Virgin Media gives TV customers access to kids’ channels including Sky Kids, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Baby TV at no extra cost throughout October
3 October 2025
From today (3rd October) until Friday, 31st October, all Virgin Media TV customers can unlock access to a range of kids’ channels at no extra cost (usually £5 per month).
The offer arrives just in time for the October half term, giving families access to channels including Sky Kids, Cartoon Network and Baby TV, helping them enjoy thousands of hours of ad-free entertainment and on demand content*.
Virgin TV customers will be able to tune in to popular shows including Pip and Posy’s Spooktacular Party (Sky Kids), The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball (Cartoon Network), SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon), and Peppa Pig (Nick Jr.), along with the ability to watch kids’ entertainment at home or on the go via the Virgin TV Go app, using WiFi, 4G or 5G in the UK – made easy when streamed on O2’s award winning network**.
David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “We know half term and school holidays can be a juggle for families, and keeping the kids entertained – without a hefty price tag – isn’t always easy. That’s why we’re offering a helping hand and giving our Kids TV channels to all customers throughout October at no extra cost. Whether it’s content on Sky Kids, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network or Baby TV, our children’s TV line up offers something for all ages.”
The Virgin TV Go app is available to all Virgin TV customers at no extra cost and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play free of charge. Customers can register up to five devices at once, and the app can be used on two devices simultaneously. Through the app, customers can set up a parental controls PIN to help them stay on top of the shows their little ones are watching.
For more information on Virgin TV packages, including Virgin Media’s new TV bundles that come with Netflix as standard at no extra cost, please visit the Virgin Media website: Virgin Media TV bundles.
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Animator Jorge Gutierrez Leads Career Pep Talk for Neurodivergent Spec Labs Students: “Thanks, autism!” was a key takeaway excerpted directly from Jorge Gutierrez‘s (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Maya and the Three, The Book of Life) educationally-focused one-man show at Victory Theatre Center in Burbank on September 26. The audience, comprised of audibly appreciative neurodivergent performing and visual artists from local adult day program Spectrum Laboratory (speclabs.org), could not get enough of Gutierrez’s uplifting, autobiographical 450-slide presentation, animation career retrospective, and overall morale boost. In fact, the excitement carried on beyond the proscenium and into voluminous attendee social media posts in the following days. Decorated animator Gutierrez played headliner in Fighting With Autism, a tailored, exclusive, free-of-charge, one-night seminar. [Animation Magazine]
Virgin Media in the U.K. has added a slew of Paramount Global channels to its Virgin TV Go app, including: Nick Jr. Too (only available to customers with Kids Pick), Nicktoons (only available to customers with Kids Pick), Comedy Central Extra, MTV Music, MTV Live, MTV Hits, MTV 90s, and MTV 80s. [Virgin TV Edit]
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Spin Master: Inspiring Imagination: Spin Master highlights its three creative centers that are both the building blocks to the company’s continued upward trajectory and the cultivators of young imaginations. [License Global]
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut [Variety]
California safeguards child influencers: Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two pieces of legislation to create financial and legal protections for kids and teens who make online content. [Kidscreen]
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Dave Middleton, managing director at Midco Toys, has recently released his top toys predictions ahead of the upcoming Christmas period, which includes: Rubble and Crew Vehicle (Spin Master), Monster High Wednesday Doll (Mattel), Bluey Airplane Playset (Moose Toys), and Skibidi Toilet Mystery Giant Toilet (Character Options, Bonkers Toys) [Toy World]
Michael Hirsh Recalls Animated Life with Tintin, Babar, Berenstain Bears, Franklin and Beetlejuice: Read an excerpt from Michael Hirsh’s new book Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire, an insightful memoir by the well-respected industry veteran and co-founder and CEO of Nelvana. Born in Belgium, raised in Toronto and New York, Hirsh offers a unique behind-the-scenes account of working with such famous cartoon franchises as Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, Berenstain Bears, Franklin, The Magic School Bus and Beetlejuice, and larger-than-life personalities including Mr. T., Deborah Harry and Tim Burton. Packed with humor and wisdom, the book offers a frame-by-frame account of how creative talent and entrepreneurial zeal built a global cartoon empire. [Animation Magazine]
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Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Have a telly treat on Virgin Media, with Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and more amazing kids channels available at no extra cost
Kids TV open window
From Monday 7 February to Tuesday 8 March, Virgin Media is giving Virgin TV customers with the Player, Mixit and Maxit (with no kids pick) packages access to seven epic kids channels! Get ready to enjoy Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. Too, Nicktoons, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and Boomerang (plus all their shows in On Demand) at no extra cost! All you have to do is get the popcorn popping!
There’s a whole host of colourful characters waiting to entertain the little ones, including the beloved The Smurfs, PAW Patrol, Henry Danger, Horrid Henry, plus many, many more. And don’t forget they can also watch hundreds of episodes of their favourite shows when they want via the Virgin TV Go app.
