Cable broadband ISP Virgin Media and BT have today signed a new multi-year agreement that, effective from 30th July 2018, will enable the former to add the BTSport TV channels in full 4K UltraHD resolution to its top triple-play bundles “at no extra cost“.
Existing customers of Virgin Media’s top broadband, phone and TV bundles (i.e. Virgin TV Full House and VIP bundles) can already get the standard BTSport content, including HD channels, but the addition of 4K is a first for the cable giant. Virgin TV customers already taking BTSport, on any bundle, will also get the channel automatically added at no extra cost.
BTSport Channels / EPG Numbers from 30th July 2018
527 – BT Sport 1 HD
528 – BT Sport 2 HD
529 – BT Sport 3 HD
530- BT Sport ESPN HD
531 – BT Sport UHD
532 – BT Sport 1
533 – BT Sport 2
534 – BT Sport 3
548 – BT Sport ESPN
Obviously subscribers will also need to be using the operator’s latest Virgin TV V6 set-top-box and a compatible 4K UHD television to benefit.
David Bouchier, VM Chief Digital Entertainment Officer, said:
“Virgin TV is all about offering the best sporting action in one place. We’re now taking the experience one step further. We’re bringing our customers even closer to the action by showing top sporting events in the very best 4K Ultra HD picture quality. It’s the next best thing to actually being in the stadium – so the grass is quite literally getting greener for Virgin TV customers.”
Tony Singh, BT’s Content and Business Development Director, said:
“We are delighted to be building on our successful partnership with Virgin Media, extending our carriage deal and adding great new features like UHD. BT Sport was the first broadcaster in Europe to launch a live UHD sport channel and we are thrilled that Virgin customers will now be able to enjoy our best coverage of our best events.”
New and existing Virgin TV customers taking Player or Mix bundles will be able to add all BT Sport channels, including 4K UHD, to their package for £18 per month. The HD versions of all BT Sport channels will also continue to be available alongside access to BT Sport on the move through the Virgin TV Go mobile app.
Is it only one BT Sport channel which is in UHD or should the statement from them of had UHD next to channels 531-548?
Only one BT Sport UHD channel currently which carries the primary BT Sport programme content.
Oh right thanks for that info and clearing that up. I thought wrongly BT (and from this story now Virgin) had all of the BT sports channels available in UHD.
So they end up with an EPG slot that carries nothing for 98% of the time …
Not sure I get your point, Ray. Might inconvenience some electrons but it’s not a big resource consumer?
Why is it that I feel like “no price increase” will end up meaning “cross subsidised by all customers including broadband only customers”, as Sky and BT have done before to fund crazy sports costs?
I can’t see the reason for including this at no extra cost, I can’t see that they will gain enough new customers to make it profitable. I’d rather they expanded their areas so that more of us could get it – that would bring in more customers with or without 4K sport.