Keep up-to-date on upcoming channel launches and other important events across the two platforms of Virgin TV.
NOTE: I do not work for Virgin Media so all the information on this list is subject to change.
This list was last updated by Media Boy on the 16th of December(*).
(*) = Note: Next update will be on the 5th of January 2009.
Media Boy hopes everyone have an merry Christmas and a happy new year.
BOLD = New
=== Freeviews on Virgin TV ===
=== Freeviews on Virgin TV right now ===
Magic TV is having an freeview on the L Package on Virgin Channel 340 until January 6th.
=== Freeviews coming up on Virgin TV: - December 2008 ===
27th. All of Setanta Sports Channels will be having an freeview on Virgin Channels 538 to 544 until December 30th.
=== Coming up on Virgin TV ===
=== December 2008 ===
No News...
=== January/February/March 2009 ===
UKTV is to rebrand UKTV History as ''Yesterday'' on Virgin Channel 203.
UKTV is to rebrand UKTV People as ''Blighty'' on Virgin Channel 206.
UKTV is to rebrand UKTV Documentary as ''Eden'' on Virgin Channel 208.
Five is rumoured to be rebranded Five US.
Virgin Media will launch FOUR HD channels.
=== January 2009 ===
1st. The Biography Channel will be rebrand as ''Bio.'' on Virgin Channel 242.
20th. Virgin Media may axe one of Discovery's +1 channels so that ID can launch.
20th. Investigation Discovery will launch on Virgin Channel TBC.
Discovery may launch Quest on Virgin TV.
=== February 2009 ===
1st. NASN is to be rebranded as ''ESPN America'' on Virgin Channel 533.
=== March 2009 ===
No news...
=== April 2009 ===
No news...
=== May 2009 ===
No news...
=== June OR July 2009 ===
Essex FM, Invicta FM (Kent), GWR Bristol and Severn Sound are all to be rebranding as Heart.
=== June 2009 ===
No news...
=== July 2009 ===
No news...
=== August 2009 ===
No news...
=== September 2009 ===
No news...
=== October 2009 ===
No news...
=== November 2009 ===
No news...
=== December 2009 ===
No news...
=== Sometime in 2009 - No date given so far ===
=== Until March ===
Media Boy has been told that Virgin will start adding Ex-Telewest or Ex-ntl only channels and some new channels starting in October until February 2009.
=== Spring 2009 ===
UKTV is to rebrand UKTV Food and UKTV Food +1 on Virgin Channels 260 and 261.
UKTV is to rebrand UKTV Style & UKTV Style +1 on Virgin Channels 265 and 266.
UKTV is to rebrand UKTV Gardens on Virgin Channel 267.
=== Mid 2009 ===
Virgin Media hope to complete the EPG alignment between ex-ntl and ex-Telewest including: Adding Local Radio channel to Ex-ntl and remove of channels that are not broadcasting on both networks.
=== Before 2010 ===
Five are in the advanced stages of plans to roll out its Kids show Milkshake making it into an TV Channel.
Virgin Media to move some channels to new channel numbers to that they have room to put their +1 or HD Channel beside the main Channel. (Updated 21/08/08.)
Virgin Media will cease all Virgin TV Analogue.
=== No Fixed Date ===
Virgin Media has sign deal with the following broadcasters but have still to give them an channel number and launch date.
Wedding TV - And will join the XL Pack.
Daystar TV - And will join the XL Pack.
BET UK - It was testing on some Ex-NTL and Ex-CW Boxes.
BBC Alba
Pop Girl
History +1 - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC One England - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC One Scotland - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC One Northern Ireland - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC One Wales - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC Two England - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC Radio 4 LW - On Ex-ntl.
BBC Radio Scotland - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC Radio Wales - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC Radio Ulster - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC Radio nan Gaidheal - On Ex-Telewest.
BBC Radio Cymru - On Ex-Telewest.
Channel 4 HD
=== Date TBC ===
ITV1 have announced six super-regions: They are
ITV1 Border and TyneTees
ITV1 Central and Granada
ITV1 London and South
ITV1 Wales
ITV1 West and Westcountry
ITV1 Yorkshire and Anglia
NOTE: It is not clear if the ITV Thames Valley region will go into "London and South" or "Central and Granada", or split between them. In addition UTV will still run Northern Ireland and STV will provide a service to Scotland. (Info from ukfree.tv)
=== Rumoured/Hope ===
Virgin Media are rumoured to be set sell their Shopping channels off to an other Broadcaster (From Mail on Sunday).
Virgin Media hope to signed an deal with Sky very soon for up to 15 Sky's HD Channels.
