STV Player to launch on Virgin Media

Virgin Media will launch STV’s on-demand service, STV Player, on its set-top boxes for the first time as part of a new deal with Scottish broadcaster.

The four-year partnership will also give Scottish Virgin TV customers access to fully regionalised versions of STV in high definition, which they did not have access to previously.

Virgin Media will broadcast STV in HD in all cabled STV regions – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee – on channel slot 103 of the electronic programme guide.

The agreement will result in enhanced promotion for STV’s brand and programmes on Virgin set-top boxes as well as through Virgin Media’s customer channels.

In exchange, there will be increased marketing presence for Virgin Media on STV’s services.

“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,” said Simon Pitts, CEO of STV.

“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.”

Virgin Media’s chief digital entertainment officer, David Bouchier, 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 three will be fully regionalised in HD.”