9:00am Monday 26th February 2007
THE BITTER TV row between BSkyB and Hampshire-based Virgin Media is today set to take a new twist.
Virgin Media, formerly NTL, is set to fuel the row by unveiling a deal to screen episodes of hit US show Lost, pictured, on its video-on-demand channel, it has been reported.
The cable network is understood to be announcing today that it has secured a deal with Lost producer ABC to air all three series of the show.
The move would follow just days after Virgin Media said it had failed to reach an agreement on rates with BSkyB over a number of channels including Sky One, which is currently exclusively airing Lost in the UK.
Virgin Media's contracts to air Sky One, Two, Three, Sky News and Sky Sports News end this week unless the two broadcasting giants can agree on a renewal price.
It was reported yesterday that Virgin's agreement with ABC will allow it to make all three series of Lost available to viewers via the new Virgin Central channel, but Virgin viewers will have to wait until August to see the rest of the current series unless talks between the firms resume this week.
Virgin Media was unavailable for comment.
The group, formed by NTL's takeover of Virgin Mobile and Telewest last year, last week claimed Sky tried to deliberately sabotage talks over the channels by more than doubling the price.
Sky hit back saying it had been "flexible on price" and was offering Virgin Media an enhanced package.
BSkyB sparked fury with both Virgin Media and viewers by airing advertisements suggesting its five channels could be withdrawn from the cable network before the negotiations had finished.
Media watchdog Ofcom is now looking into the adverts after the Advertising Standards Authority received complaints from 140 cable customers.
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