Virgin Media’s purchase of UTV Ireland has been approved, clearing the way for the telecommunications company to continue its expansion into the Irish broadcasting sector
Four months ago, Virgin Media announced that it had agreed the €10m purchase of UTV Ireland and re-stated its commitment to “providing great entertainment for Irish viewers”.
Today, the purchase was approved by the regulator, taking Virgin Media’s investment in broadcasting up to €90m in the past 18 months.
The company, which is owned by Liberty Global, acquired TV3 for €80m in July 2015.
What does it mean for customers?
Virgin Media’s latest purchase guarantees that the company will distribute ITV-produced programming, such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street, in Ireland for the next 10 years.
It also signals the company’s continued expansion into the Irish broadcasting sector, which could mean new original content being produced and potentially a move towards exclusive programming for Virgin Media customers.
Virgin Media CEO, Tony Hanway, who we recently interviewed for bonkers.ie TV, said of the purchase “we’re delighted to have received regulatory approval to acquire UTV Ireland…we look forward to playing an even bigger role in the Irish broadcasting sector”.
Ireland’s fastest broadband provider
Virgin Media provides the fastest widely-available broadband in Ireland, offering speeds of up to 240 Mb and 360 Mb to over 700,000 customers nationwide.
The company recently announced a €50 discount every month for the first 6 months to all new customers signing up for a TV, broadband and home phone deal.
Here are the options available to all new customers.
Option 1:
- 360 Mb unlimited broadband
- Horizon Max TV (100+ digital TV channels)
- Mobile World (unlimited free calls to mobiles and landlines in Ireland and 22 international destinations)
- €45 a month for 6 months, €95 a month thereafter
- 12-month contract
Year one cost of €840 - Sign up to Virgin Media's 360 Mb broadband, Horizon Max TV and Mobile World deal now
Option 2:
- 360 Mb unlimited broadband
- Horizon TV (50+ digital TV channels)
- Mobile World (unlimited free calls to mobiles and landlines in Ireland and 22 international destinations)
- €40 a month for 6 months, €90 a month thereafter
- 12-month contract
Year one cost of €780 - Sign up to Virgin Media's 360 Mb, Horizon TV and Mobile World deal now
Option 3:
- 240 Mb unlimited broadband
- Horizon Max TV (100+ digital TV channels)
- Anytime World (free calls to landlines in Ireland and 400 minutes of calls to landlines in 22 international destinations)
- €35 a month for 6 months, €85 a month thereafter
- 12-month contract
Year one cost of €720 - Sign up to Virgin Media's 240 Mb, Horizon Max TV and Anytime World deal now
Option 4:
- 240 Mb unlimited broadband
- Horizon TV (50+ digital TV channels)
- Anytime World (free calls to landlines in Ireland and 400 minutes of calls to landlines in 22 international destinations)
- €30 a month for 6 months, €80 a month thereafter
Year one cost of €660 - Sign up to Virgin Media's 240 Mb broadband, Horizon TV and Anytime World deal now
