UK consumers need to act quickly if they want to gain access to Virgin Media subscription TV services in time for Christmas.

Today (Friday December 9th) is the deadline for orders with a guaranteed installation prior to the festive break.

Any TV and broadband bundles ordered after midnight tonight may not be activated until after Boxing Day - meaning new customers will miss out on much of the televisual Christmas entertainment.

With a number of movie premieres and live sports fixtures available to Virgin Media subscribers this December, signing up too late could dampen the festive mood.

Virgin Media is incentivising UK households to take out its subscription TV services by offering a free TiVo box activation.

Ordinarily this would cost £49.95 - significantly adding to the start-up costs faced by subscribers.

New customers can also save another £49.95 through a free broadband installation - helping stretch the Christmas budget a little further.