But Virgin Media customers will miss out

Sky is adding three new high-definition (HD) channels to its Sky HD service.

During March and April the broadcaster will add Sky Sports HD3, Sky Movies Premiere HD and FX HD. This will bring the number of HD channels up to 17.

Sky Sports HD3 will include a mix of coverage shown in standard-definition on Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports Xtra. This will include World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling, poker and darts. It will also show live coverage of the PGA European Golf Tour starting with the Andalucia Open on 23 March.

Sky Movies Premiere HD is a replica of Sky Movies Premiere and will join Sky’s existing HD movie channels Sky Movies Screen 1 HD and Screen 2 HD. It will show upcoming premieres including Blood Diamond, Babel and Ghost Rider. The channel will also launch with what Sky claims is the first UK opportunity to watch Titanic in HD.

FX HD will broadcast drama programmes between 7pm and 2am daily. It will show programmes broadcast on the existing FX channel, but with a different schedule.

However, Virgin Media customers with the HD-compatible V+ box will not be able to receive these channels. A representative for the Sky told Computeractive that they would be exclusively available to Sky customers paying the £10 a month subscription charge for the Sky HD service.

When contacted by Computeractive a representative for Virgin said that it " would make announcements regarding new HD content in the near future".