Paramount, Virgin Media Ink New Distribution Pact

Paramount and Virgin Media have extended their long-running partnership in the U.K. with a new multiyear distribution agreement covering linear channels and streaming services.

As part of the renewed alliance, Paramount+ arrives on Virgin TV next year, while AVOD service Pluto TV gains wider U.K. distribution on Virgin Media’s TV360 and Stream services. Next year, Pluto TV’s 100-channel lineup will launch on a dedicated FAST section of Virgin TV’s EPG. The deal also sees Virgin Media TV customers secure continued access to the pay-TV brands MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon; and the free-TV brand Channel 5; its digital channel portfolio; and on-demand service, My5.

Sarah Rose, chief operations and commercial officer for the U.K. and Canada at Paramount, noted, “Our long partnership with Virgin Media continues to help us unlock the power of Paramount’s content. The wider distribution of our SVOD and FAST services, Paramount+ and Pluto TV will support our ambitious growth plans for streaming in the U.K., as well as our popular free-to-air and pay-TV channel portfolios.”

David Bouchier, chief TV and entertainment officer at Virgin Media O2, added, “We’re constantly looking to give our customers even more great entertainment to enjoy whenever and wherever they want to. Our enhanced partnership with Paramount offers access not only to award-winning drama, comedy, music and kids’ channels, but also FAST channels via Pluto TV and premium SVOD with Paramount+.  This is fantastic news for our customers and gives them even more to look forward to next year.”