Virgin Media Television Incorporates TV3
The TV3 media group is preparing to become a part of Virgin Media Television at the end of August. While the name of the channels will be adapted to the new company, TV3 will continue its broadcast life with the name Virgin Media One, 3e will be Virgin Media Two and be3 will be Virgin Media Three. Besides, Virgin Media Sport, a new sports channel, will also be offered to Irish audiences from the beginning of September.
Virgin Media Television will broadcast up to 450 high-profile football games in the upcoming season including UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers. Apart from that, the summit organizations of rugby and other sports will also meet Irish audiences on Virgin Media channels. The company, which has been transformed into a media giant by incorporating TV3, is trying to create an organization that appeals to every audience.
Virgin Media Ireland Group CEO Tony Hanway says “This move will make a major contribution to strengthening our position as Ireland’s leading entertainment provider” about the purchase of TV3 group and adds “bringing together our broadband and TV networks under the unique Virgin Media brand will be an exciting development for our viewers, our customers and everyone on the Virgin Media team.”
The share values of Virgin Media Ireland, which attracts attention especially by buying broadcast rights of important sporting organizations although being new in the market, are expected to rise.
TV3 has succeeded creating a loyal audience in Ireland over the past 20 years. About the sale of the channel, which is especially noteworthy with its news bulletins and unusual serials, Virgin Media general manager Pat Kiely indicates the need for a new beginning for TV3 and says he is looking forward to broadcasting under the name Virgin Media Television. While emphasizing the importance of rebranding, Kiely says that the TV3 group, which has experienced a decline during the economic recession, is recovering this year, adding that it will improve its ability to compete internationally, especially under the name Virgin Media, and that the sale will be a positive move for both sides.
Actually, Tony Hanway delivered this news of sale to The Irish Times last November. But the plan to continue with brand new channel names after April was postponed with a last minute decision. The change will take place on September 20th, when TV3 will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a special broadcast.
Virgin Media, who also introduced new era shows at a special event at the Bord Gáis Energy Theater in Dublin, heralded that popular shows such as Ireland’s Got Talent and Gogglebox will be back in the new broadcast season and announced that the news bulletin will be published every day at 20:00. At the same launch night, it was announced that Blood, a six-part mini-series starring Adrian Dunbar, will also meet the audience in the new era. Blood draws attention as one of Virgin Media’s most trusted projects in the new era. In the series, the Bafta nominee star Adrian Dunbar will be accompanied by Carolina Main. It is thought that this psychological suspense serial, prepared with the partnership of Company Pictures and Element Pictures, has the potential to be marketed internationally.
Despite their other projects, Virgin Media Ireland’s most ambitious subject, of course, will be sports broadcasting.
The new sports channel which is announced as “It will host Europe’s top class football and the latest sports news” will continue to be the official broadcaster of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers in Ireland over the next three years. Besides these, Heineken Champions Cup, the top tournament of rugby, which is indispensable for the Islanders, will also be broadcasted on the same sports channel. Virgin executives also gave the first good news, saying that the Heineken Champions Cup will meet the audience free of charge. In other high-end sports broadcasts, the subscription system will be valid as it used to be. Tony Hanway summarizes all the new developments and the new target by saying “Now is the time to fully bring TV3 to the Virgin Media brand and identity”. Channels in TV3 will join Virgin Media on August 30, 2018 and start broadcasting with their new names.
