Virgin Media sparks surge in subscriptions for TiVo

Virgin Media has helped on-demand TV platform TiVo record its first quarterly growth in total subscriptions for four years.

In the three months to September 30th 2011, TiVo saw its global customer base rise by approximately 117,000 connections, compared with an overall loss of 33,000 subscribers in the previous quarter.

This upturn was driven by Virgin Media, which launched its TiVo-powered next-generation cable TV service at the end of last year and has recently begun marketing the product more aggressively.

More than 220,000 Virgin Media customers had signed up for TiVo by the end of October, while 127,200 subscribed to the service during the third quarter, around a third of whom were new to the cable company.

The result helped TiVo to generate service and technology revenues of $51.8 million (£33 million) during the three-month period, up by 25 per cent year on year.

President and chief executive of TiVo Tom Rogers stated Virgin Media has also benefited from the partnership with improved customer satisfaction ratings, which are much higher for TiVo subscribers.

"This was a great quarter and represented a significant step in our growth strategy," he added.