In what is the biggest re-brand in Irish media history, TV3 Group is to re-brand as Virgin Media Television from September.
As part of the re-brand the group’s three free-to-air channels, TV3, 3e and be3, will be rebranded as Virgin Media One, Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Three while the TV3 Player will be re-branded as the Virgin Media Player. In addition, the group is launching a brand new sports channel called Virgin Media Sport which will exclusively be available to Virgin Media customers.
According to Pat Kiely, TV3 Group Managing Director: “As part of Virgin Media, TV3 group channels have grown in scale and quality. It’s now time to build on this momentum and move to Virgin Media Television. This is a natural evolution as we bring our channels and platform closer together. Virgin Media One, the new name for TV3, will be the home of some of Ireland’s biggest and most popular shows with Virgin Media Two, Three and Sport giving our viewers and customers a diverse choice of great content. These are exciting times for media and we’re delighted to be at the forefront of the changing face of broadcasting in Ireland.”
Details of the re-brand were unveiled this week at an event in Dublin’s Bord Gais Theatre at which its new Autumn schedule was announced.
Some of the highlights from the new schedule include ‘Blood’, an Irish psychological drama series starring BAFTA nominee Adrian Dunbar; a brand new nightly 8pm News Bulletin and the return of ‘Ireland’s Got Talent’ for a second series.
In addition, the broadcaster’s factual output includes a new series called ‘Inside James’s which looks at life at Ireland’s biggest university teaching hospital; ‘The Town’, which follows families going through the highs and lows of modern Irish life in Portlaoise; ‘Revolting Ireland’ with Simon Delaney, who takes viewers through a potted history of all things protest, from the 1913 lockout to the abortion referendum and ‘Inside Ireland’s Biggest Prison’, which looks at life in the Midland’s Prison. In addition, The True Lives documentary strand will return for six brand new episodes and will look at everything from Donncha O’Callaghan’s Sporting Afterlife to David McWilliams: Back to the Future.
Tony Hanway, Group CEO Virgin Media Ireland said: “This move sees us strengthen our position as Irelands leading connected entertainment provider. Bringing together our Broadband and Broadcasting networks under the unique Virgin Media brand is an exciting development for our viewers, our customers and everyone in Team Virgin Media.”