Virgin Media are also in talks with other broadcasters over their HD Channels as well (Note: If say Discovery HD appear on Virgin TV that doe not mean that all the missing SD Channels will not appear as well as Virgin Media are signed two deal with that broadcast - one for SD Channels and an other for HD Channels)
The chief executive of STV Group, has outlined plans for a "Scottish Gold" TV channel, in partnership with the BBC.
The Paranormal Channel have plans to launch on Virgin Media. (Dated 7th of June 2008).
Virgin Media are rumoured to be in talks with the following broadcasters: NBC Universal (For KidsCo), ITV and Five.
=== The list of Channels THAT Virgin Media have worked on this past week ===
Channels renamed/Re-launch/New Hours/Move EPG:
No news this week...
New Channels added:
No news this week...
Channels removed from Virgin TV:
No news this week...
=== What happened on Virgin Media this month ===
Channels renamed/Move EPG:
Dec. 2nd. Zone Reality has been moved from Virgin Channel 146 to Virgin Channel 148.
Dec. 2nd. Zone Horror has been moved from Virgin Channel 170 to Virgin Channel 149.
Dec. 2nd. Five US has been moved from Virgin Channel 185 to Virgin Channel 150.
Dec. 2nd. Fiver has been moved from Virgin Channel 186 to Virgin Channel 152.
Dec. 2nd. E! has been moved from Virgin Channel 173 to Virgin Channel 156.
Dec. 2nd. FX has been moved from Virgin Channel 179 to Virgin Channel 157.
Dec. 2nd. Hallmark Channel has been moved from Virgin Channel 190 to Virgin Channel 162.
Dec. 2nd. Hallmark Channel +1 has been moved from Virgin Channel 191 to Virgin Channel 163.
Dec. 2nd. Diva TV has been moved from Virgin Channel 192 to Virgin Channel 164.
Dec. 2nd. Diva TV +1 has been moved from Virgin Channel 193 to Virgin Channel 165.
Dec. 2nd. S4C has been moved from Virgin Channel 194 to Virgin Channel 167 (Wales Only).
Dec. 2nd. S4C2 has been moved from Virgin Channel 195 to Virgin Channel 168 (Wales Only).
Dec. 2nd. MTV R has been moved from Virgin Channel 196 to Virgin Channel 170.
Dec. 2nd. DMAX has been moved from Virgin Channel 197 to Virgin Channel 172.
Dec. 9th. Discovery Travel and Living has been renamed Travel and Living on Virgin Channel 273.
Dec. 9th. Discovery Home and Health has been renamed Home and Health on Virgin Channel 275.
Dec. 9th Fun Radio has been renamed FUN Kids on Virgin Channel 926.
New Channels added:
Sorry, no channels has been added by Virgin Media so far this month...
Channels removed from Virgin TV
Dec. 5th. Deutsche Welle TV has been axe by Virgin Media from Channel 830 (Ex-Telewest only)
Dec. 5th. Deutsche Welle Radio has been axe by Virgin Media from Channel 971 (Ex-Telewest only)
=== New channels that are now testing on some Virgin Media boxes. ===
Channels that are testing ARE Currently showing:
Last update: 15th of December.
Name - Testing with
PPV Events 4 - No Video (With EPG of UKTV Doc +1 or UKTV History +1)[2]
PPV Sub - No Video (With EPG of Premplus)[2]
Daystar TV - No Video[2]
BICS 1 - No Video[1]
BICS 2 - No Video[1]
BICS 3 - No Video[1]
BICS 4 - No Video[1]
BICS 5 - No Video[1]
BICS 6 - No Video[1]
BICS 7 - No Video[1]
BICS 8 - No Video[1]
BICS 9 - No Video[1]
BICS 10 - No Video[1]
FIVE is showing on two channels both have EPG of FIVE[1]
FIVE AD is showing on two channels both have EPG of FIVE AD[1]
NewChan4 - BBC One London[3]
NewChan5 - No Video[3]
NewChan6 - No Video[3]
NewChan7 - No Video[3]
NewChan8 - No Video[3]
Virgin Media has stop testing BET UK and Wedding TV right now.
NOTE: All have no EPG right now unless added (With EPG) and Some channels are not testing in Ex-CW areas,
''BICS'' = Tests of 3 new Transport Streams for TV Channels and Interactive. (And Virgin are testing Sky's premium channels to due them having the best picture quality, so by using them, they're testing the full bandwidth of the new channels to their fullest.)
[1] = It testing on Ex-CW, [2] = It testing on Ex-ntl & [3] = It testing on Ex-Telewest.
=== Channels THAT still to appear on both platforms ===
List was last updated on December 5th 2008.
