27 June 2012: Virgin Media’s revolutionary TiVo service today sees the arrival of a brand new interactive Star Trek app courtesy of CBS Action. The app will thrill aficionados of the legendary show as well as take newcomers behind the scenes of one of the world’s most successful television franchises.
Every episode of Star Trek: The Digitally Remastered Original Series which is exclusively broadcast on CBS Action (Virgin Media channel 192), will be featured in the app following each original broadcast. Additionally, the app will showcase cast interviews, the classic 1970s Star Trek animated series and rare documentaries on demand, plus a host of exclusive and original content including footage from the hottest Star Trek conventions, interactive games and monthly quizzes.
Easily accessible through the ‘Apps and Games’ section, the app joins Virgin Media TiVo’s rapidly growing portfolio of interactive services, which enables customers to discover new content and interact with shows they love in entirely new ways.
With just one click, viewers will be transported into the farthest regions of the galaxy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and into the control room. From here, they will be able to navigate through six menu options which will present them with a truly unique Star Trek experience.
On Demand
Viewers will be able to enter a gateway to catch up on the week’s episodes of Star Trek starting with Star Trek: The Digitally Remastered Original Series, available to Virgin Media customers for the first time thanks to CBS Action.
Starfleet Interviews
A vault of behind the scenes interviews with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise and its creators, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig, DC Fontana and Walter ‘Matt’ Jefferies.
Intergalactic Events
CBS Action will travel the universe to bring you insights, news and reviews from the most exciting sci-fi conventions. The channel’s Trekologist Raules Davies will give a fan’s eye view of the UK’s Collectormania and London Film and Comic Con and witness first hand FedCon from Dusseldorf. As an official partner of Destination Star Trek London, CBS Action has the rare opportunity to interview all five captains, which will be available on the App later this year.
Specials
Virgin Media TiVo customers will have on demand access to all 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series and two rare Star Trek documentaries: A Captain’s Log and Beyond The Frontier.
The Ultimate Quiz
Viewers will have the chance to test their knowledge with a fun and interactive quiz written and hosted by Raules Davies. With this ultimate grey matter test of all things Trek, Virgin Media TiVo customers will be able to interact with the quiz to determine their Starfleet ranking all the way from Cadet to Captain.
Supertreks
Viewers can select their favourite Enterprise crew member and watch an exclusive video showcasing their top five skills, as selected by Raules Davies.
Aleks Habdank, director of Digital Entertainment Product at Virgin Media said: “For our TiVo customers we’re taking them onboard for a whole new digital entertainment experience with this app. We know how much our customers love their telly, and TiVo gives us the opportunity to take them on a journey of discovery and immerse them in a whole new world of content dedicated to their favourite shows. The app is a great addition to our line-up and it’s been hugely rewarding to work with CBS Action to create special exclusive elements that only our customers can enjoy.”
Chris Sharp, Chief Programming Officer at CBS Action said: “This is the latest offering to fans from CBS Action; the home of iconic action series, which celebrates fandom and brings viewers closer to their favourite shows. Working with Virgin Media on this app has been an exciting journey and a great project, and the result is testament to the innovation of the fastest growing entertainment portfolio in the UK. The launch gives fans of Star Trek access to even more content about the greatest television sci-fi series of all time. The app is already bursting with special extras and specially created content, and we’re planning more updates later in the year.”
The Star Trek app was designed and built by VOD and connected TV specialist Capablue using its Connected Lite solution.
CBS Action is part of the CBS Chello Zone Channels portfolio which comprises CBS Drama, CBS Reality, Horror Channel and CBS Action.
Virgin Media is working with a variety of partners on a range of new apps and next generation interactive services to make the most of the advanced features and connectivity built into the service. For further information about Virgin Media’s TiVo Service visit www.virginmedia.com/tivo.
Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.
The company’s cable network – the result of multi-billion pound private investment – delivers ultrafast broadband to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 120Mb, as well as market leading connectivity to thousands of public and private sector organisations across the country.
Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of British households.
The world’s first virtual mobile network was launched by Virgin Media and it is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media is a part of Liberty Global plc, the world’s largest broadband communications group. Together Virgin Media and Liberty Global serve 25 million customers across 14 countries, helping connect people to the digital world and enabling them to discover and experience its endless possibilities.