Source: Stream from Virgin Media initial review: Contract-free internet TV in one tiny box
(Pocket-lint) – Virgin Media O2 has pushed Sky to launch its internet TV platform first.
Virgin Media’s Stream follows Sky’s similar Stream Puck in terms of announcement, but will be available as a standalone product from 27 April 2022. Sky’s alternative is coming “later this year”.
It effectively offers Virgin TV and streaming platforms side-by-side, all accessible through one tiny box and no long-term contract. It’s exclusive to Virgin Media broadband subscribers, but doesn’t cost the earth. Is it still good?
We received a demo of the device and service at the launch event to give you our initial thoughts.
design
The Stream device is a small set-top box – much smaller than the remote that comes with it.
Design is pretty much par for the course with things like this – think classic Roku or Amazon Fire TV boxes – except there’s stuff on top that looks like a bit of carpet. It’s not real and at least mitigates the plasticky nature of this type of device.
The remote is more like the kind you get with Virgin TV’s cable service, with the standard button layout and shape. Perhaps the most interesting thing is the voice control button, as we’re sure it’ll see a lot of use.
Easy to set up, Stream connects wirelessly to your network and TV via HDMI 2.0. You can also connect it via Ethernet with wired network passthrough available via the micro USB connector that is also used for power. However, the demo model we saw was connected via WiFi, with only the power and HDMI cords sticking out of the back, and ran smoothly and quickly in operation (even from a room in a London hotel).
specifications
- Connections: 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x Micro USB
- WiFi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.2
- Wired internet connection available via micro USB
- HDR10, HLG, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos (passthrough)
We don’t know exactly what chipset or RAM it uses, although Virgin Media has confirmed it’s capable of outputting 4K HDR (HDR10 and HLG) and up to 60Hz.
Dolby Digital audio decoding is supported, plus passthrough for Dolby Atmos. That’s most relevant to Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon’s Prime Video services, as well as the BT Sport Ultimate channel.
The service requires a minimum broadband speed of 50Mbps, which is one of the reasons it’s likely reserved for Virgin Media broadband customers only. This allows the brand to ensure that your internet connection is fast enough for it to work properly.
The remote control connects via Bluetooth.
experience
- Services Supported: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, Vimeo, Britbox
- Free Services: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, STV Player
We really need to get Stream into our test labs to get a better idea of how it performs day-to-day, but from our demo so far it’s gratifying to note that the user experience is clean and easy to navigate.
The concept of streaming is that you never have to sign a long-term contract, be it with Virgin Media or other supported streaming services. And you can add and remove them on an ad hoc basis – only pay for access for 30 months.
The user experience is geared towards that too, with a generic homescreen that pushes apps, live TV, on-demand and catch-up content into their own sections without overcomplicating things. For example, if you choose to add Netflix or Disney+, their content will be added to the homescreen in their own tracks. They will not appear on the UI for those who have not added them.
This means that everything that appears on the screen is available immediately. Except for theatrical releases and rentals, you will not be provided with any content that you have not already paid for. And if you want to add a partnering service to your experience, you can do it with the click of a button.
There’s also voice control for searching within the main experience and in apps, as well as opening channels and apps. That makes things even easier.
Virgin Media also offers a cunning 10 per cent credit scheme, giving you a discount each month for each of the services you pay for on the same bill. You can log into your existing Netflix account at Stream, but if you take it through Virgin Media you get a 10 per cent discount on the subscription fee. It’s a very decent incentive and something we’d like to explore further.
In addition, live TV is supported with a full electronic program guide (EPG). It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no tuner in the Stream box, so you won’t be able to watch broadcast shows if your internet connection drops.
Stream from Virgin Media is a long-overdue way to get Virgin TV and partner streaming services in one neat package and without the hassle of cable installation. But perhaps the coolest and most surprising aspect is that you don’t have to sign a long-term contract and you can add entertainment packages and platforms for 30 days on an ongoing basis. This makes it a very attractive option for those who want to simplify their TV viewing and are concerned about how the cost of living might affect them in the future.
Written by Rick Henderson.
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