Dating, documentaries and drama form backbone of new Virgin Media schedule

The broadcaster says viewership is up 12 per cent as it announces a new season which includes a look at Ireland’s OnlyFans creators, a new TV talent show and an intergenerational dating game

Jedward, Lyra and Deirdre O’Kane, who will be judges on new entertainment show The Big Deal, at the launch of Virgin Media’s autumn schedule. Picture: Andrés Poveda

Last December, Paul Farrell, the managing director of Virgin Media, told the Oireachtas committee on media that the firm had spent “an extra and unanticipated €600,000” in 2020 on pandemic-related measures.

“Market conditions in the media sector deteriorated very considerably, including a major slump in advertising revenues,” Farrell said during his appearance before politicians. “This impacted severely on the broadcasting sector including Virgin Media Television. However, thankfully, we are now seeing improvements in this regard.”