Virgin Media to offer UHD sports, movies and boxsets from Sky in new deal

Liberty Global-owned Virgin Media has struck a new multi-year partnership with pay TV operator Sky, enabling viewers to have access to Sky channels including Sky Cinema and Sky Sports as well as making Sky’s UHD TV content, including sport and movies, available to its customers.

Sky’sline up of entertainment, cinema and sports channels will continue to be available on Virgin Media’s TV platform, with Virgin customers set to enjoy new Ultra HD linear and additional video-on-demand content from the pay TV operator next year.

The new content will include Sky Cinema Original films and live sports in UHD, along with Sky original drama on demand, including shows like Jamestown and the forthcoming comedy Brassic, starring Michelle Keegan.

The UHD content will be available on Virgin Media’s UHD V6 box.

NBCUniversal’s suite of channels, including Universal, E! and SyFy, are included as part of the partnership, with Virgin Media customers also able to watch Sky Cinema through the Virgin TV Go app for the first time.

The latest deal between the pair builds on a closer collaboration between them. It follows the launch of Sky’s AdSmart addressable advertising technology to Virgin Media homes.

Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media said: “This expanded partnership with Sky really shows that, despite vigorous competition between us, we can join together to put viewers first. Our customers can keep enjoying a vast collection of TV shows, films and live sport but now with greater flexibility and enhanced viewing quality. With our unrivalled ultrafast broadband paired with unlimited mobile connectivity and a line-up of fantastic programming, we give our customers everything they need to experience incredible entertainment in a way that suits them.”

Stephen van Rooyen, CEO UK and Ireland, Sky said: “Thanks to this extended partnership, millions more people will now have access to hundreds of Sky boxsets and our incredible UHD content, as well as all the great Sky content they had before, from top Premier League fixtures to BAFTA-winning Sky originals. This partnership shows what can be achieved when you put the customer first and is a great example of industry collaboration.”