10 channels launch on Virgin Media

Virgin Media is adding 10 international channels to its UK platform, including a Pakistani drama network and a Nollywood movies net.

The telco is pushing into international channel distributon, and already offers international network such as Zee TV, Star Plus, Sony Max and Al Jazeera Arabic.

Pakistani channel HUM Europe will offer a range of dramas, soaps and entertainment shows from the territory, and will be available to Virgin customers with an M+ TV package.

Nollywood Movies will be a premium 24-hour channel showing around 35 Nigerian films a month. It will also broadcast African soap Tinsel, entertainment news, celebrity interviews and red carpet events, and African series Windeck. New soap Calabash will launch in January.

Virgin has also added live streaming package Worldbox, which comprises four international channels: Ukrainian entertainment net 1+1 International, Tunisian entertainment net Nessma, Portugal’s SIC International and Spanish news channel Canal 24 Horas.

Four more channels – French entertainment net EuroChannel, Gallic news channel BFM TV, Ukraine Today and Russian net CTC – will hit the service early next year.

M+ TV customers can access Worldbox by selecting 834 on the Virgin Media TV EPG or via its Apps & Games section.

Content management firm Globecast is providing seven of the Worldbox channels.

“With content spanning everything from international news, sitcoms and dramas to soaps, movies and comedies there are plenty of shows to keep the whole family entertained,” said Stephane David, Virgin Media’s executive director of content.