Glee as Virgin Media exceeds 200 million on demand views
Virgin Media enjoyed a massive 200 million views of on demand TV content in the first three months (Q1) of 2010. With hugely popular catch up content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Virgin1 and LIVING, outstanding music videos and blockbuster films, over 2.1 million Virgin Media homes are now regularly watching TV on demand, an increase of over a quarter of a million homes in a year.
Cindy Rose, executive director, digital entertainment, at Virgin Media, said: “Watching TV on demand is now part of the nations' daily viewing habits, with millions of people tuning into the TV programmes they love when they want to watch them. As the way people watch TV continues to change, Virgin Media is bringing the best of high definition, 3D and online TV to viewers and we continue to develop innovative new services that will help consumers make the most of the digital world."
Channel 4’s on demand service, 4oD, enjoyed a record-breaking three months with nearly 19 million views of catch up content during Q1 2010. 4oD saw its best ever month in March with nearly 8 million catch up views thanks to TV shows including Glee, Shameless and Skins. BBC iPlayer saw over 50 million views during Q1 2010, with EastEnders Live watched on demand by more than a quarter of a million Virgin Media TV customers. ITV Player continued the soaps’ catch up success with over 6 million episodes of Coronation Street watched on demand.
Over 2.6 million movies were watched on demand during Q1 2010, including The Hurt Locker, Aliens In The Attic and Inglorious Basterds. Valentine’s Day saw Virgin Media’s movies subscription service, PictureBox, hit new heights with subscribers watching almost 150,000 films throughout February, including the romantic comedy Head Over Heels, offeredfree to all TV customers, Love Actually and classic romance What Dreams May Come.
With a 12% increase in views in March, music on demand’s popularity continues to grow. Justin Bieber made it to the top of the charts in March with Baby (ft. Ludacris), followed by Rihanna’s Rude Boy, and Young Money’s Bed Rock (ft. Lloyd).
Virgin Media also offers a hugely popular range of kids’ TV, with over 5 million views over the first three months of the year for great content including Angelina Ballerina, High School Musical, Pingu and Bob the Builder.
On demand TV enables viewers to watch what they want, when they want, at the touch of a button. Virgin Media offers a vast library of thousands of hours of TV shows, movies, music and kids programming, all of which can be watched on your television.
Virgin Media recently launched Virgin Media Online Movies and an online music video on demand service. The company plans to launch an online TV player and its next generation of set-top boxes with TiVo this year.