Channel 5 and MTV UK have struck a deal to become the official broadcast partners of V Festival, sponsored by Virgin Media. The Viacom International Media Networks brands will work together to cross promote content of the annual, open-air, live music festival staged simultaneously across two parks during the penultimate weekend of August.

For the first time, Channel 5 will be broadcasting live packages of many performance acts across the festival weekend, providing a free-to-air platform for one of the UK’s biggest music events.

As broadcast partner for the third year running, MTV UK will air live highlights from the MTV stage and main stage at V festival simultaneously on its core entertainment channel, MTV, and flagship UK music TV channels, MTV MUSIC and MTV LIVE HD. Further extended coverage from the festival will air across MTV’s full portfolio of music channels in September.

MTV’s news and digital production teams will be present at V Festival to feed through live updates and bulletins throughout the weekend via its online platforms including MTV News, mtv.co.uk and its MTV branded accounts on social media platforms including, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

MTV Senior Commissioning Editor, Jeremy Davies commented: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with V Festival, a major highlight in the live music calendar. The festival always attracts global talent with huge appeal, providing a fantastic experience for live music fans both at the festival and watching on screen.”

V Festival’s Paul Glossop commented: “We’re proud to be partnering with Viacom for a third year running to air highlights of V Festival LIVE on the world’s premier music channel, MTV, and in a V Festival first, LIVE on Channel 5.  Both MTV and Channel 5 present an unrivalled festival broadcast opportunity which, coupled with our incredible 21st Birthday line-up that’s filled with Global chart royalty, is set to deliver an engaging sofa side experience packed with lively, colourful and creative performances.”

This year’s V Festival will take place in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire on 20 and 21 August. As one of the biggest dates in the festival calendar – attracting more than 340,000 festival-goers across two days – V Festival will this year be celebrating its 21st year with another impressive line-up of over 100 artists.

For more event information, visit www.mtv.co.uk and www.vfestival.com