NTL To Become Virgin Media Early Next Year

NTL:Telewest has announced that it is to rebrand itself Virgin Media at the beginning of next year, following the acquisition of the mobile phone operator.

NTL:Telewest purchased Virgin Mobile in April this year for £962 million in cash and shares, forming the nation’s first quadruple play broadcaster to offer TV, broadband, fixed line and mobile telephony (see NTL Confirms £962m Virgin Mobile Takeover).

The company will be rebranding its consumer division and all its TV, telephony and broadband business to Virgin in the first quarter of 2007, which it says will be backed by a significant advertising campaign. At that point the current consumer brands of NTL and Telewest will be phased out rapidly.

NTL:Telewest also announced its third quarter results today, revealing that revenue was £1,024.9 million, up £140.6 million on the second quarter of 2006, due to the Virgin Mobile acquisition.

Steve Burch, chief executive officer of NTL, said: “Today, we are announcing a change in our company name to Virgin Media and our plans to rebrand our existing consumer division early next year, backed up by a significant media campaign.

“Virgin Media will exploit its unique ability to offer a quad-play of digital TV, broadband, mobile and home phone services to deliver an unrivalled choice of high quality.”

NTL: 01256 752000 www.ntl.com