UPDATE: Cancellation has been averted with Discovery and Sky coming to an 11th hour agreement to keep the full portfolio of Discovery TV shows on Sky.
Previously…
Following the breakdown of negotiations over a new carriage deal, Discovery is publicly threatening to pull its channels from Sky U.K. in less than a week if the British pay-TV service does not cough up more money.
“We believe Sky is using what we consider to be its dominant market position to further its own commercial interest over those of viewers and independent broadcasters,” Susanna Dinnage, managing director, Discovery Networks U.K. and Ireland, said Wednesday. “The vitality of independent broadcasters like Discovery and plurality in TV is under threat.”
Source and more: Variety
A Sky spokesman said the company will not meet Discovery’s price demands, or its call for a five-year deal, and that the channels will be withdrawn.
He added: “Despite our best efforts to reach a sensible agreement, we, like many other platforms and broadcasters across Europe, have found the price expectations for the Discovery portfolio to be completely unrealistic. Discovery’s portfolio of channels includes many which are linear-only where viewing is falling.
“Sky has a strong track record of understanding the value of the content we acquire on behalf of our customers, and as a result we’ve taken the decision not to renew this contract on the terms offered.
Source and more: Telegraph
Sky and NOW TV customers are at risk of losing Discovery Channel, Eurosport, Animal Planet, TLC & Investigation Discovery #KeepDiscovery pic.twitter.com/HcRv5RSFQj
— Discovery Channel UK (@DiscoveryUK) January 25, 2017
maureen spinks says
disgraceful
we love the channels you offer
I have complained to sky a lot this week and have said if you are not giving us these great channels we want a rebate
hope that we can still see the discovery channels we also love tennis on the eurosport
where else can we get your channels