Virgin Media#Virgin TV

{{Main|Telewest|NTL Incorporated}}

{{Further|Timeline of cable television in the United Kingdom}}

The company's origins lie in both Telewest and NTL, which merged in March 2006.

Telewest began in 1984 in Croydon under the name "Croydon Cable",{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2811744/Cable-timeline.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2811744/Cable-timeline.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Cable timeline |work=The Telegraph |date=8 July 2007 |access-date=12 January 2015}}{{cbignore}} and was acquired by United Cable of Denver in 1988. The company expanded during the 1990s and adopted the Telewest name in 1992 following the merger of its then-parent TCI and US West. It expanded into cable television access in 1999 by purchasing the remaining 50% stake in Cable London, one of the first cable TV companies in the UK, from NTL, adding 400,000 homes in north London.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/430565.stm|title=Telewest buys Cable London|access-date=1 January 2009 | work=BBC News | date=26 August 1999}} In April 2000 Telewest merged with Flextech,{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/telewest-merger-with-flextech-would-challenge-murdoch-grip-740955.html| title=Telewest merger with Flextech would challenge Murdoch grip| access-date=1 January 2009| work=The Independent| location=London| first=Bill| last=McIntosh| date=7 December 1999| archive-date=14 February 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214041844/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/telewest-merger-with-flextech-would-challenge-murdoch-grip-740955.html| url-status=dead}} and in November extended its cable network with the acquisition of Eurobell, taking the total number of homes past 4.9 million.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6695/is_/ai_n26421670| title=UK Group buys independent|access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

NTL was established by Barclay Knapp and George Blumenthal in 1993 as "International CableTel", taking advantage of the deregulation of the UK cable market. Initially, Cabletel acquired local cable franchises covering Guildford, Northern Ireland and parts of Central Scotland and South Wales. In 1996, CableTel acquired National Transcommunications Limited (NTL), the privatised UK Independent Broadcasting Authority transmission network.{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_May_9/ai_18267206 |title=International CableTel Incorporated completes acquisition of NTL |access-date=2 January 2009 | date=9 May 1996 | work=Business Wire}} In 1998 CableTel adopted "NTL" as its new name.

NTL purchased the ISP Virgin.net in 2004, having originally operated it as a joint venture with Virgin Group since it launched in November 1996.{{cite news | title = NTL takes control of Virgin Net | publisher = BBC News | date = 28 September 2004 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3698894.stm | access-date =7 December 2006}} It sold ADSL broadband services through BT landlines to those living outside areas served by NTL's cable network and also offered subscription-based and subscription-free dial-up Internet access. Prior to acquiring Virgin.net, NTL offered a similar package called NTL Freedom.

Telewest and NTL began discussions about a merger in late 2003. Thanks to their geographically distinct areas, NTL and Telewest had co-operated previously, as in redirecting potential customers living outside their respective areas. On 3 October 2005, NTL announced a US$16 billion purchase of Telewest, to form one of the largest media companies in the UK. The merger agreement as structured would have required NTL to negotiate with BBC Worldwide (the BBC's commercial arm) due to a change-of-ownership clause written into the agreement for UKTV, a joint venture with Telewest's Flextech content division. To prevent this, Telewest instead acquired NTL.

In December 2005 NTL:Telewest and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Virgin Mobile UK announced that talks had taken place regarding a merger.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4496894.stm|title=NTL and Virgin in takeover talks|access-date =2 January 2009 | publisher=BBC News | date=5 December 2005}} Virgin Mobile's independent directors rejected the original bid of £817 million ($1.4 billion), taking the view that NTL's bid "undervalued the business". Sir Richard Branson reportedly expressed confidence that a restructured deal could go ahead, and in January 2006 NTL increased its offer to £961 million (372p per share). On 4 April 2006, NTL announced a £962.4 million recommended offer for Virgin Mobile.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4874694.stm|title=Virgin Media to be bought by NTL|access-date =2 January 2009 | work=BBC News | date=4 April 2006}} According to reports, Branson accepted a mix of shares and cash, making him a 10.7% shareholder of the combined company.

NTL and Telewest formally completed their merger on 3 March 2006, making the merged company the UK's largest cable provider, with more than 90% of the market. The combined company renamed itself NTL Incorporated, with ex-NTL shareholders controlling 75% of the stock and ex-Telewest shareholders 25%. Nine of the 11 directors of the new board came from NTL, with two from Telewest.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4304008.stm|title=NTL seals $6bn Telewest takeover|access-date =2 January 2009 | publisher=BBC News | date=3 October 2005}}

NTL:Telewest's takeover of Virgin Mobile completed on 4 July 2006, creating the UK's first 'quadruple play' media company, offering television, internet, mobile phone and fixed-line telephone services. The deal included a 30-year exclusive branding agreement

{{cite web|url=https://citywire.co.uk/funds-insider/news/like-a-virgin-what-ntl-wants-to-be-after-1-7-billion-virgin-mobile-deal/a272773|title=Like a Virgin: what NTL wants to be after $1.7 billion Virgin Mobile deal | access-date =15 April 2020 | publisher=CityWire | date=4 April 2006}} that saw NTL adopt the "Virgin" name after it completed its merger with Telewest. NTL:Telewest announced on 8 November 2006 it would change its name to "Virgin Media Inc".{{cite web|url=http://networks.silicon.com/broadband/0,39024661,39163928,00.htm |title=NTL:Telewest to become Virgin Media |access-date=2 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309180644/http://networks.silicon.com/broadband/0%2C39024661%2C39163928%2C00.htm |archive-date=9 March 2009 }}

On 9 November 2006, NTL announced it had approached the commercial television broadcaster ITV plc about a proposed merger,{{cite press release|title=Ntl Incorporated Discussions with ITV plc |publisher=NTL |date=9 November 2006 |url=http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=874 |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113134817/http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=874 |archive-date=13 November 2006 }} after a similar announcement by ITV.{{cite press release | title = ITV and NTL 'in merger talks' | publisher = ITV plc | date = 9 November 2006 | url = http://www.itvplc.com/media/news/itv-and-ntl-in-merger-talks | access-date = 6 December 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121130221241/http://www.itvplc.com/media/news/itv-and-ntl-in-merger-talks | archive-date = 30 November 2012}} BSkyB effectively blocked the merger on 17 November 2006 by controversially buying a 17.9% stake in ITV plc,{{cite news|last=Welsh |first=James |title=Sky buys 17.9% of ITV |publisher=Digital Spy |date=17 November 2006 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39556.html |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823052547/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39556.html |archive-date=23 August 2009 }} a move that attracted anger from NTL shareholder Richard Branson,{{cite news|last=Wilkes |first=Neil |title=Sky/ITV: Branson statement in full |publisher=Digital Spy |date=20 November 2006 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39642.html |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825191026/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39642.html |archive-date=25 August 2009 }} and an investigation from media and telecoms regulator Ofcom.{{cite news|last=Welsh |first=James |title=Ofcom examines impact of Sky's ITV stake |publisher=Digital Spy |date=21 November 2006 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39694.html |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127204411/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds39694.html |archive-date=27 November 2006 }} On 6 December 2006 NTL announced that it had complained to the Office of Fair Trading about BSkyB's move, and would withdraw its attempt to buy ITV plc, stating it did not believe it could make a deal on favourable terms.{{cite news|last=Oatts |first=Joanne |title=NTL complains about Sky as it drops plans for ITV Ofcom |publisher=Digital Spy |date=6 December 2006 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds40409.html |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825185616/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds40409.html |archive-date=25 August 2009 }}

File:Virgin Media Offices, Nottingham - geograph.org.uk - 948697.jpg]]

In November 2006, the company signed a deal with Sir Richard Branson to license the Virgin brand for the combined business. NTL Group's services – previously marketed under the NTL, Telewest and Virgin.net brands were merged with Virgin Mobile under the "Virgin Media" brand on 8 February 2007,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/branson-could-have-done-ntl-deal-without-minority-support-467137.html|title=Branson could have done NTL deal without minority support|access-date=18 May 2011|work=The Independent|date=20 February 2006|location=London|first=Michael|last=Harrison|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925070724/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/branson-could-have-done-ntl-deal-without-minority-support-467137.html|url-status=dead}} referred to by Virgin as V Day.{{cite news | last = Welsh | first = James | title = Virgin Media to launch on 8 February | publisher =Digital Spy | date =2 February 2007 | url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a42351/virgin-media-to-launch-on-february-8.html | access-date =4 February 2007}} Virgin.net was integrated into the new brand as Virgin Media Beyond Cable (later Virgin Media National).

