National Geographic is "almost certain" to launch a channel as part of Sky's upcoming HDTV offering.

The news follows the recent announcement that the company is planning to launch a HD channel in the US early next year.

"We want to be part and parcel of it and are almost certain we will be part of Sky's line-up," George Jeffrey, managing director of National Geographic Europe, told Broadcast. "We are determined to become the national home and vanguard for high-definition for documentaries."

The Discovery Channel is also widely tipped to be part of the launch lineup, as is Artsworld.