Virgin Central
Encyclopedia
Virgin Central was a barker channel
from Virgin Media Television, promoting video-on-demand content. The service was launched on the Virgin Media
cable television
platform on 20 February 2007. Viewers were presented with a video loop promoting the programmes available. They would then press the red button on the remote control and would be presented with a list of television series, episodes of which they could have watched at any time they like during the week. The programmes were all free to watch, and did not have any adverts in them. The viewer could also have use their remote control to pause, fast forward
, rewind and stop the programme at any time.
The service featured shows from distributors such as the BBC
, Buena Vista
and Alliance Atlantis
.
Virgin Central 2 was added to Virgin Media channel 120 on 1 March 2007, replacing Sky One, the channel was removed on 11 December 2007 to make way for VTV Music On Demand.
Virgin Central ceased broadcasting on Virgin Media channel 118 on 11 March 2010 and replaced with an information slate informing viewers that content remains available through More Free TV On Demand. The information slate was removed on 16 March 2010.
The Virgin Central service was not sold to British Sky Broadcasting
in the sale of Virgin Media Television (now Living TV Group) by Virgin Media
and as of July 2010 continues to operate as an on-demand service on Virgin Media's cable television platform.
Barker channel
A barker channel is a form of electronic media known as digital signage. It is a TV channel that is entirely composed of sales promotion and advertising, usually marketing various features of the service carrying the channel...
from Virgin Media Television, promoting video-on-demand content. The service was launched on the Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
platform on 20 February 2007. Viewers were presented with a video loop promoting the programmes available. They would then press the red button on the remote control and would be presented with a list of television series, episodes of which they could have watched at any time they like during the week. The programmes were all free to watch, and did not have any adverts in them. The viewer could also have use their remote control to pause, fast forward
Fast forward
To fast-forward means to move forward through a recording at a speed faster than that at which it would usually be played. The recordings are usually audio, video, or computer data...
, rewind and stop the programme at any time.
The service featured shows from distributors such as the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Buena Vista
Buena Vista Television
Disney-ABC Domestic Television is the domestic television syndication firm of the Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company, that handles the television distribution of product from Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, BVS Entertainment, and ABC...
and Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Toronto-based media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon and Sydney.Alliance Atlantis was acquired by Canwest...
.
Virgin Central 2 was added to Virgin Media channel 120 on 1 March 2007, replacing Sky One, the channel was removed on 11 December 2007 to make way for VTV Music On Demand.
Virgin Central ceased broadcasting on Virgin Media channel 118 on 11 March 2010 and replaced with an information slate informing viewers that content remains available through More Free TV On Demand. The information slate was removed on 16 March 2010.
The Virgin Central service was not sold to British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
in the sale of Virgin Media Television (now Living TV Group) by Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
and as of July 2010 continues to operate as an on-demand service on Virgin Media's cable television platform.