In February 2007, Virgin Central, an on-demand service, gained the rights to begin showing episodes of the television show Lost (already shown on Sky 1), and other shows including Alias and The OC. This service extended the on-demand service previously known as Teleport TV. Teleport TV was renamed TV Choice offering recently broadcast shows and other shows and series.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/237/237151_virgin_media_to_unveil_lost_deal.html|title=Virgin Media to unveil 'Lost' deal|date=26 February 2007|access-date=3 January 2009}}

A channel agreement for Virgin Media to keep non-premium Sky channels ended on 1{{nbsp}}March 2007. Virgin Media and Sky failed to reach agreement on the issue, and Sky reacted by posting a letter to the public in major UK newspapers on 28 February 2007.{{citation needed |date=August 2011}} Despite Sky's letter, Virgin Media blamed Sky for tyrannizing them and inciting consumers to switch. The companies failed to resolve their differences, and subsequently after midnight on 1 March 2007, Virgin Media replaced the Sky1, Sky2, Sky Travel, Sky Travel Extra, Sky Sports News and Sky News channel content with a standard message. Sky attributed part of the rate rise to the fact that the new deal would also include Sky3, Sky Arts and undisclosed high definition and video on demand content. Sky said the deal would cost only 3p per customer per day (roughly £35,000,000 per year), but Virgin said that a minimum payment guarantee included in the contract meant that the actual amount due would exceed twice the payment.{{cite news|title=UPDATE 1-BSkyB's basic TV channels withdrawn from Virgin Media|page=2|publisher=reuters.com|date=1 March 2007|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUSL0134181720070301?pageNumber=2|access-date=1 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013132710/http://reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUSL0134181720070301?pageNumber=2|archive-date=13 October 2007}}

The EPG name for Sky News was replaced with Old Sky Snooze.

On 2 March 2007, the National Consumer Council accused Sky and Virgin of "behaving like children" and stated that it would consider whether or not to raise a super-complaint against them "that will help to knock heads together" by the end of that month.{{cite news|title=Consumer body angry at BSkyB row|publisher=BBC News|date=2 March 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6410435.stm|access-date =2 March 2007}} Then on 5 March 2007, Virgin Media threatened to take legal action against BSkyB if the matter remained unresolved in 30{{nbsp}}days.{{cite news|title=Virgin TV in BSkyB legal threat|publisher=BBC|date=5 March 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6421419.stm|access-date=5 March 2007}} On 12 April 2007, Virgin Media filed a legal case in the High Court against BSkyB under the UK Competition Act 1998 and Article 82 of the EC Treaty. BSkyB claimed that Virgin Media made little effort to further arbitration.{{cite news|title=Virgin TV in BSkyB court action|publisher=BBC|date=12 April 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6549541.stm|access-date=12 April 2007}} On 9 May 2008, it was reported that Virgin Media and Sky had held talks to resolve the dispute.{{cite news|author=Richard Wray|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/may/09/virginmedia.bskyb|title=Virgin in talks with BSkyB over cable spat|work=Guardian|date=9 May 2008|access-date=22 August 2010|location=London}}

On 4 November 2008, it was announced that an agreement had been struck for Sky's Basic channels – including Sky1, Sky2, Sky3, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Arts 1, Sky Arts 2, Sky Real Lives and Sky Real Lives 2 to return to Virgin Media from 13{{nbsp}}November 2008 until 12 June 2011. In exchange, Sky would provide continued carriage of Virgin Media Television's channels – Living, Livingit, Bravo, Bravo +1, Challenge, Challenge Jackpot and Virgin1 for the same period.{{cite news|title=BSkyB and Virgin Media Sign New Channel Carriage Agreements|publisher=skyuser.co.uk|date=1 March 2007|url=http://www.skyuser.co.uk/skyinfo/bskyb_and_virgin_media_sign_new_channel_carriage_agreements.html|access-date=4 November 2008}} The agreements include fixed annual carriage fees of £30{{nbsp}}million for the channels with both channel suppliers able to secure additional capped payments if their channels meet certain performance-related targets. As part of the agreements, both Sky and Virgin Media agreed to terminate all High Court proceedings against each other relating to the carriage of their respective basic channels.{{cite news|title=Virgin pays Sky £30m for basic channels|publisher=Digital Spy|date=1 March 2007|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a134814/virgin-pays-sky-gbp30m-for-basic-channels.html|access-date=6 November 2008}}

On 26 August 2009, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld claims made by Virgin Media in its marketing, despite a complaint from Sky.

Until 2013, the company was listed on the U.S.-based NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange. On 5 February 2013, Liberty Global announced that they had agreed to buy Virgin Media for approximately US$23.3 billion (£15 billion) in a stock and cash merger.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21347814 |title=Liberty Global to buy Virgin Media for $23.3bn |date=6 February 2013 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=6 February 2013}} On 15 April, EU regulatory approval for the deal was granted, the final hurdle in the acquisition.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libertyglobal-virginmedia-eu-idUSBRE9370A520130415 | title=Liberty Global's $15.8 billion Virgin Media deal cleared in EU | author=Foo Yun Chee | publisher=Reuters | date=15 April 2013 | access-date=3 July 2017 | archive-date=15 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315014339/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libertyglobal-virginmedia-eu-idUSBRE9370A520130415 | url-status=live }} On 4 June, shareholders approved the acquisition{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/virgin-media-acquisition-by-liberty-562532 |title=Virgin Media Shareholders Approve Acquisition by John Malone's Liberty Global |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=4 June 2013 |access-date=5 June 2013}} and the deal was completed on 7 June.{{cite press release |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/07/co-liberty-global-idUSnBw075515a+100+BSW20130607 |title=Liberty Global Completes Acquisition of Virgin Media |publisher=Reuters |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=7 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217034424/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/07/co-liberty-global-idUSnBw075515a+100+BSW20130607 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}

On 3 February 2014, Virgin Media acquired Smallworld Fibre, a cable provider based in North West England and Western Scotland, for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=http://about.virginmedia.com/press-release/9415/virgin-media-acquires-smallworld-fibre |title=Virgin Media acquires Smallworld Fibre |publisher=Virgin Media |date=3 February 2014 |access-date=5 February 2014}} Smallworld's network was merged into Virgin Media's during 2014.{{Cite news|url=http://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-acquires-smallworld-fibre.html|title=Virgin Media acquires Smallworld Fibre|work=Virgin Media|access-date=29 May 2018|language=en}}

In November 2014, Virgin Media reached an agreement to sell its ADSL business to TalkTalk Group, allowing Virgin to focus on its cable broadband offering.{{cite web|last1=Doku|first1=Ernest|title=Virgin Media sells remaining copper broadband customers to TalkTalk|url=http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/news/2014/11/virgin_media_sells_remaining_copper_broadband_customers_to_talktalk/|publisher=uSwitch|access-date=12 January 2015|date=14 November 2014}} Virgin began transferring customers to TalkTalk in February 2015.{{cite web|last1=Knapman|first1=Helen|title=Virgin Media begins notifying non-cable customers of transfer to TalkTalk|url=http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2015/01/virgin-media-begins-notifying-non-cable-customers-of-transfer-to-talktalk-|publisher=Money Saving Expert|access-date=12 January 2015|date=7 January 2015}}

