Launched 20 February 2007 Owned by Virgin Media | Closed 11 March 2010 Country United Kingdom | |
Picture format 576i (SDTV) and programme picture Slogan Press red, sit back, enjoy! | ||
Virgin Central was a barker channel from Virgin Media Television, promoting video-on-demand content. The service was launched on the Virgin Media cable television platform on 20 February 2007. Viewers were presented with a video loop promoting the programmes available. They would then press the red button on the remote control and would be presented with a list of television series, episodes of which they could have watched at any time they like during the week. The programmes were all free to watch, and did not have any adverts in them. The viewer could also have use their remote control to pause, fast forward, rewind and stop the programme at any time.
The service featured shows from distributors such as the BBC, Buena Vista and Alliance Atlantis.
Virgin Central 2 was added to Virgin Media channel 120 on 1 March 2007, replacing Sky One, the channel was removed on 11 December 2007 to make way for VTV Music On Demand.
Virgin Central ceased broadcasting on Virgin Media channel 118 on 11 March 2010 and replaced with an information slate informing viewers that content remains available through More Free TV On Demand. The information slate was removed on 16 March 2010.
The Virgin Central service was not sold to British Sky Broadcasting in the sale of Virgin Media Television (now Living TV Group) by Virgin Media and as of July 2010 continues to operate as an on-demand service on Virgin Media's cable television platform.