
All Virgin Media customers unlock 14 premium channels in limited free TV upgrade offer
From today, customers across the UK can enjoy the full
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No sign-up or activation is needed – the channels are unlocked and ready to go
Credit: Getty
The freebie is available from July 18 until August 17 to mark South Asian Heritage Month – a time to recognise and celebrate the rich cultures, communities and histories of South Asians in the UK.
South Asian influence can be seen throughout Britain – from the flavours of our takeaways to the rhythms of our music and the colourful clothing seen on high streets and at festivals.
Virgin Media is honouring this contribution by offering a taste of the very best in Indian TV to every Virgin TV household.
The Asian Mela bundle includes a wide range of top South Asian entertainment, spanning Bollywood blockbusters, classic dramas, reality competitions and family favourites.
Read more on Technology
For 31 days, viewers can watch everything from uplifting films to tear-jerking serials and high-energy dance shows, completely free.
Included in the line-up are popular channels like Utsav Gold HD, Sony MAX HD, Zee Cinema HD, Colors HD and more.
Programmes on offer include beloved dramas such as Anupamaa and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, crime series Savdhaan India, and period epic Prithviraj Chauhan.
There are also plenty of films to enjoy, including Veere Di Wedding and Singh Is Bliing, as well as dance contests like Super Dancer and quiz shows like KBC.
Most read in Tech
Virgin Media said the move is about 'celebrating and showcasing South Asian culture and identity in the 21st century', giving everyone the chance to discover and enjoy the vibrant world of South Asian entertainment.
Virgin Media Launches Two Free Rakuten TV Channels
The offer will run until Sunday 17 August, and customers can simply tune in to their
No sign-up or activation is needed – the channels are unlocked and ready to go.
Elsewhere, Virgin Media customers are being warned to check their TV boxes now – or risk losing access to BBC iPlayer next week.
From Wednesday 23 July, older TiVo-powered boxes will no longer support the popular BBC streaming service.
That means users could miss out on hit shows like EastEnders, Doctor Who, Silent Witness and more unless they take action.
Virgin told The Sun that only a 'small proportion' of customers are affected, and all have been contacted directly.
Anyone using a TiVo box that has accessed iPlayer in the last six months will need to upgrade to a newer model.
The good news is the upgrade to Virgin TV 360 is free of charge.
Customers who haven't yet made the switch are being urged to do so before the cut-off date to avoid disruption.
Virgin Media said: '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.'
The TiVo box was first launched in 2010, and while it's served many homes well over the years, technology has moved on.
Virgin TV 360, launched in 2020, offers faster performance, personalisation features, and access to more streaming apps including iPlayer, Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.
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The offer will run until Sunday 17 August, and customers can simply tune in to their Virgin TV box to start watching
Credit: Getty
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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Where eagles flare: Douglas home worth getting your talons on
IN a property with no shortage of talking points, the most intriguing feature at this Moneygourney home is the sweeping set of steps that cuts up through landscaped banks to a small green clearing, where two sculpted eagles, wings flared and talons bared, are locked in mortal combat. Moneygourney mix of home, guest apartment and planning for three new build on grounds The steps and what lies beyond hold a profound symbolism for homeowner Mike Nolan. He designed them based on the final scene of Meet Joe Black, a 1998 movie where Joe Black (Brad Pitt) personifies Death and leads Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) up steps that represent the threshold between life and death. Once crossed, there is no coming back for Bill. 'It's hard to let go, isn't it?' Bill asks. 'Yes it is Bill,' says Joe. 'What can I tell you? That's life,' answers Bill, in a heartfelt moment of reflection. Eagle sculpture at top of steps, leading to upper field. Pic: Larry Cummins The scene resonated deeply with Mike after he lost his beloved daughter Grace in 1999 to a genetic disorder that affects the formation of blood vessels, called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). A year later, when he, his wife June, and their six remaining kids moved to Moneygourney, he designed his own Joe Black steps 'on the back of a cigarette box'. He showed it to Tony Garvey, the man who would become his landscaper and gardener for the next 25 years. 'I came here to plant one tree, and I've been here since,' Tony laughs. The tree was a magnolia — dedicated to the memory of Grace — and it has delivered magnificent blooms year-on-year, just as Grace's death has delivered hope to others, propelling her father into setting up a foundation in her memory in 2002, the Grace Nolan Foundation, followed by decades of raising awareness about HHT, while also raising millions of euro, through the foundation, towards the cost of researching the disorder, with the goal of finding a cure. Mosaic portrait of Grace Nolan hanging on the stairs of the family home at Moneygourney. Picture Larry Cummins Despite the great tragedy of losing Grace, Mike did not forget to also celebrate the joys of living. Many events were celebrated with family and friends in the great, big outdoor space between the rear of their home and the Joe Black stairway, easily able to accommodate a marquee. 