CBS CHELLO ZONE CHANNELS PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES CBS DRAMA ON VIRGIN MEDIA
12/13/2012
All CBS Chello Zone UK Channels Are Now Available on Virgin Media
London, Dec. 13, 2012 — CBS Chello Zone Channels, the joint venture partnership between CBS Studios International and Chello Zone, today announced that the home of iconic and unforgettable drama series, CBS Drama, is to launch on the Virgin Media platform today.
The channel, which is currently carried on the Sky and Freesat platforms in the UK, showcases famous U.S. series including “Cheers,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Dallas,” and UK favourites “Bad Girls” and “Cutting It.” The launch will see Virgin Media complete the full set of CBS Chello Zone Channels, joining CBS Reality, CBS Action and Horror Channel already carried on the platform in the XL package.
New programming planned for the channel’s launch includes the network premiere of hit BBC series “Playing The Field,” starring Melanie Hill (“Merlin,” “Stardust”), Ricky Tomlinson (“The Royle Family,” “Nativity!”) and Lesley Sharp (“Starlings,” “Scott & Bailey”). Adapted from the Pete Davies novel, I Lost My Heart To The Belles, the five-series drama follows female football team Castlefield Blues from South Yorkshire.
The announcement follows the expansion of the CBS-branded channels across EMEA this month, with the new-look channels launching in 83 territories including Poland, South Africa, the Netherlands and Romania.
Chello Zone’s Vice President of Affiliate Sales, Louise Cottrell, said: “With the channel’s growth across the EMEA territories earlier this month, this is the perfect time to extend CBS Drama’s reach to a wider UK audience. The launch onto Virgin Media is significant as it not only means the entire CBS Chello Zone UK portfolio is now available on this platform, but offers viewers the chance to enjoy the exceptional variety of dramas on the channel in addition to the offerings of its sister channels, CBS Reality, CBS Action and Horror Channel.”
The CBS Chello Zone UK channels have enjoyed impressive growth since launch in 2009, with viewership increasing by 86%.