It’s our news look
Virgin Media’s Colette says channel doesn’t want RTE ratings war
COLETTE Fitzpatrick yesterday vowed she has no intention of entering a ratings war with RTE as Virgin Media one unveils its News at 8 bulletin.
TV3’S rebranding kicks off today with the addition of an extra news programme anchored by Claire Brock.
Colette, who has been at the Ballymount station since 2006, will continue to host the 12.30pm and 5.30pm editions.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror yesterday, she said: “We’re 30% up on ratings to this time last year.
“We’re not going head to head [with RTE] we’re doing this because it’s a good time to get viewers.
“It may well take viewers from RTE but that’s not the intention.
“The intention is to go it alone. It’s an hour earlier than RTE’S Nine O’clock News.”
The former Newstalk star admitted she isn’t sad to see the back of TV3 and is embracing the Virgin Media rebranding as a “natural evolution”.
She added: “The media business is all about consolidation these days.
“You have a commercial broadcaster and Virgin providing all this entertainment, it makes sense for them to come under one brand. I’m sure we’ll take a picture under a TV3 logo or something.”
The pair joked yesterday that they will have to be careful not to sign off as “TV3 news”.
Claire said: “It’ll take a few days and everything will fall into place.
“This has been building a while now so we’re just looking forward to getting the new look on air.”
Meanwhile, Colette said there are no plans for the two anchors to co-host.
She added: “The bulletin is too short. I think the double anchor thing was just a fad for a while around the world.”
Claire added: “We’ve changed the set and the format. There’s a lot of standing and that kind of thing as well.
“There would be nothing for us to do if there were two of us there for a halfhour bulletin.”
Viewers today will finally see the group’s three free-toair channels TV3, 3e and be3 rebranded as Virgin Media One, Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Three.
It’s also been announced Virgin Media Player will be the new name for the group’s on-demand broadcast player.
A new sports channel Virgin Media Sport will be launched but exclusively for the company’s customers.
It may well take viewers from RTE but that is not the intention COLETTE FITZPATRICK VIRGIN MEDIA YETERDAY