It is the streaming service used by over four million people around the UK.
But from tomorrow, BBC iPlayer will stop working for thousands of Britons.
Starting on Wednesday 23 July, the streaming service will no longer be supported on Virgin Media‘s older TV boxes.
That means anyone still using the TiVo box will not be able to access BBC iPlayer.
Customers affected by the changeover will be eligible for an upgrade to the new TV 360 box at no extra cost.
If you don’t use BBC services, you don’t necessarily have to upgrade, but it’s likely that the TiVo box will lose access to more services in the future.
The media giant says that it has written directly to customers who have used a TiVo box to access iPlayer in the last six months.
However, due to the box’s age, Virgin Media says the changeover will only affect a small number of users.
Any Virgin Media customers still using the TiVo box (pictured) will lose access to BBC iPlayer starting from tomorrow. Here’s what you can do if you are affected
The TiVo is the only Virgin Media service which will be affected by this change, and the V6 and Virgin TV 360 box will continue to offer access to iPlayer as normal.
Virgin Media first introduced the TiVo box over a decade ago in 2010, offering the ability to record content, watch on-demand services, and pause live television.
But the once-popular device has long since been surpassed by more recent offerings.
Virgin Media hasn’t confirmed exactly why BBC iPlayer will no longer be available, but it is likely that the older hardware can’t support upgrades to BBC’s platform.
Over the last few years, Virgin Media has also been taking a number of steps to upgrade its hardware offering.
Most recently, that included the release of the compact Stream box – Virgin Media’s answer to the popular Amazon Fire Stick.
These small TV streaming boxes include subscriptions to services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Paramount+, as well as regular TV services.
Unfortunately for some users, that shift means support is slowly being pulled from older devices.
Starting from tomorrow, BBC iPlayer will not be supported by the TiVo box. All other streaming services will be available as usual, and BBC iPlayer won’t be disappearing from any other devices
Affected customers can get themselves a free upgrade to the Virgin Media TV 360 box (pictured), which offers a significant upgrade from the TiVo box
The upside is that all affected customers will get a free TV 360 box, which was released in 2020.
This offers a significant upgrade from the TiVo box, including a more modern interface, better performance, and support for BBC iPlayer and other streaming apps.
To get your free upgrade, any affected customer simply needs to contact Virgin Media via the contact details listed on the email warning them of the changes.
Virgin Media has confirmed that there is no expiry date for this offer.
A Virgin Media spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We have written directly to the small proportion of customers with a TiVo box, who have used BBC iPlayer within the past six months, to inform them that their box will not support iPlayer from 23 July.
‘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.’
This comes as the Virgin Media O2 group becomes the most recent mobile provider to shut down its 3G services.
The switch off started in Durham on April 2 earlier this year and will continue across the UK throughout the year.
This comes as Virgin Media O2 becomes the latest company to shut off its 3G connection in the UK. The next place to lose connection will be Torquay on August 4
Norwich, Telford, and Guildford all lost 3G connection last week on July 16.
The next place to lose 3G connection will be Torquay on August 4.
The group says this changeover allows them to offer a faster and more reliable 4G and 5G service instead.
This will also affect customers using Giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile, which use Virgin Media O2’s network.
WHAT ARE THE VIDEO STREAMING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO UK CUSTOMERS?
Netflix
Price: £5.99 a month (with ads) OR £12.99/month for Standard OR £18.99/month for Premium
Hit shows:
- Bridgerton
- Squid Game
- Black Mirror
Amazon Prime
Price: £8.99 per month OR £95 per year
Hit shows:
- Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
- The Boys
Apple TV+
Price: £8.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Ted Lasso
- For All Mankind
Disney+
Price: £4.99 a month (with ads) OR £8.99/month for Standard OR £12.99/month for Premium
Hit shows:
- Star Wars
- The Simpsons
NOW TV
Price: From £6.99 a month (6 month) or £9.99 (flexible)
Hit shows:
- Game of Thrones
- Chernobyl
hayu
Price: £4.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Keeping up with the Kardashians
- Made in Chelsea
BritBox (on ITVX)
Price: £5.99 a month OR £59.99 a year
Hit shows:
- Spitting Image
- Midsomer Murders
Prices correct as of March 2025
