The first details have emerged of the proposed service, which comes as part of plans by Virgin's new owner TIML Golden Square to invest in interests in the business beyond the core on-air station.

Dickens, the station's chief operating officer, says discussions are under way with all the majors about the service, which he reveals will be closer to the Universal/Sky subscription-plus download model, rather than the usual fixed-price, all-you-can-eat DRM subscription.

"Our model is about looking at the technology ...