'We had manys the marquee,' Mike says. Drinks were served from the outdoor block-built covered bar and barbecue and guests could sit on the built-in stone seats or on the Joe Black steps or at any number of seating areas dotted about the expansive Indian sandstone patio. It was one hell of an entertainment space, but you'd expect nothing less from a man who once ran a couple of successful bars, including Oscar Madison's in Kinsale, the Titanic in Cobh, and the well-known Oyster bar in Cork city, where he turned the upstairs room into a shrine to his hero John Lennon, before selling it in 2004 to the Rebel Group. Beatles artwork in the ground floor room of guest house used previously as a snooker and games room / mancave / recording studio. Pic Larry Cummins Much of The Beatles paraphernalia that he showcased in the Oyster is now on display in the guest house at Moneygourney, a roomy 160 sq m property, bigger than your standard semi-d. Previously a garage, it was knocked and rebuilt by Mike in 2013, the same year they decided to add a modern, zinc-clad, heavily glazed extension to the rear of the original Moneygourney house, which was built in 1995. Beatles memorabilia Among the treasures on the guest house walls are a framed cheque written by John Lennon to Harrods store in 1970; framed rare US versions of Beatles records and album sleeves; a photo of Eric Clapton and George Harrison deep in conversation, taken by their one-time girlfriend, model, and photographer Patti Boyd (there are just 50 copies of the image worldwide), and original 1974 pop art images of the Fab Four by renowned Polish artist Rafal Olbinksy, purchased by Mike on New York's 8th Avenue many years ago. Mike Nolan with Brendan O'Carroll, centre duo Amid the Fab Four iconography are photos of Mike with comedian Brendan O'Carroll. They first met through a football fundraising gig (Mike played League of Ireland football with Cork Celtic, Limerick Utd and City and Cobh Ramblers) and Brendan subsequently donated the takings from the very first night of Mrs Brown's Boys to the Grace Nolan Foundation, after the play premiered at the Everyman Palace in Cork. Mike later put in a couple of appearances in the TV show, including the 2013 Christmas special. He remains close friends with the actor who also came up with the idea for Dear Grace, a national letter-writing competition for schoolkids who composed letters to Grace. The initiative generated 10 books of Dear Grace letters over the years, with proceeds going to the foundation. Other elements of Mike's life are reflected in the guest house, not least his passion for music. The guest house was originally destined to be a gym and recording studio — it's sound-proofed and wired accordingly — but it morphed into accommodation for family members. A very large upstairs bedroom could easily be converted into two bedrooms. Downstairs, another large room could be partitioned into a home office and gym — there are two showers off it for gym users — or a home office/gym and third bedroom. There's a kitchen/living room too, where the kitchen counter is made from elm salvaged from the bar counter at Oscar Madison's. The pubs were 'hobbies' for Mike whose main business was Cork-headquartered QEF Global, providers of supply chain management. In 2013, Mike sold the business in a multi-million dollar deal to Park Ohio Holdings Corp, a Nasdaq-listed company led by Ed Crawford. Crawford was appointed US ambassador to Ireland in June 2019. A photograph of Mike and Ed in his ambassadorial role hangs in the expansive hallway of the main house at Moneygourney. Even with two substantial homes on the 2.7 acre Moneygourney site, the sheer scale of the property means they hardly make a dent on it. Both homes are at the top of a long, curving driveway with lawn on either side. You'd be inclined to think there was scope for more homes and planners were of the same mind, as permission was granted earlier this year for the construction of three, four-bed 2,800 sq ft homes on the front lawn. The planning grant and the existing two residences on the site are all factored into the €2.6m asking price. There's 2.7 acres with FPP for three more builds on the right and for the drive to be moved to the left There are copious rooms to choose from in the 4,000 sq ft-plus, five-bedroom main house, from the two reception rooms either side of the hallway (one is currently a home office) to the very generous open plan kitchen/dining/sunroom area, housed mainly in the rear extension, with doors to the patio. The extension also includes a large living room with a bar and music surround system, and an extra high ceiling and clerestory window for added light and volume. The ceiling height allowed Mike to hang a piped glass chandelier that he bought in New York the day the Twin Towers came down. He bought the eagle sculpture the same day at a knockdown price from a dealer convinced the world was about to end. The eagles have remained at the top of the Joe Black steps while the rest of the gardens evolved under the expert eye and green-thumbed guidance of Tony. The evolution over a 25-year period was quite dramatic: A photograph in the front hallway shows what things looked like when Mike bought the property — essentially a home plonked towards the rear of a sloping field. 