Virgin Media and the BBC have confirmed that Red Button services will be created for the cablenet’s TiVo platform.
First to launch will be apps for interactive News and Sports coverage. The BBC and Virgin had previously collaborated on a version of the iPlayer for the Liberate/TV Navigator platform. The iPlayer has subsequently been integrated into the TiVo platform, though there is no longer separate reporting of Virgin customers’ viewing from the next generation platform.
The move safeguards the availability of additional Olympic content during London 2012.
Jane Weedon, controller of business development, BBC Future Media said: “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.”
Accessible via the Red Button and the Virgin Media TiVo ‘Apps and Games’ section, the BBC News app is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2012.
