Digital TV Guides

Virgin 3D TV

Updated: Thursday 2 August, 2012

By Editorial

If you’ve got Virgin Media TV and a 3D-ready television set, then just grab your remote to start watching 3D cinema blockbusters like Avatar and Toy Story 3 from the comfort of your own home...

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Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) has jumped on the 3D TV bandwagon and now offers 3D films on-demand to all homes with a subscription to cable TV and a V+HD or V HD set-top box.

So, if you’ve got a 3D-ready television set, is Virgin Media the best option for watching 3D TV?

Virgin 3D TV

If you’re already a Virgin Media TV customer with either a V+HD or the V HD set-top box and a 3D-ready television set, you’ll already be well on your way to watching 3D films. Simply visit the FilmFlex menu from the Virgin Media electronic programme guide (EPG), and select the film you want to watch. There’s no need to upgrade your set-top box, and you don’t have to pay for any extra channels - just pay for the films that you watch, when you watch them.

Any new customers looking to join Virgin Media for its 3D films need to subscribe to a Virgin Media TV package - ranging from M+, which offers 83 channels, to XL, which offers 179 channels - when you take a Virgin Media cable phone line. You’ll also need a 3D-ready set-top box (see below for more information).

Once you’ve got your Virgin Media TV package and your 3D-ready set-top box, just select the films you want to watch from the FilmFlex menu.

Enjoy Virgin Media 3D TV now - sign-up to a cable TV package

What's on Virgin Media's 3D channel?

Unlike it's rival Sky, Virgin Media doesn't have a dedicated 3D channel. The digital TV provider’s 3D offering is based on an on-demand pay-per-view basis. Simply select the films you want to watch and pay for them when you watch them.

The following movies are currently available on-demand through the FilmFlex service from just £4.75 a film:

• Disney’s A Christmas Carol
• StreetDance 3D
• Garfield’s Pet Force

Virgin Media has said it will be adding more movies over the coming months, including Step Up 3D.

When you watch a 3D film on Virgin Media you will essentially “rent” it for 24 hours, so you can watch it whenever you like in the 24-hour period.

How do I watch Virgin 3D TV?

As well as a subscription to a cable TV package, you’ll have to get a Virgin Media set-top box that is both high-definition (HD) and 3D compatible. You have two options to choose from:

1. V HD Box - The V HD Box is now the Virgin Media standard set-top box. If you want to watch 3D films you will have to pay a one-off cost of £49.95 to activate your box, either when you buy or later. If you don’t activate the box you’ll not be able to watch 3D or HD TV, but you will still be able to access catch-up and on-demand services, such as BBC iPlayer.
2. V+HD Box - This box has all the functionality of the V HD Box, but also gives you the ability to control your viewing experience, letting you pause, rewind and record live TV. You can store up to 80 hours of your favourite (standard-definition) programmes, and you can even record two different channels while watching a third. There’s a one-off HD activation cost of £49.95 when you buy a V+HD Box.

In order to watch Virgin’s 3D TV, you will also need to buy a fully 3D capable television set. Virgin Media says its on-demand 3D films are compatible with all 3D-ready TVs available in the UK and Ireland from major manufacturers such as LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. These range in price from about £800 to £6,000, and can now be purchased from retailers such as John Lewis, Argos and Currys.

You’ll also need to get 3D glasses to wear when watching the films, though the type you should buy will depend on the format of the television set you get.

Other 3D TV options

Virgin Media isn’t the only provider offering 3D content - both Sky and BT Vision now offer subscribers the option to watch films, sports and documentaries in 3D.

Prices and content vary between digital TV providers though, so it’s essential you compare costs before signing up to any particular service. Use the price comparison calculator on Digitalchoices.co.uk to work out which option would be the most cost-effective for you.