Virgin Media defiant over Sky Atlantic criticism.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

Virgin Media on Thursday hit back at criticism that Sky Atlantic is not available to its almost 4 million cable TV subscribers, accusing BSkyB of demanding an "unrealistic" price for a carriage deal.

Neil Berkett, the Virgin Media chief executive, agreed that Sky Atlantic, which launched on 1 February with a line-up of HBO shows such as The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, is "a great product". But he admitted that Virgin Media customers would not be getting the channel "anytime soon".

Earlier this month Mike Darcey, BSkyB's chief operating officer, admitted the same thing but blamed Virgin Media for the failure to reach a carriage …