Virgin Media viewers get a brand-new channel for free, and the timing couldn't be better
Virgin Media TV viewers can watch the Christmas-themed channel from now until December 27
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Virgin Media has added a brand-new channel dedicated to Christmas to all customers’ TVs — for free. Known as Love Christmas, the imaginatively-titled new channel play Christmas movies on repeat until December 27.
To start watching, you’ll need a Virgin Media Stream, Virgin TV 360 box, or the older TV V6 kit. Love Christmas is a linear channel, so you’ll need to set a reminder if you want to catch the beginning of your favourite festive film. But that also means you won’t catch yourself endlessly scrolling through pages of options, paralysed with indecision until it’s time for bed ...as can happen with video on-demand options, like Netflix and Prime Video.
There’s no need to download an update for your box, the Love Christmas channel should already be there and waiting for you. It’s available in the TV Guide as channel 245.
If that channel number sounds familiar, it’s likely because it was used for another free-to-watch channel called Love Drama last month. Virgin Media has confirmed that Love Drama will return when the festive makeover vanishes on December 27, so you’ll still be able to enjoy a slew of films at no extra cost on the ad-supported channel.
Virgin Media TV 360 set-top boxes are compatible with the festive-themed channel, dubbed Love Christmas
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If you have an older Virgin TV V6 box, you’ll need to hit the Red button on your remote to start watching Love Christmas live, but newer hardware — Stream and TV 360 — will be able to tune-in just like any other channel in the TV Guide.
Some of the Christmas films that’ll air on the new Love Christmas channel include Holidaze, A Perfect Christmas, A Rose For Christmas, Marry Me At Christmas, Desperately Seeking Santa, A Shoe Addict’s Christmas, Welcome to Christmas, Double Holiday, A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.
Virgin Media isn’t the only broadcaster that’s offering some Christmas cheer to viewers. Sky customers will find a dedicated Sky Cinema Christmas on channel 302 in the TV Guide.
Some of the biggest hits that will air on the channel, including the likes of Love Actually, White Christmas, The Holiday, Last Train To Christmas, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express, A Boy Called Christmas, Krampus, Arthur Christmas, and of course, Elfare also available to watch on-demand either on your Sky TV box or while travelling home for Christmas via Sky Go.
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You’ll need to be a Sky Cinema subscriber to access the festive channel, which costs an extra £11 per month. For that, you’ll also get a subscription to Paramount+ and two cinema tickets each month.