Virgin Media: four HD channels for summer

As one of their customers myself, I'm pleased to hear that Virgin Media are finally beginning to pull their weight when it comes to high-definition. As promised a few months ago, four HD channels are being added to their XL package: Living HD, FX HD, National Geographic HD and MTVN HD (at no additional charge to XL subscribers). You will, of course, need a Virgin+ box to receive them. These new channels will start to rollout at the end of July, with Living HD first on the line-up. Negotiations are also ongoing with UKTV to launch a HD version of the Good Food channel.

Neil Berkett, Virgin Media chief executive:

"As more homes become HD-ready, the launch of four new HD channels marks the next stage in the evolution of our pioneering TV service. Our lineup of HD channels and hugely popular on demand content is a unique and winning combination and we'll continue to bring more sport, films, entertainment and documentaries to our customers."

This is certainly a step in the right direction for the cable operator, who in the past have favoured video-on-demand content over HD, enabling rival Sky to dominate high-def in the UK. I'm still not convinced a total of five HD channels (including BBC HD) is worth buying a Virgin+ box for, compared to Sky's plethora of high-def content, but at least they're not charging customers for the HD channels themselves (a la Sky's fixed £10 p/month charge ontop of your existing subscription.) Or is the fact you only get these HD channels if you have a XL subscription with Virgin a stealth charge?