Virgin Media users have a difficult choice to make. The telecom giant is letting new and returning customers pick between a generous £200 discount on their broadband and TV bills, or a free Nintendo Switch console worth £259.99.
Thankfully, Virgin Media is allowing a little more time to choose between these two free gifts. The promotion was scheduled to end at 11.59pm tonight (April 25) but the offer will now be extended until Sunday April 28.
If you pick the £200 bill credit, Virgin Media will automatically use this fund to reduce the cost of your monthly bills ― depending on the exact broadband or telly bundle you’ve chosen, you likely won't need to pay a single Direct Debit for the first few months of your new contract.
This is a brilliant option for those who want to reduce their monthly outgoings, have no interest in Nintendo or games consoles, and don't know anyone who would like a Switch as a gift.
Virgin Media is offering the Nintendo Switch with Neon Red / Blue coloured Joy-Cons — the detachable controllers that allow the console to transform from a handheld to a bona fide home console. Unfortunately, you won't be able to pick from one of the other colours available with this bundle, although you can buy additional Joy-Con controllers separately in different colours to change up the appearance of the console.
Nintendo Switch can be used as a handheld, or the controllers can be detached from the touchscreen display and used as a wireless controller when playing on the television via HDMI
NINTENDO PRESS OFFICE
Of course, nothing is stopping you from picking the Nintendo Switch, then selling it unopened for its original RRP of £259.99 and (or as close as possible) and using that cash to further discount your bills.
If you aren't looking to switch to a new broadband supplier, then you can pick up the Nintendo Switch from retailers including Amazon, Currys, and AO.com with prices starting from £258.
Following its merger with O2, all Virgin Media customers now enjoy access to O2 Priority. This loyalty scheme unlocks early access to tickets for some of the biggest gigs and tours. You’ll also enjoy discounted cinema tickets and free coffees from high street chains.
Nintendo Switch is on track to become the best-selling console of all time, with 139.36 million consoles sold worldwide — overtaking the lifetime sales of the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Game Boy.
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console that first launched in early 2017. Since then, it has become a phenomenon, thanks to its unique ability to switch (hence the name) between a portable console and a fully-fledged home console.
The Switch includes detachable Joy-Con controllers with motion controls for Wii Sports-like gameplay, a touchscreen tablet-like display, and a Dock to charge and connect the console to a TV via HDMI.
One of the biggest factors in the success of the Nintendo Switch is the library of exclusive games, which have received glowing reviews from critics and revived many of the most popular franchises owned by Nintendo, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Virgin Media’s £200 discount or Nintendo Switch giveaway isn’t available with every plan that it offers, so you’ll need to pick between a few select plans. The eligible bundles are as follows:
Bigger Movie Combo Bundle
As the name suggests, this package is designed for film fans. You’ll get Virgin Media’s fibre broadband with average download speeds of 132Mbps ― that’s roughly twice as fast as the average UK home broadband connection (69Mbps) as well as a TV 360 box with 200+ channels, including all Sky Cinema channels and 11 dedicated kids’ channels. You’ll also be able to make calls to UK landlines and mobile numbers at no extra cost over the weekend
Bigger Sports HD Combo Bundle
Just as the above package caters to movie buffs, Virgin Media has put together this broadband and telly package for sports lovers. You’ll get a slightly faster broadband connection, with average download speeds topping 264Mbps. Weekend calls are also included. But this time around, your Virgin TV 360 box will offer 195+ channels with all Sky Sports in HD. You’ll also be able to tune-in to the newly launched Sky Sports Tennis channel.
Biggest Combo
Virgin Media’s Biggest Combo does what it says on the tin. You’ll enjoy both Sky Sports and Sky Cinema channels on your Virgin TV 360 set-top box as well as some 210 other live channels. If that wasn’t enough to keep you entertained, there’s a complete Netflix subscription thrown-in too. As above, weekend calls to UK numbers won’t cost anything and you’ll enjoy download speeds of 132Mbps ― plenty to stream everything on Netflix without a hint of buffering.
Mega Volt Bundle
With this bundle, you’ll enjoy Virgin Media’s second-fastest broadband speeds, topping out at an impressive 1,130Mbps. That’ll let you download entire boxsets of TV shows in High Definition in minutes. Calls to UK numbers are available at no cost anytime of the week, and you’ll also get a SIM on the O2 network with an unlimited 5G mobile data allowance to use with your existing phone, or to gift to a family member. When it comes to entertainment, your Virgin TV 360 box will be loaded with 230 channels, including Sky Sports and Sky Cinema in HD.
All of these bundles have an 18-month minimum contract term.
Alternatively, one of Virgin Media's biggest rivals — Sky TV — is offering full-fibre broadband for the same price as its sluggish 61Mbps speeds. There's no upfront cost either, so it won't cost you anything to switch to the new deal. Sky TV viewers can claim a free subscription to Apple TV+ and Hayu, unlocking thousands of episodes of exclusive television at no cost.