Virgin adds HD 'Sopranos', more to VOD

Published Tuesday, Apr 8 2008, 14:46 BST | By Dave West

Virgin Media is making shows including The Sopranos and Band of Brothers available in high definition to its television customers.

The content will be added to Virgin's on demand service under a new deal with US broadcaster HBO.

Other HBO shows on their way in HD include When the Levees Broke, Spike Lee's film about Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans.

Virgin says it offers more than 4,300 hours of content on its on demand service including HD programming from the BBC, Channel 4 and others.

Malcolm Wall, Virgin's chief executive of content, announcing the HBO content, said: "The public's appetite for high definition programmes continues to grow, so we're delighted to offer our customers two of the US' most popular and highly acclaimed shows in HD.

"We're constantly adding new films, TV shows and music videos to our already huge on demand service, but the addition of Band of Brothers and the Sopranos is a real coup."

Virgin's HD provision has been coming under fire on the Digital Spy forums in recent months.

The service currently carries only one linear channel, BBC HD, while Sky offers 17. Soon-to-arrive satellite service Freesat, from the BBC and ITV, is expected to carry HD channels from both the partners at launch.

The first high definition broadcasting on UK terrestrial TV may begin in some areas late next year and roll out alongside digital switchover, though many in the industry predict delays.