Virgin Media Launches New Free To Air DTT Box

Virgin Media has launched a digital TV service to consumers living in non-cabled areas, giving users over 40 free to air TV channels and over 25 digital radio stations.

The service uses the digital terrestrial television platform (DTT) and a new set-top box to offer consumers the free channels. Other features of the service include an eight-day on-screen TV guide, red button services and a low power consumption rate.

The set-top box has a sleek, matt black design and measures just 19cms by 9cms – roughly the same size as a video tape. The box also comes with a stylish remote and remote control extender, which means you can hide the box out of sight, whilst continuing to use the remote.

The box will be free to any Virgin Media non-cable customer taking the up to 8Mb broadband and Talk Anytime phone bundle at £19.99 a month. For non-cable customers taking a broadband service on it’s own, a one-off charge of £40 will apply.

Philip Snalune, managing director of non-cable at Virgin Media, said: “Launching a basic TV service into non-cable areas enables us to expand availability of our quadplay of broadband, phone, mobile and TV. This is just the first step and our aim is to offer more advanced TV services in all areas throughout 2008.

“The digital switchover is just around the corner and we can now offer consumers across the UK a simple and low-cost way of making the digital leap, even if they can’t get cable services.”

Reports last month suggested that the company would launch its own Freeview box, saying it could be a “stop gap” measure to provide digital TV ahead of its IPTV service to be launched next year (see Virgin Media Close To Launching Own Freeview Box).

Virgin Media: www.virginmedia.com