Virgin Media customers are to gain access to fully regionalised versions of STV in HD, as well as the broadcaster’s STV Player catch-up service, for the first time after the two firms signed a four-year “strategic partnership” deal.
The deal also includes an increased marketing presence for Virgin Media on STV’s services and “enhanced promotion” of STV’s brand and programmes on Virgin Media’s set top boxes and through its customer channels.
Simon Pitts, CEO of STV, said: “Virgin Media’s TV platform is very popular right across Scotland and we’re delighted to be enhancing our partnership and extending the reach of STV’s fantastic programmes through this innovative, long term agreement.
“We’ll be giving our Virgin viewers two “firsts”, the launch of STV Player and the launch of all STV regional variants in full HD, allowing Scottish audiences to access our popular shows however and whenever they want them.”
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media said: “We are very pleased to have agreed this long term partnership with STV.
“It is fantastic news for our customers in Scotland as it will be the first part of the UK where channel 3 will be fully regionalised in HD.
“Virgin Media’s Scottish customers will be able to watch their local version of STV for the first time in HD, no matter in which part of the country they live.”