NO. Channel Name
235. History +1^
811. Zee Music^
812. Alpha ETC Punjabi^
833. Phoenix CNE^
861. BBC One England^
862. BBC One Scotland^
863. BBC One Northern Ireland^
864. BBC One Wales^
865. BBC Two England^
911. Radio: BBC Radio 4 LW^^
917. Radio: RTE Radio 1^^
920. Radio: WRN Europe^^
928. Radio: Magic^
929. Radio: Q^
930. Radio: BBC Radio Scotland^
931. Radio: BBC Radio Wales^
932. Radio: BBC Radio Ulster^
934. Radio: BBC Radio nan Gaidheal^
936. Radio: BBC Radio Cymru^
962. Radio: The Hits^
963. Radio: Kiss 100^
964. Radio: Kerrang!^
966. Radio: Smash Hits!^
^ = Only on Ex-ntl right now,
^^= Only on Ex-Telewest right now.
=== Media Boy Thinks: ===
Virgin will keep the following Channels:
Q Radio
Magic Radio
The Hits Radio
Kiss FM
Kerrang Radio
Smash Hits Radio
BBC TV
BBC Radio
History +1
ZEE channels
==== Deals with broadcasters ===
When deals with broadcasters run out Virgin Media need to sign new one to keep that Channel on Virgin TV.
Here is an list of channel that Virgin may get when they old deal runs out with that broadcaster:
NOTE: To start broadcasting soon = That channel has still to start broadcasting on Sky.
=== Own by BBC ( Everyone in the UK) ===
BBC Alba
=== Own by UKTV ===
UKTV Documentary +1 (Soon to be Eden + 1.)
UKTV History +1 (Soon to be Yesterday + 1.)
=== Own by BSkyB ===
Sky1 HD
Sky Real Lives HD
Sky Real Lives + 1
Sky Arts HD
Sky Travel
Sky Movies Premiere HD
Sky Movies Screen 1 HD
Sky Movies Screen 2 HD
Sky Movies Action/Thriller HD
Sky Movies Sci-Fi Horror HD
Sky Movies Drama HD
Sky Movies Modern Greats HD
Sky Movies Family HD
Sky Movies Comedy HD
Sky Sports HD 1
Sky Sports HD 2
Sky Sports HD 3
=== Own by NBC Universal Global Networks ===
Sci Fi + 1
Sci Fi HD (To start broadcasting on other networks soon.)
Kids Co. ( To start broadcasting in the UK by 2010. )
=== Own by ITV Digital Channels Ltd ===
ITV HD
ITV2 + 1
ITV3 + 1
ITV4 + 1
=== Own by Channel 4 Television Corporation ===
Channel 4 HD
More 4 + 1
=== Own by Discovery Networks Europe ===
DMAX + 1
DMAX + 1.5
DMAX + 2
Quest (To start broadcasting in 2009.)
Investigation Discovery (To start broadcasting in the UK in 2009.)
Travel & Living + 1
Home & Health + 1
Discovery HD
Discovery Science + 1
Discovery Knowledge + 1
=== Own by Chello Zone ===
Zone Reality + 1
Zone Thriller
Zone Romantica
Zone Horror + 1
=== Own by Fox International Channels ===
FX +1
FX HD
=== Own by Channel 5 Broadcasting ===
Five US + 1
FIVER + 1
=== Own by CSC Media Group ===
Showcase TV (It just reboadcasting shows from Pop Girl, Chart Show TV and True Movies 2)
True Movies 2
Chart Show TV
The Vault
Flava
Bliss
Scuzz
Flaunt
NME TV
Tiny Pop + 1
Pop Girl
Kix!
Pop Girl + 1
=== Own by Turner Broadcasting System Europe ===
TCM 2
Cartoonito
=== Own by Viacom (MTV) ===
MTVN HD
BET UK
BET + 1
Nicktoonsters
Paramount Comedy 2 +1
=== Own by ESPN Inc. ===
ESPN Classic
=== Own by TF1 Group ===
Eurosport HD
=== Own by NGC-UK Partnership ===
National Geographic Channel HD
=== Own by A&E Television Networks ===
History HD
Crime & Investigation Network HD
Bio.HD
Military History
=== Own by Disney-ABC Television Group ===
Playhouse Disney +
Disney Cinemagic + 1
Disney Cinemagic HD
=== Own by Best Direct (International) Ltd. ===
Best Direct +
=== Own by Ideal Shopping Direct plc ===
Ideal World 2
Create & Craft
=== Own by STAR TV ===
STAR One
STAR Gold
=== Own by ARY Group ===
QTV ARY
ARY One World
=== Own by United Christian Broadcasters ===
UCB Inspirational
The Word
UCB Gospel
UCB Bible
UCB TV
=== Own by GMG Radio (Smooth FM) ===
Real Radio from South Wales
Century Radio
Rock Radio
Jazz FM - Licensed by GMG Radio to The Local Radio Company.
