BSkyB and Virgin end channels spat

BSkyB and Virgin Media today ended their lengthy high-profile spat over Sky basic channel charges as the two groups announced a breakthrough agreement.

Virgin has signed a deal that will see Sky’s basic channels return to the cable channel for the first time since last February, when the charges row left fans of hit shows such as 'Lost' and '24' stranded mid-series.

Both firms said today they had agreed to end all High Court proceedings against each other.

The deal will see Sky basic channels – including Sky1, Sky News and Sky Sports News – return to Virgin Media on November 13 under a contract running to June 2011.