Digital TV Guides

Virgin V HD Box

Updated: Tuesday 3 April, 2012

By Editorial

Until recently, you needed a high-end V+ Box if you wanted to watch Virgin's HD channels. But now, Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) has brought HD to the masses with it's new 'V HD' box.

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FREE Sky+HD box* + FREE set-up from £12.50 a month + 1/2 price HD for 6 months	FREE V HD box (£49.95 set-up) £26.50 a month** + FREE HD TV	FREE V HD box (£49.95 set-up) £7.00 a month** + FREE HD TV	from £99.99**** (aerial required) no monthly subscription
Over 60 HD channels	Over 30 HD channels	5 HD channels	4 HD channels
Pause and rewind "live" TV	Pause and rewind "live" TV
Record 2 programmes at once	Record 2 programmes at once + watch a 3rd
Record series automatically	Record series automatically
£25 Marks and Spencer voucher (Online only)	FREE catch-up TV with the BBC iPlayer and more	FREE catch-up TV with the BBC iPlayer and more
Visit sky.com or call 08442 410582	Visit virginmedia.com	Visit virginmedia.com	Buy at johnlewis.com

* For new and existing customers taking their first Sky+HD package. Get up to 60 HD channels with addtional 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. HD box capabilities vary across manufacturers. Higher prices may apply for recorder and catch-up capabilities.

V HD Box review

For a one-off cost of £49 and no additional monthly fee, V HD is an extremely affordable way to watch BBC HD, Channel 4 HD and ITV1 HD. The V HD box is available from £5.50 a month if you take a Virgin Phone line, or £11.50 a month without a Virgin Phone line. It is also a great way to catch this summer's World Cup in High Definition.

On top of this, V HD can tap into the extensive on-demand content Virgin offer with HD movies available at the touch of a button. On-demand is an area Sky still hasn't fully addressed and Virgin Media's integrated support for BBC iPlayer and 4oD is also well worth having.

Although the V HD Box is a cheap alternative to watching programmes in HD, it does lack the PVR (Personal Video Recorder) functionality, meaning you cannot record, pause or rewind live TV. If these matter to, you Virgin's new V+HD Box may be right for you.

HD channels on Virgin

HD channels are available entirely free of charge with any Virgin TV package. Compare Virgin TV packages below and click the GO button for the latest prices on www.virginmedia.com:

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