On 20 July 2018, it was announced that Virgin Media would stop broadcasting all of the UKTV channels from 22 July 2018 over fees{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/22/four-million-virgin-media-customers-lose-uktv-channels-dave|title=Four million Virgin Media customers lose UKTV channels|work=The Guardian|date=22 July 2018}} and an issue with Virgin's on-demand broadcasting rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/19/virgin-media-customers-to-lose-uktvs-10-channels-in-rights-row|title=Virgin Media customers to lose UKTV's 10 channels in rights row|work=The Guardian|date=19 July 2018}} The companies were not able to agree terms to allow the ten channels and their +1 and HD offshoots to continue to be available on the platform{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44915060|title=UKTV: Dave and Gold among channels dropped by Virgin Media|publisher=BBC|date=22 July 2018}} and the channels stopped being available at just after midnight on 22 July 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.a516digital.com/2018/07/no-deal-uktv-axed-from-virgin.html|title=No deal: UKTV axed from Virgin|publisher=a516digital|date=22 July 2018}} with Virgin replacing the UKTV channels on their service with other networks.{{cite web|url=https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/News/New-Channel-Line-up/ba-p/3775403|title=New channel lineup|publisher=Virgin Media|date=22 July 2018}} This led to a backlash by customers with some threatening to leave.{{Cite web|title=Virgin Media customers take to social media over plans to cut 10 UKTV channels|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/pull-your-finger-out-virgin-12953192|last=Masters|first=Dave|date=20 July 2018|website=mirror|access-date=21 May 2020}} The dispute finally ended after three weeks on 11 August 2018 after Virgin Media and UKTV reached an agreement. Virgin Media gradually restored all 10 UKTV channels with their +1 and HD Simulcast channels along with now added simulcast GOLD HD and the reinstalled UKTV Play app. The app now features five times the amount of more on-demand content now available. All UKTV Channels and UKTV app were all completely restored to Virgin Media platforms by 15 August 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45154707|title=UKTV: Dave and Gold channels return to Virgin Media|publisher=BBC News|date=11 August 2018}}

{{main|Virgin Media O2}}

On 7 May 2020, Liberty Global reached an agreement with Telefónica to merge their UK businesses, Virgin Media and O2, in a deal worth £31bn, subject to regulatory approval by the Competition and Markets Authority. The CMA approved the merger on 19 May 2021,{{cite news |title=UK Approves $44B Merger Between Liberty Global-Owned Virgin Media & Mobile Company O2|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/virgin-media-o2-liberty-global-merger-approved-1234760862/|access-date=20 May 2021|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=20 May 2021}} and the merger was completed on 1 June 2021.{{cite news |last1=Fildes |first1=Nic |title=Newly merged Virgin Media O2 'ready to fire' at incumbent BT |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9329ed0e-6ba4-46ed-992c-2b9538507e36 |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=1 June 2021}} This created one of the UK's largest entertainment and telecommunications companies, to rival BT Group.{{cite news |title=Virgin Media and O2 join forces to take on BT |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52570593 |access-date=8 May 2020 |publisher=BBC News |date=7 May 2020}} The resulting company is called VMED O2 UK Limited, operating as Virgin Media O2.{{Cite web|title=Virgin Media and O2 Partnership |url=https://www.o2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2|access-date=1 June 2021|website=www.o2.co.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Virgin Media and O2 Partnership News |url=https://www.virginmedia.com/news/virgin-media-o2|access-date=1 June 2021|website=www.virginmedia.com}}

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The broadband division combines NTL's cable-broadband operations (broadband Internet access connections through cable), Blueyonder (Telewest's cable-broadband operations) and Virgin.net (ADSL, broadband Internet access through a non-cable telephone line).

Virgin Broadband in cabled areas is marketed as "fibre optic broadband". It is a Hybrid fibre-coaxial network, where fibre optic trunk lines are used to connect the area's headend to cabinets on the street.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}

In July 2009 and 2010, Virgin Media Broadband came first in an Ofcom broadband speed test in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/ofcom-broadband-tests-put-virgin-media-top-620092|title=Ofcom broadband tests put Virgin Media top|publisher=TechRadar|date=28 July 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2010/07/increase-in-uk%E2%80%99s-average-actual-broadband-speed/ |title=Research shows increase in average broadband speeds |publisher=Ofcom |access-date=28 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729215253/http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2010/07/increase-in-uk%E2%80%99s-average-actual-broadband-speed/ |archive-date=29 July 2010 }} Ofcom tested typical speeds of broadband services provided by most ISPs in the UK, including BSkyB, BT, Tiscali, AOL, TalkTalk, Plusnet, O2 and Orange. Since most broadband connections in the UK are provided by ADSL, and the quality of individual phone lines varies according to distance from exchange,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10774406|title=Why does broadband speed vary so much?|publisher=BBC News|date=28 July 2010}} most landline broadband services are marketed as being the maximum speed that the individual's phone line will support, "up to 8 mb". As a result, actual speeds obtained vary greatly, but are always constrained by the individual phone line – the quality of which is out of the control of the broadband provider. Cable broadband has no such speed variability caused by connection quality as the network is fully owned and controlled by the cable company providing the broadband – any slowdowns are wholly as a result of traffic shaping, or local capacity being over-sold or over-subscribed. For this reason, the results showed that Virgin Media's broadband speed was closer to (although still not 100% of) the "up to" figures it advertised, compared to the other providers tested. While landline broadband providers offered rates of "up to" 24 Mbit/s, the launch of a Virgin's 50 Mbit/s service on 15 December 2008 was advertised as "the UK's Fastest Broadband."{{cite news|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-Launches-the-UK-s-Fastest-Broadband-11c.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403040851/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-Launches-the-UK-s-Fastest-Broadband-11c.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2012 |title=Virgin Media Launches the UK's Fastest Broadband |work=News release |publisher=Virgin Media |date=15 December 2008 }}

On 8 October 2009, Virgin Media began trials to deliver its TV and broadband services at up to 50 Mbit/s downstream via a VDSL2 line to a roadside cabinet. The cabinets were linked to Virgin Media backhaul via new fibre laid by Vtesse Networks through BT's local exchange, 5 km away.{{cite web|url=http://www.vtesse.com/whats-new.asp?news=20 |title=Vtesse and Virgin Media to bring ultra-fast surfing to the UK's surf-central |publisher=Vtesse Networks |date=8 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015210754/http://www.vtesse.com/whats-new.asp?news=20 |archive-date=15 October 2009 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/08/vm_cornwall/|title=Virgin Media to trial IPTV off-cable network|publisher=The Register|date=8 October 2009}} As well as broadband, Virgin Media offered its full range of TV services, including high definition and on demand, over the new infrastructure.

