Content & Technology Deal with Virgin Media

UK-based production company Two Way TV has signed a long term content deal with Virgin Media, for its popular Two Way TV skill-based games service and its interactive gaming channels, The Winner Channel and The Roulette Channel. In a parallel deal, Virgin Media has acquired for an undisclosed sum -Two Way TVs Ark Technology for the UK and Ireland.

The content deal will enable Virgin Media to place Two Way TVs games, gaming TV channels and competitions behind the red button of a number of third party broadcasters. Deals are already in place with ITV, Five, Challenge, and Cartoon Network.

For the past six years the cable company has used the Ark Technology, under license from Two Way TV, to manage all interactive services across its platforms. The new deals will see Two Way TV focusing on expanding its content and formats business in Europe and the US.

These new contracts will enhance the creative strengths of Two Ways business, where the company has been making strong headway. In the last five months it has produced over 400 hours of programming for ITV, been nominated for an Emmy for its WinWinTV format and has started to roll out a number of unique interactive betting shows.

Jean de Fougerolles, the chief executive of Two Way TV, said: Ark has been a fantastic interactive platform for us and it has become the lynchpin of Virgin Medias interactive cable services, so it makes absolute sense that they take it on and develop it for their growing customer base. We are continuing our close relationship with them through a highly strategic new content deal, and were excited about the market opportunities we can pursue with this new investment.

Peter Chapman, Virgin Medias head of content acquisition, added: Two Way TVs games and gaming channels have proved popular with cable audiences and were very pleased that we are able to extend these interactive services and secure them for the long term.

Note to Journalists on Ark Ark automates the many complex workflows of interactive TV and helps create operational savings. There are two components to Ark - Ark Broadcaster and Ark Collector. The former manages cross-platform scheduling and the play-out of enhanced TV applications. Ark Collector captures and manages return path data across all platforms, as well as offering CRM tools and fulfilment interfaces (for prize fulfilment, I-advertising, mailshots etc).