Changes to Virgin 1 on Freeview

On the 20th of May 2009, there’ll be a couple of changes to Virgin 1’s service on Freeview.

Firstly, Virgin 1 will go 24 hours a day (currently it’s only 12)

And secondly, there’ll be a timeshifted “+1” service – although Virgin 1 + 1 has an odd ring about it (1 and 1 makes 2?). Note that the +1 is expected to be only running for 12 hours a day

The change to a 24 hour service involves Virgin 1 moving to a different Freeview multiplex, so users may need to perform a channel re-scan to get the longer hours from 20th May.

36 comments

  • R Moon

    would like to know what channel number to look for when the change over takes place on free view.

  • Brian Roberts

    Yes please

  • smw

    I rescanned my Freeview box today (20th May) to get 24hr Virgin1 but it did not work. There are no changes and still get the
    “see you at 6pm” message.

  • Robert

    I get the same, See you at 6pm

  • William

    I spoke to Jakki Lewis Senior PR Manager of Virgin 1 today , she confirmed that the switch over would take place at 1 pn today . I agree that their advertising campagn was a little missleading

  • simon boult

    ive re tuned and nothing yet so ill hope ure right and try again in 20 mins

  • simon boult

    having thought about it in the last min, i think there advertising is very good. how many millions of us are online talking about it?????????????????

  • William

    Further to my note previously , if it does not happen , here are some useful numbers to make our concerns known.
    (1) Virgin 1’s Customer Response Line 0870-043-4141

    (2) Virgin 1’s PR Manager Jakki Lewis 0207-299-5440
    jakki.lewis@virginmediatv.co.uk

    (3) Jakki’s Boss , Judy Wells 0207-299-5348
    judy.wells@virginmediatv.co.uk

  • Steve

    Virgin 1 is now 24 hours on Freeview Channel 20, with Virgin 1+1 on Channel 35 from 6pm to 6am.

    You may need to perform a channel rescan to get these channels

  • Andrew

    I tuned my freeview TV and DVD Recorder tonight (May 20th) at 20hrs, and my DVD recorder only found the Virgin1+1 service, but TV found the new Virgin1 24 hour service. But 20 mins later the +1 service had been replaced on the DVD recorder with the Virgin1 24 hour service but no +1 service!

    I’m Confused!

  • krichards

    i retuned my freeview. and nothink hapend i had it on 20 nowe i dont have it at all.

  • Dee

    I re-scaned programme option on freeview and it worked streight away. No problems.

  • Anonymous

    It works now… quit actin’ all silly and whinny

  • Adminis

    It works for my freeview friend fine and my nan’s freeview works with it.

  • john

    i had all the standard freeview channels previously, but now my freeview will only pick up virgin 1… its built in freeview in my samsung telly, i have disconnected it from the wall, retuned or searched channels, im baffled

  • Michael Sullivan

    I have always got all my freeview stations, including Virgin1 but the problem is, after a short time the sound is out of sink with the picture by 3-4 seconds. It doesn’t sound very much but it makes it unwatchable. Is thier any way I can fix it. So far I’ve only noticed it with Virgin. Thank you.

  • wendy

    me and my frend can,t get the 24 hour virgin 20 on at all want such we do can you help

  • Peter

    I have re-scanned my TV 5 times now (got new one for x-mas) and no channel 20 so no virgin 1, can some one help please?

  • steve

    i got it 24 hours for a few month but not anymore, came here looking for info as to why. guess were all in the same boat..

  • FILL

    WHY CAN I NO LONGER RECIEVE ‘VIRGIN 1’ ON MY FREEVIEW between the hours of 03.00am and 09.00 am. I USED TO BE ABLE TO WATCH ‘NINJA WARRIOR’ BUT FOR MONTHS NOW,I JUST RECIEVE A BLACK SCREEN, MY WHARFDALE FREEVIEW/DVD RECORDER UNIT FINDS BOTH VIRGIN CHANNELS EVERYTIME I RESCAN THE CHANNEL LIST AND THE UNIT ALSO CONDUCTS AN AUTOMATIC SCAN FOR SOFTWARE UPDATES EVERY DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 4am, AND DESPITE UNTOLD MANUAL RETUNING ATTEMPTS IT STILL GOES OFF.. CAN ANY ONE HELP PLEASE….

  • bmBetty anning

    leave it cant get virgin until 8 am no matterwhati try i am on freeviewBettyB
    and i always watched take it or leave itat 7 aqm what is wrong

  • bmBetty anning

    your instructions are useless can no longer get virgin
    all y take it or leave it at 7am

    HElp

  • Taf

    Since the digital changeover here in Wales, the EPG says that V1 is 24 hours, but after 7pm the V1 screen tells me to change to V1+1, no other transmissions until the next morning.

    Is this permanent? If so, reflect it in the EPG for the channel please!!!!

