Virgin Media and TiVo have announced a partnership that will mean TiVo supplies Virgin Media set top boxes for Virgin’s updated IP TV platform in the coming years.
TiVo are to develop a new platform to bring linear (broadcast) tv and on demand content seamlessly together in a single platform and as part of this agreement they will become the sole supplier to Virgin Media of middleware and user interface software. TiVo has proven itself capable of developing such a platform with its successful boxes in the United States of America.
This agreement is part of Virgin’s plans to improve its existing TV systems with a new IP TV based on Cisco’s Digital Headend platform.
With an internet based TV platform, this could enable the entire country to receive ‘cable’ TV even without a cable in sight via the internet allowing Virgin to expand their consumer base beyond the current limits.