BBC iPlayer will STOP working for thousands of Brits tomorrow – here's how to check if you're affected
But from tomorrow, BBC iPlayer will stop working for thousands of Britons.
Starting on Wednesday 23 July, the streaming service will no longer be supported on Virgin Media 's older TV boxes.
That means anyone still using the TiVo box will not be able to access BBC iPlayer.
Customers affected by the changeover will be eligible for an upgrade to the new TV 360 box at no extra cost.
If you don't use BBC services, you don't necessarily have to upgrade, but it's likely that the TiVo box will lose access to more services in the future.
The media giant says that it has written directly to customers who have used a TiVo box to access iPlayer in the last six months.
However, due to the box's age, Virgin Media says the changeover will only affect a small number of users.
Any Virgin Media customers still using the TiVo box (pictured) will lose access to BBC iPlayer starting from tomorrow. Here's what you can do if you are affected
The TiVo is the only Virgin Media service which will be affected by this change, and the V6 and Virgin TV 360 box will continue to offer access to iPlayer as normal.
Virgin Media first introduced the TiVo box over a decade ago in 2010, offering the ability to record content, watch on-demand services, and pause live television.
But the once-popular device has long since been surpassed by more recent offerings.
Virgin Media hasn't confirmed exactly why BBC iPlayer will no longer be available, but it is likely that the older hardware can't support upgrades to BBC's platform.
Over the last few years, Virgin Media has also been taking a number of steps to upgrade its hardware offering.
Most recently, that included the release of the compact Stream box - Virgin Media's answer to the popular Amazon Fire Stick.
These small TV streaming boxes include subscriptions to services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Paramount+, as well as regular TV services.
Unfortunately for some users, that shift means support is slowly being pulled from older devices.
The upside is that all affected customers will get a free TV 360 box, which was released in 2020.
This offers a significant upgrade from the TiVo box, including a more modern interface, better performance, and support for BBC iPlayer and other streaming apps.
To get your free upgrade, any affected customer simply needs to contact Virgin Media via the contact details listed on the email warning them of the changes.
Virgin Media has confirmed that there is no expiry date for this offer.
A Virgin Media spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We have written directly to the small proportion of customers with a TiVo box, who have used BBC iPlayer within the past six months, to inform them that their box will not support iPlayer from 23 July.
'As we have previously communicated directly to relevant customers, anyone with a TiVo box is able to upgrade to a new Virgin TV 360 box at no extra cost.'
This comes as the Virgin Media O2 group becomes the most recent mobile provider to shut down its 3G services.
The switch off started in Durham on April 2 earlier this year and will continue across the UK throughout the year.
This comes as Virgin Media O2 becomes the latest company to shut off its 3G connection in the UK. The next place to lose connection will be Torquay on August 4
Norwich, Telford, and Guildford all lost 3G connection last week on July 16.
The next place to lose 3G connection will be Torquay on August 4.
The group says this changeover allows them to offer a faster and more reliable 4G and 5G service instead.
This will also affect customers using Giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile, which use Virgin Media O2's network.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Sorry Beats, these JBL headphones are my next buy – down from £120 to £59 on Amazon
THESE noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute steal right now. The JBL Tune 770s are down to just £58.97 from £119.99 on Amazon, and shoppers are loving them. JBL Tune 770 Noise-Cancelling Headphones, £129.99 £58.97 BUY FROM AMAZON If there's one thing I've learned after years of reviewing audio gear, it's that a big brand name doesn't always mean better sound or better value. Beats might get all the attention, but JBL is the one quietly delivering serious sound at prices that make a lot more sense. Just look at the JBL Tune 770NC headphones, a steal on Amazon right now, slashed from £119.99 to just £58.97. You're getting wireless, over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones from a trusted name for under £60. Meanwhile, if you want noise-cancelling from Beats, you're looking at the Studio Pro, which, even on sale, comes in at £239. No doubt they're a solid pair, but for that kind of money, my next buy will be the JBLs instead. I've done my fair share of audio reviews; enough to trust my ears, and spot where you're getting more for your money. I've had hands-on time with both Beats and JBL, and while Beats has the style points, JBL edges ahead on what it offers for its price point. Take the Solo 4s, for example. I tested them in my Beats Solo 4 review; solid sound, no complaints there, but they don't have noise cancelling. For that, you've got to jump up to the Studio Pros, and again, that's a big price leap. So when I spotted the Tune 770s for under £60, I knew I'd found a hidden gem. They do offer noise cancelling, have a massive 70-hour battery life (compared to 40 on Beats), punching well above their price tag. And JBL knows its audio. I saw just how impressive their bass and clarity can be when I tested their gear in my JBL Flip 7 review. Yes, headphones and speakers are different beasts, but that same attention to detail will be baked into the Tune 770s. One shopper praised the noise-cancelling, saying "highly effective and something I now realise I had been missing out on for quite some time." While another said, "It shocked me a little at first at how quiet everything was. "I've only been using them for 4 hours & the sound quality has blown my mind," they continued. best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- The Guardian
Thousands of EE and BT customers across UK hit by mobile network outage
Thousands of EE and BT customers have reported problems making or receiving calls, as a result of a widespread mobile network outage. Reports of problems with EE, as well as its parent company BT, were first logged by users at approximately 11.15am on Thursday morning on the website Downdetector, which monitors internet outages. The reports of outages peaked at about 2.15pm, when more than 2,600 EE customers reported being unable to access the mobile network. The outage affected customers across the UK, from Glasgow to the south coast of England, according to a map of reports on Downdetector, with people in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds reporting the most problems. Meanwhile, EE and BT customers posted on social media that they were unable to make or receive calls on mobiles and landlines, and could not get through to EE's customer service number. A BT spokesperson said: 'We're currently addressing an issue impacting our services. We apologise for any inconvenience caused; we're working urgently to fix this issue and will provide a further update as soon as possible.' The Guardian understands that voice services are affected, but EE customers are able to call 999 as normal if required. Hundreds of users reported problems with other mobile networks. However Vodafone, which also owns the network Three, said there were not any problems with its networks. There were spikes of reports of outages at Vodafone and Three on Downdetector. However users may have reported problems if they were unable to contact EE customers. EE, which was bought by BT in 2016, has about 25 million customers in the UK. The entire BT Group has over 30 million UK customers and reported total revenue of £20.4bn in the year to March 2025.
