Broadcast News
20/01/2009
Thousands Of Hours Of ITV Shows On Demand on Virgin Media
ITV and Virgin Media recently announced a deal to make some of the nation's favourite television shows available on demand to Virgin Media's digital TV subscribers with ITV Player, ITV's on demand catch up service.
The agreement will give ITV its largest ever potential on demand audience, with Virgin Media's 3.5 million TV customers able to view over 40 hours of top quality programming from ITV1, 2, 3 and 4 each week.
Popular shows such as 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale' will all be made available for seven days after being broadcast as part of Virgin Media's free Catch Up TV service.
Virgin Media's viewers will also be able to choose from 500 hours of award-winning ITV comedies, documentaries and dramas, all ready to watch at any time on demand. This collection of some of the best of British television will be available as part of Virgin Media's vast library of programmes which sit within its TV Choice section.
A selection of ITV's High Definition (HD) programming will also be available on demand, adding to Virgin Media's growing and popular list of HD content.
In addition, Virgin Media and ITV have also agreed that Virgin Media TV subscribers will be able to watch ITV content online via their computers, providing further viewing options.
The popularity of on demand services is increasing. More than half of Virgin Media's customers regularly use the on demand service. Total viewers of all on demand programmes exceeded 357 million by the end of the first nine months of 2008 and averaged 45 million views each month in the third quarter of last year.
ITV has also seen a rapid rise in users for its on demand offering, with the average number of plays per month more than doubling since the end of the first quarter of 2008. The top three ITV shows in 2008 were 'Coronation Street', 'The X Factor' and 'Emmerdale' in that order.
Malcolm Wall, Chief Executive Officer of Content at Virgin Media, said: "ITV makes some of the country's most loved TV programmes so we're delighted to be able to offer so many of them to our customers. We already have the largest and best collection of entertainment available on demand and adding this vast amount of quality content will make our TV offering more compelling."
Ben McOwen Wilson, Director of Online at ITV, said: "Our ambition is to make our content as widely available for audiences. We are thrilled to be announcing this deal with Virgin Media at a very exciting time for ITV.
"We know Virgin Media's customers consume a lot of content on demand and we are confident that with the massive appetite and growth of on demand content across our online sites during 2008 this deal will allow a new wave of viewers to enjoy our content; in a time when the way our audiences watch TV continues to transform."
(KMcA/BMcC)
The agreement will give ITV its largest ever potential on demand audience, with Virgin Media's 3.5 million TV customers able to view over 40 hours of top quality programming from ITV1, 2, 3 and 4 each week.
Popular shows such as 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale' will all be made available for seven days after being broadcast as part of Virgin Media's free Catch Up TV service.
Virgin Media's viewers will also be able to choose from 500 hours of award-winning ITV comedies, documentaries and dramas, all ready to watch at any time on demand. This collection of some of the best of British television will be available as part of Virgin Media's vast library of programmes which sit within its TV Choice section.
A selection of ITV's High Definition (HD) programming will also be available on demand, adding to Virgin Media's growing and popular list of HD content.
In addition, Virgin Media and ITV have also agreed that Virgin Media TV subscribers will be able to watch ITV content online via their computers, providing further viewing options.
The popularity of on demand services is increasing. More than half of Virgin Media's customers regularly use the on demand service. Total viewers of all on demand programmes exceeded 357 million by the end of the first nine months of 2008 and averaged 45 million views each month in the third quarter of last year.
ITV has also seen a rapid rise in users for its on demand offering, with the average number of plays per month more than doubling since the end of the first quarter of 2008. The top three ITV shows in 2008 were 'Coronation Street', 'The X Factor' and 'Emmerdale' in that order.
Malcolm Wall, Chief Executive Officer of Content at Virgin Media, said: "ITV makes some of the country's most loved TV programmes so we're delighted to be able to offer so many of them to our customers. We already have the largest and best collection of entertainment available on demand and adding this vast amount of quality content will make our TV offering more compelling."
Ben McOwen Wilson, Director of Online at ITV, said: "Our ambition is to make our content as widely available for audiences. We are thrilled to be announcing this deal with Virgin Media at a very exciting time for ITV.
"We know Virgin Media's customers consume a lot of content on demand and we are confident that with the massive appetite and growth of on demand content across our online sites during 2008 this deal will allow a new wave of viewers to enjoy our content; in a time when the way our audiences watch TV continues to transform."
(KMcA/BMcC)
Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.
