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The V6 set-top box

Virgin Media V6 box

The V6 is the set-top box that powers most Virgin TV packages in 2026. Built on TiVo software, it offers 4K HDR output, a 1 TB drive with six tuners (record six channels at once), voice search and a seven-day backwards EPG. Here is exactly what it does, what it does not, and how it compares to the newer Stream box.

See V6 features See TV packages

At a glance

4K HDR output (Dolby Vision) 1 TB drive, six tuners TiVo voice search built in Multi-room via Mini TV box

Features

What the V6 box can do

A complete read of the V6’s current capabilities, separated from the marketing copy.

4K HDR + Dolby Vision

Output up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 Hz, HDR10 and Dolby Vision on supported apps and on-demand titles. Live linear 4K channels remain limited; the bulk of 4K viewing is via Netflix, Disney+ and Sky Cinema on the V6.

Six tuners, 1 TB storage

Record up to six channels at the same time while watching a seventh. The 1 TB hard drive stores roughly 500 hours of standard HD recordings, or about 100 hours of 4K. Series link recording is on by default.

TiVo voice remote

The remote includes a microphone for voice search across live, recorded and on-demand content. Holds about 95% accuracy on programme names; performance drops on actor names and complex queries.

Streaming apps built in

Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and YouTube run natively on the V6 box, so you do not need a separate Fire Stick or Chromecast. Apple TV+ is available via the EE TV app on Stream box, not V6.

Catch-up TV

A seven-day backwards EPG lets you scroll back into the past week and play anything that aired live. Useful for the inevitable “I forgot to record it” moments.

Multi-room with Mini box

Pair a Virgin Mini TV box (£7.50 a month extra) and the main V6 streams to a second TV over Wi-Fi. Recordings from the V6 are accessible from the Mini box, but the Mini cannot record on its own.

V6 vs Stream

Which Virgin TV box is right for you?

Both boxes carry the same Virgin TV channels, but they behave completely differently. The choice mostly comes down to one question: do you still record live TV?

For recorders

V6 box

  • 1 TB recording, six tuners, watch one channel while recording five.
  • Backwards EPG: scroll back into the past week of live broadcasts.
  • 4K HDR output, including Dolby Vision on supported titles.
  • All Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and YouTube apps built in.

For streamers

Stream box

  • Apps-first interface, all major streaming services as the homescreen.
  • Pay-per-channel-pack flexibility (cancel TNT Sports after the season).
  • No satellite cabling, just plugs into broadband over Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
  • No live recording; relies on app catch-up only.

FAQ

Virgin V6 box questions answered

Is the V6 box the only Virgin TV box?

No, but it is the main one. Virgin sells three boxes in 2026: the V6 for recording-heavy households, the Stream box for app-first streaming households, and the Mini TV box as a multi-room companion to the V6. The V6 ships with all standard TV packages (Maxit, Bigger, Bigger + Sports, Biggest); Stream is opt-in if you want it instead.

Do I own the V6 box or rent it?

The V6 box stays the property of Virgin Media throughout your contract. There is no purchase option for consumers. When you cancel your Virgin TV service you must return the box in its prepaid bag; not returning it triggers a non-return fee on your final bill (currently £40).

Is a V6 worth keeping if I mostly stream?

For pure streamers, the Stream box is the better fit, it has all the apps and no monthly TV-pack obligation. The V6 is the right box if you still record live TV (especially sport and news) or use the seven-day backwards EPG regularly. Most households over-record and then watch less than half of what they save.

What is coming after the V6 box?

Virgin Media is trialling a DOCSIS 4.0-compatible next-gen box in 2025 to 2026, built to handle the multi-gigabit speeds DOCSIS 4 unlocks. Existing V6 customers are not being forced to upgrade; the V6 hardware will be supported for the rest of its software-update cycle. Expect a wider rollout from late 2026 onwards.

Does the V6 support Sky Q or Sky Glass?

No. The V6 runs TiVo software, not Sky’s software stack, and is a separate ecosystem. You can watch the Sky Sports / TNT Sports / Sky Cinema channels and on-demand content through Virgin on the V6, but the user interface is TiVo, not Sky Q. If you want the Sky Q interface, you need to take Sky on satellite or Sky Stream over broadband.

Can I plug a V6 box into any TV?

Yes. The V6 outputs HDMI 2.0 to any TV (or projector) with an HDMI input. 4K HDR output requires a compatible TV; otherwise the V6 downscales automatically to 1080p Full HD. You do not need a Virgin-branded TV.