Virgin Go app on Apple TV 4K box

[JLD123]

Hi all,

Recently saw that the Virgin Go is available to download on an Apple TV - I have the current 4K box. 

This is very welcome to me, as I prefer to use Apple TV to stream than the Virgin TV box that is clunky and slow, with the Apple TV box so well integrated with my phone etc.  The Virgin go app adds to the one thing that Apple TV lacks - the UK terrestrial channels. 

I do however see that BBC channels are missing on Virgin Go on the Apple TV (unlike Virgin Go on say an iPad). 

Is anyone aware if this might be an early version of the app, and whether BBC channels might be added in the future (I don’t know if Virgin reads any of these posts).

Regards, Justin 

[newapollo]

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@JLD123 wrote:

I do however see that BBC channels are missing on Virgin Go on the Apple TV (unlike Virgin Go on say an iPad). 

Regards, Justin 

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Hi Justin,

Are you sure that you can watch BBC programs via VM TVGo on an iPad and iPhone?

The BBC channels aren't available via TVGo on my android mobiles and tablets, nor on my computer. BBC haven't given broadcasting permission for their channels to be viewable on those devices. I expect the same to be true on iPhones and iPods. 

Instead when trying to play a program via TVGo the page shows a link advising it's available on the iPlayer and to Exit to watch. It then opens the iPlayer app (if you have downloaded it) so you can watch the program.  

A member of the forum team should pick this up in a day or two and hopefully be able to answer your query.

[JLD123]

Hi there and thank you for your response. 
To clarify, on the Virgin Go app on Apple TV app, the BBC channels simply do not show on the channel guide. The first channel showing is ITV1.

This is unlike the Virgin Go app on my iPad which does at least show BBC channels and what programmes are scheduled - I agree that if you then select a BBC channel on Virgin Go on an iPad it does not open natively, but rather through opening iPlayer, but at least the BBC channels are showing on my iPad, unlike Apple TV. 

I attach a screen-shot below, first of the Virgin Go app from my iPad - that shows bbc, and then from the Apple TV that starts at itv to illustrate. 

[newapollo]

Hi again @JLD123 

There's a poster <this thread> with a VM Stream (Flex) TV box that's unable to watch BBC?Sky channels on an Apple TV using TVGo. They do however seem to be able to see the channel name with a padlock appearing.

Are there any other options/channels available in the grid if you alter the drop down box 'My channels' ?

Also are you using the 'Shared' profile or have you set up any additional profiles? 

[Matthew_ML]

Hi JLD123,  thank you for reaching out and I am sorry to hear about this, also a warm welcome to the community. 

Are you watching the Apple TV on a apple device or an Apple TV box?

So just to confirm BBC 1 cannot be found anywhere on the Apple TV?

[jtready]

JLD123 is referring to the newly (very quietly) launched TV Go App on Apple TV 4K boxes. 

The BBC Channels are not listed on the EPG. 

The app is a pleasant surprise and adds some channels which weren’t previously available, via any other means, on an Apple TV 4K box eg E4 Extra, That’s TV channels. 

It’d be good to know what VM’s plans are for channels available via this app eg the free U& channels, channels from subscription packs

[Lee_R]

Hi @jtready thanks for getting back to us.

Any updates to programming/channels via the TV Go app, would be announced here. We hope you find this helpful.

Regards

Lee_R

[JLD123]

Hi there, thanks for your thoughts- I changed My channels to All channels but still no BBC. Not sure what you mean about shared profile (or any profiles) - so I suspect than answer will be whatever the default is. 

[JLD123 · Accepted solution]

Hi Matthew, BBC channels are missing when using the Virgin app on an Apple TV 4K box.

BBC appears if I log into virgin go on an iPad. See my screenshots above. 

[JLD123]

Hi jtready- I agree. Realistically I suspect boxes like an Apple TV box, or Amazon firestick depending on your platform preference are going to be the future for television watching.  

Smart TVs might include plenty of apps, but after a year or so slow down. Unfortunately same for virgin boxes - so maybe if this app has only recently been launched, it will develop over time