Press Release
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| 08/02/07 |
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| Virgin Media to launch TV channel with a difference |
Turn on, tune in and branch out Virgin Media (NASDAQ: VMED) is making 20 February a red-letter day for TV fans, with the launch of Virgin Central, a revolutionary new kind of television channel. Virgin Central will herald a new way to watch telly, combining the simplicity of a traditional channel with the choice and control of next generation TV-on-demand technology. The channel will be free and host a showcase of blockbuster entertainment around the clock, selected from the best of the company's TV-on-demand service. By pressing one button and using a simple on-screen guide, viewers will have instant access to different episodes of the show they select. They can then stop, rewind and pause - just like using a DVD player. Major series expected on the service over the coming months include The OC, Nip/Tuck, West Wing, Little Britain; Grey's Anatomy, Alias, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami. Content will be updated regularly and, unlike a traditional TV channel, there will be no waiting for scheduled start times. The hybrid service marks a step change in the development of TV-on-demand, making access to a library of additional viewing more exciting and intuitive than ever before. Steve Burch, president and CEO of Virgin Media, said: “Virgin Central will offer a feast of hit shows in one place and is set to become the destination of choice for TV lovers. By combining brilliant content with the unrivalled versatility of our technology, we have created something that no other company provides. Virgin Central will make TV-on-demand the simple, compelling service it should be.” The new channel will complement Virgin Media's existing library of TV-on-demand entertainment, which includes over 500 movies, highlights from the previous week's primetime schedule, classic series and music videos. Together with a wide choice of broadcast channels, a sophisticated personal video recorder and high definition capability, TV-on-demand places Virgin Media's customers at the forefront of the digital revolution. Further major content additions are expected throughout the year, strengthening the Virgin Central line-up and adding even more choice to Europe's biggest on-demand library. To find out more about Virgin Media services, consumers can visit www.virginmedia.com or call 0845 454 1111. Ends Notes to editors Virgin Media owns two content businesses - Virgin Media Television (VMTV) and sit-up. VMTV owns seven entertainment channels - Living, Living 2, Bravo, Bravo 2, Challenge, Trouble and Ftn - and is a 50% partner in UKTV which consists of ten channels including UKTV Gold and UKTV History. sit-up runs retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auctiontv. ntl: Telewest Business also operates under the Virgin Media umbrella and provides voice, data and internet solutions to leading businesses, public sector organisations and service providers in the UK. Virgin Media is the largest Virgin company in the world and has almost 10 million customers (5m cable, 4.5m Virgin Mobile, 250,000 virgin.net). To find out more visit www.virginmedia.com/presscentre Media contacts M Communications |