Last checked: 19 August 2026
TV 360 is better for recording. Stream is now Virgin's standard route for new customers.
Virgin TV 360 and Stream can look like two versions of the same television service, but they are built around very different ways of watching.
TV 360 is a traditional cable-connected TV platform with genuine local recording. Stream delivers Virgin TV over broadband and replaces conventional recordings with catch-up, On Demand and My Watchlist.
Current new-customer broadband and TV packages include Virgin's Stream box as standard.
Virgin TV 360 vs Stream: quick comparison
Virgin TV 360
- Cable-connected TV box
- Records programmes and series
- Pause and rewind live TV
- Startover on supported channels
- Profiles
- Voice control
- Streaming apps
- Ultra HD support
- Virgin TV Go
- Best suited to traditional live-TV viewing
Virgin Stream
- Runs over Virgin broadband
- No conventional recordings
- My Watchlist instead
- Pause and rewind supported live TV
- Profiles
- Voice control
- Streaming apps
- Ultra HD support
- Virgin TV Go
- Standard current new-customer box
| Feature | TV 360 | Stream | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional recording | Yes | No | TV 360 |
| My Watchlist | Supported TV discovery/saving features | Core recording alternative | Stream |
| Live TV | Yes | Yes | Draw |
| Pause / rewind live TV | Yes | Yes on supported live TV | Draw |
| Catch Up / On Demand | Yes | Yes | Draw |
| Streaming apps | Yes | Yes | Draw |
| Profiles | Yes | Yes | Draw |
| Voice control | Yes | Yes | Draw |
| Ultra HD | Supported content | Supported content | Draw |
| Installation | Cable-connected | Broadband-powered / plug-and-play | Stream |
| Easy multiroom expansion | Available | Up to five additional Stream boxes | Stream |
| Current new customers | Not the normal current route | Included with current TV bundles | Stream |
TV 360 wins if you want real recordings
This is the clearest difference between the two systems.
Virgin TV 360 can record live television programmes and series onto the television platform so that you can return to those recordings later.
You can also pause and rewind live television and record multiple programmes.
That gives TV 360 a major advantage for households that still use television like a traditional PVR.
TV 360 recording
You choose a programme or series and record it.
The recording is then available through the TV 360 setup rather than relying entirely on the programme remaining available through a catch-up or streaming service.
This is particularly useful for live events, programmes with limited catch-up windows and viewers who simply prefer a conventional recordings library.
Stream's approach
Stream does not make conventional TV recordings.
Instead, My Watchlist lets you save programmes and films you want to return to and brings together content from live TV, apps, Catch Up and On Demand.
It is closer to bookmarking content than storing your own local copy.
How My Watchlist works on Stream
My Watchlist is central to Virgin's newer television approach.
When you find something you want to watch later, you save it to your Watchlist using the remote, voice control or Virgin TV Go.
It then appears in your personalised collection so that you can find it again without searching through individual apps or the TV guide.
You can also see when new episodes become available.
This fits modern television viewing quite well because much of today's content is already available through:
- Catch Up
- On Demand
- Netflix
- Disney+
- BBC iPlayer
- Prime Video
- Other supported apps
The limitation is straightforward: saving a programme to a Watchlist is not the same as recording and storing that broadcast yourself.
Can you watch normal live TV on Stream?
Yes.
Stream isn't simply a box containing Netflix-style apps.
Virgin combines live television channels, Catch Up, On Demand and apps through the same interface.
Current Stream also supports pausing and rewinding live TV.
So the distinction is not:
TV 360 = live television
versus
Stream = streaming apps.
Both offer live television.
The real distinction is that Stream delivers the TV experience over broadband and removes the need for conventional recording and additional television cabling.
Virgin TV 360 vs Stream installation
Stream has the clear advantage for simplicity.
The box connects to your television through HDMI and receives Virgin TV over your broadband connection.
Virgin describes the setup as plug-and-play and says there is no need for additional TV cabling or drilling.
The Stream box can use Wi-Fi, and Virgin also supplies an Ethernet option where you prefer a wired connection.
TV 360 is a cable-connected television box associated with Virgin's more traditional TV infrastructure.
Stream suits...
People who want a compact television box that can be installed without running extra Virgin TV cabling into the room.
Simpler installationTV 360 suits...
Households that already have the cable-connected Virgin television setup and value its recording features.
Traditional TV setupTV 360 vs Stream for multiroom
Stream is particularly strong here.
Virgin currently allows customers to add up to five additional Stream boxes, creating up to six Stream boxes around the home including the main box.
Because each box runs over broadband, extra television cabling is not required.
Profiles and pause points also follow you between supported Stream boxes, making it easier to move between rooms.
Virgin currently lists the first additional Stream box at £10 per month and each subsequent additional box at £5 per month on rolling 30-day terms.
What if you already have TV 360?
Virgin also supports multiroom for TV 360 households.
Its current information says 360 customers can use additional boxes around the home, with newer multiroom arrangements increasingly using Stream boxes for additional rooms.
TV 360's advantage is that the traditional system can integrate your recordings into the wider 360 viewing setup.