On 11 March 2010, Virgin Media announced a six-month trial using telephone poles to deliver 50 Mbit/s broadband and TV services to the Berkshire village of Woolhampton.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-to-Trial-Ultrafast-Broadband-over-Telegraph-Poles-185.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412030814/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-to-Trial-Ultrafast-Broadband-over-Telegraph-Poles-185.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=Virgin Media to Trial Ultrafast Broadband over Telegraph Poles |publisher=Virgin Media |date=11 March 2010 }} Virgin Media identified more than one million homes in parts of the UK that could benefit from deployment over telephone poles, without the need for government subsidy. During July the trial was extended to existing commercial infrastructure in the Welsh village of Crumlin, Caerphilly.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a251347/virgin-trials-electricity-pole-broadband.html|title=Virgin trials electricity pole broadband|publisher=Digital Spy|date=27 July 2010}}

On 7 October 2010, Ofcom ordered BT to open up its fibre-optic network to competing broadband providers to help drive forward the rollout of high-speed internet services in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a280910/ofcom-orders-bt-to-share-fibre-network.html|title=Ofcom orders BT to share fibre network|publisher=Digital Spy|date=7 October 2010}} Ofcom further ordered BT to free up access to network infrastructure – including all telephone poles and underground ducts – for the rollout of broadband to areas BT does not plan to reach. Virgin Media confirmed plans to expand its broadband network in the UK by using the infrastructure owned by BT.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a281036/virgin-media-to-use-bts-fibre-network.html|title=Virgin Media to use BT's fibre network|publisher=Digital Spy|date=8 October 2010}} By using the approach, the company hoped to expand its network to reach as many as 16 million of the UK's 26m homes.

On 27 October 2010, Virgin Media announced its 100 Mbit/s downstream broadband service, featuring 10 Mbit/s upstream rates, which went on sale on 8 December 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a292032/virgins-100mbps-broadband-goes-live.html|title=Virgin's 100Mbps broadband goes live|publisher=Digital Spy|date=8 December 2010}} Early service areas were parts of London, the South East and Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-rolls-out-UK-s-fastest-broadband-with-100Mb-1c6.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320075659/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-rolls-out-UK-s-fastest-broadband-with-100Mb-1c6.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 March 2012 |title=Virgin Media rolls out UK's fastest broadband with 100Mb |work=News release |publisher=Virgin Media |date=27 October 2010 |access-date=18 August 2011 }} With the faster upstream rates specifically, it expects the uptake in cloud computing services will also see an increase. The roll-out was expected to be complete by mid-2012.

On 11 January 2012, Virgin Media announced plans to double the speeds of selected broadband packages; its 10 Mbit/s package increased to 20 Mbit/s, 20 Mbit/s and 30Mbit/s to 60 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s, and its 100 Mbit/s package to 120 Mbit/s.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-boosts-Britain-s-broadband-speeds-2322.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114045023/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-boosts-Britain-s-broadband-speeds-2322.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2012 |title=Virgin Media boosts Britain's broadband speeds |publisher=Virgin Media |date=11 January 2012 }} The roll-out is expected to begin in February 2012 and be completed by mid-2013, at a cost of £110m. Since the announcement, Virgin Media has confirmed that it now plans to also upgrade 50 Mbit/s customers to 120 Mbit/s at no extra cost, in effect cutting the monthly fee for existing 100 Mbit/s customers.{{cite web|url=http://hexus.net/business/news/internet/34125-virgin-media-routes-internet-away-users-three-hour-blackout/|title=Virgin Media boosts Britain's broadband speeds, again|publisher=HEXUS.net|date=21 January 2012}}

On 11 November 2013, Virgin Media announced its 152 Mbit/s downstream broadband service, featuring 12 Mbit/s upstream rates, which started rolling out to customers from 28 February 2014.{{cite web|url=http://hexus.net/business/news/telcos/66817-virgin-media-rolling-152mb-broadband-service/|title=Virgin Media rolling out 152Mb broadband service|publisher=HEXUS.net|date=28 February 2014}} The company also upgraded existing customers, from 30 Mbit/s to 50 Mbit/s, 60 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s, and 120 Mbit/s to the new 152 Mbit/s service. The rollout completed in early 2015.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

In February 2015, Virgin Media announced its biggest investment in broadband infrastructure in over a decade. Set to invest £3bn in improving its fibre optic broadband network, Virgin Media will be increasing the network's reach from 13 million to 17 million homes.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31451174 |title=Virgin Media to invest £3bn in broadband |publisher=BBC News |date=13 February 2015 |access-date=13 February 2015}}

On 29 September 2015, Virgin Media announced its broadband packages would be rebranded as Vivid.{{cite web|url=http://about.virginmedia.com/press-release/9478/virgin-media-paints-a-vivid-future-for-uk-broadband |title=Virgin Media paints a Vivid future for UK broadband |publisher=Virgin Media |date=29 September 2015 |access-date=29 September 2015}} The company will upgrade existing customers from 50 Mbit/s to 70 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s to 150 Mbit/s and 152 Mbit/s to 200 Mbit/s. The speed upgrade will be rolled out to 90% of customers by the end of 2015.

On 22 March 2017, Virgin Media made ultrafast speeds standard with new bundles.{{cite web|url=http://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-makes-ultrafast-speeds-standard-with-new-bundles.html |title=Virgin Media makes ultrafast speeds standard with new bundles |publisher=Virgin Media |date=22 March 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017}} 100 Mbit/s entry level rising to top speed of 300 Mbit/s. On 29 April 2019, Virgin Media unveiled a new bundle with a download speed of 500 Mbit/s; due to Virgin Media's practice of over-provisioning, this bundle can expect average speeds of 516 Mbit/s and a max of 575 Mbit/s.

On 30 September 2019, Virgin Media announced their new Gig1 package rollout,{{Cite web|title=Virgin Media launches Gig1 - the UK's fastest home broadband|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-launches-gig1-the-uks-fastest-home-broadband|access-date=19 August 2020|website=Virgin Media|language=en}} providing download speeds up to 1,140 Mbit/s (over 1 Gbit/s) and upload speeds up to 52 Mbit/s, starting in Southampton, which has subsequently rolled out to selected major cities and their surrounding areas across the UK including Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow.{{Cite web|title=Superfast Gigabit Internet - Gig1 Fibre Broadband|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/shop/broadband/gig1-gigabit-broadband|access-date=19 August 2020|website=Virgin Media|language=en}} This is being provided through upgrades to downstream to DOCSIS 3.1, with upload speeds still limited to DOCSIS 3.0 upstream infrastructure. They aim to finish the rollout across the entire Virgin Media network by the end of 2021.

On 29 June 2020, Virgin Media announced that customers on their "Ultimate Oomph" broadband, TV and phone package would receive a free speed boost from their M500 package to their new M600 package,{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Mark|date=2020-06-29|title=Virgin Media UK Refresh Bundles and Add 600Mbps Broadband UPDATE2|url=https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2020/06/virgin-media-uk-refresh-bundles-and-add-600mbps-broadband.html|access-date=2021-09-14|website=ISPreview UK|language=en}} replacing 516 Mbit/s download and 36 Mbit/s upload with 636 Mbit/s download and 41 Mbit/s upload. The free upgrades were completed for all customers by 31 March 2021.{{Cite web|title=Broadband Only {{!}} No Phone Line Required|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/shop/broadband/broadband-only|access-date=4 November 2020|website=Virgin Media|language=en}} M600 is only available through the Ultimate Oomph package bundle.{{Cite web|title=Broadband Only Deals {{!}} Virgin Media|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/broadband-only|access-date=2021-09-14|website=www.virginmedia.com}}

Virgin Media maintain on their consumer website that they do not throttle users' download or upload bandwidth.{{Cite web|title=Broadband Traffic Management Policy {{!}} Virgin Media|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-broadband-traffic-management-policy#:~:text=Great%20news!,won%27t%20reduce%20your%20speed.|access-date=21 April 2021|website=www.virginmedia.com}}

However, Virgin Media did originally employ a form of bandwidth throttling whereby customer bandwidth was reduced temporarily after a threshold was reached during peak periods. The company experimented with and revised all parameters involved in the throttling, such as threshold size, peak period definitions, throttling percentage and duration. Separate thresholds were applied to upstream and downstream, and thresholds varied between packages.

