The new high-definition version of the film channel Film4 will begin broadcasting via Virgin Media’s digital cable service this summer. Virgin is expanding its HD line-up but still cannot compete with Sky’s impressive selection.

March 9, 2010 — In a statement yesterday, Virgin Media announced that it will be the exclusive carrier of Film4 HD when the channel launches this summer. A high-definition version of entertainment channel E4 will launch at the same time, but this will also be available via other broadcasters. Virgin’s current HD channel list includes C4HD, BBC HD, and National Geographic HD but, at just seven channels in total, it fails to match the list available via BSkyB’s “Sky+ HD” service — this reached 37 channels with the introduction of MGM HD in December. Virgin Media has plans to add Discovery HD and Eurosport HD to its packages soon, and the subsequent arrival of Film4 HD and E4 HD this summer will bring the total to 11 HD channels — better, but still not quite 37. BBC HD and C4HD are automatically available free of charge to all Virgin Media customers; the other channels will be added at no extra cost for subscribers to the company’s “XL TV” package, which costs about 30 GBP a month. Virgin’s executive director of digital entertainment said: “As more and more households become HD-ready, we’re lining up content that makes the most of High Definition and are making HD available to all of our customers for no extra fee.”