*Update* - Found this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...a-sky-atlantic
I can't recall where, but I'm sure I read somewhere too that Sky did offer Sky Atlantic to VM for a price, which VM refused. It could be they were looking for a premium channel price, as opposed to a bundled price.
Personally I would be happy to pay a pound or two more per month for the remaining channels Sky has to offer, but I wouldn't pay any more than that and I certainly won't jump ship to get them.
Sky & VM - sort it out!