Virgin Media reveals plans for 3D and broadband-enabled TV

Speaking in an interview with The Telegraph newspaper, Virgin Media has confirmed it will be launching its first internet-enabled set-top box by the end of the year in partnership with US digital video recorder company, Tivo.

The news confirms the internet and TV provider will be offering its customers broadband-enabled, on-demand TV with fully searchable listings.

Fronting the project is Cindy Rose, the company's executive director of digital entertainment who will be responsible for fronting Virgin Media's web portal as well as the Tivo launch. Rose previously worked for Walt Disney and feels her previous work experience could have a positive impact on future Virgin Media releases. Speaking to The Telegraph, she commented: "I want to bring Disney discipline to Virgin Media's brand. Every aspect at Disney is quality controlled and it should be the same here: Virgin Media is a good company which is on the cusp of being a great company."

Rose revealed plans to bring web elements to the TV screen using apps as well as a system which will offer a search engine service "smarter than Google". Apps could also bring the likes of Spotify to Tivo boxes too. She also believes it won't be very long before high definition broadcasting will completely replace standard definition.

Additionally, the new executive confirmed Virgin Media's intentions to launch its own 3D TV service to rival Sky later this year. Around this time the provider will also be offering customers an unlimited music subscription offer.

Virgin Media had already hinted it would be bringing TiVo software to its set-top boxes towards the end of the year. Back in March it said it was likely this would prove to be a good alternative to Project Canvas. Since then Virgin Media's chief executive, Neil Berkett has called for Project Canvas to be more open following the refusal to enable Canvas to be included on the Virgin Media platform. Expressing his concern over the plans Berkett commented: "Unless we accept the Canvas consortium's conditions, people who want both Canvas and a pay TV service will have to buy two set-top boxes."

Virgin Media still have to confirm the prices and finer details for its imminent TiVo service.