Virgin Media Ireland has launched a new TV platform, Virgin TV 360, which it describes as a new connected entertainment platform delivering Virgin Media’s most advanced and innovative TV service yet.
The platform gives viewers a TV experience on all screens, backed by new functionality including voice search and control, an updated user interface, and OTT video apps from the likes of Netflix, YouTube and others. It also offers catch-up functionality, box-sets, movies and recordings.
Viewers can watch TV in multiple rooms in their home from one of the operator’s 4K-ready Virgin TV 360 boxes, a mini box, or on the move with the Virgin TV Anywhere app.
The company says that the service offers viewing and UI consistency across Virgin TV 360, Mini box and Virgin TV Anywhere App. he ability to create individual profiles with personalised recommendations, a new startover feature that lets them move to the beginning of programmes on all major channels, and the ability to record six channels while they watch a seventh or other recordings, catch up TV or video-on-demand.
The Virgin TV 360 service is, like Virgin Media Ireland’s existing offering, based on the Horizon platform used by Liberty Global across its footprint with the exception of the UK. Virgin Media Ireland says the box is one of its most environmentally-friendly set top boxes to date with a 64% reduction in energy consumption over its previous Horizon set top box.
“The arrival of our new Virgin TV 360 platform is fantastic news for our customers. We’ve been working hard to ensure we bring the best entertainment offering across all our services, with the ultimate TV experience,” said Paul Higgins, VP of commercial, Virgin Media Ireland.
“Powered by our award-winning broadband network, Virgin TV 360 will change the way viewers enjoy all their favourite programming. From seamless viewing to personalised profiles, customers can now embrace our most advanced TV service ever. And with multi-viewing available through our mini boxes, and advanced parental control options, this is really is the perfect way to watch TV for the whole family.”
“It’s so important to us to be able to combine leading technological innovation with our long standing-standing commitment to sustainability and, with this new Virgin TV 360 entertainment platform, we can deliver on both fronts.”
Virgin Media in the UK has been trailing a similar “next generation TV experience [that] will bring together all your screens, favourite channels and apps, so you get to watch and stream what you love, at home and wherever there’s mobile data or WiFi”, which is likely to be based on the Horizon platform.