Liverpool MP and government minster Angela Eagle has confirmed that five prisons - including one in the city - has cells where prisoners are provided with satellite television.
According to Justice Minister Maria Eagle a total of more than 4,000 inmates enjoy the privilege in jails operated for the Prisons Department by private contractors.
Fazakerley's Altcourse Prison is one of the five establishements which allow access to a limited number of satellite channels with the jails meeting the cost of Sky TV subscriptions.
Labour MP for Garston Miss Eagle said the number of prisoners allowed to watch satellite varies according to behaviour and is currently around 4,070.
She said none of the cells in jails run directly by the Prisons Service have Sky TV.
The disclosure came in response to a written question from Tory MP Philip Davies.
Sky subscriptions are available only jails run by GS4-run in Liverpool, South Wales and Warwickshire and by Serco in Staffordshire and Nottingham.
Miss Eagle said: “In these establishments, satellite television in cells is generally only available to prisoners on the enhanced or standard level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme.”
Dominic Grieve, the shadow justice secretary, said: "The public will be shocked to learn that whilst there aren't enough prison places and drug rehab is woefully inadequate, thousands of prisoners have Sky TV in their cells. It speaks volumes about this government's warped priorities."
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