Virgin Media TV is absolutely offer the moon to announce the launch of two great new HD channels for those that enjoy football and films. With the World Cup fast approaching, as of April 2nd 2010 you will be able to receive ITV1 HD, which is perfect for the Champions League latter stages, the FA Cup, and of course the little matter of the World Cup that kicks off in June. I for one am looking forward to watching all the fun with a cold can in HD, unfortunately I’m not so looking forward to England getting knocked out in the quarters finals (again!).

ITV Director of Television, Channels and Online, Peter Fincham, said -

The availability of High Definition content is something viewers have come to expect as standard and, as we approach the 2010 World Cup, I’m delighted that we are able to launch our new channel, ITV1 HD, on Virgin Media. All of our output will benefit from the stunning picture quality that High Definition offers, whether it’s ITV’s original drama, landmark factual shows, entertainment events or our live football.

Alongside this great news, Virgin Media has also announced the upcoming launch of Film4 HD and E4 HD. This is great news not just for the lover of films, but also those cool cats who enjoy the likes of Skins and The Inbetweeners. Film4 has long been held in high regard by movie buffs around the country for not being afraid to show independent and foreign films alongside the latest Hollywood blockbusters, and now all available in glorious high definition.

Executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, Cindy Rose, said -

Channel 4 has a great track record in delivering innovative and compelling content and we’re delighted to bring some of their very best films and most popular programmes to our customers in stunning HD. As more and more households become HD-ready, we’re lining up content that makes the most of High Definition and are making HD available to all our of customers for no extra fee.

Virgin Media already carries several hundred hours of HD programmes on demand, from popular films to whole back catalogues of drama, plus the BBC iPlayer HD. It looks like the latest installment in their choice of HD channels is going to have even more customers flocking to order.

> > Click here to order Virgin Media TV today

The Berkshire village of Woolhampton has been chosen by Virgin Media broadband to trial their pioneering new service which will be delivered using telephone poles. By connecting the village’s homes directly to their fibre optic network, Virgin Media will be increasing broadband speeds to the rural community ten times faster than the previously relied upon copper network. Alongside this ultrafast broadband, the villagers of Woolhampton will also be offered the Virgin Media cable TV service which includes 5,000 hours of catch up TV and on demand content alongside the usual popular channels.

The trial is scheduled to run for six months and is part of Virgin Media’s plan to bring next generation services to people who live beyond the reach of their fibre optic network. Virgin Media is also planning to extend it’s network to more than 1million more homes through the deployment of their award winning service via the new telegraph pole system.

Chief executive officer of Virgin Media, Neil Berkett, said -

This unique trial will allow us to understand the possibilities of aerial deployment and may provide an exciting new way to extend next generation broadband services. With everything from BBC iPlayer to YouTube increasingly demanding reliable ultrafast broadband speeds, we’re keen to ensure that all communities, in towns, cities and villages right across the UK, stand to benefit.

With Virgin Media’s extensive network already reaching 12.6 million homes in the UK, this old school method of data transfer could be the perfect transport system to reach those parts that the fibre optic cable cannot. Thanks to years of telecommunications via telephone poles across the country, this is a fantastic way to ensure that more homes across the UK are given the opportunity to enjoy Virgin Media’s ultra fast service, and not just those who live in built up towns and cities. The trial will start this month and if successful could see up to one million extra homes benefiting from speeds of up to 100Mb.

> > Click here to order Virgin Media broadband

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Virgin Media TV is offering some exclusive ‘love in’ entertainment this Valentine’s Day with their On Demand service. For what many people see as the most romantic day of the year (not by me I hasten to add, as everyday should be like Valentine’s Day!), Virgin Media has scheduled a whole host of romantic TV and movies for those who are planning on a cosy night in.

February, the month of lurrrrrrrvvve, marks the return of classic dramas such as Wuthering Heights alongside and Jane Austen’s Emma. Plus there will be romantically themed episodes of Friends, Gossip Girl and ER available at the touch of a button. Romantic film highlights include Love Actually and Head Over Heels, plus there’s the chance to catch up with season three of Skins which starts this month.

