The Virgin Media Thread

Is there a VM thread ? I had a look but couldn't find one.

So anyway, some details have emerged of Virgin Media's new Tivo powered set-top box today.

Here's the press release from VM :

Virgin Media announces details of new TiVo-powered next generation connected TV service

* New HD/3D set top box will offer 1TB of personal storage
* Thousands of hours of TV on Demand instantly available
* Dedicated internal modem to bring internet services and apps direct to TV

Virgin Media today announced the first details of its upcoming TiVo-powered HD/3D set top box which will give customers a whopping 1 TeraByte of storage for personal recordings. The new HD/3D set top box will launch alongside Virgin Media’s new TiVo-powered next generation connected TV service scheduled for later this year, and will be capable of storing up to 500 hours of content. When coupled with Virgin Media’s pioneering TV on Demand service, the new service will give UK consumers unrivalled access to over 4,600 hours of TV shows, movies and music videos, including hundreds of hours of HD and 3D entertainment, plus catch up TV from the terrestrial broadcasters, all available instantly.

Powered by Virgin Media’s unique fibre optic network, the box will also feature its own dedicated internal modem able to deliver HD video and other online services without impacting customers’ regular broadband connections. As a result, Virgin Media’s new TiVo-powered service will not only be able to deliver linear TV alongside an unbeatable instant TV on demand offering but will also be able to support compelling online video in HD straight to customers’ TVs without having to sacrifice other online activities when in use.

Competitors’ ‘connected TV’ products rely on just one central broadband connection, typically DSL, making it difficult for families to watch online TV or TV on Demand and take advantage of the internet at the same time. With Virgin Media, a typical family enjoying the new TiVo-powered TV service alongside Virgin Media's ultrafast 50Mb broadband connection will be able to enjoy a seamless experience with incredible connectivity, allowing the whole family to watch, surf, and play, all at the same time without compromise.

Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, said: “Virgin Media’s next generation connected TV service - powered by TiVo - and combined with our superior broadband will blow other ‘connected TV’ products out of the water. We’re really proud of our new next-generation TV service which will appeal to anyone and everyone looking for the best of live broadcast TV, catch up, on demand and internet apps and services.”

Virgin Media and TiVo announced plans to join forces in November 2009. Virgin Media and TiVo have developed a unique converged television and interactive service bringing UK consumers the best in TV entertainment, be it broadcast, on demand or online.

Further details of pricing and availability will be announced in due course. For more information on Virgin Media products and services visit: www.virginmedia.com.

Good stuff.

VERY good stuff.

Interesting. Odd to hear the name Tivo again

Personally I'd just be glad of a box that doesn't slow to a halt at midnight while they send out schedule data or something

I must ask, is this thread official?

Very good news however, I'd be very interested to see how this fits into the current lineup whether its classed as a premium product or a complete replacement for V+. As a current V+ customer I'd LOVE to be able to use a box with a decent size HDD as the 160GB is infuriatingly limiting especially with HD channels.

I wonder if those on V+ would be able to move over for free / a small fee / a big fee or whether it'll be more complex. Also its interesting that its coming so soon after the Samsung V+ box was released but it might explain why said box was - despite all its good points - also quite limited in many ways.

Any idea who'll be manufacturing the box itself? Will it be another cisco job or do Tivo do their own HW?

EDIT: Also "later this year" suggest a launch within the next 2 months?

It's fuzzy logic like that which got us in this mess.

Chinese year ends in February, financial year ends in March; Jewish year ends in September.

Has Cisco manufactured boxes for VM before? I know there's some Samsung hardware available as discussed in this thread, in addition to the god-awful Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300s, but I didn't know Cisco had done any boxes for VM.

Cisco currently manufacture the V HD boxes (which I currently use) and they are a great piece of kit too, had mine since May and I've only had to reboot it once, which must be a record for any Digital Cable hardware, as the box doesn't have any PVR features to it it's smaller than the other STBs that Virgin offer, the only thing that lets it down is the remote, I find it less easier to use than my old blue VM remote. Previous to this I had a Samsung V Box which again was very good, certainately a million times better than the Cable & Wireless branded Pace 1000 STB that I had.

I wish I was still using the V HD box I have lying around doing nothing, because it's a great set-top box. We got it free in February as part of a trial when we signed up, then in September we moved to a non-cabled area, and VM have never asked for it back. We have Sky now.

Cisco bought Scientific Atlanta. Since the takeover the first actual Cisco branded box has been the V HD box however basically I was treating Cisco and SA as one entity. But yes, the SA ones where horrific and I was very pleased when I got a Samsung out of them after much moaning.

my SA has soldiered on for 7 years and has only just packed up. They sent us a V+ branded as TVDrive to replace it.

Ah... thanks for that info, and thanks to nwtv2003 for filling me in too. Mmm.

I've only had V+ boxes for the last three years, and both of them are the wretched SA 8300s. I shall save my moaning, screaming and tears for when these new Tivo beasts are unleashed - having put up with the clunk-o-rama interface for so long, I think it's about time VM provides me with a viewing experience that doesn't require me to wait ten seconds between channel changes, and where commands from the remote control are not treated by the STB as casual suggestions.