...those channels were next to worthless for VM unless they were prepared (which they were not) to invest heavily in quality programming for them.
It was a good deal all round for both Sky and VM. VM got access to Sky's HD channels and Sky got the channels so it could use their valuable EPG slots on satellite as Sky wished.
If anyone has read my threads in the news section, you will know that John Malone, ultimate owner of VM, also controls the following channels:
Discovery
Eurosport
QVC
and a shareholding in ITV.
He's up to all sorts of things and you can read my speculation about it all here:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...um-pay-tv.html