Digital decisions

Entertainment here includes the main Freeview channels plus a horde of movie, factual, sci-fi, music and comedy stations. Click here for a full list. Standard installation is £30 and there’s a 12-month contract.
Until recently Virgin included Sky’s basic channels, including the popular Sky 1 and Sky News, but a disagreement between the companies has caused these to be removed.

Premium channels such as Sky Movies and Sky Sports can still be added though, and others switched around at any time. Virgin bills can be paid by direct debit or via a monthly bill.

Get interactive
As well as oodles of channels, digital TV brings a range of interactive services. Pressing the red or text button on the remote can give you multi-screen news reports, interactive games and holiday offers, plus online shopping and gambling. Sometimes there’s even the option to switch between matches at sports events or vote in game shows.

The companies also provide a full seven- or 14-day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) on screen and varying degrees of video on demand. If you opt for a Top Up TV Freeview recorder or a Sky+ box, for example, both will automatically download a selection of the best TV overnight, ready for you to watch instantly the next day.

Meanwhile, BT’s Vision Freeview+ broadband service and Virgin give instant access to movies, TV programmes and music videos at the touch of a button. Now that’s entertainment.