What is the point of a stream box?

You can fast forward through the adverts with the stream box and if you add programs to your watchlist you can watch them as soon as they are available.  I used to have a Sky Q box but I prefer the stream box.

I believe you get VM specific items on the Stream box. Other than that I guess it’s just like any other streaming box.

I think you get a 10% discount on steaming services. Generally I agree that it seems a pretty thin offer over TV apps. 

The Stream box is vastly superior to other streaming devices as it gives you access to whatever 313 TV channels and 45 radio stations that you have subscribed to - plus On Demand, Catch-Up and 37 apps. The box is also used as the additional ones in multi-room and can play back 360 recordings.

This is Pay TV and if you don't want it or can't afford it then there are multiple suitable alternatives.

It really a question of what you watch. The Stream box has most of the linear channels, not all of which have apps. If you want to watch channels within the subscription tier, such as many of the Sky and U& channels then it is an easy way to do that. It is also as good as any way to watch the Sky Sports channels. It allows easy switching between channels, not possible if you are just using different apps, and connects the main channels to their apps, which may be an advantage to some people. The versions of the apps from the four public service providers is in my view as good as any other streaming box or TV, and some of the basic channels are in higher quality than on Freeview and Freesat.

On the other hand, if you don't watch linear TV, or are happy with the Freeview / Freesat channels plus apps, then it isn't for you. In particular some of the pay apps on Virgin Media can be had in higher quality elsewhere, not all are on Stream, and you are also not paying for Virgin Media's TV in addition to the app price.

The only advantage of having a stream box is to benefit Virgin Media as they get more money from advertisers as you can’t fast forward through adverts.I feel I was duped into getting a stream box on my contract renewal.I was told I couldn’t keep my 360 box and had to send it back.Now can’t do series link,record or other other useful features.Will be ditching Virgin like a hot potato at contract end.👎🏻

Can you explain the issue you're having here please?

The Startover functionality is common to both 360 and Stream; there wont be any programs that you can do that with on 360 that you cannot on the new box.  Instead of recording just use My Watchlist in the same way, you can still fast forward through the ads on many of the shows there.

As well as this if I try to watch a program that is currently live I can’t watch it from the start but if I go into the app on my tv I can watch from the start. 

Thr point of a stream box is to maximise revenue for advertisers.   The riff raff have been fast forwarding through ads on recordings, that has to stop. 

I have had a stream box for a while now. I didn't ask for it but when I got a new deal which reduced my subs significantly until December 2026 I had to send my 360 box back and the stream box replaced it. Was really annoyed when I realised I couldn't record but adding shows to the watchlist has pretty much resolved it as most channels allow catch up. Only channel that doesn't that I have come across is Talking Pictures. The annoyance is having to put up with ads when watching from the watchlist. This happened last night when I caught up with Hacks. But I am saving a lot of money and generally I do not now miss the 360 box.

I can't believe VM have made stream their standard TV box over the 360/v6 box, I have both, stream is useful if you just want TV wireless in a spare room but at no point is it a replacement for a 360 box! If anything VM should be looking at an up to date replacement for the 360 box not that I have any complaints about my 2.