Virgin Media boosts on-demand programming with Endemol Shine

Virgin Media has today announced a partnership with Endemol Shine International to bring the hit US show Kingdom to the UK, exclusively for its TV customers to watch on demand from 1st April 2016. Virgin Media has signed an exclusive licensing deal with the distributor for the first two series of Kingdom comprising of thirty one-hour episodes.

The tie-up between one of the UK's biggest Pay-TV providers, alongside one of the largest independent production and distribution companies, further bolsters Virgin Media's exclusive Video on Demand (VOD) offering. The deal was negotiated by James Braham, Endemol Shine International's Senior Sales Director UK and Ireland and Gill Hay, Director of Content Partnerships from Virgin Media.

Kingdom, created by Byron Balasco, is a raw, emotional family drama set in Venice, California against the backdrop of the renegade subculture of Mixed Martial arts. Kingdom season one stars cast regulars:

Frank Grillo ( Captain America, The Purge ) as Alvey Kulina, a Mixed Martial Arts legend and owner of Navy St. MMA gym based in Venice, CA

Kiele Sanchez ( The Purge, Lost ) as Lisa Prince, Alvey's girlfriend

Matt Lauria ( Friday Night Lights ) as Ryan The Destroyer Wheeler, the world-class athlete who had it all, including Lisa Prince, until his spiralling drug addiction landed him in prison

Jonathan Tucker ( Justified, Parenthood ) as Jay Kulina, Alvey's eldest son

Nick Jonas as Nate Kulina, Alvey's youngest son and the prized fighter at the gym

Joanna Going ( House of Cards, Mad Men ) as Christina Kulina, Alvey's estranged wife and mother to Jay and Nate

Natalie Martinez ( Secrets and Lies ) joins season two as a series regular and plays Alicia Mendez, an impulsive but skilled female fighter who is training at Navy Street MMA Gym

Kingdom is produced by Endemol Shine Studios, the scripted division of Endemol Shine North America.

David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media said: When choosing our exclusive programmes we look for edgy, immersive stories with exciting talent, a strong genre and characters with real depth.

We want to bring our customers something distinctive which they won t otherwise see on British TV. Kingdom ticks all of these boxes and I know our customers are going to love it.

We've got huge plans for Virgin TV this year and there's no better way to start than with a Kingdom-sized roundhouse kick.

Kingdom will be available from 1st April for Virgin Media TV XL customers to watch through its TV on demand service. The first six episodes will be available to watch from this date, followed by a new episode released each week. The final episode of season one will be broadcast alongside the first episode of season two joining both seasons together.

Cathy Payne, Chief Executive of Endemol Shine International said ESI are thrilled that Virgin Media are bringing Kingdom to the UK audience. We are confident Kingdom will be embraced by viewers here in the UK as is has across the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany and Latin America, to name a few of the territories where the series has built a strong following.

LINK:	http://about.virginmedia.com/press-release/9506/virgin-media-boosts-on...
	See more stories from virgin

Most recent headlines