British Sky Broadcasting tried to cut the price it was to pay Virgin Media for carrying the cable group's channels on its satellite platform from £35.6m to zero, according to a claim document filed by the cable operator.

Details of the lawsuit filed with the High Court earlier this month, over fees for channels owned by the two pay-TV companies, were made public yesterday. They show Virgin Media alleging that the satellite group had "engaged in abusive behaviour involving a disproportionate attack targeted at its only material competitor".