We've recently lost access to the BBC IPlayer through our TIVO box. We were told by Virgin Media yesterday that our old box is no longer compatible with the IPlayer and our only option is to start a new contract with a new 360 box plus a new router. There was no warning of this happening from Virgin Media.Our current router is tied in with a provider connected to our utility bills & land line so we're very reluctant to change the router to suit Virgin Media. We're aggrieved that we're paying £117.90 per month with no access to the IPlayer, which we use almost daily.Is there anyone else in this same situation?

You should press for a V6 box as it still runs the same TiVo software you are used to. A replacement Hub should be fine if you set the SSID and password to be the same as the old Hub.

That kind of explains the issue. I think the old Tivo boxes only required a VM cable TV connection to work. I think the newest VM TV boxes also require a VM broadband connection to work and the broadband connection can only be from VM.I would politely suggest that if you are paying £117.90 per month to VM for TV only then it is time to leave VM and find some alternatives for your TV needs. If you are paying that to VM for TV only that is astronomically expensive.

You are correct on the connectivity requirements. The legacy TiVo had an inbuilt internet connection fed on the same co-ax as the TV feed, and split out internally.Newer V6 & TV360 both require a connection to your VM home-hub for onward internet services.Without doing some maths, the £118 figure is top-end for someone who has numerous premium add-ons and hasn't renegotiated for several years.

Sounds like another scam by a VM employee to get you to sign up to a new contract. They can replace the old Tivo box with a 360 without a new contract, it might need an activation fee. Most smart TVs now have a built in iPlayer app.They are replacing some old Hubs without charge if they don't meet current safety standards. You don't need a new Hub unless you are upgrading the contract speed. IPlayer works at even the lowest speed. What you are paying sounds far too much for basic services. What else do you use it for? Have you just been accepting their ripoff renewal charges without renegotiating at the end of each contract?

jhalligan2000 wrote:Our current router is tied in with a provider connected to our utility bills & land line so we're very reluctant to change the router to suit Virgin Media.Are you paying a different provider for your broadband and landline and using VM for TV only?

Problems accessing BBC IPlayer | Virgin Media Community

11 Replies

jpeg1
Alessandro Volta
31 days ago
Sounds like another scam by a VM employee to get you to sign up to a new contract.
They can replace the old Tivo box with a 360 without a new contract, it might need an activation fee. Most smart TVs now have a built in iPlayer app.
They are replacing some old Hubs without charge if they don't meet current safety standards. You don't need a new Hub unless you are upgrading the contract speed. IPlayer works at even the lowest speed.
What you are paying sounds far too much for basic services. What else do you use it for? Have you just been accepting their ripoff renewal charges without renegotiating at the end of each contract?
- jhalligan2000
  Just joined
  31 days ago
  We were told by both a technical person & someone in Customer Services about the only option on offer to us.
  Yes, I suspect we have been paying far too much for the basic package plus access to the sports channels. We've had the contract for so long it just runs on....
  - goslow
    Alessandro Volta
    31 days ago
    jhalligan2000 wrote:
    Yes, I suspect we have been paying far too much for the basic package plus access to the sports channels. We've had the contract for so long it just runs on....
    VM's sales model is based on customers having to renew their service(s) every 18 months in order to get a discounted package price.
    Those who do not renew get stuck with an inflation+ price rise each and every year and that rolls on indefinitely until the customer either renews or leaves. The total monthly payment soon builds up without taking any action.
Adduxi
Very Insightful Person
31 days ago
You should press for a V6 box as it still runs the same TiVo software you are used to. A replacement Hub should be fine if you set the SSID and password to be the same as the old Hub.
goslow
Alessandro Volta
31 days ago
jhalligan2000 wrote:
Our current router is tied in with a provider connected to our utility bills & land line so we're very reluctant to change the router to suit Virgin Media.
Are you paying a different provider for your broadband and landline and using VM for TV only?
- jhalligan2000
  Just joined
  31 days ago
  Yes, we are.
  - goslow
    Alessandro Volta
    31 days ago
    That kind of explains the issue. I think the old Tivo boxes only required a VM cable TV connection to work. I think the newest VM TV boxes also require a VM broadband connection to work and the broadband connection can only be from VM.
    I would politely suggest that if you are paying £117.90 per month to VM for TV only then it is time to leave VM and find some alternatives for your TV needs. If you are paying that to VM for TV only that is astronomically expensive.
Richardr1
Superfast
31 days ago
The other alternative if you want to keep your current internet provider and the TIVO box from Virgin Media is to get the streaming services separately from the TIVO box. A bit more hassle, but the iPlayer is on recent televisions, and if not on yours buying something like the Fire TV Stick from Amazon for a one off fee and plugging that into your TV will give you the iPlayer and the other streaming services.
japitts
Very Insightful Person
31 days ago
We're aggrieved that we're paying £117.90 per month with no access to the IPlayer, which we use almost daily.
I'm not surprised. The USP of VM's TV services are access to pay-TV channels, and recording facilities. It sounds like you're doing neither of these - if all you want to do is use the BBC iPlayer app, there are far cheaper ways of doing so.
Recording will generally be a better option than using streaming/OnDemand facilities, given the choice, but that's another debate.
Adduxi
Very Insightful Person
31 days ago
Sounds like a "streaming stick" for iPlayer and a Humax or Manhatten for freeview recording might suit?

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