Virgin Media O2 UK to Expand Streaming Services via Single Subscription
Broadband, TV, digital phone and mobile provider Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2) look set to expand their existing multi-platform streaming services, which appears set to include a new range of streaming, gaming, health, lifestyle and security services for UK customers.
Virgin Media’s customers can already access a variety of streaming services and features via their existing TV products and platforms, such as Virgin TV 360 and their newest STREAM box. But a new deal with Israeli software company Amdocs will enable VMO2 to deliver an enhanced range of end-to-end digital services, which customers will be able to “seamlessly” manage via a single streaming subscription on their TV, mobile or PC.
The details are currently quite limited, although there’s talk of the collaboration helping to expand VMO2’s offerings to “include new streaming, gaming, health, lifestyle and security services following a rapid, standardized approach.” The focus seems to be on streaming, although the mention of “security services” would appear to indicate that this goes beyond merely TV and video solutions.
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David Bouchier, VMO2’s Chief TV and Entertainment Officer, said:
“We’re always looking to enhance our customers’ experience and meet their evolving needs. By broadening our offering with new sources of entertainment across mobile, broadband and TV, our customers will be able to manage their subscriptions and unlock new digital services all in one, convenient place.”
By the sounds of things, Virgin Media will be specifically aiming to integrate Amdocs cloud-native Subscription Marketplace (software as a service – SaaS) solution, which is described as being a scalable platform that enables a frictionless OTT (Over The Air) and digital consumer services experience and monetization.
Hopefully this works out a bit smoother than Virgin Media’s prior Netflix integration, which caused a variety of phantom billing problems (here). Naturally, there’s a promotional video for this new platform, which offers a bit more insight into what it might look like, even if it is steeped in the usual hyper promotional marketing spin:
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook and Linkedin.
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I think for me the key would be, what can this offer in terms of pricing compared to individual subscriptions. This is complicated by retentions offers on some providers like Now
Also how easy will it be to cancel a service. Often with such things it’s a couple of button presses to subscribe, but a phone call to cancel.
Based on my experience with their current stream box subscription, I would say you’ll waste lots of your time trying to get someone to sort a straight forward request.
In theory it sounds great and it was only a matter of time before someone offered this kind of service, it’s just a shame Virgin Media will be offering it.
There should and must have a Unsubscribe link to just leave and automatically stop billing being deducted from all subscription services.
Keep it simple.
They’d do well with having a multi box set up for stream. In particular the nexfibre areas where you are contained to one stream box per house hold. This also applies to VM areas if you don’t take up TV 360.
I hate to say it but I would love to work on the project to integrate this platform into the CRM at the backend and to get it working with their self serve touch points (web & STBs). This is gonna be a fun project for the folks on it, deffo very jealous.