Virgin Media has added three new free channels to its TV guide, offering a mix of Hollywood films and lesser-known titles at no extra cost.
The channels – all from Rakuten – are FAST channels (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television), which means you watch for free but sit through adverts.
They bring Virgin Media’s total count of these free channels to 40, and they’re available for customers with TV 360 or Stream boxes.
Unlike app-based services that require navigating through separate menus, these channels sit alongside traditional linear programming in the EPG, making them as easy to find as BBC One or ITV.
They’re also searchable via voice control, which should make channel-hopping slightly less tedious.
What’s On The New Channels
The three new additions cover familiar Hollywood territory across their respective genres.
Rakuten TV Drama (Channel 462) features films like The Big Short, Gosford Park, and JFK – a solid lineup if you’re in the mood for something relatively serious without diving into a subscription service.
Rakuten TV Comedy (Channel 463) offers lighter fare, including Big Momma’s House, The Internship, and Bedazzled. These aren’t exactly cutting-edge comedies, but they’re the sort of reliable watches that work for background viewing or lazy Sunday afternoons.
Rakuten TV Sci-Fi (Channel 464) rounds out the trio with titles like The Fountain and Predestination, catering to viewers who fancy something a bit more speculative.
As with most FAST channels, you’re getting ad-supported content here. The trade-off for free access is sitting through commercial breaks, much like traditional broadcast television – though whether that’s a worthwhile exchange depends entirely on how much you value these specific films.
And as usual, don’t expect to find any recent blockbusters – most of the content on FAST channels in the UK is typically stuff you’ve never heard of – but there are always a few hidden gems and older hits to find.
How Virgin Media’s TV Service Works
For anyone who needs a refresher – Virgin Media now offers two main TV boxes: the TV 360 and the Stream box, though the Stream is the default box at this point.
The TV 360 is Virgin’s traditional set-top box. It records programmes, offers multi-room functionality with up to three mini boxes around your home, and gives you access to 190 channels. It works over Virgin’s coaxial cable network and can store hours of recorded content.
The Stream box is Virgin’s newer, streaming-focused device. It delivers Freeview channels over your broadband connection and provides access to apps like Netflix and Disney+.
The major limitation? It doesn’t record anything. You can watch live TV and use catch-up services, but there’s no way to build up a library of recorded programmes or fast-forward through adverts on live broadcasts.
Back in July 2025, Virgin made the Stream box the default option for all new TV customers. If you want a TV 360 with recording capabilities, you now need to specifically request it – and in some full fibre areas, it’s not available at all.
The new Rakuten channels are available on TV 360 and Stream, and they’ll appear automatically in your EPG.
Virgin Media’s Expanding Free Content
This isn’t Virgin Media’s first venture into FAST channels. Back in 2023, the company integrated 14 FAST channels directly into its EPG – channels like Inside Crime, Homes Under the Hammer, and Baywatch – which was a relatively unique approach at the time.
Most providers had been adding FAST content through separate apps (like Pluto TV), which meant viewers had to exit their normal TV guide and navigate through different interfaces.
Virgin’s decision to slot these channels right into the EPG alongside BBC One and Channel 4 made them far more discoverable, particularly for less tech-savvy viewers who just want to flick through channels with a remote.
However, Virgin Media has also been adding free content via dedicated apps – In September 2024, the company brought the Rakuten TV app to its boxes, giving customers access to over 150 live FAST channels plus thousands of on-demand titles.
The difference with the new Rakuten channels is that three of them have been promoted to EPG status, making them more visible and easier to stumble upon while channel surfing.
A couple of months ago, Virgin also added Tubi – another free streaming service with over 60,000 films and TV episodes.
David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “We know that amazing content and value are a priority for our customers, and the launch of these exciting new streaming channels provides exactly that – unmissable entertainment, including great Hollywood blockbusters, at no extra cost.”
Sidharth Jayant, Chief Product Officer at Rakuten TV, added: “The launch of three additional FAST channels on Virgin Media TV marks the next phase of our ongoing partnership, giving viewers across the UK access to a broader range of streaming channels.”
Virgin says it will continue expanding its FAST channel lineup, though the company hasn’t specified which channels might arrive next or when.
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