In 2013, Virgin Media changed their traffic management policy to the detriment of their customers.{{cite web|date=29 May 2013|title=Virgin Media Traffic Management 30MB of Higher|url=http://my.virginmedia.com/traffic-management/traffic-management-policy-30Mb-or-higher.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527015418/http://my.virginmedia.com/traffic-management/traffic-management-policy-30Mb-or-higher.html|archive-date=27 May 2013|access-date=29 May 2013}} The policy stated a maximum throttling amount of 40% on most services, however users reported being throttled by as much as 54%.{{cite web|url=http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Up-to-120Mb-Speed/100mbit-STM-d-to-48mbit/td-p/1840432 |title=100mbit STM'd to ~48mbit |date=15 May 2013 |access-date=29 May 2013}} Virgin Media's advertisements regarding their "unlimited" broadband services, and their controversial traffic management were investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority, after having previous advertisements banned.{{cite web|url=http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/10/Virgin-Media-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_201412.aspx |title=ASA Adjudication on Virgin Media Ltd |date=3 October 2012 |access-date=29 May 2013}}

From 28 February 2014, Virgin Media announced that they were scrapping traffic management for downstream traffic on 30 Mbit/s or higher packages. As a result of this, 30 Mbit/s or higher packages were only throttled on the upstream, where as 20 Mbit/s or below packages were throttled on both the upstream and the downstream.{{cite web|date=28 February 2014|title=Virgin Media UK Scraps Traffic Management for Broadband Downloads|url=http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2014/02/virgin-media-uk-scraps-traffic-management-broadband-downloads.html|publisher=ISPreview}} Sometime after this Virgin Media changed their policy again due to further feedback from customers, and they now state on their website that no matter what broadband package users have taken, they will not be subject to any bandwidth throttling.{{Cite web|title=Broadband Traffic Management Policy {{!}} Virgin Media|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-broadband-traffic-management-policy|access-date=21 April 2021|website=www.virginmedia.com}}

Virgin Media customers may use Usenet servers (NNTP) with the address "news.virginmedia.com". These servers are outsourced to the Highwinds Network Group and are physically based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Virgin Media also hosts another operational Usenet server previously known as "text.news.ntlworld.com", now "text.news.virginmedia.com", which again has certain restrictions and limits article size to 50 kb.

In March 2012, Virgin Media won an exclusive contract to provide Wi-Fi access to London Underground platforms until 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/19/tube_virgin/|title=London Mayor Boris grilled on Virgin's Underground penetration|access-date=21 March 2012|publisher=The Register|date=19 March 2012|first=Bill|last=Ray}} The company announced mobile internet at 80 stations by July 2012 and a further 40 stations by the end of 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/mar/14/virgin-media-wins-tube-wi-fi-contract|title=Virgin Media wins tube Wi-Fi contract|access-date=15 March 2012|work=The Guardian|date=15 March 2012|location=London|first=Mark|last=Sweney}} The service, which gives access to mobile internet via a TfL portal offering travel, news and entertainment bulletins, will remain free for Virgin Media customers, along with customers of partnered companies, such as Vodafone and EE, after the 2012 Summer Olympics. Other users will only be able to access a limited amount of free content on the TfL portal, with full mobile internet services offered on a pay-as-you-go basis.

{{main|Virgin Media Business}}

On 11 February 2010, ntl:Telewest Business was rebranded as Virgin Media Business, marking the end of the NTL and Telewest brand being used by the company.{{cite news | title =Virgin Media Eyes Growth with Launch of Virgin Media Business | publisher =Virgin Media Business | date =28 August 2009 | url =http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/News-and-events/News/News-archives/2010/Virgin-Media-Business-Launch/ | access-date =12 February 2010 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120226045732/http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/News-and-events/News/News-archives/2010/Virgin-Media-Business-Launch/ | archive-date =26 February 2012}} The company provides dedicated internet and telecommunications services to businesses.

Virgin Phone offers landline telephone services; it ranks as the number two service behind the former UK state monopoly, BT Group.{{cite web|url=http://www.ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk/about_us/corporate_info/who_we_are/merger_qa.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506191045/http://www.ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk/about_us/corporate_info/who_we_are/merger_qa.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2007 |title=NTL: Telewest Business – Merger Q&A |publisher=Ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk |access-date=22 August 2010}}

On 1 April 2010, Virgin Media began to offer free home phone to mobile calls.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-pioneers-free-landline-to-mobile-calls-175.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412042431/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-pioneers-free-landline-to-mobile-calls-175.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=Virgin Media pioneers free landline to mobile calls |publisher=Virgin Media |date=1 February 2010 }} Virgin Phone customers are able to call Virgin Mobile customers at no charge, within the Talk Plan specified periods.

{{main|Virgin TV}}

Virgin TV, the digital cable television service from Virgin Media, {{As of|2007|alt=currently}} ranks as the UK's second largest pay TV service, having 3.6m subscribers, compared to BSkyB's 8.2m as of Q3 2007.[http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/tv-research/dtv/dtv_2007_q3/dtvq307.pdf The Communications Market: Digital Progress Report -Digital TV Q3 2007], Ofcom. Retrieved 23 February 2008 {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{As of|2007|alt= Currently}} 55% of UK households potentially have access to Virgin's network,{{cite news | last = White | first = Dominic | title = Virgin media launch to cost £20m | work = The Daily Telegraph | date = 20 January 2007 | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/01/20/cnvirgin20.xml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070121062612/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fmoney%2F2007%2F01%2F20%2Fcnvirgin20.xml | url-status = dead | archive-date = 21 January 2007 | access-date = 1 February 2007 | location = London }} while anyone in the UK with a line-of-sight view of the Astra & Eurobird satellites at 28.2° east has the ability to receive Sky's service.

Virgin TV ranks as the UK's largest provider of on-demand content, with over 3 million Video on Demand (VoD) customers and {{As of|2011|10|lc=y}} over 6,500 hours of programming.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Sky-Anytime-on-Virgin-Media-rolls-out-on-TV-and-online-21da.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014224551/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Sky-Anytime-on-Virgin-Media-rolls-out-on-TV-and-online-21da.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2011 |title=Sky Anytime on Virgin Media rolls out on TV and online |publisher=Virgin Media |date=12 October 2011 }}

Virgin TV carries around 300 digital television and radio channels, including a mixture of subscription, premium subscription and pay-per-view channels.

File:VMTrowbridge.jpg

{{Main|Virgin Mobile (UK)}}

Virgin Media ran Virgin Mobile Telecoms Limited, a UK-based Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) from November 1999 using the one2one (later T-Mobile and EE) network, after the merger between Virgin Media and Telefónica it was later announced that Virgin Mobile would close and customers be moved to the O2 network. This was completed in August 2023 and Virgin Mobile ceased operations on 31 August 2023.

{{Main|Living TV Group}}

Virgin Media Television (formerly Flextech) was the content subsidiary of Virgin Media, and operated a number of wholly owned channels including Bravo, LIVING, Trouble and Challenge. It launched Virgin1 on Freeview and cable on 1 October 2007, replacing Ftn on Freeview.{{cite web |url=http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051255 |title=UKfree.tv |publisher=UKfree.tv |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921090630/http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051255 |url-status=dead }}

On 4 June 2010, Virgin Media announced that they had reached an agreement to sell Virgin Media Television to BSkyB, subject to regulatory approval.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/BskyB-and-Virgin-Media-Reach-Agreements-on-Sale-of-VMtv-and-Channel-Distribution-1a1.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412033312/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/BskyB-and-Virgin-Media-Reach-Agreements-on-Sale-of-VMtv-and-Channel-Distribution-1a1.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=BSkyB and Virgin Media reach agreements on sale of VMtv and channel distribution |publisher=Virgin Media |date=4 June 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://corporate.sky.com/page.aspx?pointerid=6123cbfe61d648e38fb10a1e7a2024e5|title=BskyB and Virgin Media Reach Agreements on Sale of VMtv and Channel Distribution|publisher=BSkyB|date=4 June 2010}} The acquisition expanded Sky's portfolio of basic pay TV channels and eliminated the carriage fees it previously paid for distributing VMtv channels on its TV services. In parallel, the companies reached a number of agreements providing for the carriage of certain Sky standard and high-definition (HD) channels, including securing new carriage agreements for wholesale distribution of Sky's basic channel line-up, including Sky 1 and Sky Arts, and the newly acquired VMtv channels, on Virgin Media's cable TV service.

