LONDON, July 13, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin Media (Nasdaq:VMED) today named four new High Definition (HD) channels which will soon be available on its award winning TV platform. For the first time, LIVING will be broadcast in spectacular HD and will be joined by HD channels from FX, MTV Networks International and National Geographic. All four channels will be available to Virgin Media's 3.6 million TV customers, with the first channel due to launch at the end of July.
The new channels offer a raft of HD content, from critically acclaimed programmes such as Grey's Anatomy, Dexter and Generation Kill, to visually stunning documentaries and some of the world's favourite live music events in crystal clear Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
LIVING, home to the Next Top Model franchise and cult phenomenon Most Haunted, is one of the UK's most watched digital TV channels and will be available to viewers in HD for the first time. LIVING HD will show some of the channel's high-profile acquisitions to maximum effect, including Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Private Practice and CSI. LIVING's HD launch is significant step forward in Virgin Media Television's brands' cross-platform entertainment strategy.
Neil Berkett, chief executive officer of Virgin Media, said: "As more homes become HD-ready, the launch of four new HD channels marks the next stage in the evolution of our pioneering TV service. Our line-up of HD channels and hugely popular on demand content is a unique and winning combination and we'll continue to bring more sport, films, entertainment and documentaries to our customers."
FX HD offers a mixture of top American programming and first run drama, comedy and crime shows such as The Wire, Family Guy and the forthcoming series True Blood from the creator of Six Feet Under.
MTV Networks International's HD channel, MTVNHD, which is dedicated to music and kids, broadcasts original music-based shows including iconic series such as MTV Unplugged and high profile live music events such as the MTV Europe Music Awards. Each Saturday and Sunday morning the channel also broadcasts a selection of Nickelodeon's hit children's shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
National Geographic HD is home to some of the most engrossing documentaries available, such as Extreme Ice and Ancient Megastructures, documenting science and technology, and unravelling history and the wonders of the natural world.
Virgin Media will make its full range of HD channels available at no extra cost to its XL TV customers.
Virgin Media is also currently in active talks with UKTV about Good Food HD. The company already offers the BBC HD channel and around 300 hours of HD content on its on demand TV platform, including BBC iPlayer in HD, around 60 HD films to choose from at any one time and a range of HD programming such as The Sopranos and Band of Brothers.
Virgin Media's digital TV platform was recently named the top pay TV service for customer support and value for money and the joint best for overall customer satisfaction in the uSwitch Digital TV Customer Satisfaction Awards 2009.
About Virgin Media
With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK's first quad-play provider of broadband, TV, phone and mobile.
The company is one of the largest residential broadband providers in the UK, using a unique fibre optic cable network to deliver next generation ultrafast internet access of up to 50Mb to just over half of all homes. Combined with a high speed ADSL service and mobile broadband products, Virgin Media is able to offer broadband internet access to virtually the entire country.
Virgin Media has the UK's most advanced TV on demand service and is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. It is the second largest provider of pay TV, was the first to launch a high definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder.
The company operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world's first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media also owns Virgin Media Television (VMtv) which runs eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, LIVING, Bravo and Challenge. VMtv is a 50 per cent joint partner with BBC Worldwide in UKTV, which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi.
With operations based entirely in the UK, Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (VMED).
For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com