[WillPS]

It is still showing the TCM Movies is no longer available on Virgin Media slate and then directs viewers to alternative channels. EPG says “Channel No Longer Available”

Ah yes. Those often linger about, just means they haven't got around to dropping it from the EPG yet. The streams themselves tend to stick around until they eventually get allocated to something else (or completely removed).

Unlike satellite there's no particular saving to be had from releasing capacity, so less imperative to do it.