Virgin Looks To Img For Sports News Channel

Virgin Media is planning to launch its much-mooted sports news channel by the
end of year and is negotiating with IMG Media with regards to the production
contract according to reports.

Speculation has mounted that Virgin Media’s sports news channel is close to
finalisation after reports emerged that IMG Media’s production arm TWI had
pitched for the contract through a joint approach with ITN.

According to media reports, the production negotiations are being handled by
Reel Enterprises, a company specialising in rights management and channel
development.

The idea of launching its own sports news channel was mooted within Virgin
Media after Sky pulled carriage of its Sky Sports News service from the Virgin
Media platform.

With the carriage row with Sky set to hit the courts and no end in sight, the
launch of a Virgin Media sports news channel has become an increasing
possibility with insiders suggesting it could go live by December.