital TV, even if you don’t live in a cable area.

With Virgin Free TV you’ll have access to some fantastic features:

Over 40 digital channels including all the basic channels you love, like ITV 2, E4, BBC News 24, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Three and Film4, plus loads more

Easy to use Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) with 8 day programme listings
High quality reception plus access to interactive content via the Red Button
Full customer service support online and over the phone
One of the smallest and most stylish digital boxes on the market
Low power consumption
Easy to install, just plug ‘n’ play

tvtimes · 02/04/07 - 12:15

I bet they wont advertise the fact they now supply the whole of a uk with the virgin service.

tvtimes · 02/04/07 - 12:18

How can they launch this when their lines are still too busy regarding the SKY issue and other issues. Their lines will be even busier now!

System · 02/04/07 - 12:21

tvtimes wrote:

I wonder when the big brother series starts will these Offnet customer's have the exclusive interactive content from the house like cabled customer's?

Do you have a link to the announcement of "exclusive" Big Brother content? I'd think E4 was available across all platforms, which hardly leaves a lot to show "exclusively" on Cable.

System · 02/04/07 - 12:22

tvtimes wrote:

I bet they wont advertise the fact they now supply the whole of a uk with the virgin service.

Yes, I'm certain they won't ever promote their new service and just expect it to be a success on it's own.:eek:

tvtimes · 02/04/07 - 12:33

sskywatcher wrote:

Yes, I'm certain they won't ever promote their new service and just expect it to be a success on it's own.:eek:

You only have to look at their recent advertising campaigns with VM they have hardly been affective.

tvtimes · 02/04/07 - 12:35

sskywatcher wrote:

Do you have a link to the announcement of "exclusive" Big Brother content? I'd think E4 was available across all platforms which does not leave a lot to show "exclusively" on Cable.

what about VOD i think they will be offering their subs something exclusive they would be stupid not to.

System · 02/04/07 - 12:37

tvtimes wrote:

what about VOD i think they will be offering their subs something exclusive

I'll ask again, after Channel 4 and E4's "blanket coverage" what's left to show? Repeats of the previous night with the housemates all asleep in bed?:eek:

tvtimes · 02/04/07 - 12:45

We will just have to watch this space wont we.

System · 02/04/07 - 12:49

tvtimes wrote:

We will just have to watch this space wont we.

I ever won't be watching Big Brother on any channel (or space)!:p

[Deleted User] · 02/04/07 - 12:53

tvtimes wrote:

I bet they wont advertise the fact they now supply the whole of a uk with the virgin service.

That would be (another) untrue advert if they did - after all, only 70% of the country can get DTT..

Hey there!

Quick Links

Virgin Media launches Virgin Free TV across the UK

Comments