Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA) announced a multi-year deal with Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) to integrate the Amazon Prime Video app. Virgin Media, with 4 million TV customers in the UK, will be the first of Liberty Global's European operations to integrate the Amazon Prime Video app within its UltraHD V6 set-top box.
The launch adds Amazon Originals content, as well as Premier League soccer coverage, to Virgin Media's broadcast and on-demand programming across its multi-device TV service. Virgin Media customers will also have access to a range of UltraHD and HDR TV shows and movies.
The deal is intended to further enhance Liberty Global's strategy to combine over-the-top (OTT) online video apps and offerings with its own content and TV functionality, in an integrated experience. Customers can search, access and view content from a single platform.
Enrique Rodriguez, Liberty Global's EVP and chief technology officer, said: "We're excited to partner with Amazon to deliver its highly popular content, including Amazon Originals and Exclusives, directly to our consumers. We know our customers want to see their favorite shows and programming on their big screen at home, and our partnership with streaming services like Amazon continues to make that happen."
Jay Marine, vice president, Amazon Prime Video Europe, said: "We have made it even easier for our customers to enjoy Prime Video including Amazon Originals like The Grand Tour, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the highly-anticipated Good Omens starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. We are excited that these shows and many others, award-winning movies and our forthcoming exclusive Premier League matches will all be available on Virgin Media's V6 box for millions of Prime members across the country."
Lutz Schuler, chief operating officer, Virgin Media, said: "This partnership with Amazon reinforces our track record of teaming with the best to give our customers unbeatable content. Virgin Media customers will soon be able to seamlessly search for and watch incredible Amazon Prime programming directly from their V6 box in the highest possible quality. With thousands of box sets, movies, exclusive and original content, as well as 20 live Premier League games airing later this year, Virgin Media customers will have even more of the TV they love in one place all powered by our ultrafast connectivity."
Virgin Media customers will be able to access the Prime Video application through Virgin TV starting this summer.