Sky launches marketing blitz

Sky has launched a marketing campaign designed to encourage Virgin Media customers to switch to satellite.

The adverts highlight some of the most popular programmes airing on Sky One, one of the basic Sky channels withdrawn from Virgin's television service shortly after midnight on Thursday.

In a statement, a Sky spokesman said: "We're disappointed that Virgin Media decided to drop our basic channels. Over the last few weeks, Virgin tried to argue that Sky's basic channels didn't matter to its customers. Today they've even tried to ridicule them by giving them childish names.

"We know that Sky channels attract some of cable TV's biggest and most appreciative audiences and we don't want any of them to miss out. To help viewers to keep up with their favourites, we're planning to run all our big shows over a catch-up weekend."

Click here to see the Lost and 24-themed adverts.