LONDON, Mar 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Virgin Media, the UK's leading digital entertainment company, has signed an agreement with Universal Networks International to make the SCI FI channel available to its digital TV customers in High Definition.
Launching on Virgin TV in advance of its anticipated rebrand to Syfy HD on 13th April, the channel will show some of the best imagination-based entertainment every day, including the forthcoming, much-talked-about UK premiere of V, a re-imagining of the 1983 ground-breaking invasion mini-series.
In addition, the high-octane, action-packed drama Human Target will also make its UK television debut in April, taking its place alongside SCI FI favourites Legend Of The Seeker, Sanctuary and the classic Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
This is Virgin Media's sixth new HD channel announced this year with more to come. Virgin Media's growing HD line-up already covers a wide variety of entertainment, including films, documentaries, sport, drama and music, with channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 available to all Virgin TV customers, as well as ESPN, FX, MTV Networks, National Geographic, LIVING (a Virgin Media exclusive) and the forthcoming Eurosport, Discovery, E4 and Film4 (another Virgin Media exclusive) HD channels all available for no additional monthly fee to 'XL' TV customers.
Virgin Media and Universal Networks International will also look to make HD content available on demand where possible, with selected programmes ready to watch at the touch of a button. Virgin Media already carries hundreds of hours of HD programmes on demand, including popular films, as well as BBC iPlayer HD and full television series via the vast TV Choice on Demand archive.
Virgin Media's executive director of digital entertainment, Cindy Rose, said: "The SCI FI channel is synonymous with the science fiction genre and premieres many high-profile, first-run series. We are excited to be bringing the channel's programmes to our customers in spectacular HD ahead of its rebrand as I know they will be introducing yet more fantastic shows in the coming months. We are continuing to add more HD channels to our growing line-up, all of which are all available to our XL TV customers for no extra monthly fee."
Laurence Dawkin-Jones, MD (UK) Universal Networks International, said: "Our SCI FI channel audience tend to be early adopters so they will love the opportunity to watch some of their favourite shows in fantastic High Definition. The picture quality will really make the most of our new look channel and the fantastic raft of UK premiere shows we've got coming up."
For more information on Virgin Media products and services visit: www.virginmedia.com.
