Sky's bouquet of basic TV channels including Sky1 and Sky News are to return to Virgin Media's digital cable service on November 13.
The broadcasters have reached two separate agreements for the carriage of the Sky basics package on Virgin and Virgin Media Television's Living, Bravo, Trouble and Virgin1 bouquet on the Sky electronic programme guide.
Full commercial terms were not disclosed but the agreements include annual carriage fees plus additional capped payments subject to performance-related targets.
Both deals expire on June 12, 2011.
Sky basic channels will be spread across each tier of Virgin's cable TV service:
- Sky3, Sky News and Sky Sports News will be available in the lowest M tier;
- Sky1 and Sky2 will be available in the L tier;
- Sky Arts 1, Sky Arts 2, Sky Real Lives and Sky Real Lives 2 will join the XL tier.
"We are pleased to bring our carriage negotiations with Sky to a successful close," said Virgin Media CEO Neil Berkett.
"I believe this agreement represents a fair deal and is the right thing for our customers. We recognise the quality and popularity of Sky's channels and look forward to welcoming them back to Virgin Media's TV service. We are also pleased to secure Sky's continued carriage of the Virgin Media Television channels until June 2011.
"This is great news for Sky and Virgin Media customers alike," said Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch.
"We want our channels to be enjoyed by as many people as possible so we're delighted to secure their return to the Virgin Media platform."