So, the Sky / Virgin Media spat continues, and the latest news is that Sky will now pull all its major channels off the Virgin cable TV network at the end of the month (which means next week presumably) because the two firms could not agree on the rate Virgin should pay to include the likes of Sky One and Sky Sports in its cable packages. Relations between the two firms have become tense of late, of course, especially after Sky bought a share of ITV, possibly in a bid to stop Virgin Media (then NTL Telewest) from entering into takeover talks with the terrestrial broadcaster. Virgin Media boss Steve Birch confirmed to Radio 4 that Sky has said they will cut their channels from the Virgin cab le network and that they aren't interested in discussing the matter any further - he called the move by BSkyB "unprecedented". Whether Virgin Media will now look to cut its proprietary channels (including Trouble, Living, Bravo and the UKTV channels) from Sky's satellite network remains to be seen.
Feb 23, 2007
•
1 min read
Sky to pull channels from Virgin Media cable network
BSkyB will remove its major channels from the Virgin Media cable network at the end of the month after failing to agree carriage rates, Virgin Media boss Steve Birch has confirmed.