According to the broadcaster, it has launched the service to expand the "availability of its quadplay of broadband, phone, mobile and TV services beyond its cable franchise network".
The service will, yet again, ruffle the feathers of fierce rival BSkyB, which has plans to launch its own free-to-air terrestrial service. Virgin Media is currently opposing the move and has lodged a complaint with the media regulator Ofcom.
The Virgin Media service will be accessed through a set-top box and will give viewers more than 40 free-to-air TV channels and more than 25 digital radio stations. It will also include an eight-day, Virgin-branded, on-screen TV guide.
The box will be free to any Virgin Media non-cable customer taking up a Virgin Media broadband and Talk Anytime phone bundle at £19.99 a month.
Non-cable customers taking a broadband service on its own will pay one-off charge of £40 for the service.
Philip Snalune, managing director of non-cable at Virgin Media, said: "Launching a basic TV service into non-cable areas enables us to expand availability of our quadplay of broadband, phone, mobile and TV. This is just the first step and our aim is to offer more advanced TV services in all areas throughout 2008.
"The digital switchover is just around the corner and we can now offer consumers across the UK a simple and low-cost way of making the digital leap, even if they can't get cable services."
Virgin Media non-cable customers can also purchase up to five additional set-top boxes for each household._1.jpg)
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