Read on for a closer look at the extra channels available to you in February and March, then take a look at just some of the highlights that’ll have the little ones hooked…
Until Tuesday 8 March
Nickelodeon (CH 712)
Nick Jr. (CH 715)
Nick Jr. Too (CH 716)
NickToons (CH 717)
Cartoon Network (CH 704)
Cartoonito (CH 706)
Boomerang (CH 730)
The Smurfs
Starts Monday 21 February on NickToons (CH 717)
What’s blue, was born in the 1980s and loves a boogie? No Millennial parents, it’s not you when Eiffel 65 comes on, it’s the teeny-tiny (three-apples tall, to be precise) humanoids that love nothing more than swinging, larking and even Smurf-Fu-ing around their enchanted forest. With all the charm and absurdity the series is known for, it’s time to get silly, Smurf-style.
Think becoming a superhero is easy? Think again. When four new recruits join the Swellview Academy for the Gifted, they soon find out that becoming the saviours of the universe isn’t always plain sailing in this hit comedy series. With team leader Captain Man’s expectations higher than a superhero in the sky, can the youngsters prove their worth and truly master their powers?
PAW Patrol
Everyday on Nick Jr. (CH 715)
PAW Patrol is one of the most popular preschool shows on television. The CGI-animated series, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, follows a pack of heroic rescue pups—Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker—who are led by a tech-savvy boy named Ryder. Together, they work hard to show the people of Adventure Bay that "no job is too big, no pup is too small!" The series features a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills and problem solving.
Join Peppa along with her family and friends, including George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, and Suzy Sheep in adventures that teach kids about friendship, cooperation, and feelings. Oink!
And that’s not all!
For more information about the channels available and where to find them, Virgin Media subscribers can check out their updated channel guide.
David Bouchier, Chief TV & Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“While many families will be enjoying the great outdoors during half term, we have them covered with a stellar kids TV line-up of entertainment options, catering for all ages from toddlers to teens.”
The full channel list includes: Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network +1, Cartoonito, Nickelodeon, Nick +1, Nickelodeon HD, Nick Junior, Nick Jr Too, Nicktoons, Boomerang, Boomerang +1 and Cartoon Network HD.
Virgin Media gives all TV customers free access to hundreds of kids programmes for October half term
U.K. - Virgin Media is making its full range of premium kids entertainment and learning-based programmes available for all 3.5 million TV customers until 31st October 2021, at no extra cost.
Until the end of the month, all Virgin TV customers in the UK will be given free access to 13 kids pay TV channels includingNickelodeon, NickToons, Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, Cartoonio, Boomerang, and BabyTV.
From zany animated adventures to cartoon classics, families will be able to tune in to a whole host of shows that encourage learning through play, with thousands of episodes available On Demand.
Customers will also be able to stream hundreds of free educational videos and kids box sets from their mobile or tablet devices, via the Virgin TV Go app.
David Bouchier, Chief TV & Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“Ahead of half term, we are giving all of our Virgin TV customers access to our full range of kids channels and on demand programmes at no extra cost.
“Our kids TV line-up provides families with an eclectic mix of entertainment options, catering for all ages, from toddlers to teens – whether they are looking for educational programmes or want to tune into some cartoon classics.”
Virgin Media is making its full range of kids pay TV channels and on-demand programming available to all customers, at no extra cost, until 06:00 31 October. They are: Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network +1, Cartoonito, Nickelodeon, Nick +1, Nickelodeon HD, Nick Junior, Nick Jr Too, Nicktoons, Boomerang, Boomerang +1, Cartoon Network HD, Baby TV
The premium channels are usually available with the Kids TV Pick for £5 per month, with BabyTV available at an additional £5 per month
Virgin Media gives all TV customers free access to popular kids programmes
29 January 2021
UK - Virgin Media is making a variety of premium kids entertainment and learning-based programmes available for all 3.5 million TV customers during February, at no extra cost.
From 1 February, all Virgin TV customers in the UK will be given free access to seven kids pay TV channels including Nickelodeon, NickToons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. Too, Cartoon Network, Cartoonio and Boomerang.
From zany animated adventures to cartoon classics, families will be able to tune in to a whole host of shows that encourage learning through play, with thousands of episodes available On Demand.
The free kids TV offering, which runs until 2 March, caters for a broad range of ages with popular shows including PAW Patrol, Dora the Explorer, Peppa Pig, Blippi, Masha and the Bear, Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, Adventure Time, and more.
Customers will also be able to stream hundreds of free educational videos and kids box sets from their mobile or tablet devices, via the Virgin TV Go app.
For its youngest viewers, Virgin Media has extended free access to award-winning kids app, Hopster, until the end of March, providing a safe environment for pre-schoolers to learn through the stories they love.
David Bouchier, Chief TV & Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, said:
“We recognise the pressures on families to both educate and entertain the kids at home during lockdown. That’s why during February, we are giving our customers access to a great line-up of kids channels and programmes that foster fun and encourage learning, at no extra cost.
“We’ve seen a surge in popularity of kids programmes and apps during the pandemic and believe that this offering will make things a little easier for parents navigating home schooling and half term in lockdown.”
In Brief:
Virgin Media is making a number of kids pay TV channels and on-demand programming available to all customers, at no extra cost, from 1 February until 2 March. They are: Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network HD, Cartoon Network +1, Cartoonito, Boomerang, Boomerang +1, Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nickelodeon +1, NickToons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. Too
Virgin Media has extended free access to the Hopster app until 31 March 2021. Customers can access the app via their Virgin TV V6 set-top box.