  • tony

    I have two Tv with digital on one i do not have any problems obtaining Virgin 1+1 on the other i have rescanned numerous time with out any success. Any one got any other ideas.

  • Selina Jones

    I have re-scanned my tv to get 24hr Virgin 1 but it is not working. Checked to see Freeview coverage and I have the coverage, so can anyone help as to why cant get 24hr – all it says is returns at 9am. Virgin 1+1 tells you to go to their website to get Freeview all day. What do I do?

  • Virgin 1 is no longer 24 hours on Freeview. This changed in October 2009.

    Virgin 1 is currently available on Freeview channel 20 from 9am to midnight

    Virgin 1 + 1 is currently available on Freeview channel 35 from 6pm to 1am

  • siarad

    Hi,
    Virgin 1+1 no longer works here, relay from Swansea
    Retuned & 35 is now missing from list too, EPG blank

  • siarad

    Thanks Pete,
    “Please retune to Channel 35 to receive Virgin 1 after 7 p.m. via our +1 service”
    So the link you quote is partially true as only Yesterday is Freeview.
    Seems Virgin realised it had some good programs & is cashing in on them after 7 p.m., not from me!
    Don’t understand the link with Yesterday as it’s on 12.
    So who’s taking over 35 I wonder.

  • Sorry – I realise I could have been clearer. Space on Freeview is limited and not all channels are 24 hours a day. Virgin 1 +1 only used to broadcast between the hours of 6pm and 1am (7 hours a day).

    Virgin 1+1 has now stopped broadcasting for those 7 hours, meaning that a 7 hour slot was available to another broadcaster.

    The channel Yesterday used to stop broadcasting at 6pm, but has now been able to extend until 1am, by using the time slot left by Virgin 1 + 1.

  • siarad

    Thanks.
    It’s very annoying that Virgin are giving out false information wasting my & presumably lots of other’s time retuning.
    This is akin to Film 4 advertising Film 4+1 which doesn’t exist, I e-mailed them 3 years ago asking how to tune to it & they said it doesn’t exist!
    I’m confused with this digital stuff CH35 is now blank but with a carrier wave, so why can’t it be modulated? A lot of wasted CO2 is being generated throughout the country.

  • Out of interest, where are Virgin still promoting that the +1 service is still on Freeview? Virgin 1 +1 is still availabl eon Sky and Virgin media – but no longer on Freeview.

    As for the carrier wave – you’re referring to the way it used to work, not the new technology used for digital TV. Freeview uses something called multiplexing, where lots of TV channels are squeezed into one digital feed. Virgin 1+1 was on Freeview Multiplex D, along with other channels such as Yesterday, Viva, Film 4 and Russia today. The eight or nine channels that make up Multiplex D all fit into one modulated UHF channel. All that’s happened is that Yesterday carries on longer into the evening, using the space freed by Virgin 1+1. The same amount of bandwidth is being used – it’s just being used for a different channel.

    I appreciated that you’re disappointed that you can’t watch Virgin shows again one hour later now – but for some, the trade-off may be worth it. Rather than watching the same show one hour later, that space is now used to give Freeview an evening history channel – so instead of having two channels showing the same thing, you can now get Virgin 1 and Yesterday in the evenings.

  • siarad

    On a repeater at Neath Abbey from Swansea TX
    That’s not true as I pointed out above, after 7PM I get:
    “Please retune to Channel 35 to receive Virgin 1 after 7 p.m. via our +1 service”
    Therefore no Freeview Virgin is available after 7PM, I call that evenings :-)
    All the evening Virgin programmes I used to watch aren’t available & Yesterday are repeated in the morning.
    I’ve tried recording Chuck on 20 but my recorder has ‘removed the corrupt program after recording’ because it was blank when I tried chasing it as with any paid for service. Funny Virgin give no means of paying, not that I would on my State pension.

  • Pete

    Ahh – You might want to look at the announcement on Virgin’s site. Looks like being in Wales, you’re out of luck.

    “From June 1st Virgin +1 (a timeshift service) will not be available in Freeview homes. Virgin 1+1 will still be available for Virgin Media and Sky customers and Virgin 1 remains at channel 20 in Freeview homes. Unfortunately this does mean that Freeview viewers in Wales will not be able to receive Virgin 1 at all in peak and may need to subscribe to a pay service should they wish to continue to enjoy Virgin 1 in peak. We are really sorry for any inconvenience this causes our viewers. If you have any queries, please call 0870 043 4141.”

    Not ideal! Suggest you give Virgin 1 a call to voice your complaint…

  • siarad

    Thanks.
    So Wales has been singled out for an inferior service of unwanted repeats.

  • Peter Cavender

    If it;s not on FREEVIEW your explanation can be described ” thet;re ruun tr
    hey are usually made of rubber & thet bounce” .Stop adverts of
    programmes after 1900,

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