Broadcast: Viacom carriage deal shakes up Virgin EPG

Story from Broadcast:

MTV has cemented its place as a general entertainment channel on the Virgin Media platform after its parent company struck a wide-ranging carriage renewal with cable operator Virgin Media.

Viacom International Media Networks has struck the deal, which will also see channels including Comedy Central, VH1 move to improved slots on the pay-tv service.

MTV has moved from 311 to 134 on Virgin’s platform, out of the music secion of the EPG.

The move comes more than two years after Sky rejigged its EPG, when the Geordie Shore broadcaster jumped more than 200 places and was reclassified as a general entertainment channel.

Comedy Central HD moves up nearly 50 places from 181 to 133, while VH1 has gone from 320 to 316.

Viacom’s MTV Rocks, MTV Dance, MTV Base, MTV Hits and MTV Live HD channels also all received slightly better positions.

However, the company’s Viva channel lost four places, moving from 313 to 317.