With schools being closed and kids being asked to stay at home in the wake of the COVID-19 (aka coronavirus) outbreak, British and Irish television providers are offering a raft of children's channels, including Nickelodeon, to customers at no extra cost.
British cable television provider Virgin Media is giving its customers the chance to watch Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network for free. As schools are closed across the UK, the popular kids channels will be available to watch with no additional subscription fee required. The channels are home to Henry Danger, The Thundermans, Victorious, Teen Titans Go and Apple & Onion to name a few.
Typically Virgin Media customers would have to add-on these channels and pay extra but for the foreseeable future it looks like families can make the most of the free kid’s channels until April 21.
The upgrade is available to customers on Virgin Media’s Player, Mixit (without Kids TV pick) and Maxit (without Kids TV pick) bundles at no extra cost.
Virgin Media has also given 2.7 million of its pay monthly mobile customers an additional 10 GB data and unlimited minutes at no extra cost, as well as permanently removing data caps for customers on its legacy broadband to help them stay connected.
To see the latest bundles available from Virgin Media go to the website here.
NOW TV Ireland, the Irish arm of the IPTV series from Sky, has announced they're giving away free three-month kids passes for the remainder of March. It's in a bid to help parents keep their kids entertained while they juggle work and home responsibilities. According to a survey commissioned by the Irish government, 52% of Irish adults are working from home. And with kids on a hiatus from school, many houses will be a little busier than normal. This may impact work productivity for those juggling their day job and their role as Mum or Dad.
The kids pass includes uninterrupted access to hundreds of episodes of ad-free children’s entertainment. It includes channels like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network plus a range of educational kid’s documentaries. The pass allows you to stream favourites such as SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House, Pokémon, Paw Patrol, Gruffalo, Peppa Pig and iCarly. Following the free period, the pass will cost €7.00 a month unless cancelled, so don’t forget to cancel your subscription after the three months if you don’t want to continue. The reason being, the pass renews automatically at €7 per month once your subscription is up.
To claim your free NOW TV Kids Pass, you'll need to follow the steps below:
- Head to www.nowtv.com/ie/wfh
- Click to redeem voucher (populates automatically)
- Continue to sign in or create an account
- Sit back & enjoy!
Head of NOW TV Ireland, Michael Forry said, 'NOW TV really wants to help out all the parents who might be finding it difficult to balance work and home duties at the moment.'
With the hundreds of shows available to stream on the NOW TV Kids Pass we hope to make life a little easier over the next few weeks.'
Additionally, British satellite television provider Sky is giving extra benefits to its customers amid the coronavirus outbreak, including free Sky Go Extra, so homes can watch Sky TV on three screens at once, films being launched on its platform at the same time as their original cinema release and Disney+ available to stream from this week (March 24).
While Amazon is offering a free trial on its Kids Unlimited service. It gives customers access to thousands of kid-friendly books, movies, TV shows, educational apps and games.
Update (31/3) - Official Virgin Media press release:
Virgin Media gives TV customers popular kid’s channels at no extra cost
Virgin Media will be giving its TV customers seven of its most popular children’s channels at no extra cost until 21st April.
With some parents across the UK at home with their littles ones, Virgin Media is offering families a helping hand to keep their kids entertained.
This includes family favourites such as Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito and Nickelodeon. Across these channels, a range of shows from Ben 10, Paw Patrol, Teen Titans and classics like Tom and Jerry, ScoobyDoo and Spongebob Squarepants, will be available for kids to watch.
For extra flexibility, there’s also a thousand episodes On Demand, so parents can pick and choose a their kids’ favourite shows.
The full line up of extra channels for families to enjoy includes:
Cartoon Network
Boomerang
Cartoonito
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
NickToons
Nick Jr Too
This television upgrade is available to customers on Virgin Media’s Player, Mixit (without Kids TV pick) and Maxit (without Kids TV pick) bundles at no extra cost. Eligible customers don’t have to do anything and there will be no change to their contract.
During these unprecedented times, Virgin Media has also given 2.7million of its pay monthly mobile customers an additional 10GB data and unlimited minutes at no extra cost, as well as permanently removing data caps for customers on its legacy broadband to help them stay connected.
And to ensure customers can access important information from the NHS website without fear of going over their data allowance, Virgin Media has zero-rated www.111.nhs.uk, www.nhs.uk, www.gov.uk meaning these websites will not decrement customer’s allowances.
Viacom and Virgin Media extend content partnership in multi-year agreement
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) and Virgin Media have agreed a new multi-year distribution deal in the UK and Ireland spanning TV channels, on-demand rights and a range of new streaming applications.
The renewed partnership ensures Virgin Media customers will continue to enjoy access to some of their favourite TV networks including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network, as well as associated catch up rights and box sets.
As part of the new deal, Virgin Media will add three more of Viacom’s branded apps – My5, Pluto TV and MTV Play – to the app section of its user interface for the first time, making significant additional hours of content accessible to Virgin Media’s TV customers.
In addition to offering catch-up and extended on-demand access to a range of Channel 5 content, My5 also showcases a number of third-party ‘channels’ from partners including A+E and PBS America and a range of exclusive content including scripted series from the U.S., Australia and Israel.
