BBC to Create New Apps for Virgin TiVo

LONDON: The BBC is bringing a number of interactive services to Virgin Media via the TiVo platform starting in 2012. 

A soon-to-come BBC Sports app will build on enhanced red button services to bring together all the live streams for the existing red button service, video streams on demand and additional content from BBC Online. This will provide next-generation viewing experiences for Wimbledon, Formula 1, Euro 2012 and London 2012. The BBC Sport app will sit alongside the BBC’s existing BBC News and BBC iPlayer apps.

Jane Weedon, the controller of business development at BBC Future Media, said: “With its pioneering BBC iPlayer service now available on more than 300 different internet-connected TV devices, the BBC has successfully taken catch-up TV beyond the PC and into the living room. Having partnered with Virgin Media to bring BBC iPlayer to TV back in 2008, we have since brought a vastly-improved, fully-integrated experience of BBC iPlayer to Virgin Media’s TiVo Service. With the addition of the BBC News app and enhanced BBC Sport services—all accessible via the Red Button—we plan to build on this partnership and continue to innovate in connected TV through 2012.”

Cindy Rose, the executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, added: “Our innovative new TiVo service offers a whole world of catch-up, on demand, HD, 3D and live TV content and we’re delighted to be adding the BBC’s next generation News and Sport services to the lineup. 2012 promises to be an unforgettable year for U.K. viewers and our customers can look forward to every minute of it. We’re pleased to be partnering with the BBC to make even more of their content available on what is the U.K.’s most advanced TV platform.”