Virgin Media to Launch TV Channel With a Difference

Virgin Media to Launch TV Channel With a Difference

Turn on, Tune in and Branch Out

LONDON, February 8/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Virgin Media (NASDAQ: VMED) is making 20 February a red-letter day for TV
fans, with the launch of Virgin Central, a revolutionary new kind of
television channel.

Virgin Central will herald a new way to watch telly, combining the
simplicity of a traditional channel with the choice and control of next
generation TV-on-demand technology.

The channel will be free and host a showcase of blockbuster entertainment
around the clock, selected from the best of the company's TV-on-demand
service. By pressing one button and using a simple on-screen guide, viewers
will have instant access to different episodes of the show they select. They
can then stop, rewind and pause - just like using a DVD player.

Major series expected on the service over the coming months include The
OC, Nip/Tuck, West Wing, Little Britain; Grey's Anatomy, Alias, Criminal
Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami.

Content will be updated regularly and, unlike a traditional TV channel,
there will be no waiting for scheduled start times. The hybrid service marks
a step change in the development of TV-on-demand, making access to a library
of additional viewing more exciting and intuitive than ever before.

Steve Burch, president and CEO of Virgin Media, said: "Virgin Central
will offer a feast of hit shows in one place and is set to become the
destination of choice for TV lovers. By combining brilliant content with the
unrivalled versatility of our technology, we have created something that no
other company provides. Virgin Central will make TV-on-demand the simple,
compelling service it should be."

The new channel will complement Virgin Media's existing library of
TV-on-demand entertainment, which includes over 500 movies, highlights from
the previous week's primetime schedule, classic series and music videos.
Together with a wide choice of broadcast channels, a sophisticated personal
video recorder and high definition capability, TV-on-demand places Virgin
Media's customers at the forefront of the digital revolution.

Further major content additions are expected throughout the year,
strengthening the Virgin Central line-up and adding even more choice to
Europe's biggest on-demand library.

To find out more about Virgin Media services, consumers can visit
www.virginmedia.com or call 0845 454 1111.

Notes to editors

Virgin Media is an innovative and pioneering UK entertainment and
communications business. For the first time consumers can get everything they
need from one company - the UK's only quad play of TV, broadband, phone and
mobile plus the most advanced TV on demand service available, the UK's first
high definition TV service and V+, our high specification personal video
recorder. We're the UK's most popular broadband provider, the largest virtual
mobile network operator and the second largest provider of pay TV and home
phone.

Virgin Media owns two content businesses - Virgin Media Television (VMTV)
and sit-up. VMTV owns seven entertainment channels - Living, Living 2, Bravo,
Bravo 2, Challenge, Trouble and Ftn - and is a 50% partner in UKTV which
consists of ten channels including UKTV Gold and UKTV History. sit-up runs
retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auctiontv.

ntl: Telewest Business also operates under the Virgin Media umbrella and
provides voice, data and internet solutions to leading businesses, public
sector organisations and service providers in the UK.

Virgin Media is the largest Virgin company in the world and has almost 10
million customers (5m cable, 4.5m Virgin Mobile, 250,000 virgin.net). To find
out more visit www.virginmedia.com/presscentre

Media contacts
Charlotte Speedy, Henry's House
Tel: +44-207-291-3034
Charlotte@henryshouse.com

M Communications
Tel: +44 -207-153-1515 / +44-207-153-1530

Source: Virgin Media

Media contacts; Charlotte Speedy, Henry's House, Tel: +44-207-291-3034, Charlotte@henryshouse.com; M Communications, Tel: +44 -207-153-1515 / +44-207-153-1530

-------
Profile: intent