On 29 June 2010, the Irish Competition Authority cleared the proposed transaction.{{cite web|url=http://www.tca.ie/images/uploaded/documents/M-10-020%20The%20CA%20clears%20the%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20VMtv%20by%20Sky.pdf |title=Competition Authority clears the acquisition by British Sky Broadcasting Limited of Virgin Media Television |publisher=The Competition Authority |date=29 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430050859/http://www.tca.ie/images/uploaded/documents/M-10-020%20The%20CA%20clears%20the%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20VMtv%20by%20Sky.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2011 }} BSkyB and Virgin Media announced the completion of the acquisition on 13 July 2010, following Irish regulatory approval.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/BSkyB-and-Virgin-Media-Complete-Sale-of-VMtv-1a9.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412031101/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/BSkyB-and-Virgin-Media-Complete-Sale-of-VMtv-1a9.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=BSkyB and Virgin Media Complete Sale of VMtv |publisher=Virgin Media |date=13 July 2010 }} VMtv was then renamed the Living TV Group. In completing the acquisition, Sky paid Virgin Media an initial £105 million with up to an additional £55 million to be paid upon UK regulatory clearance.

On 20 July 2010, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) announced they would review BSkyB's acquisition of Virgin Media Television to judge whether it posed any competition concerns in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a247293/oft-to-review-skys-vmtv-deal.html|title=OFT to review Sky's VMtv deal|publisher=Digital Spy|date=20 July 2010}} On 14 September 2010, the OFT decided not to refer BSkyB's takeover of Virgin Media's TV channels to the Competition Commission.{{cite web|url=http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&article=57297 |title=OFT okays Sky's Virgin Media TV deal |publisher=C21Media |date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501114552/http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&article=57297 |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}

Virgin1 was also a part of the deal but was rebranded as Channel One on 3 September 2010, as the Virgin name was not licensed to Sky.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/06/04/virgin-secures-new-sky-carriage-deal-after-vmtv-sale/|title=Virgin secures new Sky carriage deal after VMtv sale|publisher=Broadband TV News|date=4 June 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/aug/05/bskyb-virgin1-channel-one|title=BSkyB rebrands Virgin1 as Channel One|work=The Guardian|date=5 August 2010 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}} The new carriage deals were for up to nine years.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jun/04/bskyb-buys-virgin-media-channels|title=BSkyB buys Virgin Media TV channels for £160m|work=The Guardian|date=4 June 2010 | location=London | first=Jason | last=Deans}} Previously the carriage deals tended to be struck every three years.

{{Main|Bid Shopping}}

Virgin Media owned Sit-up Ltd, a UK-based broadcaster of home shopping television channels, as a joint venture from its launch in 2000 and in full from May 2005. It operated the channels Bid TV, Price Drop TV and Speed Auction TV, shown on digital satellite, cable, and terrestrial television and the internet.

On 1 April 2009, Virgin Media confirmed it had sold Sit-up to Aurelius AG for an unspecified amount.{{cite news|last1=O'Carroll|first1=Tristan|title=Virgin Media selling shopping channels arm|url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/article/895722/virgin-media-selling-shopping-channels-arm|access-date=18 January 2014|work=Media Week|date=1 April 2009}}

Virgin Media Pioneers was an online community for British entrepreneurs, providing tips, advice and networking. Founded in 2010, the company was an initiative of Virgin Media.

In 2011 Virgin Media Pioneers launched the Control Shift Campaign{{cite web

|url = http://www.wearesevenhills.com/news/2011/11/16/seven-hills-supports-virgin-media-pioneers-control-shift-campaign/

|title = Control Shift Campaign

|author =

|date = November 11, 2012

}} which polled over 1,600 young aspiring entrepreneurs on changes the government could make to help them create new businesses. The campaign resulted in the introduction of a £10 million Youth Enterprise Loan.{{cite web

|url = http://www.theemployable.com/index.php/2012/03/28/virgin-media-pioneers-turns-2-with-uk-budget-success-to-support-young-entrepreneurs/

|title = Youth Enterprise Loan

|date = March 28, 2012

}}

{{Main|UKTV}}

UKTV is a digital cable and satellite television network, formed through a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC, and Virgin Media. It is one of the United Kingdom's largest television companies.{{cite web|url=http://www.idigitalsales.co.uk/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216074858/http://www.idigitalsales.co.uk/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2010|title=About ids and UKTV|access-date=18 November 2007}} UKTV's channels are available via satellite and cable in the UK and Ireland. In the UK, on digital terrestrial television, Yesterday and Dave are available on the Freeview platform. W (formerly Watch) is the flagship channel operated by the network; it is a general entertainment channel that launched on 7 October 2008.

On 15 August 2011, Virgin Media agreed to sell its 50% stake in UKTV to Scripps Networks Interactive in a deal worth £339m. Scripps paid £239m in cash, and about £100m to acquire the outstanding preferred stock and debt owed by UKTV to Virgin Media.{{cite web|url=http://investors.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=135485&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1596267&highlight=|title=Scripps Networks Interactive and Virgin Media agree on UKTV transaction|publisher=Virgin Media|date=15 August 2011|access-date=11 February 2013|archive-date=8 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108224435/http://investors.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=135485&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1596267&highlight=|url-status=dead}} Completion of the transaction was contingent on regulatory approvals in Ireland and Jersey, which was received on 3 October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scripps-networks-interactive-and-virgin-media-complete-uktv-transaction-2011-10-03|title=Scripps Networks Interactive and Virgin Media Complete UKTV Transaction|publisher=MarketWatch|date=3 October 2011}} Related to the transaction, Scripps Networks Interactive and BBC Worldwide are negotiating an agreement whereby, after completion, BBC Worldwide would have the option, via a combination of cash and a package of digital rights for UKTV, to increase its shareholding from 50% to a maximum of 60%. Scripps Networks Interactive's existing voting rights and board representation would be unaffected by this proposed arrangement, which would be subject to BBC Executive and BBC Trust approvals.

Following the completion of the merger between NTL and Telewest, and the acquisition of Virgin Mobile, the company agreed a 30-year licensing agreement with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group to use the Virgin brand, with a ten-year opt-out clause. Branson accepted a mix of shares and cash, making him a 10.7% shareholder of the combined company at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a31233/ntl-confirms-gbp1bn-virgin-mobile-takeover.html|publisher=Digital Spy|title=NTL confirms £1bn Virgin Mobile takeover|date=4 April 2006}}

In July 2007, Virgin Group hedged 37% of its stake in Virgin Media for $224m through a collared loan agreement with Credit Suisse, a transaction which enabled it to retain the voting and dividend rights. Virgin Group had the option of buying back the 12.8m Virgin Media shares it had mortgaged after two years, but in May 2009 decided against this. The funds were used at the time by Virgin Group to invest in other areas of its business, such as Virgin Green Fund, which was launched in September 2007, Virgin America and Virgin Mobile India.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/5329764/Sir-Richard-Branson-cuts-his-stake-in-Virgin-Media.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/5329764/Sir-Richard-Branson-cuts-his-stake-in-Virgin-Media.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Sir Richard Branson cuts his stake in Virgin Media|date=15 May 2009| location=London| first=Amanda| last=Andrews}}{{cbignore}} By December 2009, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Entertainment Investment Holdings Limited held a minority holding of 21,413,099 Virgin Media common stock,{{cite web|url=http://about.virginmedia.com/about/investors |title=Information for investors |publisher=Virgin Media |access-date=13 February 2015}} making him the third largest shareholder.

