Virgin Media UHD 4K Channel

Sgt Pepper

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Virgin Media is launching the UK’s first dedicated 4K ultra high definition (UHD) entertainment channel, which will start broadcasting from next week.

The Virgin TV Ultra HD channel will air a line-up of must-see shows in incredible picture quality from Monday 17 September.

The channel will be exclusively available for Virgin TV Full House and VIP customers with a V6 set-top box. These customers can tune into a collection of critically acclaimed dramas, beautifully shot documentaries and get up close to some of the biggest names in music with a selection of hot-ticket concerts; all in dazzling UHD detail and at no extra cost.

The schedule is packed with blockbuster entertainment series such as ‘Start Up’ with Martin Freeman, ‘Masters of Sex’ starring Michael Sheen and political powerhouse ‘House of Cards’ as well as wildlife and nature documentaries set in Zambia and Vietnam, plus gigs from the Rolling Stones, Sting and Imagine Dragons.

A number of these programmes will be broadcast for the first time on UK television, such as ‘Start Up’ as well as ‘Shut Eye’ with Isabella Rosselini and ‘The Art of More’ with Dennis Quaid.

To celebrate the launch of Virgin TV Ultra HD, comedian, author and ‘Love Island’ narrator, Iain Stirling will become the ‘voice’ of the channel for its opening night next Monday.

David Bouchier, Virgin Media’s Chief Digital Entertainment Officer, said:

“With the launch of Virgin TV Ultra HD we’re giving our customers the ultimate entertainment viewing experience with must-see shows in incredible, crystal-clear picture quality.

“From epic dramas and stunning documentaries to the front row feeling of a rock concert, our customers will get closer to the action than ever before – with four times the picture quality of HD. It really is the next best thing to being there.

“We’ve shown some of this year’s biggest sporting events in Ultra HD, such as the Champions League and Wimbledon finals and we’re now giving entertainment the Ultra HD treatment. It’s all part of our ongoing investment to give our customers the best way to watch the best TV.”

Iain Stirling said:

“I can’t wait to get behind the mic for the launch of the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel and introduce some brilliant shows in awesome picture quality.

“I like the idea of an ultra-high definition channel being championed by a man more known for what he sounds like than looks like!”

Dazzling detail in glorious ultra HD

Virgin TV Ultra HD will air on channel 999 and broadcast at prime-time until the early hours. The channel will begin broadcasting from 8.20pm on the launch night.

Virgin Media customers with 4K televisions and a V6 set-top box can take their TV viewing to the next level when watching UHD programming as they will experience life-like picture quality, unbelievably crisp colours and stunning detail.

The V6 is Virgin Media’s fastest, smartest and smallest set-top box and offers lightning fast access to YouTube and Netflix in 4K. The V6 is free to new customers taking one of Virgin Media’s bundles (TV, broadband and telephone). Nearly two million Virgin TV customers have a V6 box in the UK.

Full House and VIP customers without a 4K set can still watch Virgin TV Ultra HD as the picture will automatically adjust to HD quality.

The new channel continues Virgin Media’s continued investment in 4K UHD programming, following the launch of BT Sport 4K UHD on Virgin TV in August.

Virgin Media has also broadcast an array of sporting events in 4K UHD including the Champions League Final, the 2018 French Open, Wimbledon Championships, as well as a selection of matches from this year’s World Cup.

Virgin TV Ultra HD programme highlights:

- ‘Start Up’ airs on Mondays at 10pm and stars Martin Freeman. The show explores what happens when a brilliant yet controversial tech idea gets funded with dirty money, from three entrepreneurs you would never find in Silicon Valley. Distributed by Sony pictures television.

- ‘Shut Eye’ airs on Tuesdays at 10pm and is a UK network premiere. It’s a darkly-comic look at the activities of storefront psychics and the underground criminal syndicate that controls them. The series stars Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), KaDee Strickland (The Sixth Sense), Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet). Distributed by Sony pictures television.

- From the producers of ‘Blue Planet’ and ‘Planet Earth II’, Love Nature’s ‘The Big Dry’ will air Monday to Wednesday at 8pm during launch week. Set in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, this visually stunning documentary series follows the challenges the valley’s wildlife must overcome during the long dry season as they await the life-giving rains.

- ‘The Art of More’ airs on Thursdays at 10pm and is a UK network premiere. Graham Conner (Christian Cooke), a blue-collar former soldier turned auction house executive, leads a dangerous double life as he uses his secret past to beat the auction world elite at their own game. Distributed by Sony pictures television.

- ‘Masters of Sex’ airs on Fridays at 10pm featuring Michael Sheen as renowned obstetrician Dr. William Masters who hires sexually liberated, single working mother Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) as his assistant in carrying out pioneering, intimate research into human sexuality. Distributed by Sony pictures television.

https://www.virginmedia.com/corporat...t-channel.html

 

rabski

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Let's see what the actual content turns out to be.

We don't have 4K and in view of the (extremely) limited media, we have no intention of 'upgrading' either. All the programme descriptions are exactly what I'd expect: 'the people responsible for some great work', 'the people who have been involved in great work', 'from the producers of great work. Just, it isn't the great work, is it?

I've never been an 'early adopter' and there is absolutely zero here to tempt me.

Plus, as a customer, their customer service at the moment is utterly dire. Great product, crap service. Or the alternatives: reasonable service, crap products.

I'll just stick to upscaling DVDs and simply enjoy it. Maybe in a few years' time... Maybe...

 

wizmax

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Since the start of the new football season I have been watching  Premiership matches on the BT Sport 4KUHD channel via my Virgin Tivo V6 box and 42" LG 4k tele. The quality of the picture is definitely better but not by a major amount and not by as much as the step up from standard definition to HD.  I will be interested to see if there is a difference in sound quality between HD and 4K when watching concerts through my Denon AV amp, only in 2 channel, and a pair of Spendor BC1s.

 

wizmax

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On 17/09/2018 at 20:01, Sgt Pepper said:

The Rolling Stones, Havana Moon on Virgin 4K later tonight:


I recorded the Stones in 4K on my Tivo box on Monday and got round to watching it yesterday afternoon.

2 hours flew by, I was very impressed with both the picture and sound quality and a big bonus was that there were no adverts. 

I look forward to more such offerings but won't hold my breath as there are only 3 or 4 programmes each night lasting  4 to 5 hours, I remember my grandfather telling me about the launch of the BBC in the thirties and that was apparently the same.

 

listenup

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I presume that the 4K UHD channel will become a reason for Virgin to hike prices any day soon, using this extra feature to pacify some moaning customers.

So far I have not watched any progs there because I have not a clue what is on - until it has happened.

Yes, I do use Virgin and love the sport in HD. At the weekend saw some rugby on BT Sport 4K UHD and it was excellent. Replays of some tackles in such detail makes me wonder why people actually play the game because the potential for serious injury is enormous.

So thumbs up to 4K UHD, but the much vaunted Virgin channel? Who knows whats on?

 

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