So if you’re planning an evening of decadence with your special Valentine, be sure to choose Virgin Media TV as your accompaniment to the wine and chocolates.

> > Click here to order Virgin Media TV

Virgin Media Cable TV is proud to announce an agreement to host Eurosport HD in the coming months. Launching in April, Eurosport HD will bring Virgin Media customers an exclusive and extensive range of sports to watch in superb high definition. These will include the Tour de France, the French Open tennis championship, plus loads of motorsport action like the European rounds of World Superbikes and the World Touring Car Championships.

Eurosport’s Director of Distribution & Development, Jean-Thierry Augustin, said  -

We have received excellent feedback from viewers about the high quality of Eurosport’s HD output and so are delighted to complete our portfolio of world class events for Virgin Media’s customers. In a competitive sports market we are very pleased to have found a very positive on-going carriage arrangement with long term partners Virgin Media which strengthens further the availability of our flagship channel British Eurosport and our ever more relevant content line on British Eurosport 2.

Virgin Media will now be able to offer Eurosport to its 3.7 million TV customers across the UK as part of their ever growing range of HD channels.  The launch also signals the first of several new high definition channels planned for release on Virgin Media TV this year, all available at no extra cost for customers on the Virgin Media XL TV deal.

With the new addition of Eurosport, Virgin Media now boasts 8 HD channels Covering a wide range of drama, documentaries, music, and of course sport. Plus with several hundred hours of HD on demand, customers can choose from a huge selection of popular films through Movies on Demand and PictureBox, as well as a great choice of full series in HD on BBC iPlayer.

Director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, Cindy Rose, said -

We’re really excited about the spring launch of Eurosport HD and the wider roll-out of several new HD channels for our customers in the coming months. With HD ready TVs now common in UK homes, the combination of HD channels as well as our pioneering TV on Demand service gives Virgin TV customers a huge range of HD programming with the unique flexibility to enjoy HD content whenever they want, at the touch of a button. With all the regular channels you’d expect, and a service ready for 3DTV too, Virgin TV is without doubt the most compelling TV offer on the market.

> > Click here to order Virgin Media TV

To celebrate the launch of a new decade, Sky Digital TV is going out with the old, and in with the new! Due to advances in technology, Sky has decided to discontinue their regular Sky+ set top boxes and only provide HD+ boxes for new customers. This doesn’t mean that all new customers HAVE to order HD, it’s merely allowed Sky to prepare for the speed in which technology is moving at the moment.

It won’t be long until every home has a 3D TV, and having just been to watch Avatar myself last night, I’ll be looking forward to that day! But in the meantime, with more and more people choosing HD as standard, Sky has decided to follow suit. High Definition allows the viewer to experience television in far sharper detail, with superb quality sound. With the demand for HD growing significantly in the last 12 months, you can now get closer to the action and see the latest blockbuster movies in your living room with crystal clear clarity. Plus if you order today you can now receive -

• Free Standard Set Up
• Free £25 M&S Voucher

High Definition is soon to become the standard format of many TV’s across the country, so why not join the revolution today and order your HD+ set up and £25 M&S voucher absolutely free?

> > Order Sky HD+ online today

The Virgin Media bundle package will soon feature brand new Tivo technology to take their latest generation TV to the next level. Already a huge hit in  the U.S, Tivo developed the first ever digital video recorder, and has agreed to exclusively partner Virgin Media in helping strategically advance their TV service.

The agreement will see TiVo develop a television and broadband interactive interface to help power Virgin Media’s new HD boxes. The exclusive deal will also see Virgin Media become the exclusive distributor of TiVo services in the UK.

