Digital TV News

Virgin Media wages war on illegal set-top boxes

Friday 27 August, 2010

By Garnet Roach - garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

Cable giant Virgin Media is warning consumers not to be “ripped off by conmen selling fraudulent cable TV equipment”.

The digital TV provider is currently rolling out new encryption technology that will make illegitimate or “chipped” set-top boxes and TV cards useless.

New smart cards are also being sent to every Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) TV customer, along with letters explaining how to swap these for their existing cards.

The new cards need to be inserted into Virgin Media set-top boxes to make it possible for people to keep watching. “If the card is not replaced, the number of available channels will rapidly diminish over the next few weeks before finally it will not be possible to watch television at all,” said Virgin Media.

Malcolm Davies, Virgin Media’s head of fraud and security, said: “I urge anyone considering buying a dodgy cable box or a knock-off TV card to think again because they are needlessly throwing money away.

“The new encryption we’re introducing will protect our existing customers and make it impossible for anyone else to get our services unless they pay for them legitimately. I know it’s embarrassing for anyone who has already been misled and conned by these sellers, but if they contact us we will try to help.”

Anyone who has been sold an illegal set-top box or viewing card can call 0800 052 0962 in confidence. Virgin Media assured customers that it “will not ask difficult questions” but will simply offer advice on how to get the service legitimately.