Viacom and Virgin Media expand programme offer with new deal

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.

The new programming deal for the UK and Ireland also extends many of Viacom’s most-watched TV channels onto Virgin Media’s TV Anywhere platform. This means Virgin Media customers can continue to enjoy programmes from MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon on their mobile devices.

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. Spike mixes the best of US entertainment, drama and reality TV with Mixed Martial Arts and UK commissions – its current line-up includes Lip Sync Battle, Battlebots and Wynonna Earp.

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.”

Arran Tindall, SVP, Commercial and Content Distribution, for Viacom International Media Networks, added:  “This deal gives Virgin Media’s customers even greater choice and control over what, when and where they watch the broad array of quality content that Viacom has to offer. We’re delighted to be partnering with Virgin Media to make content from all our branded networks available on every screen and both on-demand and on-the-go.”

ENDS

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline.

The company’s dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely available broadband speeds to homes and businesses. We’re expanding this through our £3bn Project Lightning programme, which will reach 17 million premises by the end of 2019.

Our interactive TV service brings live programmes, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and the best apps and games in a set-top box, as well as on-the-go for tablets and smartphones.

We launched the world’s first virtual mobile network, offering fantastic value and services. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland.

Through Virgin Media Business, we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest speeds and tailor-made services.

Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international cable company, with operations in more than 30 countries.

About Viacom International Media Networks

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), comprises many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Paramount Channel, Channel 5 in the UK  and Spike. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 3.7 billion households in approximately 180 territories and 40 languages. Following its takeover of Channel 5 in September 2014, VIMN now owns or part-owns and operates more than 25 TV channels in the UK, attracting close to 12% of viewing amongst 16-34 year-olds and making it the third biggest privately held broadcast media group in the UK market. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR.