Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Customers are calling for discounts and threatening to move to Sky’s rivals
Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile
Deadline day has arrived for Sky, which is unlikely to reach a deal with Discovery Communications over its portfolio of 13 channels.
Unless the two companies come to an agreement, the following channels will no longer be available to Sky TV and Now TV customers from 1 February:
Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter
Google
Reuters
Getty
Apple
PA
AFP/Getty
EPA
Getty
Getty
Getty
Getty
Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty
Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty
Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty
Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty
Rex
Rex
Reuters
Reuters
Rex
Reuters
Reuters
Getty
Getty
The TV firms have been embroiled in a fierce war of words, with Discovery accusing Sky of furthering “its own commercial interest over those of viewers and independent broadcasters” and Sky branding Discovery’s claims as “misleading” and its actions as “aggressive”.
Discovery’s #KeepDiscovery Twitter campaign has struck a chord with customers, many of whom are threatening to turn their backs on Sky if the likes of Eurosport1 and Animal Planet disappear from its service.
Sky has given no indication that customers will be treated to discounts as a result of the loss of channels, but has attempted to calm their anger by highlighting the similar types of content it will continue to offer.
“Sky doesn’t boot channels off our platform,” a post on Sky’s website reads. “If Discovery don’t want their channels to disappear, as their public campaign suggests, they could have made arrangement to stay on Sky, including free to air with advertising funding or with their own subscription, but they’ve chosen not to do so.
“Our commitment to our customers is this: We will spend every penny that we were going to pay to Discovery on more and better content that our customers value. This will come from sources around the globe and home grown shows and documentaries from the UK. We will continue to offer customers a huge range of content including hundreds of shows from The History Channel, National Geographic, PBS, Sky Arts and Sky Atlantic, along with more amazing sport on Sky Sports Mix, available to all our customers.”
Sky customers not satisfied by this can instead access Discovery, Eurosport, TLC, Animal Planet and Investigating Discovery on Virgin Media and BT TV.
Quest, meanwhile, will continue to be available on Freeview, YouView and Virgin Media, and Eurosport can be found on the Eurosport Player, which is currently available on subscription for £19.99 a year.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Log in
New to The Independent?
Or if you would prefer:
Want an ad-free experience?
Hi {{indy.fullName}}