=== Own by Bauer Radio (formerly EMAP Radio) ===
Magic 105.4 FM - On Ex-Telewest.
Q Radio - On Ex-Telewest.
The Hits Radio - On Ex-Telewest.
Kiss 100 London - On Ex-Telewest.
Kerrang! 105.2 - On Ex-Telewest.
Smash Hits Radio - On Ex-Telewest.
Heat Radio
=== Media Boy thanks & Got news. ===
And now for me to say thanks to the following regular Virgin contributors of this thread who give me some of my Information - tell me if you want your name removed.
They are:- BenMcr, ufitm, timn64, Neel lad, paul hadley, harmitage, grabbi, JG3870, Jasmeet, buba3d and Bob.
Media Boy - giving out information for FREE ONLY on Cable Forum.
Q: I HAVE NEWS BUT I WORK FOR VIRGIN MEDIA FOR I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE MY NAME?
A: All you need to do is pm me right now and I will post it for you on ''Coming soon to Virgin TV''.
=== NON Virgin Media news: ===
Keep up-to-date on upcoming channel launches and other important events across DAB, Sky Digital, FreeSat and Freeview.
BOLD = New
=== Coming up on in the Media world ===
=== December 2008 ===
16th. Sky will stop working on their EPG until January 5th 2009.
=== January till March 2009 ===
Sci Fi HD will launch on Sky.
UKTV will rebrand UKTV Documentary and UKTV Documentary +1 as Eden and Eden +1 on Sky.
UKTV will rebrand UKTV People as Blighty on Sky.
UKTV will rebrand UKTV History and UKTV History +1 as Yesterday and Yesterday +1 on Sky.
Quest will launch on Freeview.
=== January 2009 ===
1st. bid tv or price drop tv will closed on Freeview.
1st. The Biography Channel will be rebrand as ''Bio.'' on Sky.
5th. Chiltern Radio (Bedford) will be rebrand as ''Heart Bedfordshire'''
5th. Chiltern Radio (Dunstable) will be rebrand as ''Heart Luton''
5th. Hereward FM (Peterborough) will be rebrand as '' Heart Peterborough''
5th. Horizon Radio (Milton Keynes) will be rebrand as ''Heart Milton Keynes''
5th. Northants 96 will be rebrand as ''Heart Northampton''
5th. Q103 will be rebrand as ''Heart Cambridge''
5th. Radio Broadland will be rebrand as ''Heart Norfolk''
5th. SGR FM (Colchester) will be rebrand as ''Heart Colchester''
5th. SGR FM (Ipswich) will be rebrand as ''Heart Ipswich''
8th. NetPlay TV will launch on Freeview channel 48.
20th. Investigation Discovery will launch on Sky Channel 551.
Nuts TV will closed on Sky and Freeview with Nuts +1 also is to closed on Sky as well.
CNN will launch on Freeview.
=== February 2009 ===
1st. ESPN will rebrand NASN as ESPN America on Sky Channel 417.
=== Spring 2009 ===
UKTV will rebrand UKTV Food, UKTV Food +1, UKTV Gardens, UKTV Style and UKTV Style +1 on Sky.
=== June or July 2009 ===
The following Radio channels will be rebrand as Heart.
2-Ten FM (Reading)
Champion/Coast (north Wales)
Coast (north Wales)
Essex FM
Gemini FM (Exeter)
Gemini FM (Torquay)
GWR Bath
GWR Bristol
GWR Wiltshire
Invicta FM (Kent)
2CR (Bournemouth)
Lantern FM (north Devon)
Marcher Sound (Wrexham)
Orchard FM (Taunton)
Plymouth Sound
Fox FM
Severn Sound
Southern FM (Brighton)
South Hams Radio (South Hams)
Wirral's Buzz
=== Before 2010 ===
RTÉ International will launch on Sky and FreeSat.
KidsCo may launch in the UK.
Milkshake! may launch in the UK.
=== By 2013 ===
Everyone in the UK will be digital [4]
=== Digital UK news ===
When is the digital switchover coming to me?
When your home switches to digital will depend on where you live in the UK. The switchover happens
TV region by TV region, transmitter by transmitter.
[4] = For more info see here:
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch
=== Radio News ===
=== To remain the same but join The Hit Music Network: ===
Capital 95.8 (London)
Red Dragon (Cardiff)
Trent FM (Nottingham)
Mercury FM (Crawley)
Leicester Sound (Leicester)
Ram FM (Derby)
Ten 17 (Harlow, Essex)
=== FM Local radio stations that will be sold by 2009 ===
Heart FM (Midland)
Beacon Radio
BRMB FM
Mercia FM
Wyvern FM