Liberty Global announced on 5 February 2013 that they had agreed to buy the company for approximately US$23.3 billion (£15 billion) in a stock and cash merger. Shareholders approved the acquisition on 4 June, and the deal was completed on 7 June.

Virgin Media's UK operations are ultimately controlled by a US Delaware organisation named Virgin Media (UK) Group Inc.[https://www.duedil.com/company/FC018124/virgin-media-uk-group-inc Duedil.com entry for Virgin Media (UK) Group Inc], Virgin Media (UK) Group Inc Interested stakeholders cannot confirm who actually owns and controls Virgin Media due to Delaware company law not requiring disclosure of controlling ownership in annual reports made to the state.[http://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc15/index.shtml#374 Delaware company law], Delaware company law $374 – Annual Report Disclosure The company named Virgin Media (UK) Group LLC was closed and dissolved in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://app.duedil.com/|title=DueDil|website=app.duedil.com}}

{{as of|2014|}}, Virgin Media has a 20% share of the broadband market, equal with Sky Broadband, and behind BT Total Broadband (on 31%).{{cite web|title=Facts & Figures|url=http://media.ofcom.org.uk/facts/|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=18 January 2015}} By 2016, its market share had dropped slightly to 19%, behind BT (32%) and Sky (23%).

Virgin Television has {{as of|2007|11|alt=currently}} around 3.4 million subscribers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtv_2007_q3/ |title=Digital Television Update – 2007 Q3 |publisher=Ofcom |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421060801/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtv_2007_q3/ |archive-date=21 April 2009 }} 3.2 million of them are digital cable customers, and the other 200,000 are analogue cable customers. Virgin makes up around 15% of the UK's TV distributors, with Freeview having the most, and Sky being second.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Virgin Media launched in February 2007, with a public relations event and expensive advertising campaign covering major UK television channels, newspapers and billboards. Television advertising featured actress Uma Thurman, comedian Ruby Wax, and actors Samuel L. Jackson, Marc Warren, and David Tennant.

Virgin Media also sponsored the Channel 4 reality TV show Big Brother in its eighth series in 2007 and its Celebrity Hijack and ninth series in 2008.

In October 2010, Virgin Media aired another campaign with a Looney Tunes character, Speedy Gonzales. He also served as a mascot for the company and was plastered everywhere throughout the UK, the London Underground station, and adverts that features him on the TV during advert breaks of The X Factor on ITV, appearing in-game, and throughout the web.

In 2012, Virgin Media launched a multimillion-pound ad campaign starring Usain Bolt and Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson to promote Virgin's superfast broadband service. The TV adverts were directed by Seth Gordon and involved Bolt impersonating Branson.{{cite web|last=Sweney|first=Mark|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/13/usain-bolt-richard-branson-virgin-media|title=Usain Bolt mimics Richard Branson in Virgin Media superfast broadband ad|work=The Guardian|date=13 January 2012|access-date=16 February 2012}}

On 8 June 2016, Southampton F.C. announced that Virgin Media would become the club's shirt sponsor on a three-year deal.{{cite web |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160608-southampton-virgin-media-announce-shirt-partnership-3138459.aspx |title=Virgin Media become Southampton's main club sponsor |publisher=Southampton F.C. |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=8 June 2016 |archive-date=15 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815130434/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160608-southampton-virgin-media-announce-shirt-partnership-3138459.aspx |url-status=dead }}

In April 2008, acting Virgin CEO Neil Berkett sparked controversy when he told Television, a magazine published by the Royal Television Society, "this net neutrality thing is a load of bollocks." According to the journalist, he claimed that any video content provider that refused to pay Virgin Media a premium for faster access would have to get stuck in "bus lanes," having their content delivered to end users at much slower speeds than that of paying content providers.{{cite web|url=http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2008/04/14/separated-at-birth |title=Save the Internet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420083039/http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2008/04/14/separated-at-birth/ |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}

Widespread criticism of this policy was expressed on the internet, with large internet communities requesting that Virgin customers end their subscriptions and initiate a mass boycott.{{cite web|author=Iain Thomson |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2214505/virgin-media-faces-boycott-net |title=Virgin Media faces net neutrality boycott |publisher=vnunet.com |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217191354/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2214505/virgin-media-faces-boycott-net |archive-date=17 February 2009 }}

According to Virgin Media, the comments in the article were taken out of context and misinterpreted.{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Chris |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/15/virgin_media_net_neutrality |title=Virgin Media mops up CEO's 'boll*cks' outburst |publisher=The Register |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=22 August 2010}} A statement released by the company states: "With Virgin Media rolling out a 50 Mb service later this year, we are uniquely equipped to cope with the demand for new bandwidth-hungry services. We strongly support the principle that the internet should remain a space that is open to all and we have not called for content providers to pay for distribution. However, we recognise that as more customers turn to the web for content, different providers will have different needs and priorities and in the long term, it's legitimate to question how this demand will be managed. We welcome an informed debate on this issue."

On 2 April 2008, The Daily Telegraph reported that Virgin Media would be beginning a trial to take action against subscribers who are illegally downloading copyrighted material from internet Peer-to-peer (P2P) services. Information of offenders would be provided by the British Phonographic Industry, and then Virgin Media and the BPI sends a warning letter to the customer.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a92636/virgin-plans-action-on-pirate-subscribers.html|title=Cable – News – Virgin plans action on pirate subscribers|publisher=Digital Spy|date=31 March 2008|access-date=22 August 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/30/cnvirgin130.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401233531/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fmoney%2F2008%2F03%2F30%2Fcnvirgin130.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|title=Virgin Media takes fight to illegal downloaders|first=Juliette|last=Garside|date=30 March 2008|access-date=27 May 2010}}

Virgin Media and the BPI denied reports of any agreement or pilot scheme and said they were only in talks on the matter.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a92789/virgin-denies-three-strikes-agreement.html|title=Cable – News – Virgin denies 'three strikes' agreement|publisher=Digital Spy|date=1 April 2008|access-date=22 August 2010}} However, at least one person claimed to have received a letter threatening disconnection.{{Cite web|url=http://willmcgree.tumblr.com/post/38380033/bpi-letter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903210334/http://willmcgree.tumblr.com/post/38380033/bpi-letter|url-status=dead|title=Will McGree|archive-date=3 September 2008}} Although the UK government backed plans to ban p2p users from the internet, it may soon be overturned by strong condemnation from the European Parliament on the grounds of privacy issues and the importance of internet access.{{cite web|url=http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/04/10/european-parliament-condemns-3-strikes-approach|title=Blog Archive " European Parliament condemns "3 strikes" approach|publisher=The Open Rights Group|access-date=22 August 2010}}

In July 2008, the BBC reported that 800 Virgin Media customers who the BPI claim are sharing copyrighted files were sent warning letters in envelopes marked "If you don't read this, your broadband connection could be disconnected". At least one recipient of the letter denied any wrongdoing by any authorised user of his broadband connection.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7486000/7486836.stm|work=BBC News|title=Virgin defends file-sharing campaign|date=3 July 2008|access-date=27 May 2010|first=Jim|last=Reed}}

On 26 November 2009, it was revealed that Virgin Media would trial deep packet inspection technology to measure the level of illegal file sharing on its network.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/26/virgin_media_detica/|title=Virgin Media to trial filesharing monitoring system|publisher=The Register|date=26 November 2009}} The CView system, provided by Detica, will look at traffic and identify the peer-to-peer packets. It will then peer inside those packets and try to determine what is licensed and what is unlicensed, based on data provided by the record industry. The trial – which has no scheduled end date – will cover about 40% of Virgin Media's network but those involved will not be informed. Virgin Media emphasised that it is seeking to measure the overall level of illegal file sharing, not to keep records on individual customers. Data on the level of copyright infringement will be aggregated and anonymised.

