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If you have a Virgin Media set-top box nestled under your television, you should carve-out some time over the next few days to watch some crisp 4K Ultra HD films. That's because the latest free upgrade from Virgin Media will come to an end at 11.59pm on Sunday April 12, 2026.
Available on Virgin TV 360, Virgin Stream, and Virgin TV V6 set-top boxes, the broadcaster unlocked its Virgin TV Ultra HD channel in Ultra High Definition (UHD) packed with family-friendly films, live music performances, and documentaries. To start watching, simply head to either Channels 228 and Ch. 999 on your box.
Films are shown without ad breaks, so you'll be able to enjoy movie nights without interuption in the highest quality available on broadcast television. You'll need a 4K Ultra HD flatscreen to take advantage of the pixel-packed film.
Get broadband and TV from Virgin Media at its 'lowest ever price'
Enjoy fast, reliable broadband and television from Sky Atlantic, Comedy Central, MTV, and Netflix in this all-in-one bundle from Virgin Media. With speeds up to 1GBps, these packages work for even the heaviest internet users, plus you'll be able to tune-in to 200+ TV channels, a Netflix Standard with Adverts subscription, and the once-exclusive Sky Atlantic channel. Watch at home or on the go, and customise your package with an additional TV box if needed
Virgin TV Ultra HD channel is designed to showcase a slew of popular content in the impressive 4K Ultra HD picture quality, including the likes of Playmobil: The Movie starring Daniel Radcliffe for the kids, while horror fans can catch Jordan Peele's Us featuring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and The Invisible Man with Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss.
The first season of Cobra Kai is available, along with The Last Turtles documentary. Music lovers can also enjoy The Rolling Stones: Olé Olé Olé.
Virgin Media unlocked Virgin TV Ultra HD channel for its TV viewers on March 28, but the free upgrade comes to an end on April 12, 2026. After that, you'll need to pay for the Ultra HD upgrade in order to access films, documentaries, and boxsets in this pixel-packed format.
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Speaking about the promotion, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, David Bouchier said: "Virgin Media’s ultrafast broadband network delivers the best possible way to enjoy crystal-clear TV entertainment, and with the availability of our exclusive UHD channel to all our TV customers at no extra cost over the Easter fortnight, we are hoping to brighten their springtime.
"The long weekend and school holidays offer an opportunity for many of us to spend some extra quality time together, and we know that our customers will find something fun and informative to enjoy with our latest TV boost.”
This isn't the only new addition that's landed on Virgin Media TV set-top boxes in recent weeks. Sky Atlantic — a channel that was exclusive to Sky Q, Sky+ HD, Sky Glass, and Sky Stream for 15 years — arrived on Virgin TV set-top boxes at the beginning of this month. The popular channel became available to over a million Virgin TV subscribers overnight – at no extra cost.
Until recently, Sky Atlantic was exclusive to Sky-branded set-top boxes, like Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q
| SKY TV PRESS OFFICEWhile other Sky-branded channels – like Sky Comedy, Sky Crime, and Sky History – were available on rival set-top boxes, like Virgin Media TV V6 and Virgin TV 360, Sky Atlantic was always absent.
That's because it was the only place to stream many of the biggest must-binge shows from the US, including The Last of Us, Euphoria, The White Lotus, Succession, Heated Rivalry, And Just Like That, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Big Little Lies, It: Welcome to Derry, The Flight Attendant, The Penguin, the list goes on...
Mr Bouchier said: "Our promise to our customers is simple to offer seamless entertainment at incredible value, and the addition of Sky Atlantic on Virgin TV is testament to that.
"The channel is home to gripping drama and incredible stories from the UK and the US and has given us some of the biggest watercooler moments of our times. Now, over a million Virgin TV customers can enjoy Sky Atlantic with no added cost or action required."