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I dreaded my morning alarm - until I tried this stylish clock that actually helps me sleep
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more As someone who struggles to fall asleep — and stay asleep — alarm clocks have been the bane of my existence. I automatically anticipate them ringing in the morning and can never actually stay asleep till I hear them go off. So that means I'm up three hours earlier than I need to be, constantly checking the time to make sure I can get to the clock before its blaring noise wakes me up. Sounds odd, I know — I've even tried setting alarms on my phone to my favorite songs and still always wake up in a startle, disoriented, cranky, and in general, annoyed at the loud noise. This is why I've basically sworn off alarm clocks. Until recently, one changed my mind. Loftie is a small company that primarily designs sleep products, and there's one product that immediately put the brand on my radar — the Loftie Clock. Loftie Clock Wake up gently with this clock that uses a two phase alarm. It has a sleek, minimalistic design and is available in six colors. Each clock also comes with natural sounds, multiple alarm tones, and a gentle in-built light. Shop now while stocks last. Shop I had the pleasure of using this gadget on my last getaway, and it truly was a gamechanger. Available in six colors (White, Black, Red Shell, Coffee, Rust, and Butter), this wellness upgrade truly improved my sleep. After using the Loftie app to quickly set up this alarm clock, I was able to choose from 100+ different sleep sounds to wind down and relax. My favorites were Morning Rain and Crickets, which made me feel like I was out in nature enjoying a sound night's sleep. Loftie also offers book readings, podcasts and other wellness content to help you achieve deep slumber. Like I said, my biggest qualm with alarm clocks is that they can be quite jarring — not the Loftie clock though. While you can modify brightness and volume settings, you can also choose from peaceful sounds to actually wake you up. There are multiple gentle tones to help you wake easily. The set up was quick and easy and I had my clock ready to go within minutes The Loftie Clock uses a two-tone wake up. Essentially, the first tone is gentle, meant to slowly wake you up; the second one is a little more repetitive and distinct, designed to get you out of bed. I found the two-phase alarm to work wonders for me, as I wasn't dreading the wake-up tone anymore — I was actually looking forward to it. It also helped having two alarms, as it helped me gently rise instead of shaking me awake like a regular alarm. You can, of course, schedule alarms for the different days of the week and even pick wind-down settings through the app. If you hate using apps to control your device, the tactile buttons on top of your new alarm clock can be used to play sounds or program this pick. Plus, you can set custom alarms throughout the day as reminders (to walk your dog, go to the dentist, or whatever else you have planned that day). This alarm clock blends into your furniture with ease, without looking out of place And, while most other alarm clocks on the market force you to buy a subscription to access the sound library, Loftie's alarm clock comes preloaded with default sounds and calming music — at no additional cost. You can choose to get Loftie Rest, which will give you access to the full music library plus new monthly tracks and sounds, but it isn't necessary. The Loftie app helps set alarms and bedtime routines, including silencing your apps for a calmer night I personally love the gentle glow this clock provides — which you can program to turn on with your alarm if you want. I use mine as a night light, as it's just bright enough to bathe my room in a gentle glow without hurting my eyes. You can also set your clock to "Red Mode" which bathes your clock in a gentle red hue. According to research, red light exposure helps improve REM sleep, and boosts your body's production of melatonin. I also love that this portable, sleep alarm clock sits well on my nightstand, without taking up too much space or overwhelming me with its design. It's small, and genuinely blends in well thanks to its small footprint. If you're like me and struggle to wake up with regular alarm clocks, or always wake up on the 'wrong side of the bed,' Loftie can help remedy that. Customize your alarm to your liking, and wake up gently — no more loud jarring sounds required.
