Virgin TV Anywhere launches on web, mobile and tablet
UPDATE 07.11.12
Virgin Media is today launching its TV Anywhere cloud-based entertainment service, at no extra cost to all Virgin TV subscribers.
A TV Anywhere app for iPad and iPhone is available now and the Virgin service is also accessible via the TV Anywhere website.
The service enables Virgin customers to stream live TV, with up to 45 channels to choose from at launch, depending on their TV package and method of access.
Virgin TV Anywhere also features up to 4000 hours of TV available to watch on demand at any time, including Sky On Demand, as well as catch-up TV from the BBC, ITV, 4oD and Demand 5.
Customers will be able to access Virgin TV Anywhere through the web, or mobile or tablet if they have a Virgin TiVo box. The online service is available to all Virgin TV customers, with extra features for TiVo users to manage their set-top boxes through tools such as remote record and managing 'My Shows'.
The mobile and tablet app, initially available on iPad, iPhone and iPod (and with Android to follow in 2013), offers the ability to fully manage TiVo boxes including scheduling recordings and deleting shows. The iOS app is avaialable now on iTunes.
Published 28.08.12
Virgin is taking the battle to Sky and looking to free further your TV from your living room with the launch of a Virgin TV Anywhere.
The new service will deliver live TV and video-on-demand content, and it will give you the ability to manage your set-top box in the form of a new look website and a brand-new app.
The Virgin app aims to bring the TiVo experience to your PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet, allowing you to browse the EPG, manage your recordings and change channels without affecting the image on your TV screen.
And if you can't agree on what to watch, you can stream content straight to your portable device for a multiscreen TV experience.
TiVo on-the-go
Due to launch in Autumn 2012, Virgin TV Anywhere is free and, theoretically, available to all Virgin customers.
While any Virgin customer can access the new look website, the live TV and on-demand content that you can access will depend on your choice of Virgin TV package.
The added extras via the website, such as setting your box to record, managing your recordings, and social aspects such as liking certain content will also be exclusive to Virgin TiVo customers.
The new Virgin TV Anywhere app will also be for Virgin TiVo customers only, bringing the sort of functionality familiar to Sky customers with the Sky Go app to Virgin TiVo users. The TV Anywhere app will launch on iPod touch, iPhone and iPad in Autumn 2012, though an Android app is in the pipeline for 2013.
You'll need a wi-fi connection to watch content, though a 3G offering is on the wish list.
Also on the to-do list is the ability to watch your own personal recordings stored on your TiVo box on your tablet or smartphone. Clever.
It's a big push for Virgin in to the mobile TV domain, and the company is bullish about the advantages of its own service when compared with Sky's.
Virgin has been doubling its customers' broadband speeds and fibre optic network speeds of up to 100Mb help ensure stable streaming to other devices in your home, while the TiVo box has its own dedicated 10Mb connection for streaming content, ensuring it won't throttle speeds elsewhere.
Comments
at least you can get virgin in your area.thanks to my ageing old decrepid sad saps on my council virgin werent allowed to dig up the road because the councillors thought it would ruin the roads and the look of the town.
maybe they should have gone to spec savers because im sick of driving over pot holes and my road has not been tarmacked in 20 years and all the roads look terrible
the town in question is lytham st annes
blackpool and warton 2-3 miles away all have cable
they need to be brought in to the 21st century and stop living in the past
people like this are holding back our country in terms of broadband as BT is not up to the job im still on 8mb and no sign of bt infinity.
no chance of me streaming anything ever
maybe i just have given them a back hander, its semms to work if someone want planning permission and everyone objects
Looking forward to this - though just ditched my iPhone for a Galaxy S3 - nice timing! Does anyone think this wee box here sounds just as good if not better:
http://www.whathifi.com/news/view21-freeview-hd-pvr-comes-with-free-apps
Sounds like VM's app doesn't stream recordings?
i can't wait,sounds really good.
Shame they couldn't manage simultaneous app release, but I guess that shows their priorities. Hope they can stick to timetable, if only so that they can get on with the android app!
I hope not DC, as a TiVo customer the iPad app is already overdue.
Looks good, but "Due to launch in Autumn 2012"...I hope this isn't another traditional Virgin timeline? Does this really mean "some time around April 2013"?
No use to me.
The Virgin fibre optic cable runs 50 metres passed my front door, but they aren't interested in connecting us up, nor any of our neighbours in a 6 house little close. The nearest house is 25 metres from the cable !!!
What makes it worst, cable conduit is already pre-installed under the road, leading to all six properties and terminating 2 metres from the Virgin cable !!!