Pluto TV, the ad-supported streaming platform acquired by Viacom earlier this year, features more than 60 channels in the UK including Pluto TV Drama, Pluto TV Romance and Pluto TV Crime, plus thousands of movies and series on-demand – all of which will be made available for Virgin Media customers to enjoy.
For the first time, Virgin Media’s Player TV and Mixit TV customers will be able to access MTV’s award-winning content through the MTV Play app which will also be available on Virgin Media’s TV service, offering 1,800 hours of Box Set content as well as the MTV channel and catch up services.
Virgin Media Subscribers to the MTV channel will continue to be able to enjoy catch up and Box Set content as part of their existing subscription in addition to access to the standalone MTV Play app for no additional fee.
Update (10/10) - Virgin Media is slated add Nick Jr. HD, a simulcast of the main Nick Jr. SD channel with programming broadcast in high definition, soon, reports to Virgin Media insider Media Boy! Nick Jr. HD is currently only available on Sky in the UK and Ireland.
Media Boy Blog also reports that Viacom could be planning to either turn MTV Classic into an on demand only service or to axe the channel completely.
The news follows Viacom and Virgin partnering in May 2018 for the UK debut of Nick Play, an enhanced version of the Nickelodeon Play app and Viacom's first mobile streaming app featuring long form content, which gives Virgin Media customers who subscribe to the Nickelodeon channels free access to the Nick Play VOD mobile app.
Arran Tindall, Senior Vice President (SVP), Commercial and Content Distribution, for Viacom International Media Networks, said: “This renewed and broadened partnership with Virgin Media speaks to the strength of our brands and content, as well as our investment in new streaming apps, which will allow Virgin Media customers to access their favourite Viacom content in new ways. Virgin Media has a great track record of innovation as a platform and as a partner and we’re delighted to have reached agreement with them to deliver further innovation for the benefit of their customers.”
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, added: “This is great news for our customers who can continue to enjoy Viacom’s diverse range of channels and content. The inclusion of three brand new apps will give our customers greater flexibility to watch their favourite shows at a time that suits them.”
The pact includes on-demand access to series such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol and The Loud House, MTV UK reality series Geordie Shore, and Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer, among others.
The previous agreement was due to expire at the end of August 2019. For a brief period of time, Virgin Media viewers reported on social media and customer forums that they could see pop-up messages on various Viacom channels warning them that various Viacom services would be withdrawn at midnight 31st August into 1st September. A short-lived website was launched informing viewers of the channels that would be withdrawn from the cable platform.
Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central could be pulled from British pay-TV service Virgin Media as the deadline for carriage negotiations between Viacom and the Liberty Global-owned platform approaches.
Update (31/8) - Viacom has been displaying on-screen messages to Virgin Media UK customers on numerous channels, directing viewers to a website - keepmyviacom.co.uk - to find out more information and to register their protest using hashtags on social media. According to messages being sent to customers, the channels were due to be axed at midnight on 31st August 2019 if a deal couldn't be reached.
The channels, as well as a number of Channel 5 spin-offs including 5Star, as well as Nicktoons, Nick Jr., VH1 and Paramount, could go black on the service as soon as this weekend if the two companies do not reach an agreement. “We are in ongoing negotiations with Virgin Media,” a Viacom spokesman told Deadline.
The move could lead to the loss of shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Impractical Jokers, Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, The Loud House, Friends and Peppa Pig but Viacom’s free-to-air network Channel 5 is not affected.
It is the latest carriage concern for Viacom internationally; the company struck a last minute carriage deal with AT&T in the U.S, which avoided the blackout of channels including MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the Paramount Network will on AT&T’s DirecTV, Watch TV and U-Verse services.
Carriage is becoming an increasingly fraught issue both in the U.S. and in the UK in the last twelve months. CBS had a carriage dispute with AT&T which saw stations in New York City, Los Angeles and across the nation go dark on DirecTV, DirecTV Now and U-verse cable systems for a couple of weeks before a deal was signed.
In the UK, Virgin Media subscribers were left without UKTV channels including Taskmaster network Dave and Flack broadcaster W after the two companies warred for weeks. Discovery and Sky also had a public carriage row in 2017 that saw the factual broadcaster call out the pay-TV broadcaster, then backed by the Murdochs, for “refusing to pay a fair price”.
There was a similar dispute in the UK nearly 15 years ago, when Telewest Broadband's cable service dropped Nickelodeon channels on December 17th, 2004. They were re-added to the service on February 12th 2005. Telewest later merged with NTL, which later renamed itself to Virgin Media. Leading up to the blackout, Nickelodeon's channels in the UK aired promos advising viewers to ring up Telewest and ask them to keep Nickelodeon, Nicktoons and Nick Jr.
A Virgin Media spokesman told Deadline, “All of these channels remain on Virgin TV and we continue to have positive and constructive discussions with Viacom.”
Which channels would be affected by a dispute with Viacom?
5 USA
5 Star
5 Spike
5 Select
Nick
Nick Jr.
Nick Jr. Too
Nicktoons
Comedy Central
Comedy Central Extra
MTV
MTV Music
MTV Rocks
MTV Base
MTV Hits
Club MTV
MTV OMG!
