Digital TV News

Virgin Media TV customers to get Sky HD channels

Monday 7 June, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Virgin Media TV customers can look forward to an array of new high-definition channels, following a deal with satellite broadcaster Sky.

Sky (www.sky.co.uk), the UK’s biggest satellite TV provider, has signed a deal with Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) to buy its TV channels, which include Living and Bravo, for £160million.

As part of the deal, Virgin Media TV customers will have access to some of Sky’s high-definition (HD) channels, including Sky Sports HD 1 and Sky Sports HD 2, and all the Sky Movies HD channels.

The 3.7 million homes in the UK with a Virgin TV subscription will also get access to Sky channels and programmes through the satellite provider’s on-demand service, the Sky Player.

Neil Berkett, CEO of Virgin Media, said that the agreement with Sky would help the company focus more closely on the way it delivers its services. He said: “[This] will allow us to offer customers a range of the very best content through a highly versatile next generation entertainment application.”

Virgin Media will now be able to use the “red button” services to watch interactive and live sports coverage, including Champions League matches and highlights of other games.

Sky will also benefit from the deal, adding seven new channels to its line-up. The digital TV provider will no longer have to pay Virgin Media to broadcast channels such as Living, which is currently the third most popular pay TV channel.

Jon Ingram, operations director at Digitalchoices.co.uk, said: “This deal is great news for customers of both Virgin Media and Sky, who will now have access to more channels and more high-definition content.”