C21 Media: BT to buy ESPN’s UK and Ireland business

Info from C21 Media:

UK telecoms company BT Group has confirmed that it’s to acquire ESPN’s UK and Ireland TV channels business, including ESPN and ESPN America.

Confirmed: Sky Movies reveal new Sky Movies channel lineup from March 28th on Sky

Sky Movies Classics & Indies are being withdrawn as separate channels, with their content being merged and will be replaced by a newly badged channel called Sky Movies Select and Sky Movies Modern Greats will be re-badged as Sky Movies Greats.

Confirmed: Sky Movies Disney HD to launch on Virgin Media next month

Info from Virgin Media Forums:

Rumour: More channels to launch on Virgin Media

Rumour from Technix over on DS Forum:

Technix says the following channels may launch on Virgin Media in the coming months:

BBC Two HD to launch next month

The BBC has confirmed that BBC Two HD will launch at 6am on Virgin Channel 187 on March 26th.

The BBC HD Channel will no longer broadcast from that date.

FT.com reveal more on BT Sport

FT is reporting the following:

• BT in talks to acquire ESPN football.

Local TV to be Made in Leeds

Ofcom has given Made in Leeds the rights to broadcast local TV in the Leeds area on Freeview Channel 8.

Made in Leeds has confirmed on Facebook that they will also launch on Virgin Media in November 2013.

Broadcast: Discovery’s TLC set for long-awaited UK launch

Story from Broadcastnow:

Lifestyle channel TLC could make its long-awaited UK debut as early as April, with parent company Discovery moving into the final phase of its launch.

Global Radio offers Three Options by CC

Story from Radio Today.

The Competition Commission has offered three possible remedies for how Global Radio can overcome the provisional findings for taking over Real and Smooth Ltd.

Comcast to buy NBC Universal

Story from Media Guardian.

Comcast is buying the rest of NBC Universal from General Electric several years ahead of schedule to take advantage of low interest rates and what its chief executive calls a "very attractive price" of $16.7bn (£10.7bn).

AETN loses High Court battle with Discovery

Story from Broadcastnow.

A&E Television Networks (AETN) has lost a High Court battle to stop rival broadcaster Discovery using the channel brand Discovery History in the UK.

Three Channels launch on Virgin Media

Virgin Media has now added three new channels they are:

EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy Sources confirmed Quest +1 channel number and package info

Quest +1 will launch on Virgin Channel 173 only on the XL Packages and not on both M+ or L Packages as posted by me on Friday.

Investigation Discovery WILL launch on Virgin Channel 214

I have today seen info that Virgin Media will NOT launch Investigation Discovery on Virgin Channel 224 on Tuesday.

UPDATED - EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Media to add some new Channels - should launch on Tuesday

I can now reveal that the following channels should launch on Tuesday on Virgin Media:

Broadcast: Liberty’s Virgin masterplan

Story from Broadcastnow:

Chairman John Malone realises his 10-year ambition to become a player in the UK market Liberty Global’s swift swoop to acquire Virgin Media caught much of the industry by surprise.

Guardian: Planet Rock bought by Bauer Media

When we was busy on the Virgin Media takeover this happened yesterday as well:

Broadcast: Liberty eyes further deals

Story from Broadcastnow.

Liberty Global plans to use its £10bn acquisition of Virgin Media as a springboard for more deals in Europe, as it steps up plans to boost customer numbers.

Virgin Media Takeover: Liberty Global to buy Virgin Media

Virgin Media has announced on their website, that subject to shareholder approval, that Liberty Global will buy Virgin Media.

Virgin Media Takeover - Guardian: Virgin Media and Liberty Global in takeover talks

Story from The Guardian: 

Virgin Media has confirmed it is in takeover talks that could lead to a bid from US cable company Liberty Global in the coming days.

More things set to happen next week

My Insider has confirmed to me that 'More things happening next week' on Virgin Media.

Virgin Media launches more Channels

The following channels has today launch on Virgin Media

More Channels renumbered on Virgin Media

Virgin Media has today renumbered the following Channels.

UPDATED Rumour: Virgin Media to launch 11 new channels soon

Digital Spy Poster Technix has tonight posted the following information.

Confirmed: Virgin Media has sign new Deal with Discovery

After days of trying to get one of my insiders to confirmed if the Discovery rumour is true or not.