The UK papers are buzzing with the implications of NTL’s $1.7 billion buyout of Virgin Mobile…some digital media related implications:
– Telegraph: Analysts warn that NTL may have difficulty cross-selling its monthly subscription cable packages to Virgin’s 4.3 million pre-paid phone consumers, who tend to be younger and less likely to hold the household purse strings. To attract those people in the first place, Virgin Television – the new company’s working title – will have to offer exciting and exclusive content. Telewest’s TV production-and-content buying arm, Flextech – whose channels include the popular Living TV – will be used to launch channels with names such as Virgin Music, Virgin Movies and Virgin Sport, the latter in direct competition with Sky Sports.
– Independent: NTL is launching Virgin Sports and aims to make football the centrepiece of the channel. Jim Mooney, NTL’s chairman, said: ‘We are looking at Premier League football. I think the concept of Virgin Sports is one of the most exciting things we can look forward to.”
– MediaGuardian: “Content is very important to us. We’re looking to utilise the content we have, see what potential events might occur that grow content without having money to do it. We’re not looking to spend a lot of money,” he added.
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