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Bollard1969's avatar
Bollard1969
Just browsing
24 days ago

Confusion re UHD channels

I have had a disastrous and frustrating experience since joining Virgin Media for their TV and Broadband. 

I have already had my engineer visit reimbursed, as the salesman said it would be free and the salesman also forgot to cancel my previous suppliers broadband, meaning I had to pay £20 to my previous supplier which has also been promised to be reimbursed, only after a lot of long winded and time consumer phone calls. 

At the time of the joining call, I made it very clear that I would want to have the two sports UHD channels, Sky Sports UHD and TNT Ultimate, as a few months ago, I had purchased a new UHD compatible TV. The salesman said that would be no problem and they would be free. Great I said. 

I have now been told by a catalogue of managers at Virgin Media that I cannot get those UHD channels, as I only have a Stream Box. 

Even though it says here that you can. 

Sky Sports HD subscribers with a Virgin TV V6 box, Virgin TV 360 or Stream box can access Sky Sports UHD for £7 extra a month. 

So I have simply asked for a Virgin TV Box that I can access the UHD channels with, only be told that it is not available to me. So for now I face the next 18 months with no UHD channels (even though bizarrely I can watch Wimbledon UHD content via the iPlayer) Why the initial salesman gave me a stream box, when I so clearly stated I wanted to watch the two sports UHD Channels, I have no idea and why my issue can't be simply rectified I have no idea. If I can't get the UHD sports channels I'm going to have to cancel. 

My question is, is it true I can't get the two UHD sports channels via the stream box and If I can't why can't I simply be supplied with a box where I can. 

Any help will be gratefully received. 

 

 

 

12 Replies

  • The Stream box can get the UHD channels, albeit in the Sky Sport case an additional cost, TNT Sport's UHD channel is included in the one cost.

    If you look on the programme guide, TNT Sports Ultimate is on channel 525, the Sky Sports UHD channels on 532 to 535.

    If you are on the Flex package you can add it via the apps [you need Sky Sports as well to add their UHD package]. If on a different package, they should be able to add the channels for you.

  • Thanks for the quick and informative reply Richard. Much appreciated. 

    I just had to make sure that I do indeed have a Stream box and I do. 

    What I cannot understand then is why three different managers at Virgin Media have stated that I cannot have the UHD channels using the Stream box. 

    One manager did not even know that there was a TNT Sports Ultimate Channel. 

    At the time of joining the salesman said that the UHD Channels were free and that there was an offer on TNT Sports for £5 per month for the first three months and then £18 per month thereafter. But when I tried to get that deal after the engineer visited, it had disappeared. 

    Virgin Media have now agreed to honour that deal which was promised, but keep saying I can't have the UHD channels. I am in limbo here. 

  • Do you know what TV package you are on? On my contract under TV I have "no services selected" under the main services box, and "Flex and "Stream Box" under the add-ons box. It is more difficult to tell as the Stream box is now used for the standard TV packages as well as Flex.

    Also, depending on what package you are on, do you have anything on channel 999? It is UHD, albeit not HDR unlike the sports channels but is available on many packages.

  • Hi Richard, 

    I was sold the Mega Volt Bundle, with Sky Sports (but not the UHD channel)  and Sky Cinema. 

    And I do have something on Channel 999. 

    Also I have to say the picture quality isn't very good on even the supposed HD channels. 

  • And looking at my Virgin Media account I have the Mega TV package 

    • Richardr1's avatar
      Richardr1
      Superfast

      Unfortunately I'm on a different package, so can't say exactly how to get UHD added to yours - but do you have TNT Sports, and if so what happens if you go to channel 525?

      The UHD sports channels should look somewhat better than channel 999 when you get them. They are an add on to the Mega Volt package.

      • Bollard1969's avatar
        Bollard1969
        Just browsing

        I am still waiting for Virgin to sort out my TNT Sports, but they did agree to honour the package that was offered to me. The main issue is their insistence that I can't get Sky Sports UHD or TNT Sports Ultimate Channel on my Stream box. Its all so bizarre. 

  • This same Virgin Media manager now says that the only way I can get the two sports UHD Channels is to get a Virgin TV 360 or V6 box, which are no longer available to new customers. 

    The only box new customers get is the Flex/Stream box, which the manager(s) say does not get the two sports UHD Channels. 

    So basically he is telling me no new customers can get the two sports UHD Channels, which to me beggars belief. 

    According to him VM did provide the UHD channels previously, but not now, which makes absolutely zero sense, as more people get UHD TVS. 

  • Flex is irrelevant to you as it is a TV package and you are on the Mega TV package.

    The Stream boxes can get UHD - I had the UHD sports channels on a Stream box until I cancelled them last month, and they are still available to me to add back. It is unlike the people on the phone not to try and upsell, so there must be some specific reason why they are not doing so.

    The only other suggestion from me - have you logged in to the website and had a look around the upgrade package and similar areas?

  • Thanks Richard, it is nice to know that someone is keen to help me out. 

    In regards to the upgrade package, whatever I click on in my account, Upgrade TV, or manage my FlexPlan, leads to a link to a chat, with the last words of the web address saying "customer exclusion"

    • Bollard1969's avatar
      Bollard1969
      Just browsing

      So after a web chat with a VM media member of staff, the two UHD sports channels have been added, as well as TNT Sports at the price that I was promised. 

      I have no idea what the managers were on about, but they certainly made me question my sanity for a while there. 

      Thanks Richard for all your help.