Forum Discussion

unisoft's avatar
unisoft
Knows their stuff
2 months ago

VM New Customer TV Bundles

As of this morning, TV bundles now have the HUB5 and come with a Flex box not TV360 (for those HFC and RFoG areas of VM, the majority).

The product bundle web pages do not indicate it will be a Flex box without ability to record programmes. When you add to basket and checkout, it is then listed as a "Stream Box". The only TV bundle to show a picture of the Flex bos is the M125 bundle. The rest do not show anything.

New customers might sign up not being aware - expecting new customer complaints soon in this forum as a result.

VM, I think you need to make this clearer to your new customers before they add to their basket and checkout to avoid disgruntled customers later....

Biggest Combo NOT showing Flex:

M125 bundle Showing Flex

Actual Checkout of Biggest Combo:

News of Flex replacing TV360:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/04/virgin-media-uk-upgrade-to-hub-5-broadband-routers-on-all-tv-bundles.html

 

7 Replies

  • Richardr1's avatar
    Richardr1
    Superfast
    2 months ago

    Note that the box is a Stream Box, Flex is a package that includes the Stream box, and is no longer the only package Virgin Media sell with the Stream box [as well as what you say it includes new multi-room boxes for existing 360 customers].

    The story you link to gets confused, but then correctly says:

    One downside of this approach is that the Stream/Apollo box (sometimes also called a ‘Flex Box’, but this confuses it with the ‘Flex service’) ...

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person
      2 months ago

      AFAIR the box started as Stream and it was free. Then became Flex at a cost.  Now it is standard.  No recording is possible on the box, just like most streaming sticks and boxes.  The ultimate goal eventually, I think, will be cloud recordings for subscribers, but again only when the channels allow it.

      • unisoft's avatar
        unisoft
        Knows their stuff
        2 months ago

        correct. Stream became Flex. Stream was free, Flex is at least £5 per month.

        https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/stream/introducing-flex---the-new-name-for-stream-from-virgin-media/5577052

         

  • nodrogd's avatar
    nodrogd
    Very Insightful Person
    2 months ago

    There are increasing issues with different areas only supporting certain TV systems. In NexFibre/UPP FTTP areas, only Stream products can be used, as V360 is dependent on traditional copper coax for its live channels & recording capabilities. With VM about to go live with its XGS-PON FTTP overbuild in existing HFC/RFoG areas, this means the TV product they can have will depend on whether the customer is on DOCSIS or XGS-PON technology. Even more confusing. This is more than likely the reason the offering is being streamlined to one that works on both systems, as VM starts to offer migration to FTTP.

    Bear in mind that Sky has also done this, with Sky Stream now being the default offering.

    • unisoft's avatar
      unisoft
      Knows their stuff
      2 months ago

      Not questioning why they are doing it, just questioning why its not made clear its a Stream/Flex box on the bundle page and no recording capability. Traditionally, most expected a recording box such as v6 or TV360. I marked my post as HFC/RFoG too. The M125 bundle was at least indicating a Flex/Stream box.

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    2 months ago

    Does the 'setup fee £0' include the 'activation fee' that new users have complained about? 

    • unisoft's avatar
      unisoft
      Knows their stuff
      2 months ago

      New customers are not supposed to have to pay that......