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Virgin Media is borrowing a tried-and-tested technique from Netflix.
The telecom has ditched traditional television schedules in favour of a binge-anytime that'll be immediately familiar to anyone who has a Netflix account. You can now watch programmes from 11 of Virgin Media's FAST channels whenever you want.
FAST stands for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television — essentially channels that stream over your broadband connection instead of through an aerial, complete with adverts just like regular telly. Until now, if you missed a programme on one of Virgin's own FAST channels, you couldn't catch up later.
This is quite the change for the company, which previously operated like traditional television with fixed schedules. The new functionality means you're no longer tied to watching at scheduled times, bringing Virgin's offering into line with established services such as Pluto TV and Tubi.
You can access the new catch-up service through Virgin's On Demand streaming application or by using the Search feature on their set-top boxes. The functionality works across V6, Virgin TV 360 and Stream devices without additional charges.
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The channel receiving on-demand capabilities includes:
- Next Up Live Comedy
- Love Pets
- Homes Under The Hammer
- Baywatch
- Real Crime
- Real Wild
- History Hit
- Wonder
- Haunt TV
- The Chat Show Channel
- TRACE Sport Stars
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Advertisements remain part of the viewing experience even when watching on-demand. While Pluto TV and Rakuten TV content can be viewed on-demand, users must access these through their respective applications rather than Virgin's catch-up service.
Virgin Media's expansion into FAST channels began in July 2023 with 14 channels integrated into its Electronic Programming Guide. The service has grown steadily, adding 11 channels featuring crime documentaries and concerts in May 2024, followed by reality television offerings and channels like Wonder and Red Bull TV earlier this year.
The company reports monthly viewership of 500,000 across its FAST channel portfolio. Last week, there was also the addition of Inside Outside on Channel 231, showcasing food, home and garden content with presenters including Gordon Ramsay, Paul Hollywood and Kevin McCloud, bringing the total to 36 channels.
Virgin Media has also overhauled the search experience with new artwork for the biggest shows in its catalogue, making it easier to quickly find what you're looking for and check how many series are available
| VIRGIN MEDIA O2 PRESS OFFICEDavid Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, stated: "We're making unmissable content even easier to enjoy by making linear FAST channel content available on-demand so Virgin TV customers can tune in at any time and at no extra cost.
"From comedy to crime and history to pets, our customers can keep up with it all, with catch-up capability now available for the first time for 11 of our most popular FAST channels."
The introduction of catch-up functionality aligns with Virgin Media's wider transformation towards streaming-first television delivery. In July, the company established its Stream box — a device without recording capabilities — as the standard option for new television subscribers, though the traditional TV 360 box remains available upon request.
Virgin Media's expansion into FAST channels began in July 2023 with 14 channels integrated into its Electronic Programming Guide
| Wikimedia CommonsOctober also brought significant changes to Virgin's pricing model, incorporating Netflix Standard with Ads into most television and broadband bundles. The company simultaneously upgraded Sky Sports channels to high definition without extra charges and implemented monthly price increases of £4, up from £3.50.
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