Digital TV Guides

Virgin HD channels

Updated: Tuesday 3 April, 2012

By Editorial

If you’re looking for a digital TV service that offers a range of high-definition channels at an affordable price, Virgin Media’s cable service may suit you. Article continues below »

UK HD channels

20 HD channels & over 240 SD channels	23 HD channels & up to 175 SD channels	6 HD channels & up to 75 SD channels	4 HD channels & 140 SD channels
View all channels »	View all channels »	View all channels »
FREE Sky+HD Box* + FREE set-up & £25 M&S voucher from £12.50 a month + HD for £10.25 a month	FREE VHD Box (& FREE set-up) £26.50 a month** + FREE HD TV	FREE VHD Box (& FREE set-up) £7 a month*** + FREE HD TV	from £99.99**** (aerial required) no monthly subscription

* For new and existing customers taking their first Sky+HD package. Get up to 60 HD channels with additional Sky HD packs. ** + a Virgin Phone line for £13.90 a month. *** + a Virgin Phone line for £13.90 a month. **** Prices sourced from Freeview.co.uk and Freesat.co.uk. Freeview and Freesat set-top box capabilities vary across manufacturers. Higher prices may apply for recorder and catch-up capabilities.

High-definition channels on Virgin Media

Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com), the UK’s biggest cable TV provider, currently offers its customers 14 high-definition channels on it's XL Package, showing a variety of content, as well as HD on-demand films and programmes.

• BBC HD: shows BBC programmes such as Hustle, The Royle Family and Silent Witness in high-defintion
• Channel 4 HD: broadcasts all the content on Channel 4 in high-definition, like Big Brother, The Inbetweeners and Skins
• ESPN HD: shows all the content from ESPN in high-definition, including 46 live Barclays Premier League matches and 23 live Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League games
• FX HD: shows a mixture of top American programmes and first run drama, comedy and crime shows, including The Wire, Family Guy, True Blood and Life on Mars USA
• Living HD: one of the UK’s most watched channels, programmes include Britain’s Next Top Model, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Private Practice and CSI
• MTVN HD: shows music programmes such as MTV Unplugged, as well as live music events and a selection of Nickelodeon children’s shows such as Sponge Bob Square Pants and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
• National Geographic HD: features documentaries on science, technology, history and the wonders of the natural world, including Extreme Ice and Ancient Megastructures
• Film4 HD: home to British cinema, showcasing films like Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting and The Full Monty, as well as US independent films, Hollywood blockbusters, mainstream drama and comedy, foreign and cult films. It's exclusive to Virgin Media and available on channel 429.

More HD content on Virgin Media

As well as the HD channels above, Virgin Media’s on-demand service also shows some content in high-definition - ideal for those with an HD ready TV.

With the TV On Demand service, you can pick a film or music video from the on-demand library, which has a selection of content in high-definition. A selection of the films available in the PictureBox and FilmFlex on-demand menus are shown in HD, as are some of the programmes on the TV Choice and Catch-Up services.

At any one time, there is around 300 hours of HD content on the Virgin Media on-demand TV platform, including the BBC iPlayer in HD, and around 60 HD films to choose from.

You will need an HD ready TV and a V+ set-top box to receive high-definition content, as well as a subscription to Virgin Media’s Size: XL TV package (Size: M and L customers can only watch Channel 4 HD).

Virgin Media TV packages

Company	Package Name	Channels	Broadband	Home Phone
	TV: M+	65 channels including Virgin 1, Sky1, LIVING and many more
	TV: L	100 channels including Virgin 1, Sky1, Comedy Central, Bravo and many more
	TV: XL	160 channels including Virgin 1, Sky1, ESPN, Disney Channel and many more
	TV: L + Broadband: 30Mb + Phone: M	100 channels including Virgin 1, Sky1, Comedy Central, Bravo and many more