What to watch in ultra HD this August

Ready for a month of great telly like you’ve never seen before? Then read on to discover some of the ultra HD highlights coming up on the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel (CH 175/999) throughout August. This month there are classic family films to enjoy including three Karate Kid movies, plus more high-speed martial arts action in the fifth season of Cobra Kai, all in amazing ultra high definition.

And with nature documentaries focusing on fearsome predators like sharks, lions, raptors, wolves and bears, you’ll definitely find something to get your teeth into on Virgin TV Ultra HD this month.

Every month Virgin TV Ultra HD brings you superb drama series, films, documentaries and more in stunning, pixel-perfect UHD. And with Virgin TV 360, you can enjoy Virgin TV Ultra HD around the home thanks to our incredible multiroom experience.

But that’s not all: there’s even more great 4K entertainment to watch with Virgin TV, including hundreds of new box sets and movies from Sky and crystal-clear sport on TNT Sports Ultimate and Sky Sports UHD for customers who subscribe.

The Virgin TV Ultra HD channel is available to customers with a Mix, Maxit, MegaTV or Essential Entertainment package with a compatible television and our Virgin TV V6 box (powered by TiVo^®), Virgin TV 360 or Stream box. Simply go to CH 175 or CH 999 to start watching.

Please note, if you watch TV on our TiVo^® box, you will not be able to access the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel. But it’s super simple to upgrade to our latest Virgin TV box by contacting us on 0345 454 1111 (or call 150 from a Virgin Media phone). 

Don’t worry about missing any of these when they’re on: new shows and films on the Virgin TV Ultra HD Channel are available in On Demand after their original broadcast, still in eye-popping ultra HD on compatible TVs. Read on to discover our ultra HD picks on Virgin TV this August.

Monday 4 and Monday 11 August, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Spying a bird of prey soaring high above you is always one of nature’s most immediately impressive sights. With their fearsome hooked beaks and razor-sharp talons, they’re deadly and endlessly fascinating. This two-part documentary series tells the story of the raptors, examining how they adapt to even the toughest environments and perfect the art of the hunt, and showcases the latest discoveries about the extraordinary birds. It also asks what the future holds for these powerful predators in a rapidly changing world.

Saturday 9 August, 7.05pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Everyone loves a comeback. And Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily put on a show to remember in their 2019 reunion tour. Filmed at Croke Park in Dublin where Westlife first performed their sold-out 10 Years Of Westlife concert in 2008, The Twenty Tour show sees the group dazzle fans with their greatest hits that have collectively sold a whopping 55 million records worldwide. We dare you not to sing along.

Wednesday 13 August, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Sharks are so hot right now. If you’ve been watching nervous celebrities getting up close and personal with the hammerheads and tigers in this summer’s hit reality show, consider how they’d fare when faced with an oceanic whitetip: it’s statistically the most dangerous shark in the world, and reputed to be a particular threat to shipwreck survivors, yet we know very little about it. In this documentary Professor Yannis Papastamatiou sets out on a quest to uncover the secrets of this rarely seen shark, revealing unique hunting behaviour never before captured on camera.

Monday 18 August, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

One effect of the devastating war in Rwanda in the 1990s was the extinction of lions in the country. In 2015, after an absence of almost two decades, a pride of seven was reintroduced to the Akagera National Park. But what happens when you bring apex predators to a land that isn’t used to their presence? This unique film gives viewers a rare glimpse into this fascinating natural environment, with stunning images of the big cats both on the hunt and at rest.

Wednesday 20 August, 7.20pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

There’s a fierce war raging deep in the forests of Japan and it’s been continuing for thousands of years. Venomous giant hornets are locked in a battle for territory with their deadly rivals, the yellowjackets – smaller, but with numbers on their side. With resources limited and the colonies’ future generations to be nurtured, it’s a desperate fight for survival. And there’s a complicating factor in the form of honeybees. Narrated by actor Adrian Lester (The Undeclared War), the film gets up startlingly close to these complex insects for an eye-opening look into a largely unseen world.

Friday 22 August, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Wax on, wax off… With Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) back on the big screen in this year’s Karate Kid: Legends, you can revisit the classic 1984 original, now spruced up and looking great in crystal-clear ultra HD. It’s a stirring tale of victory against the odds, of course, thanks to Daniel’s much-celeberated and much-imitated crane kick, but at the heart of the story is the young martial artist’s relationship with mentor Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita). Truly heartwarming. Make it a Karate Kid weekend with parts two and three on Virgin TV Ultra HD on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August.

Tuesday 26 August, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Heard the one about the fish that can’t swim? It’s not a joke – the frogfish has lost its swimming ability and shuffles across the sea bed using its fins. Discover the wolf fish, which enjoys munching on spiny sea urchins, and the hagfish, which exudes bucketfuls of noxious slime when threatened. But the star of the show is the magnificently named sarcastic fringehead, which can dislocate its entire head and extend its open mouth to ridiculous proportions to discourage others from encroaching on its territory. And there are more where they came from in this eye-popping documentary that spotlights the oceans’ freakiest fish.

Wednesday 27 August, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Don’t worry – despite the title, the film-makers haven’t forced these two powerful predators to fight each other for entertainment purposes. Their cameras have captured bears and wolves in the wilds of northern Finland, where both species have refined their strategies for finding food over centuries. So which is the more effective hunter? Wolf Vs Bear attempts to answer that question using breathtaking ultra HD footage to weigh up their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Season 5, Thursdays from 28 August, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Even more Karate Kid, as the fifth season of continuation series Cobra Kai comes to Virgin TV Ultra HD. With the villainous Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) now looking to exert his power over the dojo and beyond, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) teams up with a new ally, Chozen Togushi (Yuji Okumoto) to thwart him. Meanwhile, the drama doesn’t let up among the younger characters, with the rivalry between Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and Robby (Tanner Buchanan) still simmering, and Miguel’s relationship with Sam (Mary Mouser) looking rocky. The martial arts action still looks great in UHD, but Cobra Kai brings entertainment on multiple levels.

Simply go to CH 175 or CH 999 to access Virgin TV Ultra HD. Don’t have a 4K TV? Never fear, because you can also watch the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel through your HD TV. Lucky you!

Please note, if you watch TV on our TiVo^® box, you will not be able to access the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel. But it’s super-simple to upgrade to our latest Virgin TV box by contacting us on 0345 454 1111 (or call 150 from a Virgin Media phone). To upgrade your TV package online click here.