'A garden must make you want to go around it and that's what we have done here,' says Tony. Pathways lead behind shrubbery to hidden nooks; a waterfall feature (switched off for now) was a big hit with the kids; there were acres to play on front and back, including a small field beyond the fighting eagles, great for soccer and trampolining, as well as being a haven for wildlife. It's conceivable that whoever buys the house will want to enjoy the land as is, rather than developing it, but another buyer might like the opportunity to build in a prized location, near the South Link road network and Douglas village, atop Maryborough Hill, where homes command a premium. Der O'Riordan of Barry Auctioneers says if a new owner goes ahead with developing the land, the drive will be relocated to the left of the site, while the main house and guest house will retain the full parking area to the front, as well as the fabulous patios and BBQ area to the rear, and the garden/meadow at the top of the Joe Black steps. Mr O'Riordan describes the Moneygourney home as a 'rare and splendid' property. 'It will attract purchasers who are looking for a large, iconic property with substantial, mature, and private gardens, set in the much sought-after area of Moneygourney. 'The purchaser will be a family looking for a larger property with space and character, or indeed families returning from Dublin, or coming from abroad. 'Because of the full planning permission, it will also interest an investor who can look at developing the three houses, with options for the whole site,' Mr O'Riordan says. VERDICT: The scale of the property, which already has two homes and planning permission for three more, is quite a unique offering, in an area watched by developers. Could sort out the adult kids' housing headaches in one fell (eagle) swoop. Location feels like country, but is close to Douglas village, with easy access to the South Ring road network and the soon-to-be M28. Public transport operates locally


The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Virgin Media viewers spot seven surprise channel changes on their TV screens TODAY including sports and kids favourites
TELLY obsessives have spotted seven surprise channel changes on their TV screens today. It has affected millions of 1 Sky has announced several rebrands that affect Virgin Media watchers with the same channels Channel Changes Sky has announced several rebrands that affect From today, three channels have changed their name in the TV shake-up which will affect SkySportsTheLions has rebranded to SkySp Action/SkySp ActionHD, reverting from a previous temporary change. And in a temporary change, Nick Jr. Too has renamed to Nick Jr. Paw Patrol. Virgin Media Nicktoons has also been renamed in a temporary change to Nick SpongeBob. Upcoming Changes There will be further channel changes on Friday 25th July 2025 that will affect In a temporary change Sky Sports Action will be renamed to And reverting from a temporary change - Sky Buddy Films will change its name to Sky Comedy HD Most read in Tech Sky Hits will change to Antiheroes HD in a temporary change. And Sky Family will be renamed to SkySchoolsOut / SchoolsOutHD. Sky is bringing back TWO channels tomorrow after they disappeared from TV guides The reasons behind channel changes The broadcasting giant typically only announces channel swaps for These TV guide shake-ups can take place for a number of reasons. But Sky doesn't run all channels broadcast on TV, so some closures are out of their control. History 2 HD.


Extra.ie
21-07-2025
- Extra.ie
Wimbledon influencer with over 165k followers is actually an AI creation
She has 165,000 followers on Instagram and recently posted images showing her enjoying the tennis at Wimbledon. But the 'model' whose social media persona became an internet sensation at the championships was actually created by AI. The posts on Mia Zelu's Instagram page were so carefully curated that they hoodwinked more than 40,000 people into liking her pictures and leaving comments in the belief that she was real and at the tournament. AI-generated influencer Mia Zelu. Over 150,000 people follow influencer Mia Zelu on Instagram, with the most recent post from her 'trip' to Wimbledon drawing 43,000 'likes'. Pic: MoL With images of her on Centre Court or enjoying a Pimm's, even Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant was taken in. The 27-year-old was at Wimbledon but discovered the account he had liked was a fake one and quickly deleted all of his interactions with it. The online comments by Zelu, who embodied the quintessential Wimbledon look of summery dresses and golden tan, reflect the language used by actual Instagram influencers. In one, she asks her followers: 'Which Wimbledon match was your fave?' Despite not actually being at the tournament, Zelu also remarked: 'Still not over the event… but the party's a whole other game.' AI-generated influencer Mia Zelu. Over 150,000 people follow influencer Mia Zelu on Instagram, with the most recent post from her 'trip' to Wimbledon drawing 43,000 'likes'. Pic: MoL Her creators, who remain anonymous, explain in a profile that she is an 'AI storyteller', adding she has a sister called 'Ana' with 266,000 followers on her account. Despite the clear indication that the account is not that of a real person, Zelu's followers still send her messages, including proposals of marriage.