VH-1
Paramount
BET
British cable television provider Virgin Media is having a free preview month during October 2018 for a selection of its children’s channels, including Nickelodeon (channel 712), Nicktoons (channel 717), Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. Too (channels 715/716)! Subscribers to Virgin Media’s lowest TV package, named "Player" will get to enjoy hit shows such as Nickelodeon's Henry Danger, SpongeBob SquarePants and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn; Nicktoons' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Loud House; and Nick Jr.'s Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol and Dora The Explorer for no extra charge.
Player package subscribers will also enjoy a free preview of Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito and ZooMoo HD during October. From pre-school kids to teens, there’s something for all ages. Find out more about what’s on these channels and where you can find them with Virgin TV's rundown at https://www.virginmedia.com.
Virgin TV Go app offers the best entertainment on the box with new download feature
Customers can now download their favourite shows to phones and tablets
13 August 2018
Virgin Media customers can take their favourite TV shows with them – on the move and abroad – with the new download feature on the Virgin TV Go app.
Full House and VIP customers can now download their favourite programmes to compatible phones and tablets following an update to the app.
Virgin Media is offering more than 2,000 episodes of top-notch entertainment from the likes of Fox, ABC and Comedy Central, as well as Virgin TV’s collection of exclusive box sets, such as Kingdom and Ash Vs Evil Dead.
In time for summer holidays, customers can download shows over WiFi, 4G or 3G in the UK or countries in the EU. Any programme downloaded prior to leaving the UK or EU can be watched anywhere else in the world offline.
David Bouchier, Virgin Media’s Chief Digital Entertainment Officer, said: “Whether it’s bingeing on a box set on the beach or catching up on a comedy on a plane or train, our customers can download the best entertainment on the box direct to their phones or tablets with the Virgin TV Go app.”
Keeping everyone ‘appy
With the Virgin TV Go app customers can also stream live TV, catch-up and video-on-demand box sets. The shows available depend on their Virgin Media bundle.
Parents can also keep their children entertained over the summer holidays with the Virgin TV Kids app. Aimed at children aged three to seven, it offers some of the best-loved children’s TV shows available for download such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, as well as a great range of books and games.
Both the Virgin TV Go and Virgin TV Kids apps are available for iOS and Android.
ENDS
Note to editors:
With the Virgin TV Go app customers can watch live TV channels, catch-up and on-demand box sets.
Once a downloaded programme has been started, Virgin TV customers have 48 hours to complete it before it expires on the app.
List of channels whose shows can be downloaded on the Virgin TV Go app:
ABC Studios
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central
Crime+Investigation
Food Network
Fox
History
Lifetime
Nickelodeon
Travel Channel
Nat Geo
Syfy
Virgin TV Exclusive box sets: Ash Vs Evil Dead, Magic City, Kingdom, Chaussee D'Amour, Good Behavior, Will and Imposters.
[...]
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline.
Our dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely-available broadband speeds to homes and businesses and we’re expanding this through our Project Lightning programme, which could extend our network to up to 17 million premises.
Our interactive Virgin TV service brings live TV, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and the best apps and games to customers through a set-top box, as well as on-the-go through tablets and smartphones.
Virgin Mobile launched the world’s first virtual mobile network and offers fantastic value and innovative services with 4G connectivity. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland.
Through Virgin Media Business we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest widely available broadband speeds and tailor-made services.
Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company. Liberty Global connects 21 million customers through operations in 10 countries across Europe subscribing to 45 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. It also serves 6 million mobile subscribers and offers WiFi service through 12 million access points across its footprint.
Original Viacom International Media Networks' (VIMN) UK & Ireland Press Release:
NICK PLAY VIDEO-ON-DEMAND APP LAUNCHES WITH VIRGIN MEDIA IN THE UK
Customers To Be Given Access To Long Form Content Via The Nick Play App
London 30th May 2018: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) today announced the UK debut of its first mobile streaming app featuring long form content, with the launch of Nick Play on Virgin Media. Effective from today, Virgin Media customers who subscribe to Nickelodeon channels, will have free access to the Nick Play VOD mobile app.
Virgin Media customers who download the Nick Play app will be able to unlock and watch a wide selection of Nickelodeon content on-demand, including full-length episodes and short form content. Popular titles available on-demand in the Nick Play app include The Thundermans, Hunter Street, Henry Danger, SpongeBob SquarePants and Pig, Goat, Banana, Cricket.
Nick Play is part of Viacom’s wider suite of channel branded mobile applications for its core global brands, giving audiences direct access to a VOD content library and market-by-market short form originals. Virgin Media customers will be the first in the UK to have access to the Nick Play app.
We’re excited to be providing Virgin Media customers with full access to the Nick Play app in the UK as part of a continued expansion of our branded apps strategy,” Arran Tindall, SVP, Commercial and Content Distribution, for Viacom International Media Networks commented. “The Nick Play app will give Virgin Media customers greater choice and control over what, when and where they experience their favourite Nickelodeon content.”
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media commented. ”The Nick Play app is an exciting addition for Virgin TV customers, offering great Nickelodeon content whenever, wherever. We want to make it easier for our customer’s to enjoy the TV they love and the Nick app does just that.”
