Forthcoming entertainment channel E4 has secured cable carriage, this week's Broadcast has reported.

The channel, due for launch in the new year, has reached agreement with cable operators ntl and Telewest to secure carriage of the service on their digital networks. Channel 4 is hoping that the service will eventually be available to 6.5 million homes.

Carriage deals with ONdigital and SkyDigital have not yet been agreed, sources said. Meanwhile, the network's plans for a new racing channel could still go ahead. Negotiations with horse-racing courses are still stalled, but if they resume and are successful, a racing station could be up before the end of next year.