Virgin uses DTT to get beyond cable network

Virgin Media has launched a Virgin-branded digital terrestrial television (DTT) set-top box for consumers living beyond its cable franchise network.
As well as the standard Freeview line-up of 40 free-to-view TV channels and more than 25 digital radio stations, the service offers an eight-day Virgin-branded electronic programme guide as well as customer support online and over the telephone.

Virgin Media said the low-power consumption set-top box—which measures 19cm by 9cm—used one-fifteenth of the energy of a standard 60W lightbulb.
The set-box is free to any Virgin Media non-cable customer taking an up-to 8 Mbps broadband and Talk Anytime phone bundle at £19.99 a month. For non-cable customers taking a broadband service on its own, a one-off charge of £40 will apply.

Philip Snalune, managing director of non-cable at Virgin Media, said: “Launching a basic TV service into non-cable areas enables us to expand availability of our quadplay of broadband, phone, mobile and TV. This is just the first step and our aim is to offer more advanced TV services across the UK throughout 2008.
“The digital switchover is just around the corner and we can now offer consumers across the UK a simple and low-cost way of making the digital leap, even if they can’t get cable services.”