Sky Fail To Reach Agreement With Discovery

[Deleted User]

jasonwatkins wrote: »

No. I received no such 'invite'. The cancellation was processed and a final bill amount was generated and is confirmed on my sky account.

Fair enough. They obviously didn't value your custom enough to fight any further. How long was left on your minimum term?

jasonwatkins

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Fair enough. They obviously didn't value your custom enough to fight any further. How long was left on your minimum term?

i had 9 months left

opaque

That is not an inconsequential contract so it's an interesting choice for them.
I mean I'm guessing it will get sorted out somehow at some point. My first year ends in March and I'm looking to downgrade anyway after my discounts end but if they don't sort it out I'll want to be downgrading a lot as those channels (namely TLC really) are the main reason for going for the bigger package, not bothered with the box sets so no Discovery channels I expect to be able to go to a MUCH cheaper deal.
Thing is I can't drop everything as there is no Virgin where I live and BT offer even less for TV so I can't risk dropping Sky completely like some people can risk doing.

jasonwatkins

opaque wrote: »

That is not an inconsequential contract so it's an interesting choice for them.
I mean I'm guessing it will get sorted out somehow at some point. My first year ends in March and I'm looking to downgrade anyway after my discounts end but if they don't sort it out I'll want to be downgrading a lot as those channels (namely TLC really) are the main reason for going for the bigger package, not bothered with the box sets so no Discovery channels I expect to be able to go to a MUCH cheaper deal.
Thing is I can't drop everything as there is no Virgin where I live and BT offer even less for TV so I can't risk dropping Sky completely like some people can risk doing.

This article implies that that UK door is "all but shut" to Discovery so it's looking less and less likely that either side is trying to bluff it through.

Sources familiar with the situation told Broadband TV News that while the UK door is all but shut, there is still room for negotiation in Germany. The Italian market is covered by a separate agreement.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/01/25/discovery-sky-carriage-talks-at-impasse/

Former_MSE_Steve_1

Sky TV customers face losing 13 channels from their screens from 1 February, including Eurosport, Animal Planet and TLC, because of a contract row between the telecoms giant and the Discovery group of channels....

Read the full story:
'Sky TV customers set to lose 13 channels next week - can you get a refund or cancel penalty-free?'

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our New to Forum? Intro Guide.

[Deleted User]

There's 3 threads on this now:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5592264
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71995341#Comment_71995341

Time for a merge

poppasmurf_bewdley

mije1983 wrote: »

So it seems Sky Q customers can cancel, Sky+ customers cannot!

Although I personally wouldn't class any of the Discovery channels as 'premium', they are just 'standard' channels to me, I don't know what Sky's definition of 'premium' is. Term (d)(i) covers it regardless though.

However, knowing Sky they will probably just add the equivalent number of time shift channels and argue the total number of channels in the package has stayed the same. Sky 1 +11 anyone? :rotfl:

I wouldn't say that having the banner on their site means it's done and dusted, there is also a statement on the Discovery homepage. I think the fact that both sides have indicated that this isn't the final decision means that talks will continue, but only on Sky's terms of course!

Ofcom made a decision some years ago that 'Premium' was something that you paid over and above for - albeit this was regarding 0870, 0845, 0843 and 0844 numbers as premium rate telephone numbers.

I think any paid for channel that is not Freeview or Freesat (ie paid for other than by the TV licence) could be classed as 'premium'.

[Deleted User]

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

I think any paid for channel that is not Freeview or Freesat (ie paid for other than by the TV licence) could be classed as 'premium'.

Sky regard premium channels as those you pay a separate subscription for. The individual football team channels, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, BT Sport are examples of channels generally regarded as premium.
Discovery's bouquet of channels is included in a number of subscription packages, so can't be regarded as premium.

kondormid

I am not sure what Discovery get these days, but I remember what now seems decades ago they were complaining that they only got 2p per subscriber. It would be a financial loss for them that is for sure, but as their eurosport player (currently £20 for the year) model seems to be working out... added to that the fact that Sky have announced that they intend to drop satellite TV installations in 2018 and go totally via broadband from then... Well why do Discovery need to stay with Sky? Why do they need to be packaged when they can make their own packages available over the internet? They have proved they have the technology to do it, even with multiple live streams and vod.

I do not think this is the false alarm it was decades ago, I think this is the start of a split from sky.

jasonwatkins

kondormid wrote: »

I do not think this is the false alarm it was decades ago, I think this is the start of a split from sky.

If you believe some of the stories appearing around the web, it could well be the start of discovery splitting from a number of cable and satellite companies.

they appear to be having problems throughout europe as well with carriage agreements.