Arsenal TV to make delayed Virgin debut

Virgin Media has agreed a deal to carry Arsenal TV more than two months after the channel launched.

The service will be on channel 542 from Tuesday in the XL TV and Setanta Sports M and L packages.

Customers had been told the service would be available when the channel went live on January 14 but the club and broadcaster failed to reach a carriage deal. Arsenal said Virgin had "issues" with channel capacity and called on fans to ring up and say they wanted the channel.

The parties today said a deal had been reached, though the original problem remains unclear.

"We're delighted to be launching Arsenal TV and boosting our sports offering, which already includes Setanta Sports and Sky Sports channels along with free Premiership highlights on virginmedia.com," said Malcolm Wall, chief executive of content at Virgin.

Keith Edelman, Arsenal managing director, added: "We're extremely pleased to be extending our reach to Virgin Media's customer base, and are sure the channel will be successful on the Virgin Media TV platform."

The channel shows all Arsenal matches with previews and post-match analysis, reserves, ladies and under-18s games and news and phone-in shows. It airs 11 hours a day. swen002

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