CEO of Virgin Media, Neil Berkett,  said

TiVo’s proven track record of innovation, strength of its patented technology and experience in developing best in class user environments, make it an ideal strategic partner for Virgin Media as we move aggressively to bring our next generation TV service to market. The superiority of our fibre optic network combined with TiVo’s capabilities, will allow us to offer consumers the most significantly advanced and compelling TV service available in the UK , and we believe will do to the TV market what Virgin Media has done to thehigh speed broadband market.

The new TV platform will allow Virgin Media to offer a superior viewing experience whilst allowing customers to search and discover ‘video on demand’, helping to create the ultimate home entertainment system.

The first Virgin Media/TiVo co-branded product is due for release in 2010, and is sure to be a huge hit in the UK after the success of Virgin’s quad play broadband, TV, phone and mobile bundle. Virgin Media TV is already the UK’s most advanced ‘on demand’ service and with the addition of Tivo to the team, it looks like their portfolio is only going to go from strength to strength.

> > Click here to order a Virgin Media bundle

Virgin Media is offering a special Christmas treat to all new customers before the mince pies are even out of their wrappers! So why not cross the nuts and satsuma off your festive wish list, and add a Virgin Media bundle package that now comes with the first 2 months absolutely free!

That’s right, all new customers who sign up for a triple bundle package (with phone line) before the end of 31st December 2009 can now receive the first 2 months of their 12 month contract totally gratis, just in time for all the Christmas films and programming! You can hand pick your own package to fit your lifestyle, but must contain at least -

• Large Broadband (up to 10Mb fibre optic broadband)
• Medium + TV  (over 65 digital channels)
• Medium Talk Weekends (unlimited weekend UK land line calls)

All Virgin Media triple bundle packages come with free installation, worth £35. Plus if you don’t need the broadband, you can also receive the first 2 months free if you order just a TV package and phone line before the end of the year. So why not treat yourself to a great selection of home entertainment for all the family this Christmas, at a price that’s right for you.

> > Click here to order Virgin Media today

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Christmas has come early for you lucky online shoppers with this great deal from Sky digital TV. If you order their superb Movie package online before the end of Thursday 17th December 2009, you will receive -

• £50 M&S Voucher
• Free Sky HD+ Box (worth £49)

That’s nearly £100 worth of goodies, absolutely free! If you don’t fancy the Movie package you can still get the £50 M&S voucher with the Sky HD Starter pack, so there’s something for everyone. So why not treat yourself to a little pre Christmas gift this year, and enjoy everything Sky TV has to offer this festive season.

> > Click here to order Sky TV online today

Now that the previous Tesco offer has finished, don’t think that the good people at Sky TV have forgotten about you. Oh no, because if you sign up for their HD, Movies or Sports packages before the end of Wednesday 28th October 2009, you will now receive a £25 Marks & Spencer’s voucher, absolutely free!

With Sky + TV you can -

• Save up to 40 hours of television
• Rewind, fast forward and pause live TV
• Record 2 channels simultaneously

So get your skates on to take advantage of this fantastic limited offer, after all, £25 worth of M&S vouchers could take care of all your munchies whilst you enjoying all your favourite films and programmes shown exclusively on Sky TV this autumn.

> > Click here to order Sky TV online today

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Don’t forget, the free £50 Tesco voucher offer from Sky TV runs out tommorrow, so you’ll have to move quick to make the most of this excellent deal. All new customers who order Sky satellite TV and either the Movies, Sports or Sky + HD packages online before midnight on Wednesday 30th September 2009 will still be able to take advantage  of this great free voucher offer.

With Sky+ HD package you can now save up to 40 hours of television, rewind, fast forward and pause live TV, whilst recording 2 programmes at the same time. Plus with the live Premiership season starting with a flurry of goals, there’s never been a better time to order your Sky Sports package.

With your £50 voucher, you could buy a rake of beers and have the lads round to watch the match, or alternatively pass the free voucher on to the better half for her to buy something she wants (preferably when the games on!)

So get your skates on to take advantage of this great deal from Sky TV, offer ends midnight tommorrow!

> > Click here to order Sky TV