Digital TV Guides

Cable TV

Cable TV

Updated: Wednesday 28 July, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Cable TV from Virgin Media offers more channels than the free-to-view digital TV service Freeview, but is cable TV the right option for you? Read our guide and find out more about cable TV.

What is cable TV?

Cable TV is a type of digital television service. Different from Freeview, which requires a roof-top aerial, cable TV is delivered to via a fibre optic cable underground.

The digital signal is unscrambled by a cable set-top box, allowing you to watch all the Freeview channels, as well as all the channels within your subscription package and a host of free and pay-per-view on-demand TV programmes and films.

Cable TV also offers loads of digital-only radio stations and interactive services, such as email and shopping through your TV.

Cable TV coverage

Cable TV is currently available to around 51% of the UK. To find out if you’re in an area that can receive cable, enter your postcode in our online checker - this will list the digital TV services you can receive at your address.

If you can't get cable TV, consider getting a satellite or internet TV. Read our digital TV providers overview for more information about all of the options available.

Cable TV providers

Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com), is the UK's largest and leading cable TV provider.

Virgin Media bought ntl:Telewest in 2006 and now offers digital TV, broadband, home phone and mobile phone packages. You can also add mobile broadband to your subscription, which will give you internet access anywhere in the UK.

Virgin Media TV-only deals

Virgin Media’s TV packages are available with or without taking a Virgin phone line. To get the best deal though, it is recommended that you bundle your landline and TV together, as TV-only packages are more expensive.

If you’d rather just subscribe for Virgin TV without a phone line, check out the table below for some of the current deals:

Virgin Media TV

CompanyPackage NameChannels 
TV: M+65+ channels including Channel One, Sky1, Living and many more
TV: L100+ channels including Channel One, Sky1, Comedy Central, Bravo and many more
TV: XL160+ channels including Channel One, Sky1, ESPN, Disney Channel and many more
TV XL + HD160+ channels including Channel One, Sky1, ESPN, Disney Channel and many more. Also includes access to over 14 HD channels

Virgin Media TV, phone and broadband packages

As well as TV, you can also get Virgin Media broadband and home phone through your cable connection. These services are offered as money-saving bundles that are tailor-made to suit your family.

Some of the packages that are currently on offer are listed in the table below:

Virgin Media Bundles

CompanyPackage NameChannels 
TV: M+ Broadband: L + Phone: M+ HD65+ channels including Channel One, Sky1, Living and many more. Also includes access to over 14 HD channels
TV: L + Broadband: L + Phone: M100+ channels including Channel One, Sky1, Comedy Central, Bravo and many more

Any drawbacks to cable TV?

Because it’s delivered via cables that run through the ground into your home, you need to live in a cable area. Check with Virgin Media first to find out if you can receive its services. And, to get Virgin Media TV, a technician will have to visit your home to install the equipment. There could be a charge for this - again, ask Virgin Media first.

It’s also important to bear in mind that if you do switch to cable but then decide to switch back to BT, BT will charge you a £127.99 reconnection fee.

Is cable TV right for me?

If you think that a cable connection would suit you, do a search using our calculator to see what options are available, for a detailed breakdown of all the costs, or to sign-up.

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Comments

Some yeas ago we were contacted by a cable company informng us that cables would be installed in our road (Sandown Park, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4RN). A "spot" was painted on the pavement outside our house, as it was outside each house in nearby roads. In nearby roads the "spot" was replaced by what appars to be a cable TV conection but this did not happen in our road. No explanation was forthcoming. Will cable ever be installed in our road? - May 8 2010 10:36PM
Clifford Leake, UK

im waiting for delivery of a v box .i dont know which firm is doing the job or what time there comeing.i havnt been given code number to track the item. - May 7 2010 11:34AM
peter meyers, brighton uk bn13pj

Will cable television ever reach the far southwest, if not WHY!!. - Apr 2 2010 6:39PM
tom prior, newquay

can i buy a vbox only.iwant in daughters bedroom. - Feb 25 2010 8:38PM
alex pressley, corby

can i get cable tv in my street, e1 8dr - Feb 23 2010 1:20AM
when will i br able to get cable tv in my area, in london e1 8dr - Feb 23 2010 1:18AM
when will fibre optic tv reach st7 4tt? ive been waitin 13 yrs since my neighbouring streets were done - Feb 18 2010 4:51PM
mark bailey, stoke on trent

When can I expect Virgin Media to provide Cable TV in my area as their vans are seen in the city of Stirling? - Feb 18 2010 2:37PM
Edna Cuthill, Stirling. Scotland

I would like to thank Virgin for sorting out the problems we had when our picture was freezing, the engineer was very professional, most polite and very friendly, he seems to have sorted out the problem in a most professional way. Once again thank you.
John Stundon at No. 12, five locks road, Pontnewydd.NP44 1AP.
- Jan 31 2010 7:33PM
John Stundon, Cwmbran

Can I have cable TV installed into my Barbers Shop in Hemel Hempstead Herts. HP1 1BB - Nov 24 2009 2:30PM