Virgin Media's basic cable TV package is currently called 'M' (the more advanced packages are called 'L' and 'XL'). The basic M package has over 45 channels including Virgin 1, Dave, Sky Three, FilmFour, ITV2 and E4.

It is a similar selection to those available through Freeview. In addition you also have access to Catch Up TV, which enables you to watch programs from the last seven days that you may have missed on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or Virgin 1.

This is useful because it means you don't have to use programs like BBC iPlayer on your computer (which isn't always the most comfortable place to watch TV) to catch up on your favourite programs.

In addition, you can also access Virgin Media's Music and Movies On Demand service. This allows you to access a huge range of films and music videos, which you can buy individually for a small one-off fee and watch at your convenience (within 24 hours).

To receive Virgin Media's TV M package you need to have cable installed. To be able to connect to the cable network you need to live in an area where cable is available. You can check this using our on-line postcode checker.


When you sign up to TV M, you will also be able to sign up for phone and broadband internet services if you require those as well. A Virgin Media engineer will then make an appointment to come to your house and install all the cable services including TV M.

A set-top box is required to get cable TV and this is provided by Virgin Media (normally for free) in the form of its V Box. This small electronic device connects to your existing TV to give you all the TV M channels and services.

It also gives you the ability to use a PIN to limit access to certain channels and services, so the kids can't buy lots of movies without your permission, or watch things they shouldn't. If you have a HD TV then you could have the V+ HD Box, which will give you access to HD channels, as well as the ability to pause, rewind and record live TV.

If you want to get more from your TV M package then there are a variety of upgrades available. If you want more TV channels, you can upgrade to TV M+. This gives you an additional 20 premium channels, such as Sky 1, LIVING, G.O.L.D., Eurosport and Discovery, for a small additional monthly fee.

If you really like movies, then you can sign up to PictureBox. For a small monthly subscription fee PictureBox gives you unlimited access to a great selection of 28 films every month (with 7 new films added every Friday).

Alternatively, if you enjoy a TV series, but find it inconvenient to always be in watching the TV at the same time every week, you could subscribe to TV Choice On Demand. This gives you access to a wide range of TV series from channels such as Channel 4, BBC, ITV, HBO, Warner Bros, MTV, Virgin 1, Living and Bravo.

So you can watch your favourite shows when you want to. You could even watch an entire series back-to-back.