Virgin Media beats Sky with free TV upgrade its | Tech News

Broadband and TV provider Virgin Media has announced it is introducing two new TV channels for all its new and current customers to watch at no extra cost thanks to its ongoing push to offer more Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels.

This upgrade adds the Wonder and Red Bull TV channels for customers with Virgin TV 360, Stream and V6 boxes. What’s more, these two channels are not available on Sky, so Virgin Media is getting one up on its longstanding telly rival.

Virgin Media said the new additions build on the 32 existing FAST channels already available for Virgin TV customers, which can be offered at no additional cost because they show advertisements throughout programming, akin to the traditional TV broadcast model used by ITV and Channel 4.

The channels will appear automatically in customers’ Electronic Programme Guide.

Wonder is a channel Virgin says shows “groundbreaking engineering, innovative technology, and scientific exploration” programmes, while the Red Bull TV channel offers up motorsport, biking, snowboarding and other sports.

“We’re always looking to offer Virgin TV customers the best entertainment, so we’ve added two more action packed streaming channels for them to tune in to and enjoy,” said David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2.

“With Wonder and Red Bull TV, we’ve got back-to-back inspirational and awe-inspiring stories from around the globe providing customers with even more round-the-clock viewing to enjoy at no extra cost.”

If you’re a fan of interesting science and technology or Red Bull’s branded sporting teams, this is great news, as these channels should provide a raft of new free content for you to watch whenever you like.

Unlike some channels, these two are set to run 24 hours a day, so customers will be able to tune in at any time of the day or night, and join other popular FAST channels offered to Virgin Media customers such as Tipping Point and Deal or No Deal.

As well as now appearing in the programme guide for all three supported Virgin TV boxes, you can find Wonder and Red Bull TV via voice control if your TV supports it, which should make them easy enough to track down today.

The Red Bull TV app is currently showing mountain biking from New Zealand, the world’s largest urban downhill biking tournament from Chile, tournaments of the the increasingly popular padel sport from Spain, surfing from Micronesia and the similar Big Wave Challenge from Portugal, proving Red Bull is about more than just its Formula 1 team.

You can also catch up on content from the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, the FIA World Rally Championship and the Red Bull King of the Air kiteboarding contest.