Virgin Media’s TV customers are being treated to two new channels (Image: Virgin Media)
If you are a TV customer then there’s good news for you today. The and TV provider has just announced it is introducing two brand new free TV channels for all its customers that are available from today.
The two channels are what is known as FAST channels. FAST stands for “free ad-supported streaming TV channels” and they do what they say on the tin: provide free to watch programming that also shows advertisements, just like you’d expect on traditional terrestrial channels such as 1 or , or on commercial radio stations.
Of course, the two new FAST channels in this case are not completely free because they are for existing paid subscribers of Virgin Media TV packages.
Here is the full information on the two new channels, which have been launched in partnership with ITV Studios:
- Hell’s Kitchen: ITV Studios (Ch 233) – a 24/7 channel dedicated to the cooking reality show and ratings juggernaut led by world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay
- Eggheads: ITV Studios (Ch 253) – a quiz show battle between a team of super-brain champions and amateur quiz players
So, it’s great news if you are a fan of Hell’s Kitchen or Eggheads, two very popular shows with large enough back catalogues to dedicate entire channels to. In the case of Gordon Ramsay’s reality TV channel, you get 24 hour round the clock programming so you can tune in to see his expletive-filled rants at hapless kitchen staff at any minute of the day.
Virgin Media said the new channels are available to customers with V6, Virgin TV360 and Stream packages. Given these are the three main plans and devices Virgin offers, it looks as though all Virgin customers will benefit from this free channel boost.
The new entertainment offerings add to Virgin’s existing crop of 30 FAST channels it offers on Virgin TV, including hit shows Tipping Point and Deal or No Deal.
When announcing the two new channels, Virgin Media O2 (the merged company that also owns the O2 mobile network) released new research that shows 21 percent of the British public think they could win a reality TV show, and the stats even break down the shows those people think they could win.
In a poll of 1,000 UK adults, 31 percent reckon they could win hit show , while 30 percent said they’d have a chance of being the main star of The Great British Bake Off.
Elsewhere, 21 percent said they’d be the one to take the top prize from Lord Sugar on The Apprentice, while 18 percent said they’d win Big Brother and 17 percent said they’d be top of the pile on .
45 percent of all surveyed said their social skills would be the main reason they’d take top place while 24 percent said their authenticity would help them win their reality show of choice.
“Reality TV doesn’t just entertain us, but tests our knowledge, gives us something to chat about for those water cooler moments, and most importantly, brings TV fans together,” said David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2. “The expansion of our streaming channel offering is brilliant news for our customers, and with some of the most recognisable reality content available to watch our customers can sit back, relax and enjoy extra value – and extra drama – on us.”
The poll also uncovered the main reasons Britons love reality TV:
- 51%: Find it relaxing and helps switch off after a long day
- 36%: Love getting invested in contestants’ stories
- 35%: Like seeing people react under pressure
- 35%: Love discussing the show with other people
- 22%: Helps them keep up to date and enable them to input into social conversations