Nickelodeon content continues to make an impact on linear channels with the network achieving its highest share for ten years in 2017, maintaining its position as the #1 commercial kids’ network. The Thundermans and Henry Danger were the number one and two most watched live action shows in 2017 on Nickelodeon.
-ENDS-
About Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Channel and Spike. Viacom brands reach more than 3.9 billion cumulative subscribers in 180+ countries and territories via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties, in more than 40 languages. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.
About Nickelodeon
The home of SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, PAW Patrol and Nella the Princess Knight, Nickelodeon UK & Ireland Network is available in over 13 million cable and satellite homes and now reaches more than 10 million viewers a month. Launched in 1993, the top-performing Nickelodeon network comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15 and their families: Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nickelodeon +1, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. +1 and Nick Jr. Too. The entertainment company has built a diverse multi-platform business by putting kids first in everything it does – Kids Rule! Content is at the core of the business with critically-acclaimed and hugely-popular television programming from the UK and around the world. In addition to the quality television programmes, Nickelodeon also produces bespoke content available online and on Nick Play, as well as consumer product and recreation opportunities such as the UK’s first-ever Nick theme park, Nickelodeon Land and the messiest music festival for kids, SLIMEFEST.
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline.
Our dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely-available broadband speeds to homes and businesses and we’re expanding this through our Project Lightning programme, which will extend our network to 17 million premises.
Our interactive Virgin TV service brings live TV, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and the best apps and games to customers through a set-top box, as well as on-the-go through tablets and smartphones.
Virgin Mobile launched the world’s first virtual mobile network and offers fantastic value and innovative services with 4G connectivity. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland.
Through Virgin Media Business we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest widely available broadband speeds and tailor-made services.
Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company. Liberty Global connects over 22 million customers through operations in 12 countries across Europe subscribing to more than 46 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. It also serves over 6 million mobile subscribers and offers WiFi service through 10 million access points across its footprint.
UK cable operator Virgin Media is currently offering premium channels Nickelodeon, along with Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito, Pop, Tiny Pop and TV5 for no additional charge to subscribers of all packages until Tuesday 31st October 2017!
UK cable operator Virgin Media is launching its dedicated kids app, which was first announced to television news publication TBI Vision at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield in July.
The Virgin Kids App is designed specifically for pre and early primary school children (3-7 years old) for kids aged 3-7, and will offer more than 2,000 episodes of on-demand kids TV programming at launch, plus games and reading books.
Virgin’s chief digital entertainment officer, David Bouchier told TBI the app would be a “safe space” for children with no advertising, commercial influences or in-app purchase opportunities.
Show available at launch come from Virgin’s partners, including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney. They include Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Mike the Knight, Bob The Builder, In the Night Garden, Masha and Bear, Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, and Monkey See, Monkey Doo.
Book titles available at launch include Monsters Love Underpants, Princess Evie’s Ponies, Dogs Don’t Do Ballet and the Robot with No Bottom, whilst the games list includes Playful Kitty, Bubble Gems, Kids Tangram and Doctor Teeth.
Virgin customers can download the Virgin Kids app from the Apple and Google download stores, with shows available to view offline when abroad. The app is available at no extra cost to Virgin customers who have the Fun or Full House TV package.
“Our Virgin TV Kids app is a safe and fun space designed exclusively for pre-schoolers, Virgin TV’s youngest customers,” said Bouchier. “Parents and carers can let their children explore the best children’s TV shows from all their favourite channels such as Disney, Nick Jr, Boomerang and more, as well as a wide range of books and games safe in the knowledge that kids can never be exposed to age inappropriate or harmful content.
“Our Kids app has not only the UK’s best selection of pre-school entertainment, but it comes with added peace of mind for parents – an environment free from ads and other commercial influences.
"Best of all it comes at no extra cost to Virgin TV customers who subscribe to our kids channels. What could be a better parental antidote for the holidays!"
Virgin’s music and kids content editor, Sarah Aspinall, first mentioned the service earlier this summer. She also revealed the service was looking at original commissioning.
The launch of the Virgin Kids App follows Sky launching the Sky Kids app, which offers a similar service, in March 2016.
To celebrate the launch of the Virgin Kids App, Virgin Media held a special event in London:
Kids are jumping for joy in London today to celebrate the launch of our new Kids App. 2,000 eps of top TV shows, books & games! #AppyKidspic.twitter.com/BqvQEH5fdv
From the Virgin TV Kids App Description From Google Play
Designed for kids aged 3-7 the Virgin TV Kids app lets you conjure up entertainment with the tap of a finger (or the stamp of a foot) at home – and on the go.
There’s top telly available on demand, brilliant books and great games for developing curious minds. Loads of TV favourites are there, ready to watch – from Nick Jr, Cartoonito, Milkshake and TinyPop. There are hundreds of hours of shows on demand including Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Pingu, Mike the Knight, Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends, In The Night Garden, Paw Patrol, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom and more.
And it’s not just TV. There are lots of games and books to enjoy together, too. The best thing is,
there are no ads to skip, or breaks to huff and puff through. And there’s no way they can rack up costs with in app purchases. Phew
You can set up separate profiles for each child and the app will remember the most recent activities done on the app so it’s quick and easy to continue where they left off. You can even select the loop button to repeat the same show 5 times.
