Posted 30th April 2008 by Paul
The catchup service from the BBC – iPlayer – has ‘soft launched’ on Virgin TV. The service can be accessed by pressing the red button on any BBC TV channel. BBC iPlayer on Virgin TV works in a similar way to the online service at bbc.co.uk, but streams programmes off servers – like Catch Up TV and TV Choice On Demand – instead of downloading it to the box via a broadband connection.
The existing BBC section of Catch Up TV (in the On Demand menus of Virgin TV) remain in place at the moment, as this is just a ‘soft launch’ of the iPlayer, to make sure everything works as it should before it’s fully unleashed into the Virgin TV On Demand menus some time this summer. There’s a useful ‘Search’ function available on the iPlayer service, which makes finding programmes much easier.
At the moment, only TV programmes are available on the new iPlayer service on Virgin TV, but this should expand to radio programmes and high definition programmes in due course.
Click here to read more about the service.
(Pictures are from www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet)
Tags: bbc iplayer, Cable (Virgin Media)
Posted 29th April 2008 by Paul
Five Life has now been rebranded as Fiver on the Freeview and Virgin Media EPGs. Freeview viewers will need to rescan their box if it doesn’t pick up the new channel name automatically. Virgin Media customers may need to restart their set top box for the channel name to change.
Tags: Cable (Virgin Media), five life, fiver, Terrestrial (Freeview and Top Up TV)
Posted 24th April 2008 by Paul
Teachers TV programming can now be ‘subscribed’ to on Top Up TV Anytime. The short amount of time the channel broadcasts on Freeview will be automatically recorded to your Anytime box if you choose to do so. Teachers TV remains free, and still broadcasts on its normal channel.
Tags: teachers tv, Top Up TV, top up tv anytime
Posted 21st April 2008 by Paul
BBC News 24 has dropped the ’24′ from its channel name as part of the overhaul of BBC News services. Freeview viewers will need to rescan their boxes to pick up the new channel name. Virgin Media customers should automatically see the new channel name on their boxes, but a set top box reboot may be required.
Tags: bbc news, bbc news 24, Cable (Virgin Media), Terrestrial (Freeview and Top Up TV)
Posted 12th April 2008 by Paul
By the 1st June, Virgin Media will be increasing the price of some of their services. The XL TV package will cost an extra £1.50 a month, TV Choice On Demand content will go up by £2 a month (it stays free for XL TV subscribers) and calls will increase to 4p a minute to other UK landlines. Read more on Cable Forum.
Tags: Cable (Virgin Media)
Posted 11th April 2008 by Paul
A new interactive dating service from Teletext will launch on Freeview in May. The channel will replace Teletext Cars, which is currently used as a pointer to direct people to the Teletext website. The dating service will be called ‘Rabbit’.
Tags: interactive, teletext, Terrestrial (Freeview and Top Up TV)
Posted 10th April 2008 by Paul
FX is currently free-to-view on Virgin Media at the moment until the 14th April, and all the Setanta Sports channels will be free on the 2nd May until the 5th May. Also, Sky Movies Sci-Fi & Horror will be extended its broadcast hours from the 1st May – it will now air 8am to 5am every day (an extra 3 hours a day).
Tags: Cable (Virgin Media), fx, setanta, sky movies