Check current multiroom pricing before adding extra boxes to the package.
Streaming apps on TV 360 and Stream
Both platforms combine Virgin television with major streaming applications.
Supported apps include services such as:
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Prime Video
- YouTube
- BBC iPlayer
- Other supported catch-up and streaming apps
That means TV 360 isn't an old-style television box isolated from modern streaming services.
The philosophical difference is simply that Stream is built around this app-and-broadband viewing model from the start.
Profiles on Virgin Stream and TV 360
Both systems support profiles.
Virgin currently supports up to six personalised profiles across its modern television experience.
Profiles can help separate:
- Recommendations
- Viewing history
- Favourite channels
- Continue Watching
- Personal Watchlists
This is particularly useful in households where children and adults watch completely different types of content.
Voice control
Voice control is available on both Stream and TV 360.
Using the microphone button on the remote, you can search for programmes, actors and films, open apps, change channels and control supported television functions.
You can also use voice commands for accessibility features such as subtitles.
There is therefore no strong reason to prefer one platform purely for voice search.
Virgin TV 360 vs Stream for 4K and Ultra HD
Both platforms support Ultra HD content where the channel, app, subscription and television support it.
You still need a compatible 4K television to see Ultra HD resolution.
Not every Virgin channel or streaming subscription automatically includes 4K content simply because the box supports it.
The important buying decision is therefore the TV package and content rights rather than choosing Stream or 360 specifically for 4K.
Virgin TV Go
Both Stream and TV 360 integrate with Virgin TV Go.
The app allows eligible customers to watch live television, Catch Up and box sets on compatible phones, tablets and laptops.
Virgin lets users register up to five devices, with two devices able to stream simultaneously under the current TV Go terms.
There are some differences in what you can manage.
TV 360 customers can use TV Go to schedule recordings on their TV box and watch recorded programmes while at home on the same network.
Stream users cannot create recordings because Stream itself does not support recording; instead they can manage their synced Watchlist.
Which box do new Virgin Media customers get?
Stream.
Virgin says current new customers taking its broadband and television bundles receive a Stream box.
This makes an important difference to the search intent around “TV 360 vs Stream”.
For a brand-new customer in 2026, the decision is generally not:
“Which free box should I ask Virgin for?”
Instead, it is:
“Am I comfortable moving to Virgin's streaming-first television model without conventional recordings?”
Current new-customer TV packages come with Stream and can be customised with entertainment, sport and cinema content.
Our Virgin TV and Broadband Deals 2026 guide compares the current bundle structure.
What should existing TV 360 customers do?
There is no automatic reason to want Stream simply because it is newer.
If TV 360 currently works well and you regularly use recordings, moving to a system without conventional recording could actually remove a feature you value.
Existing customers should ask:
Do you record lots of TV?
Sport, documentaries, films, soaps or live events stored for later viewing.
TV 360 has a real advantageDo you mostly use apps and catch-up?
Your 360 recordings section is almost empty and most viewing starts in Netflix, iPlayer or On Demand.
Stream's model may suit youDo you need several extra rooms?
Stream's broadband-powered additional boxes make multiroom simple.
Stream advantageAre you happy with your current box?
A newer product isn't automatically an upgrade if the existing system has features you use.
No reason to rushOur Virgin Media Deals for Existing Customers 2026 guide covers the wider renewal and package-change process.
What about Virgin Flex?
Flex uses Stream.
It is Virgin's more flexible television option for people who want the Stream interface and basic television service while managing premium subscriptions on shorter terms.
Unlike Virgin's standard TV bundles, the Flex television component runs on a rolling 30-day basis alongside the broadband agreement.
This is another reason Stream is strategically important to Virgin: it lets the company offer both traditional larger bundles and a more streaming-led subscription model through the same hardware.
Is Stream basically Virgin's version of Sky Stream?
The broad idea is similar.
Both Virgin Stream and Sky Stream deliver pay television through broadband to a compact HDMI-connected device rather than relying on a traditional satellite or cable-connected recording box.
Both also place greater emphasis on apps, on-demand television and saved content rather than conventional hard-drive recordings.
The major difference is the wider service ecosystem and the packages available from each provider.
Our Sky Stream Review 2026 covers Sky's platform in detail.
Who should prefer TV 360?
You record live sport
You want to retain events rather than depend on Catch Up or the relevant service keeping them available.
TV 360You maintain a recordings library
Your current TV habits still revolve around scheduling and saving broadcasts.
TV 360You already have 360 and like it
You don't need to replace a working platform merely because Virgin's new-customer strategy has changed.
Stay with 360You prefer traditional TV behaviour
Recording, live channels and a conventional TV box matter more than minimal installation.
TV 360Who should prefer Stream?
You mostly stream anyway
Your television viewing already revolves around apps, Catch Up and On Demand.
StreamYou want easy installation
No additional television cabling or drilling around the home.
StreamYou want several TV rooms
Adding broadband-powered Stream boxes is a straightforward multiroom route.
StreamYou are joining Virgin now
Stream is already the standard hardware supplied with current new-customer bundles.
