Today Virgin Media introduced a small box that it hopes will propel it into areas previously unreachable by standard cable TV. Called the VBox, Virgin's new set-top box enables its users to watch cable TV programming through their existing telephone line. The box uses the digital terrestrial television (DTT) standard and uses a DSL connection to stream content to subscribers. Virgin's goal is to distribute the box in hopes that it will open doors to opportunities such as broadband Internet access and other services. The real benefit here is for the customers -- in some areas, there are no routed cables.

According to Virgin, the box will be available to existing subscribers of the Talk Anytime phone bundle. Customers also must not have cable access. Users can also purchase the box on its own without being a Talk Anytime subscriber will be subject to a one-time fee of £40 (approximately $78 USD).

The VBox is capable of the following:

• Over 40 free-to-air TV channels and over 25 digital radio stations
  
• An easy to use eight-day, Virgin branded, on-screen TV guide
  
• High quality reception plus access to interactive content via the red button
  
• Customer service support online and over the phone
  
• Plug 'n' play installation
  
• Low power consumption using just 1/15th of the energy of a standard 60W light bulb
  

Virgin said that the VBox will be capable of up to 8Mbps downstream, and thus making it possible for customers to subscribe to other digital services in the future. "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," said Virgin's managing director of non-cable Philip Snalune.