In the week that Sky announced record subscribers to its Sky+ HDTV (high definition TV) service, Virgin Media announced an addition to their own HDTV proposition, in the shape of increased HD programming on their version of the popular BBC iPlayer.
BBC programming, including Robin Hood, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Later…with Jools Holland, will now be available in HD format on-demand on Virgin Media via BBC iPlayer. Whilst the only linear HDTV channel available on the Virgin Media platform remains BBC HD.
In contrast Sky have very little on-demand HD content and instead offer 33 HDTV channels broadcast on the Sky digital TV platform – and this still remains the largest HDTV programming offer in the UK today.
Virgin Media is the first TV platform to make BBC iPlayer available in full screen picture quality, directly to its TV customers. The quality of the full screen viewing experience is very good (as we can attest), and as a result demand for the service has been strong with over 100 million views since BBC iPlayer launched on Virgin Media in May 2008 and almost 15 million views in March alone.
Katharine Burns Rivington, executive director of content acquisition at Virgin Media, said:
‘As more households become HD Ready, we’re keen to ensure that Virgin Media customers benefit from the most advanced digital TV service possible. BBC iPlayer has been a huge success on our TV platform and we’re thrilled to be expanding the service with HD content. We’re looking forward to increasing our line-up of broadcast HD channels over the next few months and combining the very best of HD and on demand TV.’
Rahul Chakkara, BBC Controller TV Platforms, said:
‘There’s a real appetite for BBC iPlayer on TV screens and the addition of the BBC HD programmes further adds to its appeal. HD lets viewers enjoy their favourite programmes in exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures, perfect for the TV screen.’
Upcoming highlights from the BBC HD channel, now available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media, include the two remaining Doctor Who specials, the new series of Dragons’ Den and children’s show Kerwhizz.