The short answer? It depends on which package you pick. Virgin Media’s TV channel lineup ranges from 150+ on the entry-level Flex TV plan to roughly 238 on the top-tier Max Volt bundle. Every package comes bundled with broadband (you can’t buy Virgin TV on its own), and all of them include the major UK free-to-air channels. No satellite dish needed, no rooftop aerial either. It’s all delivered through Virgin’s cable network. Below, we break down every package tier, the channels you’ll actually get, what’s notably missing , and the practical bits like TV licences and coverage. You can also compare Virgin Media TV and broadband deals to see what’s currently available.
Virgin Media TV Packages at a Glance
Virgin doesn’t let you pick channels individually. Instead, you choose a pre-set bundle, and each step up unlocks more channels, premium content, or streaming perks. Here’s how the tiers stack up:
| Package Name | Approx. Channel Count | Key Inclusions | Netflix Included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flex TV (Broadband & Flex) | 150+ | Free-to-air, basic entertainment | No |
| Bigger Combo | ~190 | More entertainment and lifestyle channels | No |
| Bigger Combo + Movies | ~208 | Adds Sky Cinema HD | No |
| Bigger Combo + Sports | ~200 | Adds Sky Sports + TNT Sports | No |
| Biggest Combo | ~218 | Sky Sports + Sky Cinema + Netflix | Yes |
| Mega Volt / Max Volt | ~238 | Everything above + 1Gbps broadband + O2 SIM | Yes |
A quick reality check on those numbers: Virgin’s own marketing describes its bundles as offering “200+ essential and free-to-air channels”. Those headline figures include both SD and HD versions of the same channel, plus +1 time-shifted variants. So the count of unique channel names is always lower than the figure on the box.
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Flex TV (Broadband & Flex), 150+ Channels
This is Virgin’s entry point. You get all the UK free-to-air channels: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 4, E4, More4, Channel 5, and their variants. On top of that, you’ll find popular entertainment and lifestyle channels like Sky Witness, Comedy Central, ITVBe, History Channel, Dave, and Yesterday. On-demand apps including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, and My5 are accessible through the Virgin TV 360 box. No Netflix, no premium sports, no movie channels at this level.
Bigger Combo, Approximately 190 Channels
Step up to the Bigger Combo and you add roughly 40 channels to the Flex TV lineup. The extras are mostly entertainment, factual, and lifestyle channels, giving you noticeably more to browse in the evenings. Still no Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, or Netflix though. Think of this as the solid all-rounder for households who want variety without paying for premium sport or films.
Bigger Combo + Movies, Approximately 208 Channels
This is where film fans should pay attention. You get the full suite of Sky Cinema HD channels on top of the Bigger Combo base: Sky Cinema Premiere, Sky Cinema Action, Sky Cinema Drama, Sky Cinema Comedy, Sky Cinema Sci-Fi/Horror, Sky Cinema Family, and more. Film4 and Movies4Men (included on lower tiers too) round things out. Sky Sports and Netflix are still not included here.
Bigger Combo + Sports, Approximately 200 Channels
The sports upgrade. This adds the full Sky Sports HD lineup: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Golf, and Sky Sports Boxing. You also get TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), which covers the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Premier League football, NBA, UFC, and more. If live Premier League football is non-negotiable, this is the minimum package you need. Sky Cinema is not included at this tier.
Biggest Combo, Approximately 218 Channels
This is Virgin’s proper premium package. You get Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, and Netflix bundled in at no extra charge. It’s the first tier where Netflix is genuinely included. For households that want entertainment, sport, movies, and streaming under one roof, this is the sweet spot. It doesn’t include the ultrafast 1Gbps broadband or the O2 SIM though (that’s Volt territory).
Mega Volt and Max Volt, Approximately 238 Channels
Virgin’s flagship. The Max Volt bundle takes the full Biggest Combo channel lineup and adds ultrafast broadband up to 1Gbps plus an unlimited O2 mobile SIM at no extra cost. It’s the biggest price commitment on the list, but it’s also the most complete package Virgin sells. If you want absolutely everything under one bill, this is it.
Virgin Media TV Channels by Category
The tier structure tells you how many channels you get. But what types of content are we actually talking about? Not every category is available on every package, so this should help you figure out whether your favourite genres are covered.
Free-to-Air and Entertainment Channels
Every Virgin TV package includes the full set of UK free-to-air channels: BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and all their sister channels (E4, More4, 5Star, Film4, and so on), plus HD equivalents where available. From Flex TV upwards, you also get entertainment channels like Sky Witness, Comedy Central, Dave, ITVBe, W, Yesterday, Really, and Pick TV. These are the channels most households watch daily.
Sky Atlantic Is Now Available on Virgin Media
This is the big one. For years, Sky Atlantic was the “missing piece,” exclusive to Sky’s platforms and NOW. That changed on April 1, 2026. Sky Atlantic, the UK home of HBO and Warner Bros. prestige drama like House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, is now officially part of the Virgin Media lineup. This effectively removes what was once Virgin’s biggest competitive disadvantage. You no longer need to juggle a separate NOW subscription or switch to Sky broadband just to keep up with the latest blockbuster series; it’s all right there on your Virgin box.
Movie Channels
Film4 and Movies4Men come with every package, even Flex TV. The full Sky Cinema HD suite (Premiere, Action, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi/Horror, Family, Animation, Disney, Select) is available from Bigger Combo + Movies upwards. Netflix supplements the film offering on packages where it’s included, though it’s an app rather than a linear channel.
Sports Channels
Sky Sports channels (Main Event, Premier League, Football, F1, Cricket, Golf, Tennis, Arena, News, Mix) are included from Bigger Combo + Sports upwards. TNT Sports covers the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, NBA, UFC, and cycling. If watching live Premier League football is the priority, Bigger Combo + Sports is your minimum. Some marquee boxing and international rugby events may require separate pay-per-view access.
Children’s Channels
Mid-tier packages and above include CBBC, CBeebies, CITV, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Nicktoons, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Pop. On-demand kids’ content through BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4 on the TV 360 box extends things further.
Factual, Lifestyle, and Documentary Channels
From mid-tier bundles you’ll find National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, Sky History, Quest, Crime + Investigation, and Good Food. The exact roster can vary slightly by package, so verify your chosen bundle’s full list on virginmedia.com before committing.
Streaming Apps on Virgin TV
The Virgin TV 360 box isn’t just a traditional set-top box. It integrates streaming apps alongside live channels: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5, Netflix (on qualifying packages), Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, and BritBox. Netflix is included free on Biggest Combo and the Volt bundles. Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+ all need separate subscriptions. It’s essentially a smart TV and a traditional TV guide rolled into one.
Important Things to Know Before Signing Up
A few practical and legal points catch people out regularly. Read these before you commit.
You Still Need a TV Licence
Cable TV doesn’t exempt you. UK law requires any household watching or recording live television to hold a valid TV licence, regardless of the platform. As of April 2026, the annual colour TV licence fee is £180.00 (verify the current rate at tvlicensing.co.uk). This is a separate cost, not included in Virgin’s bundle price.
No Satellite Dish or Rooftop Aerial Required
Unlike Sky (satellite dish) or Freeview (rooftop aerial), Virgin TV arrives via cable. A Virgin engineer installs a cable point, and your TV 360 box connects through it. This makes Virgin a genuinely practical option for listed buildings, flats with landlord restrictions, or homes with poor sightlines for a dish.
Virgin Media TV Is Only Available in Certain Areas
Here’s the catch many people hit. Virgin’s cable network doesn’t cover everywhere. It’s concentrated in major towns and cities across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but rural areas and many smaller towns are out of luck. Before you spend time researching packages, check whether Virgin Media is available in your area first.
TV Is Always Sold as Part of a Broadband Bundle
You can’t buy Virgin TV as a standalone product. Every TV package comes bundled with fibre broadband, so your monthly bill covers both. The Max Volt bundle includes speeds up to 1Gbps, making it one of the fastest home broadband products in the UK. Lower tiers range from roughly 100Mbps to 500Mbps depending on the deal. If you only want TV without broadband, alternatives like Sky Glass or a Freeview Play smart TV might suit you better. You can also browse broadband deals separately on Switchity.
What Virgin Media TV Does NOT Include
Knowing what’s missing is just as important as knowing what’s there. A couple of gaps regularly surprise people.
Netflix Is Not Included on Every Package
This trips people up constantly. Netflix is only included free on the Biggest Combo, Mega Volt, and Max Volt bundles. On every other tier, you’ll need your own Netflix subscription if you want to access it through the TV 360 box. Don’t assume it comes as standard.
Common Misconceptions About Virgin Media TV
Several myths circulate about what Virgin Media TV does and doesn’t include. Here are the ones we hear most often.
“I don’t need a TV licence on cable.” Wrong. A TV licence is legally required for watching or recording any live TV in the UK, whether it’s delivered by cable, satellite, or aerial. This applies to every Virgin Media TV customer.
“Virgin Media TV includes all Sky channels.” This is now a reality. Previously, the catch was always that Sky Atlantic remained out of reach. However, with this new partnership, Virgin finally carries the full suite of Sky-branded entertainment. From Sky Witness and Sky Sports to the crown jewel, Sky Atlantic, the major HBO hits that were once “Sky only” are now fully accessible to Virgin customers with the right package and hardware.
“Netflix is free on Virgin Media.” Only partially true. Netflix is included on Biggest Combo and the Volt bundles, but it’s not included on Flex TV, Bigger Combo, or the Movies/Sports add-on tiers.
“The channel count represents unique channels.” Not exactly. Those headline numbers (150+, 190, 218) include SD and HD versions of the same channel, plus +1 time-shifted variants. The number of unique channel names is always lower.
“Virgin Media TV requires a satellite dish.” Nope. It’s a cable service. No dish, no aerial. A Virgin engineer installs a cable connection, and you’re good to go.
Which Virgin Media TV Package Is Right for You?
Here’s a quick way to think about it:
- Casual viewers who mainly watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5: Flex TV (150+ channels) does the job and costs the least.
- Entertainment enthusiasts who want broader lifestyle and factual content: Bigger Combo (~190 channels) adds meaningful depth.
- Film fans: Bigger Combo + Movies (~208 channels) gives you the full Sky Cinema suite.
- Sports fans (especially football): Bigger Combo + Sports (~200 channels) or Biggest Combo (~218 channels) for sport and movies together.
- Households who want everything (sport, movies, Netflix, fast broadband): Biggest Combo or Max Volt, with Max Volt adding 1Gbps broadband and an unlimited O2 SIM.
“Virgin Media TV is one of the most comprehensive cable TV packages in the UK, but the channel lineup varies significantly depending on which bundle you choose. At Switchity, we always encourage people to start by checking what channels matter most to them before comparing packages side by side. Getting the right package from day one avoids bill shock and contract regret.”
Claudia Constantin — The Switchity Team
Ready to find the right deal? Compare Virgin Media TV and broadband deals on Switchity and see what’s currently available at your postcode.
Compare Virgin Media TV and Broadband Deals
You’ve got the full picture of what each Virgin Media TV package offers and, just as importantly, what it doesn’t. The next step is straightforward.
Compare Virgin Media TV and broadband deals on Switchity to see current offers and check whether they’re available at your postcode.
If you’re thinking about switching broadband provider, read up on your rights when switching broadband so you know exactly where you stand.
Not sure Virgin Media is right for you? That’s fine too. You can compare broadband providers across Sky, BT, TalkTalk, and dozens of others to find the best fit for your home.