Sky pulls the plug on Virgin viewers
Last updated at 00:17 02 March 2007
Cable TV customers have threatened to quit the Virgin service after a number of Sky channels were switched off in a dispute between the companies.
The blackout - which happened in the middle of a programme - came after a midnight deadline to resolve the row passed without an agreement.
The squabble is over how much Virgin Media - formerly NTL - should pay for Sky's basic package, which includes Sky One, Sky News and Sky Sports News.
Hit shows such as Lost, The Simpsons and 24 are among the programmes blacked out.
Some of Virgin's 3.3million cable customers have vented their anger on the firm's website, demanding their money back or threatening to quit the service.
"(If) Virgin Media have not got what I want, I will go to who has, it is as simple as that," said one.
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said: "We're sorry that Sky have pulled their basic channels from our service."
A Sky spokesman said: "If Virgin Media decides it wants to bring back the TV its customers enjoy, we're available for talks at any time."
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