Spotify app launches on Virgin Media TiVo

Virgin Media has today started rolling out a Spotify application to its TiVo customers, marking the first time the music streaming service has been directly available on the TV in the UK.

The dedicated Spotify TiVo app, part of a collaboration deal between the two firms, gives cable TV customers access to million of songs directly through their Virgin Media TiVo set-top box.

Any Spotify Premium subscribers will be able to listen to their favourite music advert-free through their TV or home cinema system using the TiVo box's in-built broadband modem. The app allows them to make playlists from the available songs and artists with the TiVo remote control.

The app, which will automatically appear in the Apps and Games section of their TiVo service, has been jointly developed by Virgin Media and Easeltv.

Virgin Media director of digital entertainment Cindy Rose said: "The world of digital entertainment is continually changing and we're always looking at ways we can bring our customers the best entertainment for their whole families.

"Our goal to deliver a truly unique experience for our customers and we're really excited about bringing Spotify to our TiVo service as part of our ongoing initiatives to develop the platform further with new features, applications and content."

The launch makes Virgin Media the only UK digital entertainment provider to offer Spotify, and the first time that the service has been available directly through the TV in Britain.

Virgin Media said that the Spotify app will help take the TiVo service "beyond the traditional set top box and creating a truly flexible source of entertainment for the whole family".

However, this is not the first time Spotify has partnered with a digital TV provider. In June 2010, the firm teamed with telecoms giant TeliaSonera to launch a music streaming service on TV platforms in Sweden and Finland.

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Spotify global head of telecom business development Andreas Liffgarden said: "TV is now totally interactive. You can now use your TiVo to record your favourite programme, rent movies on demand or even bend time by rewinding live TV.

"And TV has changed in form factor too. What used to be a big cube is now a flat screen connected to the speakers and surround sound system in your home.

"Since we like our users to enjoy the world's best music under the best possible conditions, it made perfect sense for us to develop this great Spotify app for Virgin Media TiVo."

Virgin Media also confirmed that it is in talks with other entertainment and content providers about launching new services and applications on TiVo in the future.

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