Sky is to launch a subscription television service on digital terrestrial television (DTT) this summer.

The new service, announced on the day Virgin Media launched, will allow customers to receive some of Sky's most popular programmes - including sport and movies - through a conventional rooftop aerial and a DTT box for a monthly subscription.

The line-up of channels on the new service will offer a range of content including sports, movies, entertainment and news. The sports service will include live coverage from the Barclays Premiership and other top events.

Sky channels Sky Three, Sky News and Sky Sports News will cease to be available free-to-air via DTT in advance of the launch of the pay-TV service.

To access the service, customers will be required to buy a new set-top box that includes the relevant CA (conditional access) software and MPEG4 decoder. It is anticipated that once the service launches multiple manufacturers will have the opportunity to produce compatible set-top-boxes and other DTT receivers.

Mike Darcey, Sky's Chief Operating Officer, said: "We look forward to bringing some of Sky's most popular content to digital terrestrial viewers. This will give families more choice and increase the availability of leading content and channel brands."

Full details, including branding, pricing and the complete channel line-up, will be revealed closer to launch.

The launch of the new service is subject to approval by Ofcom.