Virgin Media has announced five new high-definition and two new standard definition channels to its cable TV service.

The new channels are Eden HD, Good Food HD, Dave HD, Watch HD and Alibi HD, all from UKTV, and they bring Virgin Media’s HD stable to a total of 37. Eden and Good Food will be first on air from Friday 7 October, with Dave following on 10 October, Watch on 12 October and Alibi not due until 2012.

Virgin Media will also launch Yesterday+1 and Eden+1 in standard definition. So far, 24 of Virgin’s 37 HD channels will be available to subscribers to the ‘XL’ package with no extra charge.

Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing more dazzling HD channels to our TV service, offering our customers even more choice and variety.”