Key Features:
As a Virgin TV customer, this app lets your child:
– Watch loads of kids content on demand
– Play kid friendly games
– Read children’s books
– Watch on up to 4 compatible devices
Kidscreeninterviewed David Bouchier, Virgin Media’s chief digital entertainment officer, about the launch of Virgin TV Kids:
Inside Virgin Media’s brand-new preschool app
Virgin Media's chief digital entertainment officer talks Virgin TV Kids, and why preschoolers are a key component of the pay-TV value proposition.
UK pay-TV operator Virgin Media has released Virgin TV Kids, a safe, dedicated iOS and Android app for preschoolers featuring a carefully curated selection of popular on-demand programs from the likes of Viacom, Turner and Disney, as well as interactive games and books.
The app, available to all Virgin TV subscribers on the network’s Fun and Full House bundles via free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play, is devoid of advertising and in-app purchases. It offers thousands of episodes of kids programming from Virgin channel partners including Boomerang, Cartoonito, Disney Junior, Tiny Pop, Milkshake!, Nick Jr., NickToons, Tiddlers TV, VTV Kids and ZooMoo, along with an expansive book library and 14 interactive games. Its unique “repeat” button lets kids watch the same episode of a show five times in a row, and parental settings allow for offline viewing, as well as usage history of games, books and TV shows.
According to David Bouchier, Virgin Media’s chief digital entertainment officer, the decision to launch Virgin TV Kids was driven by the fact that preschool is a key component of the pay-TV value proposition, given that a significant chunk of Virgin’s roughly 40% of subscribers with children under 16 are, in fact, preschoolers.
“It’s also about exploiting and developing the unique position we have as a platform with the best content partners in Viacom, Turner and Disney,” says Bouchier. (Virgin renewed its multi-year programming deal with Viacom in the UK and Ireland in October 2016. Part of that deal brought Viacom-owned Channel 5′s preschool programming block Milkshake! to the operator a month later, along with access to Viacom’s mobile streaming apps Nickelodeon Play and Nick Jr. Play. Virgin also extended its long-term content deal with Turner in November 2016.)
Other reasons for the release, according to Bouchier, include Virgin’s need to follow its increasingly on-the-go, tech-savvy younger audience that’s demanding content across every screen. He points to the app’s ability to provide offline downloads as a key component for serving this demo.
“Netflix recently allowed temporary downloads, and Sky Go Extra in the UK has had the functionality for a few years, but we did not offer it on our streaming app. Virgin TV Kids is our first app for temporary downloads, which is a big deal,” he says.
As for competing with established products in the region like the Sky Kids app, Bouchier says Virgin purposely designed an app dedicated to preschoolers from the get-go to help it stand apart. “We have a lot of respect for Sky and how they operate, but their strategy is different from ours,” he says. “We deliberately did not try to create a soup to nuts, big age group kids app because we would alienate the older kids, not engage the younger ones and potentially expose preschoolers to inappropriate programming.”
Among the shows debuting on the app are Bob The Builder, Mike The Knight, In The Night Garden, Thomas & Friends, Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, Masha and Bear, Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, Monkey See, Monkey Doo and Angelina Ballerina. (Content will be refreshed monthly.) For its book library, the app features Monsters Love Underpants, three Princess Evie’s Ponies titles, Dogs Don’t Do Ballet, Barry The Fish With Fingers and No-Bot, the Robot with No Bottom, to name a few. Its games include Playful Kitty, Bubble Gems, Kids Tangram and Doctor Teeth.
“It’s very difficult in the current media environment to try and be the one place for everything. We do know that if you build a fantastic proposition, you’ll get your audience,” Bouchier says. “With Viacom, they have created complementary streaming environments, so why wouldn’t we offer those to our customers? Nickelodeon Play allows us to hit all the other demos and maximize the investment that they bring.”
The app launch follows the arrival of former Azoomee creative director Sarah Aspinall as Virgin’s kids and music editor last December. Reporting to Virgin Media’s director of subscription services Pete Chapman, Aspinall is currently responsible for Virgin’s kids programming including channel relationships, on-demand strategy and kids initiatives.
“Bringing Sarah in was a very good move to strengthen Pete’s team in the area of kids and get a dedicated head for that area,” says Bouchier. As Virgin grows its kids business across screens, the operator may soon invest in original commissions to help keep pace with Amazon and Netflix.
Bouchier, however, says the biggest challenge going forward is getting more subscribers to pay for TV. “In the UK, we have exactly the right brand, market position, product and triple-play, quad-play offer, but we need to ensure we keep delivering the value proposition. To get people to pay for TV is always the challenge,” he says.
New campaign brings connected entertainment to life
23rd March 2017
Virgin Media has today launched a major new campaign that brings to life the unparalleled entertainment that its customers enjoy through superior, ultrafast connectivity.
The multi-million pound campaign, which unveils the new Virgin fibre brand, will run over 14 weeks across TV, online, print and OOH. The TV ad launches on Friday 24th March during Coronation Street on ITV 1 and Gogglebox on Channel 4.
