Virgin and Viacom expand programme deal
October 20, 2016
Virgin Media and Viacom, owner of Channel 5, have agreed a new multi-year programming deal in the UK and Ireland.
The partnership ensures Virgin Media customers will continue to enjoy favourite networks like MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon as well as bringing new channels, additional catch up TV and box sets to Virgin Media’s TV platform.
As part of the new deal, Virgin Media customers will have access to hundreds of hours of box sets featuring programmes such as Geordie Shore and Inside Amy Schumer. New kids box sets from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. – including SpongeBob SquarePants and Paw Patrol – and, from November, Channel 5’s Milkshake will further boost Virgin Media’s existing selection of kids’ programmes.
Virgin Media customers will be the first in the UK to have access to four new mobile streaming apps – MTV Play, Nickelodeon Play, Nick Jr. Play and Comedy Central Play – giving them on-demand, on-the-go access to a library of content from each brand, as well another means of accessing a live feed of the relevant channel and a range of short-form content and games. As part of the deal, Spike has also been made available to Virgin Media customers for the first time, alongside more than 20 other Viacom channels.
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media said: “This agreement with Viacom means our customers will not just continue to have access to some of the very best TV from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon or the newly launched Spike, but can now enjoy even more programmes on demand – whether on TV or mobile. We continue to give our customers the very best TV to watch when and how they want and it’s fantastic to work with partners who really understand this.”