On 22 January 2010, the European Commission confirmed that although it had not discussed the matter with Virgin Media, it would "closely monitor" the trial.{{cite web|url=http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,40004190,00.htm|title=EU regulators to monitor Virgin Media surveillance|publisher=ZDNet UK|date=25 January 2010|access-date=29 January 2010|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306085725/http://www.zdnet.com/topic/|url-status=dead}} Privacy International announced that it would press a criminal complaint with the Metropolitan Police, because it argued that under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations (PECR) and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) as well as the European ePrivacy Directive, interception and processing of communications requires either explicit informed consent from all parties or a warrant.

On 3 May 2012, it was reported that Virgin Media had become the first ISP in the UK to implement a web filter to block access to The Pirate Bay, in compliance with a UK High Court order in April,{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/03/virgin_media_cuts_off_pirate_bay/|publisher=The Register|title=Virgin Media Cuts Pirate Bay Access for Millions of punters|date=3 May 2012|access-date=5 May 2012}} although there continues to be a great number of mirrors, proxies, or VPNs, so this has proved unsuccessful.{{cite web|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2172223/virgin-media-uk-isp-block-pirate-bay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507221531/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2172223/virgin-media-uk-isp-block-pirate-bay|url-status=unfit|archive-date=7 May 2012|title=Virgin Media is first UK ISP to block The Pirate Bay – But traffic to the web site has increased|publisher=The Inquirer|first=Lee|last=Bell|date=3 May 2012|access-date=14 January 2013}}

In 2009, Virgin Media received criticism when it emerged that they were cutting off service to relatives of deceased customers for non-payment of bills. This came about after they continued to bill deceased customers for Virgin Media services and not updating their records or transferring the contract when they had been notified of deaths. The story was publicised on BBC's Watchdog and musician Mitch Benn created a song called "Virgin Bills Dead People" about it.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107044212/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/09/virgin_media.html |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/09/virgin_media.html |archivedate=2010-01-07|title=Virgin Media 'bills dead people' |date=2009-09-10 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2025-02-14}} A similar incident occurred in 2013, where the bill also included an automated bank message stating the account holder was deceased.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22283453 | title=Dead customer Virgin Media bill goes viral on Facebook | work=BBC News | date=24 April 2013 |accessdate=2025-02-14}}

Virgin Media formerly charged customers exit fees if they moved to a location where they would be unable to receive Virgin Media services. From 2017 to 2018, Ofcom investigated Virgin Media's early termination charges and found that Virgin had contravened Ofcom's General Conditions between 2016 and 2017 by failing to publish clear and up-to-date information about the charges, as well as setting them higher than the contractually agreed payments, and fined Virgin Media £7 million. As part of the investigation Virgin Media also agreed to make clearer to customers that early termination charges may apply when moving out of Virgin's network area, as well as allowing customers who move home within the network area to continue on their existing contract rather than start a new fixed term.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-16 |title=Investigation into Virgin Media’s early termination charges |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/bills-and-charges/cw_01198/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314005532/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/bills-and-charges/cw_01198/ |archive-date=2025-03-14 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Ofcom |language=en}}

In 2022 Virgin Media announced it would end the practice of charging customers an exit fee when moving to a home where its services are not available.{{Cite web |last=Abhishek.Kakkar |date=2022-02-16 |title=Virgin Media O2 ends charges for off-net home movers |url=https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2-ends-charges-for-off-net-home-movers/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Virgin Media O2 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Virgin Media O2 axes broadband disconnection fees of up to £240 for home movers |url=https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/02/virgin-media-o2-culls-broadband-disconnection-fee-for-those-movi/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=MoneySavingExpert.com |language=en-GB}}

In early 2008, it was announced that the ISP arm of Virgin Media had entered into a contract (along with BT and TalkTalk) with the former spyware company Phorm (responsible under their 121Media guise for the Apropos rootkit){{Cite web|url=https://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/apropos.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622032600/http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/apropos.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Apropos Description | F-Secure Labs|archive-date=22 June 2008|website=www.f-secure.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/peopleonpage.shtml |title=F-Secure Spyware Information Pages: PeopleOnPage |publisher=F-secure.com |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521015315/http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/peopleonpage.shtml |archive-date=21 May 2011 }} to intercept and analyse their users' click-stream data, and sell the anonymised aggregate information as part of Phorm's OIX advertising service.{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Chris|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/25/phorm_isp_advertising/page2.html |title=ISP data deal with former 'spyware' boss triggers privacy fears |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |date=25 February 2008 |access-date=22 August 2010}}{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Chris |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/29/phorm_documents/ |title=How Phorm plans to tap your internet connection |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |date=29 February 2008 |access-date=22 August 2010}} The practice, which has become known as "data pimping", came under intense fire from various internet communities and other interested parties who believe that the interception of data is illegal under UK law (RIPA).{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Chris |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/04/phorm_ripa/ |title=Data pimping: surveillance expert raises illegal wiretap worries |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=22 August 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fipr.org/080423phormlegal.pdf |title=The Phorm "Webwise" System – a Legal Analysis|access-date=22 August 2010}} At a more fundamental level, many have argued that the ISPs and Phorm have no right to sell a commodity (a user's data) to which they have no claim of ownership.

Though Phorm initially claimed Virgin Media had signed an exclusive contract and were committed to implementing Phorm's Webwise tracking system, Virgin Media have since distanced themselves from this and now state that they have only signed a preliminary contract with Phorm to better understand the tracking technology, and are under no obligation to implement it.{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Chris |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/01/virgin_media_phorm_misleading/ |title=Virgin Media distances itself from Phorm 'adoption' claims |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |date=1 May 2008 |access-date=22 August 2010}} Reports on the Guardian website in May 2008 suggested Virgin Media may be further distancing themselves from the controversial system.{{cite news|last=Arthur |first=Charles |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/05/13/file_under_rumourunconfirmed_virgin_to_shun_phorm.html |title=File under "rumour:unconfirmed": Virgin to shun Phorm? |publisher=Blogs.guardian.co.uk |date= 13 May 2008|access-date=22 August 2010 | location=London}}

{{Main|Internet Watch Foundation and Wikipedia}}

In December 2008, Virgin Media was one of several ISPs in the UK to attempt to censor its users' access to the Wikipedia article about the 1976 album Virgin Killer by stadium rock band Scorpions.{{cite web|url=http://www.sampablokuper.com/blog/2008/12/09/virgin-kills-virgin-killer/ |title=Blog post of Virgin Media customer affected by censorship |publisher=Sampablokuper.com |date=9 December 2008 |access-date=22 August 2010}} The album cover has generated controversy, as it features the partially obscured image of a naked, underage girl. The Wikipedia article includes this image and its URL was blacklisted by the Internet Watch Foundation after a user complaint. The blacklisting has since been rescinded.

In March 2020, it became known that the Virgin Media marketing database accommodating the personal details (phone numbers, home and email addresses) of 900,000 users was left unsecured for 10 months. The company admitted that a member of their staff hadn't followed the correct security procedures, which resulted in the system's vulnerability. It is known for sure that at least one occasion of unauthorised access took place throughout these 10 months. After shutting down access, a forensic investigation was launched to gauge the extent of the damage and determine whether any data had been leaked.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51760510|title=Virgin Media data breach affects 900,000 people|date=5 March 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=6 March 2020|language=en-GB}}

• Virgin Media Television (Ireland) – a separate Liberty Global subsidiary which acquired TV channels from TV3 Group in 2015.

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