What Are Virgin Media's One, Two and Three Channels?

By Cormac Breen | Updated 10 April 2026 | 5 min read

We all enjoy sitting back after a long day and tuning into our favourite shows, but when these channels start changing their names and how you access them, things tend to get a little tricky. In this short guide, we will cover what happened to TV3, how they became a part of the Virgin Media brand, and how to access their channels.

What Are Virgin Media One, Two, and Three?

TV3 launched as a commercial channel in 1998 and was subsequently rebranded under the Virgin Media Television brand in 2018 following Liberty Global's acquisition.

What Is Virgin Media One?

Virgin Media One (formerly TV3) is available on channel 103 across Sky TV, Vodafone TV, and Virgin Media platforms.

What Is Virgin Media Two?

Previously Channel 6 and later 3e, this free-to-air channel is accessible on channel 104.

What Is Virgin Media Three?

Originally UTV Ireland, later rebranded as be3, now Virgin Media Three on channel 105.

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Are the Virgin Media Channels Free to Access?

All three of these channels are classed as free-to-air channels funded through advertisements. The Virgin Media Player service offers additional features including live TV access, catch-up functionality, and 1TB recording capacity.

Where Can I Find the Virgin Media One Schedule?

TV schedules are available online via the Virgin Media TV guide website.

Can I Watch Virgin Media One in the UK?

These channels are Ireland-restricted and inaccessible in the UK without VPN workarounds.

Who Are the Virgin Media Channels' Main Competitors?

RTE One and RTE2 are primary competitors, with market share data from 2015 showing RTE One at 19.9% versus Virgin Media One at 8.44%.

Irish Television Market Share

RTE One: 19.9% Virgin Media One: 8.44% RTE2: 6.3% Virgin Media Three: 6.24%

RTE One (19.9%) Virgin Media One (8.44%) RTE2 (6.3%) Virgin Media Three (6.24%)

Source: Nielsen Media Research (NMR) / Last Updated: March 2023

Frequently Asked Questions About Virgin Media One, Two, and Three

Virgin Media One (formerly TV3), Virgin Media Two (formerly 3e), and Virgin Media Three (formerly be3) are free-to-air Irish television channels. They were rebranded under the Virgin Media Television brand in 2018 following Liberty Global's acquisition of TV3 Group.

Virgin Media One is on channel 103, Virgin Media Two is on channel 104, and Virgin Media Three is on channel 105. All three are available across Sky TV, Vodafone TV, and Virgin Media platforms.

Yes, all three channels are classified as free-to-air channels funded through advertisements. You do not need a Virgin Media subscription to watch them. However, the Virgin Media Player offers additional features like catch-up TV and 1TB recording capacity for subscribers.

No, Virgin Media One, Two, and Three are restricted to Ireland and are not available in the UK without using VPN workarounds. The channels are Irish-specific and their broadcast rights do not extend to the UK.