The campaign, created by BBH London, celebrates the uniqueness of Virgin Media’s cables and the great entertainment they are capable of delivering. Fast-paced and action- packed, it depicts some of entertainment’s most loved characters and personalities racing down a gigantic, futuristic fibre cable.
Set to the soundtrack of "Misirlou" by Dick Dale & The Del Tones, the film features appearances from Usain Bolt, Iron Lord Hunter from Activision’s Destiny game, Southampton FC and Donatello from Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Kerris Bright, Chief Marketing Officer at Virgin Media, said: “Red Hot is our north star for judging creativity and our new campaign delivers this in spades. If entertainment could choose its fibre – it would choose Virgin fibre.
“Our campaign coincides with the launch of VIVID 300 – our top speed – and the refresh of our bundles. Our entry speed is VIVID 100, meaning we start where our competition stops.
“The power of our proposition is that we bring connectivity and entertainment together in an irresistible way. The best entertainment needs awesome connectivity, so whether you’re streaming, downloading or gaming online we’ve got the connectivity that’s up to the job.”
The campaign is based on the insight that, due to its unrivalled fibre and Wi-Fi connection, Virgin Media is able to deliver a reliable and seamless entertainment experience, direct to the home. The high-energy film reminds viewers of this, demonstrating that Virgin Media is the fastest way to connected entertainment. It ends with the line: ‘The best entertainment deserves awesome WiFi. This is Virgin Fibre.’
The film was shot by award-winning director Sam Brown, through Rogue. An epic production, it was shot in a bespoke tunnel in Budapest spanning 200ft. It will be accompanied by print and online activity planned and bought by Manning Gottlieb OMD.
The full TV advert can be viewed here:
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline.
The company’s dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely available broadband speeds to homes and businesses. We’re expanding this through our £3bn Project Lightning programme, which will reach 17 million premises by the end of 2019.
Our interactive TV service brings live programmes, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and the best apps and games in a set-top box, as well as on-the-go for tablets and smartphones.
We launched the world’s first virtual mobile network, offering fantastic value and services. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland.
Through Virgin Media Business, we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest speeds and tailor-made services.
Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international cable company, with operations in more than 30 countries.
###
Credits:
Chief marketing officer: Kerris Bright
Director of brand communications: Lloyd Page
Head of advertising and sponsorship: Ellie Tory-Norman
Agency: BBH
Creative Team: Felipe Guimaraes, Lambros Charalambous
Creative director: Carl Broadhurst
Strategist: Alana King
Strategy director: Elle Graham-Dixon
Business lead: Zoe Verrion
Account directors: Andrew Connolly, Brooke Hannan
Account manager: Matt Sims, Lauren Thacker, Alice Brooksbank, Sam Hardy
Agency Producer: Georgina Kent
Assistant producer: Sophie Hughes
Production company: Rogue
Director: Sam Brown
Executive producer: Charlie Crompton
Producer: James Howland
Director of photography: Tom Townsend
Post production: The Mill
Editing: Final Cut
Sound: Factory
Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons!
Additional source: Campaign; H/T: The Drum.Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon UK, NickToons UK and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News and Highlights!
UK pay TV platform Virgin Media and Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) have agreed a new multi-year programming deal in the UK and Ireland.
The partnership ensures Virgin Media customers will continue to enjoy favourite networks such as Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, and Comedy Central, as will also bring new Viacom channels and additional catch up TV and box sets to Virgin Media's TV platform.
As part of the unspecified multiyear deal, Virgin Media customers will have access to hundreds of hours of box sets featuring programmes such as Geordie Shore from MTV and Inside Amy Schumer from Comedy Central. New kids box sets from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. – including SpongeBob SquarePants and Paw Patrol – and, from November, Channel 5's Milkshake will further boost Virgin Media's existing selection of kids' programmes.
Virgin Media customers will also be the first in the UK to have access to the Viacom Play Plex, which will feature four new mobile streaming apps - Nickelodeon Play, Nick Jr. Play, MTV Play and Comedy Central Play – giving them on-demand, on-the-go access to a library of content from each brand, as well another means of accessing a live feed of the relevant channel and a range of short-form content and games. As part of the deal, the Spike linear channel has also been made available to Virgin Media customers for the first time since the channel launched in April 2015, alongside more than 20 additional Viacom channels.
Viacom's most-watched TV channels will now also be available on Virgin Media's TV Anywhere platform. This means Virgin Media customers can continue to enjoy programmes from MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon on their mobile devices.
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media said: "This agreement with Viacom means our customers will not just continue to have access to some of the very best TV from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon or the newly launched Spike, but can now enjoy even more programmes on demand – whether on TV or mobile. We continue to give our customers the very best TV to watch when and how they want and it’s fantastic to work with partners who really understand this."
Arran Tindall, Senior Vice President (SVP), Commercial and Content Distribution, for Viacom International Media Networks, added: "This deal gives Virgin Media's customers even greater choice and control over what, when and where they watch the broad array of quality content that Viacom has to offer. We’re delighted to be partnering with Virgin Media to make content from all our branded networks available on every screen and both on-demand and on-the-go."
The release of the Play channels follows a model often seen in the United States where a programmer's content is tied to a cable subscription.
Time specifics of Virgin Media's and Viacom's new carriage arrangement were not announced.