StreamVirgin TV 360 vs Stream verdict
Stream is Virgin's future, but TV 360 still has one major feature Stream cannot replace: recording
Virgin's direction is clear.
Stream is now its standard new-customer TV hardware and fits the way a growing number of households already watch television: live channels mixed with apps, Catch Up, On Demand and personalised recommendations.
It is compact, broadband-powered, easy to install and straightforward to expand into several rooms.
For many new Virgin customers, that is the right approach.
But TV 360 still wins an important part of this comparison.
It records television.
My Watchlist is clever and convenient, but it is not a direct substitute for recording a programme and keeping that recording in your television library.
If you routinely record live sport, films, documentaries or series, TV 360 can therefore still be the better television system for the way you watch.
Most of the other major features are much closer:
- Both offer live TV
- Both integrate streaming apps
- Both support profiles
- Both offer voice control
- Both support Ultra HD content
- Both work with Virgin TV Go
The real decision comes down to viewing behaviour.
Choose TV 360 if recording is important and you already have access to the platform.
Choose Stream — or accept Virgin's move to Stream — if you mainly watch through apps, Catch Up and On Demand and value easy installation and multiroom flexibility.
For a new customer, however, the decision is mostly made already: Virgin's current broadband and TV bundles come with Stream.
Compare Virgin's current TV packages
See today's Mega TV, Entertainment, Cinema, Sport and Volt bundle options, all using Virgin's current Stream experience for new customers.
View Virgin TV dealsVirgin TV 360 vs Stream FAQs
What is the difference between Virgin TV 360 and Stream?
TV 360 is Virgin's cable-connected television platform with conventional recording. Stream delivers Virgin TV over broadband and uses My Watchlist, Catch Up and On Demand instead of traditional recordings.
Can Virgin Stream record TV?
No. Virgin states that Stream customers cannot make conventional recordings. You can instead save programmes and films to My Watchlist to find and watch later through the relevant available service.
Can Virgin TV 360 record programmes?
Yes. TV 360 supports recording programmes and series as well as pausing and rewinding live television.
Can Virgin Stream pause live TV?
Yes. Virgin's current Stream information states that the box supports pausing and rewinding live TV.
What is My Watchlist on Virgin Stream?
My Watchlist lets you save shows and films you want to return to. It brings saved content together across Virgin's television interface, but it is not the same as making a conventional recording.
Do new Virgin customers get TV 360 or Stream?
Virgin currently says new customers receive its Stream box with current broadband and television bundles.
Does Virgin Stream need broadband?
Yes. Stream delivers Virgin television over broadband and requires a compatible Virgin Media broadband service.
Does TV 360 work over broadband?
TV 360 uses Virgin's cable-connected television setup, although online functions, apps and On Demand also rely on network connectivity.
Which is better for multiroom, TV 360 or Stream?
Stream is particularly flexible for multiroom because Virgin currently allows up to five additional broadband-powered Stream boxes without needing additional television cabling.
How much are extra Virgin Stream boxes?
When checked on 19 August 2026, Virgin listed the first additional Stream box at £10 a month and each further box at £5 a month on rolling 30-day subscriptions. Check the current price before ordering.
Can TV 360 customers use Stream boxes in other rooms?
Virgin's current information says 360 customers can also use additional Stream boxes for multiroom viewing, with access to live television, apps and On Demand content across the home.
Do Stream and TV 360 have Netflix?
Both platforms support major streaming apps including Netflix. Whether a subscription is included in your bill depends on the Virgin package you take.
Do TV 360 and Stream support Disney+?
Yes. Disney+ is available as a supported app on Virgin's modern television platforms, subject to having the appropriate Disney+ subscription.
Do TV 360 and Stream support 4K?
Both support Ultra HD content on compatible channels and apps when you have the appropriate package, subscription and 4K television.
Do both boxes have voice control?
Yes. Both TV 360 and Stream support Virgin's voice search and control functionality.
Do both boxes have profiles?
Yes. Virgin supports personalised profiles across both modern television experiences.
Can I use Virgin TV Go with both?
Yes. TV 360 and Stream both work with Virgin TV Go. TV 360 customers can also manage recordings through the app, while Stream customers use synced Watchlist functionality instead.
Is Virgin Stream better than TV 360?
Stream is better for simple installation, streaming-first viewing and flexible multiroom use. TV 360 is better if conventional recording remains an important part of how you watch television.
Should I replace TV 360 with Stream?
Not automatically. If you regularly use TV 360 recordings and the service works well, Stream may remove a feature you value. Existing customers should compare their viewing habits and package options before changing.
How Switchking compared Virgin TV 360 and Stream
This is a research-based comparison using Virgin Media's current TV product, multiroom and support information rather than a claim of long-term hands-on testing of both boxes.
We compared:
- Conventional recording
- My Watchlist
- Live TV
- Pause and rewind
- Catch Up
- On Demand
- Installation
- Broadband requirements
- Multiroom
- Profiles
- Voice control
- Streaming apps
- Ultra HD
- Virgin TV Go
- Current new-customer availability
- Usefulness for existing TV 360 customers
