SOME Virgin Media customers have lost access to an on-demand and catch-up service for four popular channels.
Fortunately, those affected can claim an upgrade at no extra cost.
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Set-top boxes impacted have already lost access to BBC iPlayer just a couple of months ago.
Now they can no longer access on-demand and catch-up from U’s free channels, which includes U&Dave, U&Drama, U&Yesterday and U&W.
On-demand and catch-up for the four channels have moved to U’s own app.
But you won’t find the U app on Virgin Media’s TiVo boxes.
Read more about Virgin Media
Only a small portion are expected to be affected due to the TV box’s age – V6 and Virgin TV 360 boxes have access to the U app.
Virgin Media previously warned customers about the disappearance of BBC iPlayer from TiVo earlier this year.
Virgin Media has been trying to move people along to newer kit for sometime now.
But loss of support for BBC iPlayer to catch up on favourites like EastEnders and now U might push more people to finally upgrade.
“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,” Virgin Media told The Sun previously.
Virgin TV 360, which launched in 2020, is the company’s most recent cable TV device with access to more entertainment apps and personalisation.
The first TiVo-powered box hit the scene ten years earlier in 2010.
U’s app only recently landed on Sky Q boxes, months after launching on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
WHY DOES TECH STOP WORKING?
By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
It’s annoying when tech and gadgets are discontinued, rendering some features useless.
Fortunately, companies have got better at lengthening how long they support kit.
It tends to only happen after quite a few years have passed and the user numbers have dropped quite low.
The truth of the matter is, firms have to keep updating and servicing this older tech which costs them money.
When there’s only a small number of people left using them older gadgets, it’s harder to justify the cost.
Moreover, new features on things like apps may not work on dated kit.
So ultimately, in the end support is dropped for these gadgets so all their energy, money and time can be put into the newer ones.
Image credit: Getty / The Sun
