Virgin Media Stream: First impressions

Virgin Media’s Stream is a pocket-sized all-in-one streaming field that helps dwell channels, subscription streaming providers, free video apps and music apps. Listed below are our first impressions of it.

Introduction

I acquired the chance to see the Virgin Media Stream in motion on the model’s launch occasion in April. Listed below are my preliminary ideas on the versatile TV service.

One of many largest attracts concerning the Stream field is the ten% low cost Virgin Media gives on any streaming providers you select to pay for by way of the corporate. It’s an attention-grabbing concept that successfully saves you cash the longer you subscribe to sure over-the-top (OTT) streaming providers.

Worth and availability

The Stream requires Virgin Media broadband to make use of it. For those who aren’t already a Virgin Media buyer you then’ll want to modify broadband suppliers to get it, which can imply paying roughly, relying in your present broadband bundle. There’s additionally the £35 activation price, so it’s value doing the maths earlier than you turn.

Design 

• Small in measurement
• Few connections
• Comes with customary distant

The Stream is a sq. in form with rounded edges and a gray mesh cloth prime. When it comes to measurement it’s not a lot bigger than the palm of my hand. The rim of the streaming field lights up blue to allow you to its on. 

On the entrance of the field is a the ability change and across the again is an HDMI port to hook the gadget as much as a TV. I’m a fan of the compact design and suppose it’d look nice for those who’re not in search of something too giant or cumbersome to take up house in your TV stand.

The Stream comes with a distant, with somewhat microphone image indicating that the Stream’s interface could be absolutely managed together with your voice. There’s a house button, playback controls, navigation pad and quantity pad for getting into channels. The whole lot you’d anticipate, then. 

Interface 

• Voice management help
• Entry to Virgin Media retailer

One of many key selling-points of the Virgin Media Stream is that it turns any not too long ago constructed TV (extra particularly, any from the final 7 years) right into a voice-activated good TV. This implies you possibly can entry lots of the channels, apps and streaming providers you like in a single place and navigate them together with your voice. 

I used to be given a tour of the interface throughout the demo, which appeared well-organised and simple to navigate. 

Alongside the highest of the display screen is a listing of classes, together with Apps, Stay TV, Catch Up and Field Units & Films, in addition to icons for search and settings. 

The Apps part is headlined with High Picks from a wide range of streaming providers. Scroll down and also you’ll discover all of your subscribed streaming providers, video apps and music apps.

There’s a bit for On Demand content material you could need to proceed watching and a handful of picks from every of the streaming providers and apps you’ve got put in. 

The Stay TV part, as you possibly can in all probability guess, is the place you go to observe dwell ‘linear’ TV broadcasts. There’s additionally a EPG (Digital Programme Information) you possibly can entry with a listing of channels and schedule so you possibly can see what’s on now and later. 

The Catch Up tab has sub-sections like Uncover, Channels and Classes, whereas Field Units & Films is stuffed with films accessible to hire and content material you possibly can choose up on the place you left off. 

General, the interface appears to be effectively laid out and simple to make use of, although I’d need to strive trying to find content material myself to provide my remaining verdict on this.

Apps and channels 

• Helps UK catch-up apps
• A number of apps lacking
• Just a few apps qualify for Stream Credit low cost

With Stream, you possibly can watch channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and extra, and entry apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, YouTube and BBC Sounds. There are additionally numerous catch up providers accessible, together with BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and BritBox, to call a couple of. 

I used to be disenchanted however not overly shocked to see that Apple TV+ and NOW didn’t seem like on board, although I want Spotify would have been there for music followers. I used to be completely happy to see that Disney Plus was not solely accessible, but additionally certified for the “Stream Credit” low cost, as a result of like Apple and Now, the streaming service isn’t discovered on each good TV.

Virgin Media additionally gives reductions on a handful of those apps – so long as you’re keen to subscribe to them by way of your Virgin Media account.

There are some main advantages to this. You’ll solely must hold monitor of 1 invoice each month and it will probably usually prevent cash on qualifying apps. The apps exist on a 30-day rolling contract, which means you possibly can add and drop them with no extra dedication than an everyday subscription, and there’s no underlying price for the Stream field itself past the preliminary activation price.

The ten% low cost, or “Stream Credit”, work by calculating 10% of the quantity you paid on streaming subscriptions the earlier month. You possibly can then apply these credit to the next month’s rolling contract. 

Which means that – so long as you don’t catch your self paying extra for broadband by way of Virgin Media – you must have the ability to save your self chunk of cash every month on any streaming websites you’d be paying for anyway. 

Apps included within the deal embody Netflix, Disney Plus, Sky Sports activities and Cinema packages, BT Sport, Starzplay and extra intensive packages listed in full on Virgin’s web site.