Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA) (NASDAQ:PARAA) and Virgin Media forged a new multi-year distribution agreement today, extending their partnership across streaming services and UK-based linear channels.
The partnership renewal and distribution agreement will combine the two companies products. For example, Paramount+, the company’s video on demand service, will show up on Virgin TV in 2023. Also, complete application integration on Virgin Media’s platform grants customers access to over 8,000 content hours from Paramount’s brands and studios.
“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,” said David Bouchier, chief TV and entertainment officer at Virgin Media 02.
Paramount Global is a media and entertainment giant that makes content and experiences for global audiences. It has managed to stretch out to most areas of the entertainment industry, including studios, networks and streaming services. Additionally, a cross section of Paramount’s brands include CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster.
In comparison, Virgin Media O2 was launched in June 2021. Its a combination of UK’s largest mobile network with a broadband network offering competitive internet speeds. The O2 brand is the corporate brand of a joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK’s largest businesses.
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The distribution agreement
The new deal brings Pluto TV, an ad-supported TV (FAST) service to a wider UK audience on Virgin’s TV360 and Stream services. That means over 100 curated channels, including titles like Hell’s Kitchen, CSI: Miami and MTV Movie Hits. Also, subscription video on demand (SVOD), seasonal and theme channels like Pluto TV Halloween and Pluto TV Crime.
“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 UK, as well as our popular free-to-air and pay TV channel portfolios,” said Sarah Rose, chief operations and commercial officer for UK and Canada at Paramount.
Virgin Media’s TV customers won’t see any changes to their usual viewing choices.
