BSkyB News

UK Cable operator Virgin TV has sold it's TV arm (Virgin Media TV) to BSkyB to concentrate on providing fibre TV and broadband across the UK.

TV channels included Dave, Challenge and Virgin 1 which is to be re-branded by Sky. In return Sky will now allow some of it's HD channels to be re-broadcast to Virgin Cable customers.

Question:
Now BSkyB own/operate all these channels, what plans for the current free non BBC/ITV digital Freeview TV network channels, and at what cost to watch these channels in the future I wonder?

Today, the Press Gazette reports that Sky Sports News is to be removed from Freeview.

The channel will be replaced with a one hour timeshift of the Sky3 channel.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: "Sky Sports News has been a great success over the last 12 years and we have big ambitions to make it even better. As part of a subscription service, customers can look forward to expanded coverage and the launch of Europe's first HD sports news service."

Sky hopes that people will switch from Freeview to a pay service to watch the channel.

When Sky Sports News HD launches, the Freeview channel will close.

So today (23/08/10) Sky Sports News is no longer available on Freeview digital TV, being replaced by Sky3+1. Sadly for many a Brit in the UK, this had to be one of SKY's most popular channels (now only available via subscription on the SKY sat platform).

Coming up next, "Virgin 1" to be replaced by "Channel 1".