BSkyB has inked deals to provide those three cable companies with basic programming such as Sky One and Sky News, which is good news for viewers in Jersey, the Borders and on the Isle of Wight.

Sky wouldn't say how much the three firms paid for the renewed services but did feel like having a veiled pop at Virgin.

"All three have recognised the increasing value of Sky's basic channels and we welcome their decision to invest in bringing their customers the TV they enjoy," Sky chief executive officer Mike Darcey told The Grauniad.

The satellite broadcaster pulled its basic channels from Virgin Media in March after a scrap about how much they should cost.

That led Virgin Media to sue BSkyB in the High Court claiming that its actions are anti-competitive.

While we're having a chinwag about Sky, Bollywood fans will be glad to hear the satellite broadcaster is planning to launch a video-on-demand channel in partnership with Indian film studio Eros International.

The deal with see Eros provide Sky with 100 Bollywood films from a library of 1,300.