29/09/2017
RTS Announces Nominations For North West Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the nominations for its annual awards, at an event sponsored by Audio Network. Cat
RTS Announces Nominations For North West Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the nominations for its annual awards, at an event sponsored by Audio Network. Cat
08/02/2013
Virgin Media And FilmFlex Roll Out Next Generation video On Demand
FilmFlex, a movies-on-demand service provider, and Virgin Media announced a new partnership to drive the development of the state-of-the-art technolog
Virgin Media And FilmFlex Roll Out Next Generation video On Demand
FilmFlex, a movies-on-demand service provider, and Virgin Media announced a new partnership to drive the development of the state-of-the-art technolog
02/10/2015
RTS North West Announce Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the shortlist for its annual awards at an event hosted by CBBC presenter Lauren Lay
RTS North West Announce Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the shortlist for its annual awards at an event hosted by CBBC presenter Lauren Lay
23/07/2001
ITV TO FORM NEW ONLINE DIVISION
ITV ARE to form a new division, ITV Interactive, as the unified home for all online and interactive activities and the portal operations of ITV Active
ITV TO FORM NEW ONLINE DIVISION
ITV ARE to form a new division, ITV Interactive, as the unified home for all online and interactive activities and the portal operations of ITV Active
02/03/2007
National Consumer Council Warn Digital TV Giants Could Face Complaint
Virgin Media and BSkyB could face an official complaint following a row between the two companies which has left hundreds of thousands of customers wi
National Consumer Council Warn Digital TV Giants Could Face Complaint
Virgin Media and BSkyB could face an official complaint following a row between the two companies which has left hundreds of thousands of customers wi
28/06/2018
TVT Strikes Landmark Deal With ITV
TVT has struck a landmark deal with ITV to provide a comprehensive content management platform for the UK and international markets. TVT will manage m
TVT Strikes Landmark Deal With ITV
TVT has struck a landmark deal with ITV to provide a comprehensive content management platform for the UK and international markets. TVT will manage m
19/12/2014
Globecast Partners With Virgin Media
Globecast has partnered with Virgin Media to supply seven channels for the platform's expanding international television content. In total, Virgin Med
Globecast Partners With Virgin Media
Globecast has partnered with Virgin Media to supply seven channels for the platform's expanding international television content. In total, Virgin Med
13/05/2004
SMG settles differences with ITV over digital rights
Following the recent sale of The Scottish Media Group's (SMG) 25% GMTV stake held to ITV plc, the two companies have reached an agreement on the use o
SMG settles differences with ITV over digital rights
Following the recent sale of The Scottish Media Group's (SMG) 25% GMTV stake held to ITV plc, the two companies have reached an agreement on the use o
29/04/2024
ITV Launches New Ambassador Programme
ITV has launched ITV Insiders, an unprecedented content ambassador programme that seeks to put ITV's brand and programming at the heart of millions of
ITV Launches New Ambassador Programme
ITV has launched ITV Insiders, an unprecedented content ambassador programme that seeks to put ITV's brand and programming at the heart of millions of
09/08/2019
Entries Closed For Virgin Media Discovers Competition
Entries are now closed for the Virgin Media Discovers competition. Over 600 short film scripts have been submitted by aspiring screenwriters and film
Entries Closed For Virgin Media Discovers Competition
Entries are now closed for the Virgin Media Discovers competition. Over 600 short film scripts have been submitted by aspiring screenwriters and film
21/02/2019
ITV Builds Linear And On-Demand Content Supply Chain
As an integrated producer broadcaster, ITV creates, owns, and distributes high quality content on multiple platforms globally. The company operates th
ITV Builds Linear And On-Demand Content Supply Chain
As an integrated producer broadcaster, ITV creates, owns, and distributes high quality content on multiple platforms globally. The company operates th
19/04/2006
ITV Play launches on Freeview
ITV has today launched its newest digital channel on Freeview – ITV Play – with big name programmes lined up for the coming weeks. The ITV Play channe
ITV Play launches on Freeview
ITV has today launched its newest digital channel on Freeview – ITV Play – with big name programmes lined up for the coming weeks. The ITV Play channe
02/05/2002
Prebble quits as ITV chief
The chief executive of ITV, Stuart Prebble, has resigned. Prebble had been under pressure to quit because of the spectacular implosion of ITV Digital.
Prebble quits as ITV chief
The chief executive of ITV, Stuart Prebble, has resigned. Prebble had been under pressure to quit because of the spectacular implosion of ITV Digital.
21/11/2006
ITV Board Rejects NTL Merger Proposal
The Board of ITV has rejected a merger proposal from NTL as one with "little strategic logic." In a statement, the Board said it believed that "wherea
ITV Board Rejects NTL Merger Proposal
The Board of ITV has rejected a merger proposal from NTL as one with "little strategic logic." In a statement, the Board said it believed that "wherea
16/05/2008
ITV Acquires Silverback
ITV has announced that it has acquired the Swedish-based independent production company and programme formats business Silverback AB. The deal is cons
ITV Acquires Silverback
ITV has announced that it has acquired the Swedish-based independent production company and programme formats business Silverback AB. The deal is cons