3 March, 2009
London, 03rd March 2009 – Fireworks International, the television distribution arm of ContentFilm plc, today announced details of a significant deal with Virgin Media, the leading UK entertainment and communications company, which will see more than 275 hours of programming made available through the company’s pioneering TV on demand service. The deal was concluded by Fireworks International’s Senior Vice-President of Digital Distribution, Jonathan Ford.
Over the coming year, Fireworks International will supply Virgin Media with multiple series for viewing on demand, predominantly for the recently launched Sci-fi & Fantasy on demand section, available to all TV customers subscribing to TV Choice, Virgin Media’s extensive on demand library.
Jonathan Ford commented, “One of our key assets at Fireworks International is our unrivalled catalogue of sci-fi programming which features a blend of classic, critically acclaimed titles and the latest hit productions. Virgin Media’s TV on demand service is the perfect platform for these series, allowing customers to watch shows whenever they choose, at the touch of a button. The new Sci-fi & Fantasy section, which launched in February, caters for legions of fans who can now watch their favourite long-running shows at any time, planning their own TV schedules.” Malcolm Wall, chief executive of content at Virgin Media said “With over 4,600 hours of TV, film and music available at the touch of a button on our leading on demand service, Virgin Media TV customers have access to an unrivalled selection of on demand content to watch whenever they choose.
The new deal with Fireworks International to provide great shows for our recently launched Sci-fi & Fantasy on demand section demonstrates our commitment to providing the best range of entertainment for all Virgin Media TV customers.” The deal will provide viewers with access to titles such as the spectacular science fiction series Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda which chronicles the efforts of Captain Dylan Hunt and his crew onboard the salvage ship Eureka Maru as they attempt to restore peace to a civilisation plunged into chaos; Mutant X, following a team of human mutants who possess extraordinary powers and Relic Hunter, starring Tia Carrere as Sydney Fox, the unorthodox history professor with a lust for excitement and a passion for adventure.
Also included is the supernatural crime drama Blood Ties, starring Christina Cox as Vicki, a feisty, ex-cop turned private eye investigating supernatural crimes with 450-year-old vampire Henry; the powerful mystery drama The Collector, centred around Morgan Pym, a man who’s been alive since 1322 A.D. and collects souls for the Devil; the classic critically acclaimed anime series Robotech and the live action children’s series Black Hole High.
About Fireworks International
Fireworks International is ContentFilm’s international television distribution division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, factual entertainment, kids live action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series and special event programming. Recent additions include hit drama series, THE WILD ROSES, crime thriller series, THE BORDER and heart-warming family drama series, HEARTLAND; BLOOD TIES, twenty-two hours of mystery drama with more than a touch of the supernatural; brand new U.S. tween comedy THE ASSISTANTS; Mondo Media’s MONDO MINI SHOWS catalogue featuring a raft of offbeat comedy programming; children’s programmes HALF MOON INVESTIGATIONS, FAMILY BIZ and ROBOTECH; plus over 200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies; and specials including the Annual U.S. PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS shows. This new product is combined with the large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue which is complemented by a raft of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry’s ANDROMEDA, MUTANT X and RELIC HUNTER.
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 the largest residential broadband provider 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 owns two content businesses – Virgin Media Television (VMtv) and sit-up. VMtv owns eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, Living, Bravo and Challenge – and is a 50 per cent joint partner with the BBC in UKTV which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi. sit-up runs retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auction tv. 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.
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For further information, please contact:
Fireworks International: Jennifer Brinkworth Vice-President, Marketing and Communications
Tel + 00 44 (20) 7851 6517
