Is IPTV or Virgin Media better?
IPTV clearly beats Virgin Media on value: Vivimate offers 55,000+ live channels, 180,000+ VOD titles, and full 4K UHD from $19.99/month with no contract, compared with Virgin's 200-300 channels and an 18-month contract that can run $50-100+/month once broadband and Sky Sports add-ons are included. Virgin Media's convenience of bundling broadband and TV together is real, but pairing budget broadband with Vivimate typically costs around $40/month total, saving households $600 or more a year while adding vastly more content and no cancellation fees.
Verdict: IPTV offers significantly more content at a fraction of Virgin Media's cost.
Virgin Media bundles broadband and TV — which can seem like good value. But the TV package alone costs $30–$50/month extra, and you're locked into an 18-month Sky contract.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Virgin Media | Vivimate |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $50–$100+/month | ✓ From $19.99/month |
| Contract | 18-month minimum | ✓ No contract |
| Channels | 200–300 channels | ✓ 55,000+ channels |
| 4K Content | Limited (V6 box) | ✓ Full 4K UHD |
| Sports Coverage | Sky Sports via add-on | ✓ All sports included |
| VOD Library | Virgin Movies (paid) | ✓ 180,000+ VOD free |
| Installation | Engineer visit required | ✓ No installation needed |
| Device Support | Virgin TV box only | ✓ Any device |
| Cancel Anytime | No — exit fees apply | ✓ Yes — no fees |
| Broadband Bundled | Yes (often required) | Use any broadband |
The Real Cost of Virgin Media TV
Virgin Media bills themselves as affordable — but the full TV package adds up quickly:
Virgin Media (TV + Broadband)
- Broadband (M500)$38/mo
- TV (Big Bundle)$30/mo
- Sky Sports add-on$22/mo
- Total$90/mo
- Per year$1,080/yr
Vivimate + Any Broadband
- Budget broadband (100 Mbps)~$20/mo
- Vivimate$19.99/mo
- Sports, VOD, 4KIncluded
- Total~$40/mo
- Per year~$480/yr
Potential saving: $600+/year by switching from Virgin Media to Vivimate + budget broadband.
Try Before You Cancel Virgin Media
Start your free 24-hour trial before making any changes to your Virgin Media contract.
Stream Everything with Vivimate
55,000+ live channels · NFL · NBA · MLB · 4K UHD · No contract · From $19.99/month