Updated: Virgin makes V+ free for top TV customers

Virgin Media will make its high definition V+ personal video recorder available to new customers taking its top tier "XL" cable TV service for free, the cable operator confirmed to DS this afternoon.

New customers taking the lower "M" and "L" tiers will be charged £5 per month. An installation charge of £150 will apply to all new V+ installations.

However, existing customers will only be eligible for the new pricing if they pay a £100 fee to cover the cost of supplying the box.

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: "We are constantly looking at our prices, and those of our competitors, to ensure we continue to offer excellent value for money."

The spokesperson added that the changes had "been in consideration for some time" and denied that they were a response to Sky's decision to scrap the £10 per month Sky+ fee for both new and existing customers.