* Branson plots 4.5 bln stg cable deal to create media giant; Virgin Mobile will merge with NTL in challenge to Sky and offer 9 mln customers extra services - Sunday Telegraph

* Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson poised to revolutionise the British media market by merging his Virgin Mobile business with NTL, the cable company - The Business

Fun and Games For VMOB and Murdoch shares tomorrow I bet.

off-topic - Virgin Active recently acquired some health clubs from Esporta including the one I am a member of.

They are now trying to refurbish the place whilst it is open by sealing off various areas with tape. Last night as many people were in the gym to exercise workman were pulling up the old carpet creating clouds of dust. I am not pleased that Virgin have taken over the health club I have been a member of for many years.

In my opinion the Virgin brand is getting too large. The airline is very good but some of the other businesses are just plain sh.t

snappy: getting the red carpet treatment, are you ;-)

actually Derek the club is, but existing members are not!

They want to start closing it an hour earlier as well.

Bollocks to Branson I say!

snappy, same thing happening to the esporta gym i go to, (sometimes). they are also changing the membership structure which is attracting gangs of dickhead chavs and chavettes and it's spoiling my jacuzzi workout!!

same thing has happened at mine bosley, they have reduced the age to 16 from 18 and the pool area has been overrun by young hooligans.

Bollocks to Branson I say!